![]() Guest Post: Lindsay Denton Thanks to the internet and social media, it has never been easier to stay in touch with our loved ones from afar. But does it seem like it’s been ages since you’ve gotten together with your family? According to various surveys, roughly 90 percent of U.S. citizens reported undergoing a negative change in their lives due to the pandemic. It’s, of course, an unsurprising statistic. Nevertheless, that same study also showed that the number one reason behind these feelings was missing their nearest and dearest and worrying they might lose touch with them. This might be the perfect explanation for the precipitous uptick in family reunions recently. More specifically, destination family reunions. So, if it’s time to bring the clan back together again, Allen Batista Travel shares seven tips for planning a destination family reunion. Create a Planning Committee Whether you’re meeting up in a far-away location or hosting your family reunion one state over, planning a multigenerational group trip will take a lot of work. Being the chairperson, you’ll be overseeing the event, facilitating communication between committees, coordinating your volunteers – as well as playing peacemaker from time to time. That’s a lot of work for one person. So, first things first, you need to start a planning committee by choosing one member of each family. This way, you won’t be struggling to hammer out everybody’s schedules alone. Once you do this, you need to find an effective way to communicate. One option is creating a Facebook group where you’d add appointed committee members. This way, you can quickly settle on details, dole out tasks and ask questions. Other options are conference calls via Skype or starting a Google Hangout. Send Out a Questionnaire Step two in pulling off a superb destination family reunion? Getting everyone on board, of course. Yes, it’s time for that initial discussion and sharing of information with the rest of the family. It’s essential to keep everyone in the loop and up-to-date on the decisions you make, timelines you plan, payment due dates you set, et cetera. You all need to agree on the time, location and budget. Easier said than done, right? Resorts and flights fill up fast. So, begin at least 12 months ahead by brainstorming and selecting three possible locations and dates with your planning committee. Then, send questionnaires to all family members. This is the best tool to get input on the when and the where, as well as what their wants or needs may be. Of course, there’s no way you can meet everyone’s needs, but you might be able to find out what works for most relatives, especially if you’re traveling with kids, tweens, teens, or seniors. Recruit and Delegate Tasks At this stage of planning a destination family reunion, the important thing is to enlist as many family members as possible and create teams. Each family unit should be doled out their task or list of tasks. For instance, one unit can look for cheap flights and make travel arrangements. Another group can be on accommodation duty, trying to snag the best deal possible. And, if you’re renting storage to keep all of your belongings safe while traveling, the third group can look for an ideal storage option to meet your demands as a family. The thing is, you have many choices when it comes to storage: units differ in size, accessibility, amenities, etc., so they’ll need to do the research and find the right one. You can also appoint roles like entertainment director, who will organize activities for various ages. Decide Upfront on the Finances When planning a family reunion trip, you need to keep in mind that families in your group operate on different budgets. And since you’ll have to accommodate different financial situations, it’s best to start working out the budget at least a year ahead. That’s where the whole thing starts to get a little touchy, especially if some of the family groups are unfamiliar with traveling. Devising a clear budget is crucial to making sure everyone’s included. Some of the items you’ll need to discuss during your meetings are:
Consider Everyone’s Capabilities Another thing you must take into account when planning a destination family reunion, besides different financial situations, is different ages and abilities. You may be all about hiking through slot canyons, but for an infant-toting mom, this might not sound like such a great idea. Wherever you decide to go, multigenerational trips must entail a broad range of activities that appeal to everyone from kids, adults, and seniors to families as a whole. The primary goal is for everyone to enjoy it and have fun. So, remember to plan a lot of options. Of course, challenges are bound to arise, but it’s always best to tackle them head-on. …and preferred downtime Also, you don’t need to spend 24 hours together and do everything as a group. Some people in the group might prefer hang-gliding over a day by the pool. That’s fine; let everyone have their own time for what they enjoy doing. Family reunions don’t have to be all-hands-on-deck activities. Keep The Peace All the details regarding the when, where, and what don’t mean a thing if you’re all fighting the whole trip. So, you all must make every effort to maintain a peaceful environment. Steer away from doing things like bringing some last-minute guests that haven’t been planned for onboard. Make sure everyone knows about the details during the planning process. Be upfront about some other details such as pricing and budgeting. But, whatever you do, always try to put petty feuds and sibling rivalries aside. The point of your reunion is to spend time with the people you love and return home feeling like you’re a bit closer to your family. That is what makes a family reunion a success. The whole point of planning a destination family reunion is to bring you closer to each other. Hire a ProfessionalIf your budget allows it, turning to a travel agent to make all arrangements is always a good plan of action – especially if you’re a first-timer. They’ll listen to the brief, pose all the right questions to learn what would work for the wider group, and then do all the heavy lifting for you. This way, they’ll save you time and energy and allow you to make the most out of your travels. In other words, they’ll make planning a destination family reunion dreamily easy.
