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Five Tips for Memorable Summer Family Travel

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Jason

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(ARA) - As summer quickly approaches, parents and children will be on the move. According to the Travel Industry Association of America, one in four household trips in the U.S. include children under 18, and 91 percent of those trips are for leisure.

Emily Kaufman, the Orbitz Travel Mom, offers tips for parents looking to make sure summer vacation is memorable, for the right reasons:

1. Make sure there is something for everyone.

When investigating your next travel destination, make sure there are activities available that everyone finds interesting. One way to engage adults and children is to select a destination that offers family learning experiences.

In addition to hotel and resort amenities, consider a location that offers natural opportunities for everyone. Los Cabos, Mexico is a great family locale with world-class beaches and family-friendly activities, including snorkeling and kayaking. Rich in culture and history, Los Cabos also boasts a fascinating ecosystem. The Olive Ridley sea turtles come to the beaches of Los Cabos to nest from June through December and will captivate all ages.

Back in the U.S., Philadelphia is rolling out the red carpet for families this summer to celebrate Ben Franklin's 300th birthday. The Franklin Institute science museum has hand-on exhibits including "Franklin - He's Electric."

2. Do your homework in advance - all kids' camps are not created equal.

Kids camps are a great source of activities and can add additional entertainment to any family vacation. Resorts, hotels and cruise lines are working hard to keep children engaged with top-notch programs, but it is important to do a little research in advance.

Look for programs that go beyond the "arts and crafts" basics and offer creative opportunities for different age groups. For instance, your family can cruise through the Caribbean, Alaskan or Mediterranean waters with Carnival Cruise Line's Camp Carnival. Activities within Camp Carnival are segmented for different age groups, and can have your children face painting or jamming out at a karaoke session, depending on their age. Facilities and activities exclusively for teens are available as well.

3. Research water-based activities.

Family members of all ages love water activities, and the days of the single hotel pool with a 10-foot kids slide are over. A number of new hotels and resorts include water parks as a central feature.

Rose Hall Resort & Country Club in Jamaica features one of the largest man-made water attractions in the Caribbean and the first of its kind in Jamaica. Sugar Mills Falls, the resort's exclusive water theme park, features 2,760 square feet of cascading waterfalls, a 280-foot-long, 30-foot elevation thrill slide, a "lazy river" for tubing, three terraced pools and a secluded whirlpool/spa area.

4. Design your vacation to match your style.

When choosing a summer hot spot for your family, be realistic about the type of trip that will please the majority of your travelers. Will you be comfortable roughing it or do you require some luxury touches? Host a family meeting to discuss expectations, which will help during the planning process. Consider food, as well as accommodations, when choosing a vacation destination. For example, parents who try to instill healthy eating habits at home will find comfort in the growing range of healthy kids' menus that have become an option at hotels such as KSL Resorts.

5. Check off-season deals to get more for your dollar.

Don't forget to consider "off-season" destinations this summer, where you can often enjoy luxury family accommodations at budget prices. A number of top-tier Caribbean hotels and resorts offer superb family packages during the summer months. An outstanding resort to check for off-season prices is the famed Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. The resort offers the world's largest man-made marine environment and great family activities such as Dolphin Encounters.

Once you have determined how much your family can spend on a summer getaway, take advantage of valuable resources such as Orbitz.com to make the most of your dollars. With the right planning, everyone in your family from ages 5 to 55 is sure to have a vacation to remember.

Source: FOX Carolina

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Thanks Jason Avery nice article.

And I couldn’t stress point two enough.

2. Do your homework in advance - all kids' camps are not created equal.<]

No Matter if you are researching kids clubs or an Adult only facility....DO YOUR HOMEWORK<] It is most important that not only do you verify information, but you re-verify if possible with another source.

By doing so I believe you raise your comfort level by assuring what you are buying is what you will be receiving. jmho

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