So you’re a procrastinator?

Well, you’re not alone. According to a survey by Pies Steel (an HR prof at the University of Calgary), a whopping 95% of individuals admit to procrastinating. However, contrary to popular belief, you can snag last-minute fun family vacation deals. Here’s how to prepare for a trip with less than two weeks (that’s fourteen short days, folks) before “lift off”…

Days 1-2: Pick Your Destination

Of course, we suggest you jump over to GuestQuest to pick a family vacation destination, but if you’d rather do a Google search, that’s your prerogative. Generally, if you are planning your vacation with less than a month before traveling, it’s best to choose a locale that won’t require you to get special shots or fill out tremendous amounts of paperwork.

Days 3-5: Get on the Phone

It’s time to play The Negotiator, a la William Shatner. Once you’ve looked through all your vacation guides and [...]

Just for fun, our last two posts contemplated ways to arrange for your best family vacation ever according to your astrological sign. So let’s delve into another unconventional planning possibility this week on our GuestQuest blog:

• Figuring out WHEN to go on vacation depending upon your biorhythms.

“What in blue blazes are biorhythms?”

We’re glad you asked!

The theory behind biorhythms says that every person has cyclical “ups” and “downs” and that these can be predicted. Typically, the primary biorhythms discussed are those governing intelligence, physical ability, and emotions; however, there are supposedly secondary (and possibly tertiary) biorhythms as well.

These biorhythms can be predicted based on your date of birth. Each biorhythm has its own cycle – the intellectual one is every 33 days; the physical one each 23 days; and the emotional every 28 days. Occasionally, they all peak… or tank… together.

“So what does this have to [...]

So you’re dying to have your wedding at a Caribbean family vacation destination where all the people you love can gather and celebrate.

Fabulous!

There are plenty of places to choose from, and all of them are rich in beauty and history.

However, before you start ordering your vacation guides, it’s important to find out what you’ll need in order to get your marriage license in this part of the world. Though it can be relatively easy to do, you’ll still need to plan.

To start you off on the right foot toward marital bliss, GuestQuest has researched a few Caribbean family vacation destination hotspots’ license info for your consideration:

• Destined for Barbados? There, you can enjoy no waiting period at all. This family vacation getaway is designed for people of all ages. You will need parental consent if you’re 16 or 17 and want to wed, though.
• In the Cayman [...]

Shhh… there’s a huge secret that entrepreneurs have known for quite some time: Business trips and family holidays can mix!

However, it’s important to know where to draw the line during your trip so you can experience the best family vacation possible without jeopardizing yourself from a career standpoint.

First, understand that if you’re commingling business and pleasure, it’s critical to delineate which is which.

This means if you’re heading to a nice beach to have drinks with a potential client, your loved ones should probably be sightseeing or hanging out at your Florida vacation condo, not tagging along. Likewise, if your Michigan family vacation has business overtones, make sure you aren’t crossing any boundaries. (In other words, keep the kids far from the customers unless and until they invite them to join you!)

Next, make sure that your travel companions understand that you won’t be [...]

Homework… ugggh, right?

Most people recoil at the thought of researching anything, but when it comes to planning your best family vacations, it’s an essential element.

And, best of all, it can honestly be enjoyable!

You see, what most people forget is that half (at least) of the excitement of a family vacation is in working through all the details. Sure, it can be time-consuming, but as long as you’re doing it together, it can also be a wonderful time spent as a family.

Here are some great ways to get you started to making your family vacation homework a blast!

1. Give Everyone Something to Do!

Even little ones can help plan the next family vacation getaway by looking through vacation guides and travel magazines. If they can’t read yet, they can at least point to pictures of beaches, forests, snow-capped mountains, anything that catches [...]

It’s almost the end of 2007, and although most families are deeply entrenched in holiday planning, it’s never too early to begin considering the best family vacation spots for next year.

Obviously, what you and your loved ones will find perfect won’t suit another couple or group; thus, it’s essential to talk with your clan to determine the ideal family vacation getaway locale for all of you in ’08.

In this post, the gurus at GuestQuest have put together some straightforward discussion points to get your brood started on planning for a summer to remember!

1. What does your family like to do?

If you’re all into swimming, family beach vacations seem like a good bet. Whether you choose a room in one of those lovely Delaware resorts or a suite among Florida condominiums, you’ll have a terrific time.

2. What is your price range?

Though you may want to head to a Tennessee log [...]

Let’s face it. At one time or another, we have all allowed ourselves to become so consumed by… well… consumerism… that by the end of the holidays, our piggy banks are squealing with hunger.

And what do we do to feed our pink friends? We scale back on the following year’s family vacation getaway, choosing a not-so-hot spot (did someone say Uncle Larry’s dilapidated hunting cabin?) instead of one of the best family vacation spots ever.

So what’s a typical parent to do? Turn a blind eye toward the holiday season and hope the kids don’t notice? Pretend that a tree isn’t something special? Eschew all gift-giving?

Nah.

Really, the average family doesn’t have to agonize or stop celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas or Kwanzaa. Instead, they just need to be a little more thoughtful about where their finances are going.

To keep you and your loved ones on a path to a fabulous family vacation getaway [...]

So you’re the generous type… and that means you have decided to wow your relatives (and perhaps a few very close friends) by giving them family vacation packages as holiday presents.

As beautiful a sentiment as that can be, it’s important to exercise a little caution when engaging in this kind of gift-giving.

After all:

– Most people tend to enjoy choosing their own family vacation destinations; having someone else dictate where they should go could be irritating.

– Some folks like receiving “stuff”, not experiences. If your Auntie Betty fits that category, she might not feel that tickets to one of those gorgeous Delaware resorts fits her expectations.

– If you go overboard on your spending, recipients could wind up feeling as if you’re trying to “one up” them (e.g., throwing your money around) even if that isn’t your intention.

However, this doesn’t mean that giving family vacation packages for Hanukkah, Christmas or Kwanzaa [...]