Sometimes getting there can be half the fun. 

1. Car Rides. The old family favorite—piling in the car together for a rip-roaring “he’s-touching-me” good time. Some pros about car trips are the convenience of having a vehicle at your disposal once you’ve reached your destination, being on your own time clock, stopping whenever you like, etc. Also, I phones, I pads, Kindles, and other gadgets now make car rides a lot more entertaining for children. Of course, the biggest con is the additional time that car travel takes. Not to mention that hotels in bigger cities usually charge a daily parking fee.

2. Airplane Travel. Flying with family can be hectic: making sure everyone has their passports, getting through security checks, keeping up with everybody during layovers, etc. But air travel shaves hours off your travel time and when you have limited time for a trip you don’t want lose two days getting back and forth.  Check out these tips for avoiding annoyances.

3. Cruise Vacations. Cruise ships offer families lots of options. You get a literal boat load of amenities on board,  plus many excursions and ports of call provide double the opportunity for vacation fun. The cons are hidden fees. Many items offered on cruise ships do come with additional fees so educate your family about exactly what’s included with your cruise ticket.  Here are some ideas about where to go.