DALLAS, June 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Without proper planning, big
family trips that include grandparents, aunts, uncles, and a few toddlers
thrown in for good measure, can turn on a dime from fun to fearsome.
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Multigenerational travel has seen tremendous growth recently. According
to the Travel Industry Association, more than five million family vacations
each year include three generations.
"Some of the best memories and experiences can occur when extended
family members vacation together," says Rick Fisher, vice president of
Specialty Lodging for hotels.com(R). "However there is always potential for
friction when different personalities get together for an extended period
of time. Finding vacation accommodations and creating a game plan that is
suitable for every age group is fraught with challenges and obstacles.
However, with proper planning, big family trips can truly be a wonderful
experience for all involved."
hotels.com, which is the most comprehensive resource for booking
vacation rentals and bed & breakfasts worldwide on the Internet, has
compiled the following list of tips and hints to help families planning
their next trip that includes a variety of age groups.
1. Plan ahead. Let the whole gang have a voice in preparing for the
trip. Let the kids get on the Internet and do some research. On the
hotels.com site there's even a tab called Suites, Condos and B&B's to
make shopping for lodging even easier. Ask grandparents to do some
research too. Sketch out a plan so everyone knows up front what is on
the agenda. That way, there is little room for argument. However,
don't forget that every vacation needs some flexibility and
spontaneity, so don't forget to plan for last minute changes.
2. Plan activities that suit each age group. Just because it's a family
vacation, don't feel that every member has to spend each waking moment
together. Plan activities that appeal to everyone and then divide and
conquer. Big kids might want to go to an area amusement park,
grandparents might want to check out the local art gallery, and
toddlers might want to build sand castles on the beach. Remember,
it's everyone's vacation, so allotting special time for each age group
to do their own thing will make the trip more enjoyable.
3. Everyone needs their space. When booking accommodations, consider
vacation rentals, which come in the form of condominiums, townhomes,
villas, suites and private homes. One of the advantages of vacation
rentals is that family members can each have their own room and much-
needed privacy. In addition, everyone can easily gather together for
meals and family time in the common living room/kitchen areas.
4. Avoid restaurants, slow service and costly meals by taking advantage
of your vacation rental's kitchen. Since many age groups follow
different eating schedules, use the kitchen for breakfast, lunch and
snacks. That way, restaurants are a treat and not torture for all
involved. And of course, many vacation rentals come with outdoor
grills, so stay in and relax with a home cooked meal at the end of
your busy day.
5. Do Unto Others. Even though it's time to let loose and relax,
remember to mind your manners. Any group experience comes with a
degree, or two, or three, of stress and inconvenience. Go with the
flow, stay cheerful and remember that you are traveling in a group,
even if it's a group you grew up with.
6. Book early. According to Fisher, top summer family destinations for
condos and homes shown on the hotels.com travel site are booking up
fast even though the site offers the best selection of online bookable
inventory available on the Internet. Myrtle Beach, Orlando, Panama
City, Miami, Destin, FL, the Hawaiian Islands, Virginia Beach and
Gatlinburg, TN offer great family vacation rental choices, and there
are many vacation rental opportunities in city destinations like New
York and Washington DC.
About hotels.com
hotels.com(R) is a leading provider of lodging worldwide, offering
reservation services through its own web sites (including
http://www.hotels.com and others), its interactive affiliate network
(http://www.IAN.com ), and its toll-free call centers (1-800-2-HOTELS).
hotels.com gives travelers one of the widest selections of lodging
accommodations from traditional hotels to vacation rentals at more than
70,000 properties worldwide. hotels.com is an operating company of Expedia,
Inc. (Nasdaq: EXPE).
Hotels.com and the Hotels.com logo are either registered trademarks or
trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries of Hotels.com, L.P., a
subsidiary of Hotels.com. Other logos or products and company names
mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Media Contact:
Liz Greene
The Powell Group for hotels.com
214.350.7236
lizgreene@greenecomm.com
SOURCE hotels.com
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Related links:
http://www.hotels.com
http://www.IAN.com
Photo Notes:
NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050415/LAFRU1LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
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CONTACT:
Liz Greene of The Powell Group,
+1-214-350-7236, or lizgreene@greenecomm.com , for hotels.com
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