How to Survive your Family Vacation

Let's face it, when you're on vacation, your siblings and parents can really get on your nerves! Vacations are supposed to be fun! There are some techniques you can use to help you deal with family and still manage to have fun during your upcoming vacation.

Avoiding Arguments

Think back to your last couple of family vacations. Do you and your siblings always fight about where you are going to sleep, where the family eats and what fun things the family gets to do? If there are constant factors that you always fight about, then it's a good idea to talk about these issues before leaving.

See if you and your siblings can come up with a compromise before these issues become problems once again. For example, if you each have a type of food you crave, ask your parents if it will be possible to visit both type of restaurants while on vacation. Taking care of these and other related issues before you even leave for your trip will ease arguments between you and your siblings.

Eliminating Boredom

If your parents have very different interests than you do, see if you can help to plan the vacation. Ask your parents if you can plan the events for one of the days. This will helps to ensure that you get to see the places you were looking forward to going.

If this is not possible, there are activities you can do to make your parent's attractions more interesting. Make a photo journal/scrapbook of your trip. Take pictures everywhere you and your family go and make sure to grab free stuff like napkins and other trinkets that will help you remember the experience. When you get home and develop all of your pictures, glue them along with your memorabilia into a journal. This will be a fun project to do together.

You can also keep a journal while on vacation, write letters to your friends, and make friends with other kids who are staying in your hotel.

Making a Vacation Budget

Do you and your parents typically argue about spending money on vacations? Ask them before you leave for vacation how much spending money you will be allowed. If you anticipate the amount in advance, then you are able to save any extra spending money you think you will need

Going on vacation costs your parents a lot of money. It is easy for parents to become frustrated when their kids are squabbling with each other and begging for more money. Knowing that parents are spending a lot of money for your family to have fun on vacation may help you to appreciate the trip. It would be nice of you to thank your parents for taking you to interesting places.

Keeping an Open Mind

You should discuss any worries with your parents in advance. If the whole family sits down together before going on vacation and vents about their worries and frustrations that stem from past vacation experiences, then everyone will understand other family member's reactions and emotions on vacation. Remember to keep your mind open and spirits positive in order to have the best possible experience.