By Sharon Rose
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| Embassy Suites, Chicago Downtown Lakefront. Enjoy a stroll down Millenium Park. |
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.
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| 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. |
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| Shalahah Marriot Resort - Chalets & Hotel, Oman |
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| Art of Animation, Disney World, Orlando, FL |
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| 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! |
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| 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.
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