Travel Guide for the Well-Traveled Family, Part 3: The Vacation Itinerary

By Sharon Rose

The time you take to research and make a detailed vacation itinerary will determine if your family vacation will truly be magical and create the memories you will cherish for years to come. 

Listen and Research - We are living in the age of the internet and it can be your best resource in helping you and your family decide what you want to do when you get to your vacation destination. Gather ideas and information from the internet, brochures, travel books, and documentaries. Travel agencies can be helpful, as well. Also, research with phone apps will be helpful in making choices for your itinerary, as well as, when you arrive at your destination.  Make use of technology! Come together, again, with your family and listen to ideas from each other.  Encourage family members to do some research prior to your family discussion. I recently created the daily itineraries for my family's trip to Disney World. As it turned out, it was very important that we went through this step in the process. I listened to the likes, dislikes, and ideas from our family members. I incorporated activities into our daily itineraries, over the 5 days that we vacationed, to allow everyone to feel fulfilled in their experience, and have fun. When creating the itinerary you have to keep in mind that it is a family vacation and not yours alone. Once we reached our destination I found myself enjoying the "likes" of others that I probably would not have tried, otherwise.  I was happy I found the courage for the "scary" rides; they were fun after-all!  If your vacation destination "is" Disney World, be sure to check-out the Disney Parks Moms Panel for help planning your itinerary.  The Moms panel is an online forum that serves as a resource for planning Disney parks vacations.  Some great tips and information there! 

Some activities we included in our itinerary on our family vacation to Disney World, April, 2013.

Splash Mountain at Disney World, Magic Kingdom Theme Park. 

African Safari, Disney World, Animal Kingdom Theme Park.

"The Lion King," an adaptation at Disney World, Animal Kingdom Theme Park.

It's in the Details - Keep an eye and ear out for specials and discounts for hotels, restaurants, activities, and transportation. There will be many variables and options available to help make your vacation less expensive. A well-traveled family pays attention to the budget. The best and most useful itinerary is detailed. Include: where you are going, how you will get there, the time you will go, amount of time and any cost involved. Gather maps to help you with time management as you move from one activity to another, daily. 

If you need help making out your itinerary, work with a travel agency, or if doing it on your own, try the free service of Tripit.com, or template guides available online. If your destination is Disney World, there is a Disney template available online to help you create an itinerary. You can also just use a listing format and list daily activities. Just keep it detailed.  Here are helpful links:

http://www.tripit.com/destinations/create-a-vacation-itinerary/ 
http://www.disneyparksplanning.com/p/planning.html

http://plnnr.com/

If you are planning far in advance, a few months, or even a few weeks in advance, you have time, and it is in the best interest of your group to make out a daily trip itinerary. 

*Check back for what’s next.  It's time to pack!

Copyright - Parents Want to Know 101, Sharon Rose, "Travel Guide for the Well-Traveled Family:  Part 3, The Vacation Itinerary,” June 14, 2013.  All rights reserved.  Photography credits, Disney World Photos, to Sharon Rose.  All rights reserved.

Travel Guide for the Well-Traveled Family, Part 2: Putting Your Travel Destination Plan Into Action

By Sharon Rose

Embassy Suites, Chicago Downtown Lakefront.  Enjoy a stroll down Millenium Park.

Family Travel Tip # 2 - Putting Your Travel Destination Choice Into Action

Length of Stay, Vacation Living Accommodations 

You and your family have talked it over and decided where you will travel to on vacation. Next, decide how long you will stay, where you will stay, and how you will get there. Research will be ongoing as your plans develop. Now, it is time to make contact with hotels to get prices, or a travel agency if you plan to work with one. Another option for accommodations, which has become very popular with family groups, is to check on prices for vacation rental apartments, condos, chalets, cabins, or beachfront homes. For the independent, budget-minded traveler, this is a great way to go! It is, most often, cheaper, when with a family group; allows you and the kids more freedom (to be playful and noisy and not disturb other guests); and provides use of a kitchen to save on meals. Though cliche, I have to say, "Like home away from home."  Many are luxurious with pools, grills, and patios. Worth checking into! The best sources are the most frequently used internet sites and those that come with high recommendations from friends or family. Here are several you can research:



