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Smart Mom

Good to go Plan the ultimate family vacation. By Maria Bailey and Jennifer ArnoldPublished: March, 2010

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Family vacations are a great opportunity to reconnect, reinforce family bonds and create memories that will last a lifetime. And it all starts with a good plan. If you do it the right way, planning your vacation can be half the fun; making plans fuels the thrill of anticipation and shared excitement.     In fact with a little creativity, planning a vacation can be a fun way to spend some quality family time. Here are a few steps to help you take the initiative and put together a well-thought-out plan: > Determine your budget While you will eventually want to involve the whole family in the planning process, there are a few aspects of your vacation that are better off handled by the adults. If you’re married, sit down with your spouse to go through all of the parental decisions that need to be made ahead of time, leaving plenty of smaller decisions for the kids.      First off, determine your budget. Finances can often be a point of contention both before and after a vacation. Agreeing upon a budget in advance can reduce stress and arguments, and pave the way for a much smoother vacation overall.  > Busy bees or beach bums? Once you’ve decided on a budget that you’re comfortable with, the next step is to determine the type of vacation you’d like. Depending on the ages of your children, you might want to include them in this process. However, if they are on the younger side, it may be best to narrow down some choices, thus avoiding a theme-park revolt!     GO TO PAGE: 1  |  2  |  3  |  4

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