The thing about a family vacation is the key word “family.” At the very least, this is going to be a few parents and at least one child. And at the other end, it can potentially be a group of adults, children, grandparents, cousins, and everything in between. And no family vacation is going to be a good one unless there’s a least a small chance that the vacation planning includes everyone who is going to be going.

And to that end, if you want to keep the whole family happy, consider working with travel packages, packing light, having everyone write out expectations in advance, having small budgets for everyone, and talking early about technology on the go.

Plan Ahead

If you don’t want to work out individual details regarding things like transportation and lodging per person, if you’re thinking about buying vacation packages as a first resort, that will leave less to the imagination. In other words, with just the click of a ‘vacation package’ button for the right number of individuals in the right age groups, there’s lots less for you to worry about. Now, if you have other plans, say to travel in a private jet, get the details for planning. You will need to check the private jet flight cost and timing to see if it will suit your requirements and budget. Planning is the first essential step for a family vacation. So, ensure that you get it done properly.

Pack Light

Especially when it comes to family vacations, knowing how to pack light can make all the difference in the world when it comes to keeping people happy. It might feel a little counterintuitive that kids will be happier having less stuff with them, but if the purpose of the vacation is to experience something new, then leaving things behind will mean that new options have to be explored, and that opens up everyone to these experiences.

Write Expectations In Advance

For everyone who is going, have them write a short list of expectations. This is a great way to see if people are more interested in adventures, or activities, or relaxing, or food, or even visiting specific places. You might be surprised that certain members of your family want to do things that you haven’t even considered.

Have Individual Member Budgets

If everyone is old enough to handle it, give each person going a small budget that’s all their own. Have them create a little vacation budget, and then allow them to use that money at their own discretion. This is a great way to give every a little individual power regarding their purchases during the vacation.

Talk Early About Social Media

Technology and overuse of gadgets can ruin a vacation if guidelines aren’t set into place early on. Especially if teenagers are involved, make sure that everyone understands how much time is expected to be spent doing family activities, and how much time should be spent with cell phones and tablets turned off.