Some family vacations could be disasters waiting to happen if proper thought is not given prior to planning everything out. The following are some tips we have used to hopefully help you in the planning of and during your family’s next vacation so that it’s both memorable and fun.

• 1) Prior to deciding on a particular location, determine if you want to spend a lot of time together doing the same thing or a vacation where each person can find their individual fun. For the ultimate in family togetherness, camping is one way to go. But if your family includes children who are older or teenagers who might be happier having a bit of restrained freedom, a vacation to an all-inclusive resort or on aboard a cruise ship might be more fitting.

• 2) If you are planning your family vacation over several days, consider having a list of optional things to do both indoors and outside so that the weather doesn’t impact your family’s fun times. Certainly no one will have good memories if all of your outdoor destinations are ruined by inclement weather.

• 3) Popular destinations such as Disneyland offer reasonable package tours. You can save by grouping your hotel, attractions, and some meals together in one plan. Many times, you will find perks like early park entry and special events included in such package options.

• 4) Some families find that bringing a cooler stocked with juices and water is a handy way to save some cash when making pit stops along the way. Why pay $2.00 for a bottle of soda if you don’t have to – especially if it will be multiplied by every member of your family. We also liked to freeze bottles of water and juice boxes. During the hot summer months, the “slushie boxes” were a hit.

• 5) It may seem obvious, but essentials such as pain relievers like Tylenol and a first aid kit should also be included on your packing list. No one wants to deal with a headache and trying to find a drug store in an unfamiliar town. Sunscreen and waterless hand sanitizer are also advisable to bring along on any family journey.

• 6) Small packets of Kleenex are not only great for runny noses, but also come in handy when the restroom you stop at always seem to be the one out of stock on the toilet paper.

• 7) If you will be staying in a hotel, see if your lodging choice offers roll-away beds for a small fee instead of paying double for an extra hotel room. This is especially smart if you have younger children who could become frightened sleeping in a strange room – even if your hotel offers adjacent rooms with a connecting interior door. Also, many hotels offer a “kids stay free” type of promotion. Be sure to ask if your lodging choice is doing this when making your reservations.

• 8) If your hotel is not a suite, ask if a mini-fridge might be available. Keeping it stocked with drinks and cold cuts or yogurt, etc. will help save on food and drink costs.

• 9) It might sound odd, but consider staying at a hostel or hotel located in a business center. While they might not be as conveniently located to tourist attractions, the rates will be attractive. Hostels offer family rooms and many now offer private baths. Hotels located in business centers can offer discounted rates when their usual business customers have gone home for the weekend.

• 10) To keep vacation spending under control when traveling with children and/or teens, consider giving each member a daily or trip allowance. Not only will it limit the impact on your wallet, but will give kids an empowering real life experience in deciding how to handle their money.

• 11) In addition to including some popular “must-see” places on your itinerary, consider leaving time to just happen upon a restaurant or attraction that might not be heavily advertised. Sometimes the best memories come from those places that we just came upon – like the private farm that had ostriches, yaks, and a camel!

• 12) If you will be traveling by car or plane, be sure to take along snacks and small games or books to help keep kids preoccupied and to cut down on the “are we there yets?”.

• 13) A power charger that plugs into your vehicle’s a/c jack is handy for charging MP3 players, cameras, and cell phones too.

• 14) Finally, before heading out on your next trip, be sure to check online for discount tickets and special promotions.

If you have tips that have helped your family save money on vacation, please leave a comment. We can all learn how to stretch our vacation spending if we share tips.