It may sound like an impossible dream, but you absolutely can have the best family vacation getaway of your life even if you’re bringing a brood of energetic youngsters with you.

Whether you’re heading to a South Carolina resort or taking a journey to Paris, France, you have the power to make your trip fantastic regardless of number of kids in your group.

What’s the secret? It’s quite simple: Have reasonable travel objectives.

Often, the biggest problem isn’t that your children are behaving like tots (e.g., crying at inopportune moments, pitching fits at airports, requesting potty breaks every 20 minutes.) The dilemma is that most adults expect too much of their youngsters. They want their family vacation getaway to mirror their romantic getaways to the Canadian hotels they took pre-parenthood… but that’s just not realistic.

Being pragmatic isn’t always easy, but with some planning, it’s doable. Here are some helpful tips to keep you from uttering the phrase, “We’re never taking a vacation with the kids again!”

1. Redefine Your Expectations

Obviously, you need to have some expectations. But don’t forget that toddlers and young kids require frequent breaks and tons of hand-holding. They aren’t little adults, and they won’t magically behave differently just because you’ve paid to stay at any number of Tennessee log cabins. Readjust your expectations, and you’ll have fewer frustrating moments.

2. Have a Flexible Itinerary

Unless you’re traveling by air or train, be flexible in terms of when you leave your home and when you arrive at your destination. The unexpected will always occur… especially when kids are involved. So be flexible and you’ll experience less stress.

3. Maintain a Light Schedule

Yes, your travel to New York may be a dream come true, but trying to cram every sight into a week-long adventure is a recipe for anxiety. Instead, pick a few of the places you really want to see… and save the rest for the next time.

Have travel tips of your own? GuestQuest wants to hear how you ensure your vacations are kid-friendly and fun for everyone!