Yes, it’s mid-September. And you know what that means? There are plenty of fun family vacation deals to be had!

Even though most people are gearing up for the holidays, we who are part of the travel industry understand how tourism really works. If you’ve been dying to see rural Tennessee or just get to Myrtle Beach (with or without a dip in the ocean), it’s time to start looking around for steals, and GuestQuest is a great way to begin!

Though it’s unusual to find hotel rooms for 90% off, you can find some deeply discounted by 30% or more. In fact, many places (especially those that could be affected by hurricanes or other inclement weather) seriously reduce their prices. Many other locales offer incredibly attractive family vacation destination packages.

Not ready to take the kids out of school for a week? Never fear! At GuestQuest, we routinely see special weekender offerings for families [...]

Summer was a blast and you and your brood enjoyed your fun family vacations to the fullest. But now you’re left in a quandary over what to do with all the photos you collected. Sure, you could dump them in a box, but isn’t there a better way to use them?

YES! Here at GuestQuest, we have four great recommendations for you! Never allow pictures of your family vacation spots languish in a cardboard tomb again!

1. Put the Photos in an Album — Though this isn’t exactly a new tip, it’s a good one nonetheless. Even if you’re busy, you can probably find time at night during commercial breaks to pop your family vacation spot pictures into an album. If you’re a scrapbooker, have at ’em!

2. Pick the Best Pics for the Wall — Isn’t it time to redecorate? Then buy some pretty frames and show off photos of your family beach vacations and [...]

It’s September 1. School’s back in session (or will be soon.) The holidays are just around the corner. But now is the PERFECT time to start planning for next year’s family vacation getaway! Here’s why!

1. There are steals to be had!

If you pay in advance for a cabin or house rental at your favorite family beach vacation, you may be eligible for a significant discount. This means you can save tons of money.

2. You’ll have time to investigate the best deal.

If you wait until the last minute, you’ll probably pay more than you’d like for your cabin or hotel room. Instead of spending a fortune on a fun family vacation, spend wisely. Begin collecting travel magazines and compare prices.

3. You’re (almost) guaranteed the cream of the crop.

Do you feel like every year you just can’t seem to get into the resort you want? Maybe you need to start planning [...]

Sure, you have to take that annual visit to see your great aunt Martha in Tampa Bay, but you don’t have to experience another boring trip! Instead, turn that potentially dull visit into a great family vacation getaway!

Now, you’ll definitely have to get creative on how you “sell” this experience to your relatives. You don’t want to be rude, after all! So why not try these hints to make sure no one’s feelings are bruised:

1. Offer to Take Your Relatives on Day Excursions

Nothing says “I love you” more than a generous offer to take your relatives to local family vacation spots. Don’t assume that just because they live in an area that they tour their own regions; most people have no clue what excitement lies in their own neighborhoods! This way, you can introduce your grandparents, aunts, uncles and nieces to local haunts. (And when you’re footing the bill, they’ll like it [...]

(To read Part I of this Travel Tips series, click on this link; to read Part II, click here; for Part III, go here)

For our final set of Travel Tips for Traveling with Pets, we’ll look at how to handle some emergencies that may arise while you’re away from home.

1. Your Dog/Cat Becomes Ill

Just as humans can get sick while traveling, so can pets. If your dog or cat seems particularly ill, a call to your veterinarian at home is in order. He or she can advise you whether you should contact a local vet at your family vacation destination.

2. Your Dog Bites Someone

This is every pooch owner’s nightmare, but it can and does happen.

Should your dog bite a person or other animal during your family vacation getaway, you may be the target of legal action. Therefore, it will behoove you to write down as much information about the incident [...]

(To read Part I of this Travel Tips series, click on this link; to read Part II, click here)

Okay – you and your fur buddy have arrived at your family vacation spot! Hurrah! Now is when the real fun (with pet in tow!) begins… as long as you keep these reminders in the back of your mind at all times.

1. You Must Take Your Pet Along Most of the Time

You didn’t take Fido on vacation to sit in your Canadian lodging place while you toured solo. This means that practically whatever you choose to do during your family vacation will need to be pet-friendly.

Now, obviously you can go out for dinner, lunch, touring alone. But only if you’ve spent a good amount of time entertaining your pet. Remember that this family vacation getaway should be as thrilling for your kitty or pooch as it is for you.

2. Not Everyone Loves [...]

(To read Part I of this Travel Tips series, click on this link)

Now that you and your four-legged buddy are ready and rarin’ to go to your family vacation destination, it’s time to think about the actual travel part of the trip. Here are some areas to consider for maximum comfort and ease:

1. Planes Can Be Miserable for Pets

Many pet owners would like to believe that their dogs or cats are as comfy as they are while journeying to their family vacation destinations. However, plane travel can be tough on pets.

Ask your veterinarian for medicines to help make air travel a little calmer for your feline or canine companion. Though you may hate the thought of medicating him or her, it could be the travel tip that saves your buddy from a frantic flight.

2. Car Rides Should Include Plenty of Breaks

Are you planning to travel by car to your [...]