During a family trip you share

Summer vacations equates an outing with the extended family to bond and share a few laughs. Here’s how to not let it get sour:

CHOOSE ACCOMMODATIONS WISELY

Discuss your stay options with everyone in your group. Maybe you are the type of family who will enjoy one large suite or a vacation rental, ideal for fostering togetherness, or perhaps, separate hotel rooms work best for your brood. Renting a home on a secluded beach miles away from town may seem idyllic to you, but your own idea of idyllic can translate to boring pretty quickly for both the older and younger members in your extended family.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Considering a family of three generation is travelling together; make sure you have plenty of different activities to choose from. An activity is the best way to encourage bonding between cousins or the family per say. Rule of the thumb is to keep everyone's age, skill level and interests in mind. Also, don't expect everyone to participate in every activity. Keep an option or two back when you are planning your trip itself. Most importantly, be sure to plan a few activities that you know everyone in your family will enjoy doing together.

LOOK FOR GROUP DISCOUNTS

Some places offer discounts for large groups. When you're planning out activities, make sure to look for those group discounts and utilise them. It's one of the best perks to doing things with your entire family.

DON'T OVERTAX THE GRANDPARENTS

While it's great to have grandma and grandpa around to play babysitter, their idea of a vacation might not involve staying in with the kids every night while mom and dad go out around town.

LET TEENAGERS HAVE A SAY

If you want to avoid having a self-absorbed teenager onboard, include them in the planning process. Let them be in charge of planning a day of sightseeing or have dinner options in place. Don't insist they participate in every family activity either. Make sure they have enough time to explore on their own, join a trek or stay out for a party with their siblings or cousins.

SHARE

While you can't share everything, there are a great number of items that can easily be communal property, especially amongst family. When you're travelling long distances - lugging and paying for extra bags - sharing can help save cost and help travel light. Simple draw up a list of the items, share it online with your family and decide who brings what. You can even share clothes in some cases.

SPLITTING THE BILL

When planning a multi generational vacation, consider everyone's budget, and make sure to discuss who will pay for what. Often, these types of trips are gifts, with one party footing the bill for the whole group. But inevitably, there are additional and unexpected expenses. Regardless of who has booked and prepaid for the vacation, be sure to discuss all the possible additional expenses, not just the major and obvious ones like air fare and hotel. Think: Dine out, add on activities, snacks purchased as a group, taxi fares extra. It also helps to have one person in charge of all the finances and the planning that goes with it.

TIP: While travelling with the extended family opt for a vacation rental. It offers the best of both worlds: separate sleeping arrangements with common living spaces.

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