Leave this world with
Memories, not Dreams! by Gaynel Senka
How would you describe planning a family vacation? Exciting? Promising? Overwhelming? Stressful? The answer to this can be any and all of these at the same time! Family vacations are so exciting to look forward to and experience together, but they can also be stressful to plan and with so many options available can also be overwhelming! Let’s start with the assumptions that a family vacation is a huge benefit to your family, and is something you definitely want to do! Now, where do you start?
Choose your adventure!
Where do you want to go? What do you want to experience? Living in Florida gives us so many options as we look to plan a family vacation. Do we make a short drive to Orlando for a visit to the
www.gulfcoastfamily.org
theme parks? Do we book a cruise and visit the Bahamas or Caribbean? Do we hop on a flight and visit one of many tropical destinations that are within a half-day trip? I’d suggest deciding on what destination you want first.
Plan ahead!
While it’s true that on occasion you can score a last-minute deal on a cruise or hotel, in general the best rates are going to be available months or even years in advance. You’ll get the best selection and choice of accommodations. It also forces you to put it on your calendar and plan the rest of “life” around those dates. If you know what you’d like to do, consider putting a deposit down a year or so ahead of time. This gives you the time to make payments on your upcoming trip, and secure the best prices for your dream vacation! I always suggest figuring out the cost of your vacation up front, what you want to spend,
and then breaking it down into payments you can afford each month. Also, going on vacation and not having the cost follow you home is a wonderful way to add to the enjoyment of your trip!
Know your options!
When you get there, what are you going to do? Where are you going to eat? Do you want accommodations with a kitchen where you can prepare meals in your room? Would you prefer a dining package that covers the cost of your meals in advance? If you booked an all-inclusive, what exactly does that mean? What is included and what isn’t? (hint: they’re all a little bit different!) What are the must-do’s wherever it is that you’re going? These are my top three suggestions for planning your next family vacation.
To advertise, call 727-612-0783
As a travel advisor, I help families like yours navigate these options and prepare for the vacation of their dreams! I don’t charge any fees, and will do everything I can to find the perfect vacation for your family, that fits your budget, and helps you create amazing memories! Contact me for a free, noobligation quote on your family’s next adventure!
February 2020 • 17