https://www.airbnb.com/a/?af=43719944&c=.pi0.pk25650614176_303429057279_m_12026464216&sem_position=1t1&sem_target=kwd-12026464216&location_of_interest=&location_physical=9010937&ghost=true&gclid=CjwKCAjw2cTmBRAVEiwA8YMgzaAYtKWdhXSxqWfzaG9QDyFvddj2nUCNlBRQXMIc7Apxsq0Ir3UmMhoCeTMQAvD_BwE

http://www.luxuryrentalsmiamibeach.com/ 
http://www.gatlinburg.com/lodging/chaletscabins.aspx
http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rentals/europe/r5

www.homeaway.com
www.vrbo.com
www.craigslist.com
www.vacationrentals.com

There are beautiful housing accommodations to choose from all over the world. 

Embassy Suites, Tampa, FL.  When traveling with my children, as they grew up, Embassy Suites
was a good fit for our family.  Room suites are spacious with amenities that families with children would need.

Shalahah Marriot Resort - Chalets & Hotel, Oman

Art of Animation,  Disney World, Orlando, FL

Art of Animation Resort, Disney World, Orlando, FL.  The Little Mermaid section of the resort is adorned by several sculpted art pieces that represent the beauty of the story of Princess Ariel, the little mermaid.  This is the section my family and I stayed in.  Beautiful accommodations!    

A view of my room.  Art of Animation, Disney World,  Orlando, FL.

                        Cabins For You, and Bearadise, cabin rentals, offers a large variety of cabin 

                        styles from the simple to the luxurious, at affordable prices. 

                         Cabin accommodations with kitchen.  Most cabins sleep 6 and up at, surprisingly,

                                        affordable prices, especially when a group is sharing the cost.

                             Bearadise Cabin accommodations include from the simple to the luxurious.

                               Southern comfort style cabins with grills and all the comforts of home.

                            Bearadise cabin in secluded area of TN.  Cabins, condos and apartments

                            are available for vacationers to rent in various areas of the world. Research it.  

                                       Plenty of recreation in cabins, from pool tables to hot tubs to

                                                    indoor and outdoor swimming pools. 

Once you have prices of accommodations, that often helps the family group to decide on the length of stay. Make any necessary deposits or agreements to hold the accommodations. 


Mode of Travel

How will you get there? There are many options: airplane, car, train, bus, or ship. The discussion among family members goes on. It depends on you, your family group, where you are traveling to, and how long you are going to stay. The best advice is to do what is reasonable. No need to drive in the car from the East Coast to the West Coast for a 3-day trip. As well, a trip of a few hours duration may be a great time to introduce the children to a train ride. Leave the family car behind and pick up a rental when you arrive at your destination. If flying, make flight accommodations well in advance of your departure date; 21 days or more for best airline prices. Also, watch for flight specials and discounts. The same is advised for any other mode of travel, when not driving. Keep your budget in mind and plan far in advance to make this work! 

There are several modes of travel to choose from.  Make this a part of your family discussions.

Advance Preparation

Make a list of items that your family will need to bring on your trip. These include the following travel documents: mode of travel tickets, I.D., passport, visa, and birth certificate (for children). Make a photocopy of each of these to carry with you, just in case something gets lost. Travel with them in separate bags. These documents are requirements for travel, so caution is not unfounded. You may want to get travel insurance information to decide if this is something you want for yourself or family. A first aid kit is important to carry along and should include: allergy, cold, stomach, pain medicines, band-aids, and anti-bacterial cream. Sun screen is an essential if planning sunny months, or beach trips. It's a must for these kinds of outdoor trips. Include the phone numbers of your doctor, dentist, health insurance, and health insurance card. Check passport and visa requirements several months in advance to make sure everything is in order. If you are traveling out of the United States or to the United States, find out, well in advance, what, if any, immunizations are required. In addition, if your child has invited a friend to travel with you, secure a notarized letter from their parents authorizing travel and medical treatment, if necessary. If you are flying, visit the airline’s website or check out Seat Guru (www.seatguru.com) to help you in getting the best seats for your family.


