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A vacation is the best chance for family members to bond together. Plan your vacation beforehand to make it memorable.

Here are the things you need to look at before planning a family vacation to get the most out of it.

Identify Your Interests

The interests of two persons are seldom the same. You might like a trip to the mountains, your wife may choose a cruise and the kids will definitely opt for the amusement park. And there you have it, chaos ensues! To avoid such conflicts of interests, it is always better to discuss where you will be vacationing in the planning phase itself.

Sitting down and taking down expectations of your family members from the vacation will lead to a memorable vacation for all. Forcing your preferred itinerary on them will either eliminate the fun or result in cancellation of the vacation. Therefore, it is essential to identify the interests of all the family members.

Plan Your Budget

Budget is the Achilles Heel for most of us. Getting the full experience of the destination, within the constraints of your preferred expenditure is a challenge. You have to be really wise and prudent in planning your itinerary. You need to figure out the costs pertaining to transportation, accommodation, food, and entertainment while keeping in mind the size of your family and the distance that needs to be travelled.

For instance, go for a road trip instead of an airplane if your destination is not far off and the road leading to it is scenic and beautiful. If you have kids, opt for a spacious rental car that is high on comfort and mileage. Use public transport to reduce your local travelling expenses and get the feel of the city.

Check the Date

The date of journey and the duration of stay have to be looked into for obvious reasons. Fix a time that is comfortable for all the family members. Summer and winter vacations are usually the perennial favourites. But, that applies to everybody, and tickets are hard to get during these times. It is advisable to book your tickets beforehand, usually months in advance.

Here is a great tip for saving some precious money. You can make the smart move and plan your trip during the off-season. During this time of the year, most of the popular holiday destinations are cheap and less crowded.

Don't Overpack

This is where thoughts of "what if" take centre stage and you end up with four bags instead of two. Carrying unnecessary luggage on your vacation is the last thing you want. Make sure that you carry only the requisite outfits needed and pack bags separately for pre-planned activities such as swimming or hiking. This will ensure that once you reach the spot, all you have to do is zip the bag open and get on with leisure.

Be Flexible