Family reunions can be a lot of fun. You get to see family members you may not have seen for a couple of years. Perhaps, there are ‘new’ family members you haven’t met. The good news is there are plenty of family reunion locations throughout the U.S. The possibilities are endless!

It’s important to make arrangements early and find a place that works for everyone. This is a good way to prevent family feuds! If you wait too long to plan your family reunion, your favorite hotel or resort could be booked solid. Also, family members may not be able to attend due to previous travel plans.

How to Plan a Family Reunion, Cut Costs, and Have a Good Time

Book Your Family Reunion Locations Early! Photo credit: Stock exchange-Sign-Helen Bobis

Book early

Beach family reunion locations are popular. The most popular beach vacation destination is Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. If you have your heart set on having your family reunion in SC then you better book your location early. Otherwise, the entire family will be left out in the cold.

Tie your family reunion to an important date

If grandma and grandpa are celebrating 65 years of marriage, celebrate their special day at the family reunion. Building your family reunion around a holiday could be tricky. Big holiday’s like Memorial Day and the Fourth of July are during the travel ‘high season.’ You may not be able to find accommodations or someone may not be able to attend.

Hold your family reunion in the off-season

It may be cost effective to hold your family reunion in the off-season. Family reunion locations such as Florida, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and other popular destinations can be expensive during the ‘high season’ which is usually during the summer. Some family members may not be able to afford to attend. Take this into consideration when planning your family reunion. Holding in the off-season could work for everyone.

Meet at a family member’s home

Holding your family reunion at a family member’s home is another way to cut costs. Perhaps, a family member with five or more acres of land will be willing to host the family reunion. Everyone can bring something, a hot meal, desert, or soft drinks. Of course, cash would probably be accepted too!

Decide on the size of your family reunion

Your family reunion doesn’t have to be large. A small and intimate family reunion could be more inviting. First-time family reunion planners may want to plan a smaller affair. You’ll get a sense of what it’s like to plan reunion.

Raise money for your family reunion 

Send out an email blast and ask family members to have garage sales, silent auctions, raffles, car washes, rummage sales, etc. to raise money for your family reunion.

Plan cost-effective family activities

Ask family members what they like to do. Ask family members what their kids like to do. You can’t please everyone. But you can plan activities ahead of time to keep people entertained. Ideas are:

• Renting a karaoke machine.
• Set up a sound system outside (if you’re holding at your home).
• Booking golf outing.
• Swimming
• Hiking
• Going to the park.
• Renting a ‘bouncy castle’ or other inflatable rentals.

Now you know how to plan a family reunion, cut costs, and have a good time! Keep the lines of communication open. Correspond via email or Facebook. Keep in mind that everyone may not have a computer or Facebook page. Contact family members when you have the date, time, and location settled. Keep family up-to-date with the latest information. Happy planning!

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Family travel is no reason to go sabotage your diet or slack-off on your workouts. It’s okay to indulge once in a while, but pigging out on your vacation may leave you less than satisfied, especially if you recently lost a lot of weight. The good news is you can eat healthy and lose weight on vacation. Don’t believe me. Here’s my story.

How I lost weight on my family travel to Great Britain

My dad and I took our first international trip together to Great Britain in 1997. I was nervous, he was nervous, and we both lost weight. I lost about 15 pounds, and my dad lost about 12 pounds. How did we release the pounds? Keep reading.

Family travel usually includes sightseeing. Many destinations offer walking tours. Not only is walking is a low-impact form of exercise, but it’s perfect for the entire family. You lose weight by spending time with each other walking around the sites. It’s a win-win situation!

The trip that I took with my dad included a lot of walking tours. We walked around the gardens of Henry VIII’s Hampton Court Palace (England), Edinburgh Castle (Scotland), the town of Llangollen (Wales), and many other places throughout Great Britain.

Tip: Bring a good pair of walking/hiking shoes; otherwise, your feet will be sore.

Since my dad and I were visiting/touring another country, our eating habits and schedules were off. This was a good thing. We mostly had buffet style dinners; however, we weren’t used to some of the British foods. I wasn’t and still am not a big fan of lamb (I’m now a vegetarian), so I ate the fruit and vegetables.

I tried the “pop or soda,” but it tasted flat to me. I stayed hydrated by drinking water.