At this point, your plan is in action! Keep the interest and excitement going! Provide brochures, maps, or website addresses to the family. Your vacation will become a reality before you know it!




*Next, Family Travel Tip # 3, The Vacation Itinerary.



Copyright - Parents Want to Know 101, Sharon Rose, "Travel Guide for the Well-Traveled Family, Part 2: Putting Your Travel Destination Plan Into Action," June 5, 2013.  All rights reserved.  Photography credits, Art of Animation Resort Building & Room, Disney World, to Sharon Rose.  All rights reserved.

Travel Guide for the Well-Traveled Family, Part 1: How to Choose the Best Family Travel Destination

My family.....with the exception of Minnie Mouse (smile).

By Sharon Rose

Getting Started

There are so many tourist attractions in the world for you to choose from. The question is how do you choose the best family travel destinations? There are several destination considerations, such as: schedule, costs, and kid-friendly.  Most families include children, so they should be considered.  In addition, at the beginning of your planning stage, in choosing a destination, you should consider the options available for transportation. Will you travel by car, air, etc?  Researching is a must and gets your planning started.  Also, if you are going to work with a travel agency, they will be helpful in giving some professional ideas and opinions.  Travel agencies are a good resource that should not be overlooked.


Early Discussions

There are many best family travel destinations, but the most important thing is to talk about it with the family group. You want everyone who will make the trip to value and enjoy the experience. Invite each family member to give their ideas. Talk about it in a group discussion. If you can't all be present together use a group discussion format, such as phone calls, texts, or create a Facebook family event page. Today's technology, with social media, can bring you all together. Be open to listen to the ideas of others. This is the moment when you should be able to determine the best results for the whole family. Try to choose a destination for which several ideas can be incorporated. For example, some may want to go to the beach, but others may want to tour museums, theme parks, or enjoy the nightlife. Choose a destination that has all of these activities available and include all of them when you plan your daily trip itinerary. We're not there yet in our planning, but to gain cooperation, it would be wise to explain that you plan to create an itinerary to fit the likes of everyone in the family group.  Part of the open discussion should include the best travel schedule for everyone, as well. Talk about the time of year family members can travel, such as holidays or spring break. Some family members may need to schedule time off from work well in advance, so, this is an important part of the discussion. You can make it work! 



Research

Take advantage of the many ways in which to research various destinations. The internet is one of the best sources. There are also travel books, brochures, and documentaries. YouTube, on the internet, is a good source of short travel videos. You don't have to be disappointed, that your destination was a place you never wanted to go, once you return from your trip. 


Travel Budget

The best family travel destinations have a big variety of things to do that fit all age groups. However, that does not have to mean an expensive vacation. Consider your budget for the trip and talk about it with the family. Starting the planning early will give everyone an opportunity to put a savings plan in place and/or have a good understanding of what is needed, financially, for them to make the trip. Also, if working with a travel agency, by planning early, you may also be able to take advantage of a payment plan, often with discounts. Whether you plan on your own or with a travel agency your budget is important and "key" to your travel plans being put into action. 

Check tomorrow for Family Travel Tip # 2.



For a Spring Break destination, my family chose Disney World, Orlando, FL, and what a great choice!  

Family pictures from Disney World Vacation, April, 2013.  We stayed at the Art of Animation Resort for 4 nights and 5 days.  We visited 4 theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney's Hollywood Studios. 

Copyright - Parents Want to Know 101, Sharon Rose, "Travel Guide for the Well-Traveled Family," May 30, 2013.  All rights reserved.  Photography credits - Sharon Rose.  All rights reserved.

WELCOME TO PARENTS WANT TO KNOW 101

WELCOME TO PARENTS WANT TO KNOW 101! 
Visit our blog, right here, at www.parentswanttoknow101.blogspot.com and our fan page at www.facebook.com/parentswanttoknow101 to stay in the loop on parenting issues and trends and related global issues. Feel free to comment and share your ideas, feelings, and opinions with others. Our mission is to provide a community of support to empower good parenting. It takes a village to raise a child!

