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How to have an enjoyable family vacation (for all)

No holiday or vacation trip will be smooth sailing all the time. You have to deal with bad weather, bad moods and so on. But with some fine-tuning, you can always hold your course steady in the right direction.

1) Learn to make adjustments and concessions.

Families often travel a lot together. So it’s best to figure out in advance how to resolve the inevitable conflict. It’s better to do something you hate, for the sake of love and then talk no more about it. This might mean doing something you abhor or are too scared of instead of just relaxing with a drink. But what’s your goal in life? It’s always better to make the people you love happy and enjoy a good time with them.

2) Not Eating Out.

Restaurants can be stressful especially during holidays. You have to get everyone to agree on where to go, get a booking and/or wait around for a table. If you have little kids, who will be tired by the end of the day, the occasion may turn out to be not so pleasant.

Most families have picky eaters—of all ages. Renting a house or an apartment or even a hotel room with a kitchenette can make a big difference. A kitchen allows the luxury of everyone getting to eat what they want. Not to mention the money saved.

3) Being aware of your group.

You can only move at the speed of the slowest common denominator. Especially if with a toddler or the family matriarch, that’s going to be pretty slow. You should head into the vacation knowing that and making plans accordingly. Be realistic. And optimistic. Have an idea about what you’re going to be able to accomplish. Allow yourself ample time to devote to each activity and enjoy it fully. Remember, you’re only going to end up frustrated and blaming yourself if you overshoot.

4) The importance of some “Me Time”

People who don’t normally spend 24 hours a day together are suddenly doing just that during family vacations. So it’s wise to allow for breaks every three to four hours or so. This will allow time for reading a book, a stroll on the beach, some shopping or bargain hunting, as each would prefer.

Doing something physical will help reset your focus. Especially for parents of teenagers. They, in particular, can make the entire family miserable if forced to stay in close quarters at all times. Remember their age. Remember how you feel like rebelling when you have to be together and when it’s not required, you want to stick around.

5) Make provision for crankiness.

There are always times when you’ve done what you’ve set out to do, or your plans are derailed, but it’s not the time for the next one yet. The kids start to whine, you have some words, and pretty soon, everyone’s upset. Schedule some extra activities for such in-between time, even if it’s just a game of cards.