By Suzanne Rowan Kelleher

Three Simple Steps to a Stress Free Vacation

Let Kids Get Involved:   Kids get more excited about the trip when you plan together. Read books or rent movies together, which are set in your destination. Let everyone create a wish list of places to see and things to do, and try to incorporate at least a few of each child’s picks into your daily itineraries.

Research Family-Friendly Lodging: Just because a hotel’s Web site features a photo of a family doesn’t mean that it caters to kids’ needs or interests. You can tell a lot by asking some basic questions: Does the hotel offer any family deals? Is there a swimming pool? Will our room have a small fridge and/or a microwave? Does the restaurant offer a kid’s menu? Can I get a crib or rollaway cot at no extra charge?

Pack Wholesome Snacks: Pack a mom on-the-go tote bag and fill it with the kid’s favorite foods and beverages to eliminate trips to fast food restaurants. Items for the tote include:

• Wet wipes and individual trash bags for easy clean-up
• Portable snacks, such as Quaker® Granola Bites, are a fun way to curb kids’ cravings and make little mouths happy
• Sports bottles or no-spill sippy cups for little tykes filled with water or juice
• Zip-top sandwich bags are terrific for carrying fruit, and can be resealed to carry any half-eaten leftovers

Family travel expert Suzanne Rowan Kelleher is the co-founder of WeJustGotBack.com, which provides travel advice for parents with kids under 18.