Valentine's Day: Puppy Love and Beyond

By Sharon Rose

     Valentine's Day is a day for love.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if the feeling and expressions of love that we demonstrate on Valentine's Day were felt every day of the year?!  Love is a strong, emotional outpouring and demonstration of affection and kindness; peaceful interaction in a relationship; caring, protecting and providing for in a family; and often an exciting, giddy, passionate and romantic feeling between a man and a woman.  All in all, LOVE is a beautiful thing!

      The first time I was in love my Dad gave me a plump little brown puppy for my 3rd birthday.  I can still remember that giddy, stomach- flipping- over feeling that I felt when I was given that puppy, who I named, Brownie.  A plain and simple name given by a very young child.  I loved nothing better than to play with Brownie all day long.  He belonged to me and I loved him!  He followed me all over the house, licked me right in the face, and showed me so much love and attention.  Although he chewed many pairs of my shoes, I forgave him and my unconditional love continued.  Loving that puppy was such a good feeling!  As a result, for the rest of my life I have had a dog or some kind of pet in my home.  I believe I always wanted to keep that good feeling that I first felt at three years old.  The next time I was in love was with a boy in my 5th grade class.  I remember him sending me the do you love me notes on which you were to check a yes or no box.  Remember those?!  I checked yes and happily returned the note to him!  By 6^th grade we had each moved on; had other friends and other interests.  I remember that the school basketball team took up most of his time.  However, one week before I married, and although it had been many years since we had seen one another, he came to visit me to declare that he still loved me from all those years ago.  He explained that he was not there to interrupt anything, but just to take his last opportunity to say, I love you.  He wished me the best in my marriage and was on his way.  
      
     When I think of those emotional, past experiences of love I feel good inside and smile.  Love should make you feel that way and never the reverse.   Since my early childhood days I have had even greater feelings of love: the unconditional love I felt leap into my heart when I gave birth to each of my three children; the enduring, grateful love I feel for my parents; the happy, giddy feeling of gift-giving when I gave my own children a puppy one Christmas, and heard their squeals and saw their beaming faces; as well as, when I said I do as a woman in love.  I have learned that giving love is the best feeling of all!  Is there anyone that you would like to take the opportunity to say, at last, I love you, much like my 5^th grade friend?  Tell that special someone, family or friends, those three special words, I Love You.  It’s Valentine’s Day and love is in the air!  Happy Valentine’s Day! 

 

Poetry on Love, By Sharon Rose

I

When I Fall in Love

By Sharon Rose

When I fall in love,

       How will I know what it feels like?

When I fall in love,

Will it hurt or will it feel right?

When I fall in love,

Will all my days be joyful?

When I fall in love,

Will romantic nights bring bliss?

When I fall in love,

Will he love me again and again?

When I fall in love,

Will it be forever ‘til the end?

When I fall in love,

Will I know it when it shows up?

When I fall in love,

Will I give and not just take love?

 

 

Motherhood

By Sharon Rose

Today something wonderful

Came into my life.

More than a passionate feeling.

More than a special event.

Evolution born in learning

Age old secrets of life.

Discovering soulful emotions

That exists at the core of my being.

Being in a moment

That will never come again.

Being outside of self,

Staying there for someone else.

Being part of a miracle;

Nature’s power given over to me.

Knowledge of the universe,

Realized with primal screams!

Today something wonderful

Came into my life.

A precious gift I was given,

A gift called, Motherhood.

Copyright, Valentine's Day: Puppy Love and Beyond, article, Parents Want to Know 101, February 13, 2013, by Sharon Rose, all rights reserved.

 Copyright, When I Fall in Love, poem, Author, Sharon Rose, March 2000, Cannot be published without permission of the author, under penalty of law.  Cannot be used in theatrical or any spoken word stage production without permission and credit to the author, under penalty of law.  Contact: srgjones@gmail.com.

Copyright, Motherhood, poem, Author, Sharon Rose, March, 2000, all rights reserved. Cannot be published without permission of the author, under penalty of law.  Cannot be used in theatrical or any spoken word stage production without permission and credit to the author, under penalty of law.  Contact: srgjones@gmail.com.