Tip: Avoid drinking alcohol or soda when you fly. You could become bloated or thirsty during your flight.

I was sad to leave Great Britain because it’s a wonderful country rich in art, culture, and history. There’s a lot to see which is why most people visit over and over again.

When my dad and I came home, my mom and sister didn’t recognize us. They were stunned by our weight loss.

So you see. It’s possible to eat healthy and lose weight while your family travels. I did!

How Families Can Eat Healthy and Lose Weight on Vacation

Family Travel: Eat Healthy and Lose Weight Photo Credit: ChrisWatk, visit www.dolcevita-images.com

Reduce the amount of soda, sugary fruit juices, and energy drinks you drink

Drinking water is good for your family. Kids may want sugary drinks, but they’re not good for them. Purchase bottled water (recycle bottles when possible) or use a filter system if you stay in vacation rental condo or home. It’s okay to have a ‘sugary drink’ once in a while, but don’t make a habit of it while you’re on vacation. Why? You and your kids could become sluggish and may not feel like doing anything. You’ll miss out on all the fun.

Avoid fast food restaurants and mall food courts

It’s easy to grab something to eat at a food court because it’s fast and convenient. It’s best to skip food courts and eat a healthy meal at a restaurant.

If you stay in a vacation home, shop for fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, etc. Buy organic when you can. Cook a healthy meal for your family. Let the kids help too!

Eat a good breakfast

Start your family travel off right by eating a good, hearty breakfast. Skip the stack of pancakes with a side of bacon and eggs and have a heart-healthy breakfast such as whole grain toast, whole grain cereal, egg whites, egg white omelet, oatmeal, fresh fruit, low-calorie/sugar fruit smoothie, or some other yummy breakfast.

FYI: Most restaurants have gluten-free foods and figure friendly breakfasts’.

Shop at local grocery stores and farmers markets for healthy snacks

Families staying in a vacation rental home can shop at the local grocery stores and farmers markets. Buying local and organic is a great way to stay healthy and lose weight on your family vacation. It’s also a good way to support and grow the local economy.

Ask for meals to be prepared ‘lightly’

Family travel may include eating at restaurants, delis, diners, and cafés. Don’t be afraid to ask your waiter or waitress if the chef or cook can prepare a meal differently. For example, if the chicken dinner you want is fried, ask if you could have it baked. When you order a salad, ask for dressing on the side. Instead of ordering a creamy ranch dressing, get a light dressing such as balsamic vinegar. Ask for substitutes, if available.

Use the above tips to eat healthy and lose weight on your family vacation. You can stick to your diet and exercise plan when you’re on a family vacation. Happy travels!

What’s your secret to eating healthy and losing weight on your family vacation? Share.

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Bonus Tip!

When possible, walk or bike instead of renting a car. Take advantage of public transportation too.

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A family vacation is when a family comes together to share a wonderful travel experience; to create memories that will last a lifetime. Sometimes, it works out that way. And sometimes you have travel memories you’d like to forget.

“Are we there yet?”

“I’m hungry!”

“I have to go to the bathroom!”

How many times have you heard those phrases while you’re speeding down the highway in your SUV or RV with the entire family? What about when you’re 30,000 feet in the air?

Let’s face it; taking the family on vacation can be an adventure in and of itself. Please everyone and you’ll have an enjoyable family vacation.

You can please everyone on your family vacation. Photo credit: Billy Alexander-Stock Exchange

Have a meeting about your family vacation

Before you surprise your family with a family vacation, hold a meeting to discuss it instead. Hear and listen to what your kids have to say about ‘suggested’ family vacation destinations.

Teenagers may not be thrilled to travel during the summer if they look forward to attending summer camp. Toddlers may not be ready for whitewater river rafting.

Ask everyone for their feedback. Hint: This shows your children that you care about what they think and feel.

Once you’ve gathered the data, choose a family vacation destination that receives the entire family’s seal of approval.

Ask family members to write (help younger kids with this) down their “top 7 vacation destinations”

This piggybacks on Point #1 about holding a family meeting about your vacation. Asking all family members to write down their top 7 travel vacation destinations is a good way to see where everyone would like to go on vacation.