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![]() Guest Post: Marjorie McMillian at Come on Get Well Whether you’re working an entertainment job in Los Angeles, California, or stuck in a corporate office in New York, New York, there’s a chance you’ll need a quick weekend break at some point. If you’re in need of a relaxing weekend getaway but your budget is tight at the moment, you may be happy to learn there are several ways to enjoy your weekend without spending oodles of money. From taking walking tours to special promotions and more, here are five top tips that could help. Research Budget-Friendly Travel Destinations and Search For the Best Deals First things first – when you want a getaway but you don’t have much to spend, you’ll need to find a travel destination that’s actually budget-friendly. This means that your dream trip to Paris may need to wait for another time. Instead, you could research small towns or tourist attractions that are within driving distance or short flight distance of your current location. It may also be helpful to search for the best deals out there by comparing prices online before booking anything. You can also look for special promotions and limited time offers Travel during the low season or shoulder season. Prices tend to be lower when you travel off season. You will find some truly amazing deals at hotels when you venture to your dream destination during the off season. If you are planning to travel by airplane, there are some good deals to be found, but you have to do your homework. Book your travel for mid-week departure and return flights. Airfares are always cheaper if you travel mid-week, rather than travel during the weekend. Pack Lightly and Frugally to Avoid Adding Stress to Your Trip According to one study, packing, whether for a trip or for a move, can be a highly stressful experience for many people. To enjoy your weekend with as little stress as possible, make sure you:
Skip Pricey Photographers and Preserve Your Trip Memories Via Phone Pics and Social Media Although you may be tempted to splurge on a photographer to capture images of your trip, why not save some cash and do it yourself? You can save a bundle by preserving your trip memories via photos on your phone, which you can then upload and share on social media. If you do plan to share photos on social media, you can resize the photos instantly using a quick image resizer. After this simple step, it’s easy to upload your newly sized photos to your social media pages, potentially including Instagram or Facebook. Minimize Your Expenses During the Trip by Coming Prepared With Some Money-Saving Tips Even if you do everything possible to save money while planning and booking your trip, there’s always the risk of spending too much once you get to your destination. That’s why you should leave for the weekend armed with crucial money-saving tips. You can minimize your trip expenses by:
Share Expenses with Friends Your Getaway Lastly, you can ask one or more of your friends if they’d travel on a vacation together. This route could be an especially appropriate option if you’ve been dreaming of:
Your friends can share the cost for a home or condo or villa, as well as groceries for your desperately need getaway. Rent a min-van and drive together to your vacation for a local trip in the U.S. When you really need a quick weekend getaway but your pocketbook is feeling slim, fear not. There are several ways you can take that much-needed weekend trip while sticking to a tight budget. Use these top five tips from Allen Batista Travel to start planning your next budget weekend trip today. Image via Pexels ![]() By Robert Goldsmith at Allen Batista Travel, Inc. Looking to explore some of the most peaceful, tranquil and relaxing vacation spots in the world? Allen Batista Travel, Inc. is offering three mesmerizing travel deals to Maui, Aruba, and Florida for a fair price happening this summer. Maui Travel Package Maui offers all you could desire when imagining a perfect tropical vacation. This island is perfect for a traveler trying to enjoy the outdoors and the climate of Hawaii. With more than 30 miles of accessible beaches, considerably more than the other Hawaiian Islands, there are plenty of aquatic activities to be enjoyed in Maui such as surfing, fishing and snorkeling. An afternoon of snorkeling can be found on the Four Winds glass-bottom catamaran as you experience one of the best snorkeling spots in Hawaii in the Molokini Crater. Apart from the sea, Maui also has plenty to offer when it comes to the land. Haleakala National Park is home to a variety of tours which take you through its glorious 30,000-acres. Hikes, bike tours, zip lines, or horseback riding, there are plenty of ways for you to see this part of Hawaii’s beautiful, untouched landscapes. In addition to the beauty Maui’s nature has to offer, there is a fair share of nightlife, offering jazz, reggae and Hawaiian slack-key performances if you’re interested in diving deeper into Hawaiian culture. There are also plenty of fine-dining establishments for vacationers to enjoy, with farm to table experiences becoming more and more popular, you can try organic fruits and vegetables from the Haleakala region in dishes. This seven days and six nights travel package at Aston Kaanapali Shores and roundtrip airfare on American Airlines. Price is $2,400 per person. Package is valid through August 6 to 13, 2022. Price is subject to change based on availability. Aruba Travel Package Discover Aruba and the reasons which make it the most re-visited travel spot in the Caribbean! The capital city of Oranjestad, accompanied by its pastel-colored buildings, is truly worth the visit in order to get a full experience of Aruba’s diverse culture and cuisine. The island is a melting pot of several languages – Dutch, Papamiento (a Spanish creole with hints of Portuguese), English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Aruba also offers plenty of wildlife, exclusive to the island. Travelers can explore the abundant sea life in a non-submersible Seaworld Explorer, or the desert-like Arikok National Park and discover Aruba’s indigenous flora. Apart from these natural explorations, Aruba’s soft sand beaches and calm waters, all throughout the island, is exactly what you have in mind when thinking of a nice seaside getaway. Arguably Aruba’s biggest attraction, you will find it hard to stop yourself from basking in the sun all day. This seven days and six nights travel package at Tamarjin Aruba all-inclusive hotel with roundtrip airfare on American Airlines. Price is $3,033 per person. Package is valid through August 6 to 13, 2022. Price is subject to change based on availability. Florida Travel Package Enjoy the southern part of Florida at the beautiful JW Marriot Marco Island Beach Resort. After undergoing a $320-million renovation, this resort offers a variety of activities to make sure boredom is the most impossible feat to complete during their stay. This wonderful resort offers a luxurious spa, interactive food and beverage experiences, 10 restaurants, two 18-hole championship golf courses, four swimming pools including a children’s tiki pool with waterslide, beach volleyball, dive-in movies, dolphin watching tours, and a children’s Tiki Tribe camp. In addition, the resort is conveniently located near the Everglades National Park if you’re in need of a unique day out in nature This seven days and six nights travel package at JW Marriot Marco Island Beach Resort with roundtrip airfare on American Airlines. Price is $2,012 per person. Package is valid through August 6 to 13. Price is subject to change based on availability. About Allen Batista Travel Inc. Allen Batista Travel Inc. offers extraordinary sightseeing tours where travelers can fully immerse themselves into the breathtaking culture countries have to offer. Allen Batista Travel also provides savvy travelers with airfare, hotels, cruises, car rentals and vacation packages. To book one of these travel packages, email [email protected]. |
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