It’s like a dream. You’re relaxing on the beach at your family vacation destination and THERE HE IS! The superstar you love! The Hollywood glam queen whose show you never miss! You’re stunned… then you realize that if you want to do something, now is the time to take action.

Hold on there, partner.

Before your “diva” makes a getaway, remind yourself that there are several rules regarding how to deal with celebs you see while you’re on a trip. Follow them, and you’ll have a much better chance of taking home a great story from your best family vacation!

1. If the Star is Filming, Stand Back

Unless you’ve been asked to be part of a “crowd scene”, stay away from the star. You may have an opportunity later to ask him or her to sign your travel magazine (hey, what else do you have handy while at the beach or boardwalk?), but you’ll [...]

If you’re a packrat, you know it. You’ve come to terms with it. But that doesn’t mean your traveling companions will like it when you lug everything under the sun to… and from… your family vacation spot.

Here are some ways that you, as a card-carrying member of the sometimes-irritating (but ultimately lovable) packrat community, can curb your appetite for clutter while at some of the best family vacation spots on the planet.

1. Have someone else pack for you

Now, don’t freak out. Seriously consider this as a viable travel tip. After all, you know very well that if you’re packing your duds for a week at one of those wonderful Delaware condominiums, you’re likely to throw too much together. So why not allow someone else to pack on your behalf?

Just make sure that you let him or her know of things that you absolutely need, like medications. But don’t dictate how many [...]

1. Don’t spend the week complaining

Yeah, it’s tough when your family beach vacations get rained out, but griping about it ad nauseum does nothing for your collective morale.

Instead of yipping and yapping about what you can’t do, focus on what you can.

2. Don’t stop disciplining your kids

You’ve seen them – the parents who virtually allow their kids to get away with murder on a trip.

To maintain the structure of your best family vacations, don’t get too lax about your expectations. Sure, your eight-year-old might not need to go to bed at nine, but that doesn’t give him or her the right to back-talk just because you’re not at home.

3. Don’t spend money you don’t have

“Hey! That looks good! Let’s put it on the credit card!”
“Why bother to worry about money? We’re on our family vacation getaway!”
“Dinner tonight? We’ll head to the fanciest restaurant we [...]

1. Over-packing

Do you really need five pairs of jeans? Does your trip to one of the most beautiful Alabama resorts truly require you to bring along fifteen necklaces and a dozen bracelets?

We’re all guilty of overpacking from time to time; don’t let a too-heavy suitcase weigh down your family vacation getaway. Instead, pack mix-and-match apparel that will be versatile, but not in the way.

2. Over-planning

It’s easy to want to see everything at the best family vacation spots around the country; however, it’s not possible and will only exhaust you if you try.

Choose a maximum of two places to go each day of your family vacation getaway. And if you have kids, you may want to just stick with one tourist attraction; they tend to become restless and cranky otherwise.

3. Over-exerting

You never go to the gym, but you’re dying to scuba dive, parasail, water ski and snorkel during your [...]

1. Business Cards

You might think you’ll never need a business card while enjoying one of those best family vacation spots. This is limited thinking, though!

Bring a few business cards to exchange wherever you go during your next family vacation getaway. Hey, you never know who will be sitting next to you in that fancy restaurant… or lying beside you at the beach!

2. Your Resume and/or CV (Curriculum Vitae)

Like business cards, you might assume that a family vacation getaway could never be a place to drop your resume or CV… but you might want to guess again. Plenty of people have traveled to a spot, fallen in love with it, and then decided to move there permanently.

Make sure your credentials are updated and polished. Oh, and keep them in a manila envelope or folder so they aren’t crunched up between bottles of shampoo and baby wipes!

3. A List of Friends’ [...]

1. Eating Local

There’s nothing wrong with the occasional fast food product, but stop relying on “name brands” when at a family vacation destination!

Instead, enjoy local flavors by visiting smaller, non-chain eateries. And for real flair, seek out farmer’s markets for truly fresh-from-the-earth offerings!

2. Walking

Sure, it’s easy to drive from your Michigan lodging to sightsee, but is it honestly necessary? Too often, we opt for a sort of “laissez faire” attitude, much to the detriment of our health.

Next time you find yourself rushing for the car keys, think twice. Could you take public transportation or, better yet, let your legs do the work? You’ll feel better, sleep better and look better. What’s not to like?

3. Trying Something New

How many times have you gone to a place year after year, only to do the same exact thing every time?

Whether your favorite family vacation getaway spot is in the wilds [...]

ALERT!:

This is a post directed to all those teens out there who want to have the best family vacation this summer but are worried about how to do that AND get along with nagging parents, annoying siblings and visits to museums of natural boredom.

There IS a way to make sure you don’t fall asleep for the whole time you’re at your Tennessee log cabin or South Carolina resort.

Travel Tips for Teens #1: Play Along

Okay, so your dad really wants to go to some old house that was built about nine million years ago and you could care less. You COULD mope and groan and make everyone miserable… but that wouldn’t get you anywhere. Instead, play along with your dad’s big adventure. Ironically, if you think positively, you’re more likely to enjoy the family vacation getaway, even as you’re hearing a tour guide say “antique” for about the fiftieth time.

Travel Tips [...]