Review all of the selections and narrow it down to the best location for your vacation. Keep the list of vacation destinations for next year, or plan a vacation over the holidays when kids are out of school.

Request travel brochures and guides

You can get plenty of family vacation ideas from travel brochures and guides. Most travel websites such as GuestQuest.com offers free travel brochures and guides. With a click of a button, you’ll have plenty of travel information that will help you find the best family vacation for everyone.

Speak with relatives and friends

Speaking with relatives and friends is a great way to discover a family vacation that will please everyone. Ask questions such as:

• Where did you vacation last year?
• Did you stay at a hotel or resort? Other accommodation?
• How ‘kid friendly’ was your vacation destination?
• How ‘pet friendly’ was the lodging?
• Did you have a good time?
• How much did it cost?

Read online travel reviews

TripAdvisor provides readers with reviews of vacation destinations along with ratings for accommodations. Reading reviews about family vacation destinations can help you plan yours. But, it’s important to read reviews with a keen eye. One family may have had a terrible experience, while another had the time of their life. This is where your ‘mother or father’s intuition’ kicks in. Follow your gut instinct.

Always choose the family vacation destination that’s best for you and your family. Use the above tips as a guide to planning your next family vacation. Whatever you do … have a fun family vacation. Bon voyage!

How do you choose your family vacations? Share.

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Flights in the U.S. that have been delayed three hours or more have declined dramatically over the last year, according to an article in the LA Times. The article reports that the latest findings show a drop from 82 delayed flights in April 2009 to only four this past April 2010. Airline representatives comment that the industry has been working to reduce delays for a long time, but many critics think the new fines appointed by the Obama administration are the reason for the decline. The fines went into effect on April 29, 2010 and they consist of up to $27,000 per passenger who is left sitting for three hours or more waiting for a flight to take off.

Clearly this is good news for travelers going on family beach vacations or business trips this summer. More good news also stated in the recent LA Times article is that hotels are beginning to test a faster check-in technology. The InterContinental Hotels Group, one of the world’s largest hotel companies will begin testing a digital application this month that can turn your cell phone into your room key. Guests staying at a hotel in Chicago and in Houston will be able to download an app to their smart phones that allows them to receive a code from the front desk and play a tone that opens the sound-activated locks on the room door. A second phase of the program will allow guests to get the code sent right to their phone which will remove the process of stopping at the front desk to check in.

With all the new technology emerging, the process of taking a large family or a family with younger children on vacation to Florida will become much less of a hassle. It looks like airlines and hotels are working hard to ensure that travelers have a stress-free, fast and easy experience and that seems like something to celebrate about, perhaps with a vacation to South Carolina.

Is your family vacation to South Carolina coming up, and instead of feeling excited you’re feeling nervous of getting on the plane? You shouldn’t have to deal with anxiety on your vacation, you should only be thinking of all the fun you’re going to have on the beach with your family. Here are a few tips for beating that fear of flying before it’s time to fly.

Before your trip, listen to a self-help tape about the fear of flying or read a book. There are many of them out there that answer every paranoid question you want to ask but haven’t. Educating yourself will make you feel much better about flying and you’ll have an easier time overcoming your fears.

Eat a hearty meal before you board. Low blood sugar causes stress, so make sure you eat a good meal before it’s time to fly. Also avoid caffeine because it can make you jumpy.

Give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport. Many people who are afraid of flying try to delay getting to the airport because they’re afraid of boarding the plane. However, delaying will just make you stressed that your family is going to miss the flight and then you’ll never get to start your family beach vacation. Rushing to board will increase your stress and that’s the opposite of what you need to do. You need to approach the flight being as calm as you possibly can.

Distract yourself, especially while you’re taking off. Read a book or a magazine. While you’re in the air, listen to your iPod, watch a movie you’ve never seen, eat some peanuts, talk to your neighbor, do anything to take your mind off your fears.

Have a drink. Keyword here, one drink. Try a rum and coke to calm your nerves, but do not drink too much because you’ll eventually feel awful and risk becoming sick on the plane.

Ask questions. If you think you see a wing flapping unnaturally or you hear a weird noise, ask your cabin crew what it is. It’s probably nothing and they can relieve your stress by assuring you everything is going smoothly.

