Traveling with a family or multigenerational group involves a lot of coordination. Here are some tips for making the experience as smooth and easy as possible.
- Lock in rates by booking a year in advance. Prices for hotel rooms and other services frequently rise from year to year, but by reserving early you can avoid many of the rate increases – sometimes we’ll be able to negotiate lower 2011 rates even if you’re not traveling until 2012.
- Remember that larger groups need more rooms, meals, airline seats, and other spaces. The further in advance you can book, the more likely it is you’ll get what you want.
- To keep hotel costs down for your group, consider booking triple and quad hotel rooms instead of singles and doubles.
- Be flexible with your travel plans. Often shifting your arrival and departure dates by as little as a few days can get you significant discounts.
- Remember that not everyone will want to do the same thing at all times, so choose itineraries that offer flexibility for different interests, such as lodge stays, adventure cruises, and other programs that include a wide range of activities.
Beth and Stu Finklestein took advantage of a school break to bring their daughter Julia and son Sam on a culture-filled Southeast Asia exploration.
