Family vacations today take in the entire spectrum of travel. While you have the option of returning to the cottage or resort your family has gone to for generations, there's a whole wide world out there. From colorful South America to the exotic South Pacific, Europe's sophisticated cities to British Columbia's remote and rugged wilderness -- all are places where families can find a warm welcome and many exceptional programs designed just for parents and kids.
On the other hand, families don't always vacation for the purpose of discovery. Sometimes the entire agenda is to be utterly relaxed and peaceful, and to forge memories together. A familiar place can promote relaxation and contentment in a way other kinds of vacations can't. Once your kids know the ropes somewhere, they depend less on you for guidance and entertainment, which frees you to relax all the more. Since there are fewer surprises in a vacation spot you've visited before, you can sit back and start enjoying yourselves the moment you all arrive -- and there's a great deal to be said for that.
Parents who consider themselves competent travelers often dismiss the idea of tours, organized trips and other types of group travel. Such regimented travel has gotten a bad rap in the past because of its "cattle drive" approach to tourism: herding folks through as many sites in as many countries in as few days as possible. And then there's the old rule that in any given group of travelers there's at least one obnoxious person who makes the trip almost unbearable for others.
Though these stereotypes aren't without foundation, they are more likely to be the exception than the rule these days, especially in family groups. There are many tours and outfitters offering great trips for parents and kids. Still skeptical? Here are five reasons to consider group travel.
Time
Turning over leadership and logistics to someone else gives you time to enjoy your surroundings and your family.
Equipment
Experienced guides and outfitters have the necessary equipment, training and knowledge to keep your family safe in the environment where you'll be traveling. This may include proficiency in the local language, two-way radio equipment, first-aid training and supplies, and other facilities for getting help in case of illness or injury.
Knowledge
Tour leaders and guides who have traveled extensively in an area are likely to know local people and places that regular tourists would miss or that would not be open or available to those traveling on their own.
Safety/Cost
Tours often allow families to travel to places or in ways they could not manage on their own, either because they lack the expertise to organize a particular trip safely (white-water rafting, for example), because it's difficult to obtain permits to travel to certain regions or because booking such a trip as a private individual is simply too expensive.
Companionship
Trips that include other families give kids instant playmates, and give parents travel companions who understand that kids act like, well, kids. In a group situation, there's backup when it comes to feeding, teaching and entertaining children. And, of course, when a tour is designed specifically for families, parents have less to worry about anyway because the itineraries, activities and meals have all been planned with children in mind.
Planes, trains and automobiles
How you travel will depend on your budget and schedule as well as your personal preferences. There are advantages and disadvantages to every type of conveyance, so compare them and decide which allows for the easiest, most stress-free, and congenial mode of family travel (or as close to that as you can get).
By Car
Your basic vehicle - be it sedan, minivan or sport-utility truck -- has many advantages. It's usually, but not always, the least expensive way to go. You can leave on the spur of the moment, there are lots of places to stay each night and you travel pretty much on your own time. Among the car's disadvantages, however, is that driving can be slow and tedious. You spend an inordinate amount of time searching for clean bathrooms in strange places. Motion sickness can be a problem. Depending on how far you're going, you can lose time away from your vacation destination. And it's a scientific fact that kids whine more in a car than in any other type of transportation.
By Plane
The primary advantage to traveling by airplane is clear: It's the fastest way to go and the only way to get to some places. You can check your luggage and forget about it. Someone will serve you meals (if you fly at a time of day when meals are actually included). Kids love to fly. Bathrooms are only as far away as the end of the plane. You don't have to drive, so you can relax and enjoy time with your kids. Flying makes it possible to choose a faraway place for even a short trip.
On the other hand, flying is expensive. Many aspects of flying are out of your control, including some that can threaten your trip. Weather delays, equipment failure, lost luggage and canceled flights are but a few. And transporting baby gear -- car seats, strollers, portacribs -- is cumbersome. Of course you can often rent these items at your destination, but then again that ups your cost.
By Train
The great thing about trains is that they make getting there half the fun. There's a romance to train travel that even the youngest children pick up on. Kids can walk around in the aisles, and there's room for playing. If you book a berth, kids can stick to their regular sleeping routines. Trains can be expensive, however, particularly in the United States. Some other minuses: You have to keep children from disturbing other passengers for extended periods. Baggage help is not always available. And transportation to your hotel or car-rental location can be tricky.
By Boat
Kids love boats of all kinds. Ferries can be a terrific way to break up a driving trip -- and you can bring your car too. Chartering a houseboat or skippered sailboat lets you travel at an easy pace instead of speeding. Cruise ships can be a good deal if families book just one cabin, and cruises often have stellar family programs. But itineraries on commercial cruises are rigid. Traveling by boat can be expensive. Seasickness is awful. If you have young children, they require careful watching. Ships, with their constant excitement, can be difficult environments in which to maintain kids' routines.
By RV
What's terrific about recreational vehicles is that you carry your lodging, bathroom and kitchen with you -- whether you're self-propelled in a motor home or camper van, or pulling a trailer. Campgrounds are inexpensive. Pets can go too. The negatives: RVs may or may not compare favorably with other modes of travel in terms of cost. Most RVers cook and clean every day, which may not necessarily be your idea of a vacation. And you may not feel especially comfortable driving such a large vehicle or towing a trailer that is considerably bigger than your car.
Regardless of when, where and how you go on vacation, there's one other overriding factor you'll also need to consider. Call it the "kid crazies." You know your family better than anyone, so you're probably aware of all the things that can trigger discomfort and discontent. If you know, for example, that your children need snacks throughout the day or else they experience serious insanity, it's a sure bet that this pattern will continue while they're on the road. If they're transformed from Dr. Jekyll into Mr. Hyde when they stay up past eight o'clock at night, that's not going to change just because they're having the time of their lives. While problems like these can make traveling stressful, they're certainly not insurmountable. Make an effort to anticipate these rough spots so you can plan around them, and you'll greatly improve your odds of having a really relaxing vacation.