Following these tips will get you ready for your next family beach vacation in no time, and this time you won’t have to dread travelling, instead you’ll be excited you get to spend a week in paradise with the people you love most.

• If the hotel room has a safe, use it for all your valuables including jewelry, electronic devices such as iPods, cameras or anything else that will fit that’s of worth to you or a family member. If the safe is electronic, wipe down the touch keys before operating with a damp cloth and dry it before entering your safe password. Also once you have keyed in your code and closed the safe door, press all the other keys that don’t make up the code. Certain hotels have found their staff putting a light oil residue over the touch keys that shows them what numbers were pressed when a special light was shined on it. A few staff members were opening safes from a few rooms and taking small amounts of money from each. Although this is a rare occasion, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

• Never carry a large amount of cash in your wallet. If you do have to carry a lot of bills, don’t pull all of your money out when you go to pay for something. It will attract the wrong kind of attention. When possible carry Traveler’s Checks or credit cards, which are much easier to track if stolen or cancel if needed.

• Wear pants that have zipper pockets, they are harder to pickpocket. Also don’t leave things, such as a wallet hanging out of a pants pocket or purse that is unzipped, it will tempt thieves to steal it.

• Never invite strangers into your room. When you are on vacation you may like to meet people who are also on vacation enjoying themselves. After a few drinks, you may think this person is your best friend, however, you don’t know them, so until you’ve hung out with them enough to feel like you actually know them, don’t invite them back to your room.

Whether you are travelling on a business trip or taking a family beach vacation, arranging the contents of your suitcase is important to ensure nothing gets too wrinkled and you have room for everything you need. Many people tend to over pack, which just creates more work for you. Lugging around a heavy suitcase at the airport is no fun, especially when you really only need half the contents for your trip. Here are great packing tips to follow for the next family beach vacation you plan:

• First, make a list of everything you think you need to bring on your trip. Keep in mind where you are going, what activities you plan on doing and whether or not you’ll have a washer and dryer available while on the trip. After the list is complete, go back through and eliminate things you really don’t need to bring. Choose your shoes wisely. Go for pairs that can be dressed up or dressed down. Wear your heaviest pair during travel and pack two pairs or less. If you’re paranoid you are forgetting something, just remember, if you arrive at your destination and realize you left something behind, odds are if it’s an emergency and you need it, you can buy it at a local store.

• Make sure to pack travel size toiletries. Pack lotions, shampoos, and powder makeup in individual plastic bags so if there is a spill, it doesn’t get all over your bag and everything else, and airline inspectors can see the contents easily. Packing toiletries in a pocket of your suitcase or in a makeup bag is the best way, and it also makes it easier to keep track of everything during your trip.

• Pack whole outfits, not just a shirt here and a pair of pants there. You don’t want to get to your destination and see that you didn’t bring anything to wear together. Plan your outfits for each day of the vacation, this will make it easier to determine what you need. Make sure to consider that you may need a day outfit and a night outfit on some days. If you’re going on a family beach vacation, you probably don’t need too many day outfits, just bring two swim suits instead and re-wear day outfits if you aren’t at the beach as much as you thought.

• To start packing, lay everything out on your bed. Fold each clothing item in half, starting with the heavier items like pants and jackets. Roll each item tightly until you reach the end; you should now have a tight cylinder that you can neatly place in your suitcase. This rolling method helps to prevent wrinkles and allows you to fit more things in your suitcase. If something is unable to be rolled because it’s a delicate item, place it folded on the bottom of the suitcase or hang in a separate garment bag. Fill your shoes with socks and underwear, if possible, to save space.

• After you’ve loaded your suitcase with your clothing items, it’s time to stuff your shoes along the sides. You may also stuff your belts along the sides.

• Find a place in the center of the suitcase for your toiletries bag. Being surrounded by other items will reduce the chance of anything being squished and spilled.

• After you’ve fit the smaller items in all the available space between items in the suitcase, cover the surface of the suitcase with a dry cleaning bag. The slippery surface of the bag won’t allow anything to stay in the same place long enough to get too wrinkled.

• Make sure to wear any nice jewelry during travel and if you’re planning on checking your bag, you should keep all jewelry in your carryon. You wouldn’t want your family beach vacation to be ruined because your favorite necklace was stolen.