Travel Buddy and the Crazy Sombrero

Dear travel diary,

It’s just a few more days ‘till our big trip. Mom has started packing and dad just left for the bank to get traveler’s checks. He even said he’d get me some foreign cash I could carry around myself!

When they told me we were going on a big trip I was so excited that I did some bragging to all my friends. One of my friends was so jealous, that he begged me to let him come with us. Maybe I’ll bring him something back...

Just think diary…I, the Travel Buddy, am going out of the country, and I might even learn a new language and I, the Travel Buddy, may just get to... well you get the picture. It’s going to be GREAT! But no matter what adventures come my way, I will never forget who I am; a little tourist in the big world.

Adios! (That’s Spanish for goodbye), The Travel Buddy

Travel Buddy Tip #1 – Deciding on a Vacation Destination and Telling the Kids

Just Imagine: You have it all planned and are as giddy as you anticipate the kids will be. You have been scheming for months with the travel agent, with friends and perhaps even grandparents. When the kids come down for breakfast this morning you just know that they’ll be thrilled to find the tickets you’ve purchased to the all-inclusive resort in Jamaica. What’s even better… you leave tomorrow!

This greeting card moment represents a dream that many parents have. They honestly believe a trip like this will be the ultimate gift to their children. What they don’t realize is that for most kids the initial excitement will wear off within a few minutes and; depending on your child and their travel experience, you might find yourself faced with a flood of other emotions.

Before you plan this kind of covert operation you should consider two important things: I. The age and travel experience of your children and II. The type of vacation you want to take and possible destinations.

I. Age of Your Children: Your child’s age and travel experience are important because it will significantly impact which vacation options are the most suitable for your family. Understanding a bit about child psychology and taking this into account while planning your vacation will potentially save you a great deal of frustration later. Let me help to explain how they may react by talking about the characteristics of each age group.

II. Type of Vacation and Possible Destinations: Deciding on a vacation destination is an important decision regardless of who you are traveling with but when planning to travel with children or teens it is critical that you give this very careful consideration. The following several pages will guide you through the process of picking the best vacation options and destination for your family.