June 6, 2002

Planning A Fun and Exhilarating Vacation

Just because your travel dollars are limited, doesn’t mean your family can’t enjoy a fun-filled vacation. With a little planning, you and your family can plan a vacation that won’t break the bank.

"Planning your family vacation can be fun, exhilarating, exciting and at times nerve wracking," says Debra Pankow, North Dakota State University family economics specialist. "Whether you go camping, make your own reservations or use the services of a travel agent, it really helps to focus on the facts."

Without the basic facts, shopping around for travel information can be a waste of time. Being organized can make the job of planning a family vacation so much easier.

According to Pankow, planning a family vacation is the perfect opportunity to have, or begin to have, family meetings. Allow all family members to participate in the planning. If setting aside money for the trip involves some sacrifice, it will be much more likely that everyone will cooperate, if they had some say in the planning process. Before planning your vacation gateway, there are some helpful tips you can use:

• Start planning early. If you plan ahead, you will have plenty of time to research your options and will be more likely to get the vacation you want. Popular hotels and cruises are often reserved as much as a year in advance during peak season.
• Check out the specifics. Be sure that the package you choose provides the vacation you want, and keep in mind that low package prices may be based on less desirable hotels or rooms. Find out whether the hotel has the location and amenities you expect.
• Vacation in the OFF-Season. Vacationing in the off season can often get you more savings, while still allowing you to travel during favorable weather conditions.
• Consider package deals. Vacation packages often provide upgraded rooms and additional perks such as free tours. Some include airfare, car rentals, and meals.
• Find a travel agent. A travel agents expertise and knowledge will save you time and money. Look for an agent who specializes in the type of vacation you are seeking. But most importantly, find an agent who takes the time to find out what the best options are.
• Investigate airfares. You can easily cut your airfare by hundreds of dollars. Sign up for sites such as Travelocity’s Fare Watcher or Expedia’s Fare Tracker. These site allow you to track airfare prices at certain times of the year.
• Send for free information. Tourism offices are happy to provide free hotel, restaurant, and activity brochures that offer many deals. Also, ask about free events and visitor discounts.

By developing a travel plan, you will have everything needed to efficiently plan your family’s vacation. Once you have determined the costs of your trip, and your anticipated dates, start setting aside the money you need to pay for your vacation. Then you will be ready to plan your next trip upon your return!

If you are interested in planning a family vacation, contact your local extension agent or contact Debra Pankow, North Dakota State University Extension family economics specialist , at (701) 231-8593 for more details.

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Source: Debra Pankow, (701) 231-8593, dpankow@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Richard Mattern, (701) 231-6136, Richhard.Mattern@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Writer: JJ Camarillo, (701) 231-8371, jcamaril@ndsuext.nodak.edu