Your Family Vacation

When you think about preparing for your family vacation you probably picture packing a swimsuit and sandals. However there are a few things that are often overlooked that can make a huge difference. f your trip takes you outside the country ensure your passport is valid. As soon as you receive your cruise documents make your reservations for on-board amenities and shore excursions. Assess your available credit and make sure you have plenty of cash. These small steps can greatly enhance your family vacation enjoyment.

If your family vacation takes you outside the borders of the US you should renew or get a passport as soon as possible. The new rules require a valid passport to reenter the country from Mexico Canada and the Caribbean. If you've traveled a lot you want to make sure you have blank pages in your passport and check the expiration date. A perfect family vacation can be ruined if you find your passport expired during your trip.

If you don't have one get one as soon as possible and pay the extra money to expedite the process. Once you receive your new passport make several copies of it. If it is lost or stolen you will be very glad you took this step. Give copies to your emergency contact back in the states and put one in your suitcase.

As soon as you get your documents for your family vacation read through them carefully. You will find information about shore leave amenities on board ship and other things that make your trip the best it can be. Most cruise lines allow you to make these kinds of reservations online. While you could wait until you board your cruise ship to do this you'll find yourself in a long line instead of lounging by the pool. You can step on board and begin enjoying yourself knowing that your spa appointment is not booked during dinner or a port.

You may have booked your family vacation to celebrate a birthday anniversary honeymoon or other milestone. Most cruise lines have special packages to enhance your festivities. It is a great idea to give the staff plenty of time to make arrangements such as having hors d'eouvres in your room. Waiting until you are at sea to request twelve dozen orange roses is likely to result in disappointment.

One of the most important things you can take care of before your special family vacation is to assess the amount of credit you have access to. Whether you must pay down your balance move money around or simply open another card you need to know as soon as possible. Upon check in expect that your cruise line will place a hold on your credit card to cover incidentals during your stay. You can expect a hold ranging anywhere from $50-200 per day.

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Confirm your cruise line's policy with a quick call. This is really important if you plan more hotel stays and car rentals during your vacation which mean multiple holds on your account. While you will ultimately only be charged for actual expenses it make take several days for it all be adjusted. To avoid the embarrassment of a declined credit card during your trip make sure you have enough available credit.

It is also a good idea to bring enough cash for your trip. While you'll use your credit card a lot there are times when cash is important. Because of the high rate of fraud many merchants will not take traveler's checks. ATMs are usually available on ship but sometimes they run empty and you can count on a high fee. On shore some smaller merchants and street vendors will not take credit cards. Bring smaller bills for cash tips to your cruise line staff. Bringing cash means you can enjoy your dream vacation and avoid inconvenience.

You don't need to have a Type A personality to get organized for your family vacation. A little preparation will ensure that you are prepared to fully enjoy every minute of your vacation. Check your passport make your reservations and assess your credit and cash situation. These small but important steps will pay off in family vacation enjoyment. Of course pack your swimsuit and sandals and enjoy your trip!