Family dynamics are an interesting thing, and given the types of chasms that can exist between kids and their parents, it would be a little surprising to see how any common ground could exist. Then again, there is one glorious thing that can bring the entire family together for one common goal – choosing the next family vacation destination.

Ah, the family vacation. It’s the one time of year that everyone in the household can set aside generational divides and complex social constructs for doing nothing more getting away from the hustle and bustle of life.

There really is only one real problem with choosing a family vacation destination – choosing the ‘perfect’ destination. Perfection, in reality, is not just not attainable, and to strive for it may end up taking the fun out of what should be the best time of the year for the whole family. It may be best to plan for great family vacation. Sure, there may be some possible hiccups along the way, but that’s part of the experience of a vacation.

Regardless, if you’re looking to choose the right place for your family getaway, you need to do some significant planning. Here are some things to consider:

Establish and Maintain A Budget – There was a time when families would have savings accounts dedicated to specific expenditures during the year (e.g., Christmas Club). The same goes for saving up money for the family vacation. When it comes to planning out the getaway, don’t allocate money you don’t have. Otherwise, you might be in for a rude awakening.

Look At Multiple Calendars – Sure, you might have a time of year that works for your whole family, but if you aren’t careful in checking as many calendars as possible, you might miss out on some cool stuff. For example, if you travel abroad & aren’t aware of major holidays, you may not be able to visit certain tourist sites as they may be closed for these holidays. Maybe you’re sticking to domestic travel, but if where you’re traveling is having a massive annual motorcycle rally that welcomes tens of thousands of riders, your family may not get the most out of your vacation.

Make A Working Itinerary – Vacations are supposed to be fun, but you also want to be sure to get the most out of your time away. You can be lazy at home. If you’ve taken the time to travel, make a plan. A working itinerary is helpful to make sure your family can stay on schedule, see a whole lot of things, and still have room for trying something new.

Communication – There’s not much to say here. You’re traveling as a family, and maintaining communication between each other will be key to get the most out of your getaway together.

A family vacation destination will mean something different to every single family. By maintaining open communication between family members and being proactive in your planning, it is possible to find a vacation destination that is about as perfect as possible. Just keep in mind that the notion of perfection may be a little too ambitious, and if you’re apt to fall apart when things aren’t ideal, you’d be missing out on the best part of the vacation – spending quality time with the ones you love.