Vacation Rental Information |
|
Summer Vacations: 7 Universal Laws for Survival
Summer vacations - what better topic could there be for a mental health column than one so likely to separate you from your own mental health? With that notion in mind, here are 7 Universal Laws for Summer Vacations. The Law of Preparedness: It's been said that "prior planning prevents poor performance." Planning for a vacation is one of those interesting paradoxes of life: the more you plan, the more room there is to have fun. The Law of Plan B (or C, D, etc.): If it's good to plan, then it's also good to have a back-up plan, sometimes more than one. What are you going to do if they have lost your reservation or your luggage? What are you going to do if the amusement park or other attraction you have traveled so far to see is closed for the day? The Law of Good Time: Sometimes parents, and not just men, measure the worth of a vacation by how fast you can get from point A to point B. Sorry to disappoint you, but being able to say "we made good time" is not the mark of a good vacation. Instead of asking "how fast can we get there?" ask "in how many ways can we make this a very good time for everybody?" Being able to say "we had a really good time" is the outcome you want. Remember, the point is not to make good time, the point is to make good memories. The Law of "Are We There Yet?": If you are traveling with small children, it's important to remember that their concept of time is very different from ours. As a matter of fact, their perceptions and concepts of most things are very different from ours. When it comes to state lines, time or any other conceptual area, we have to put it in terms they will understand. Several years ago my wife came up with the "finger approach" to understanding time. A finger equals one hour. So if a trip took five hours, then it was a five-finger trip. The answer to the question "how much longeeeeeeerrrr!" then became two fingers if it was two hours. I still haven't figured out what fingers have to do with time, all I know is that it works. The Law of Traditional Obligation: If going to the same place at the same time to see the same people works for you, then by all means go and have a good time. If you are doing it only out of drudgery and obligation, perhaps this is the year to break with tradition and begin a few traditions of your own. The Law of Pace: Many families tell me they feel as if they need a vacation from their vacation when they return. One reason is that many folks try to schedule their vacations just as they do the rest of their lives, which results in stress, irritation and disappointment. If your vacation goal is to see as many people, places and things in as few days as possible, you need to change your vacation goals. For that matter, why have goals on vacation anyway? Slow down. Perhaps even stop. Enjoy a slower pace. I know I'm starting to relax when I wonder what day it is, and then realize it doesn't matter. The Law of PRP: PRP stands for "Post Reinforcement Pause," which is a fancy psychological way of describing what it feels like to get back to the normal routine after lots of good stuff. Some folks struggle with feeling a little down as they get back to normal life after a vacation. One way to handle and prepare for this is to schedule something fun two or three weeks after you get back. Having something to look forward to always helps. Jeff Herring, MS, LMFT, is a marriage and family therapist specializing in working with teenagers and their parents. A nationally syndicated relationship columnist and speaker, Jeff is also the founder and CEO of http://www.ParentingYourTeenager.com, where you can subscribe to his free internet newsletter "ParentingYourTeenager." E-mail Jeff at [email protected]
|
RELATED ARTICLES
What are the Lodging Options when Visiting Orlando Florida for Our Family Vacation Lodging Hotels in Davenport, FL 10 Tips for Selecting the Perfect Costa Rica Vacation Rental Planning a Tropical vacation full of lush jungles, secluded beaches, and friendly people but not too expensive? Costa Rica is the place to go! But where do you stay, a resort or a private villa? Do you want long lines, crowded pools, kids running up and down the corridors? I think not. Review of Car Rental Abroad Are you thinking of travelling Abroad? Cheap Family Vacations The real secret to cheap family vacations is to be opportunistic. When a friend offers you their cabin on the lake, say yes. Can you have as much fun at the cheaper, closer amusement park? Then that's where you need to be. Do the kids like the idea of cooking dinner over a campfire? Drive right on by that reastaurant. Find out what everyone really enjoys. It's sad to spend MORE on a trip for LESS enjoyment. Visiting Whistler Before The 2010 Olympics? As a resident, business owner and frequent skiier at Whistler, I have realized that there are "secrets", things to see and do that the average visitor to Whistler has NO idea about. I'll try to pass along a local's knowledge, but know that Whistler is a paradise all of its own - these secrets merely add to the magic! Villa Holiday or Package Holiday Everybody knows someone who has been on one and an awful lot of people have been on one themselves. Yes we are talking about the age old Package holiday. The safest, most common holiday. Package holidays have been around for years and I am sure everyone will know someone that has went to a travel agent and booked a holiday through them. Is the tide turning though? Have people found a better way to enjoy their holidays costing them a fraction of travel agent prices? You Only Have One Life, Let Your Caribbean Dream Come True Turning your dream to Reality?Buying in the Caribbean Why Visit Magical Cape Town? People often ask me why we keep returning year after year to Cape Town and my answer is always the same, because we've not seen everything yet! Boston, a Bargain Travel Guide Made famous by Revolutionary events, infamous by cold winters, and both by the World-Series winning Red Sox, Boston has its fair share of reasons to visit. With such a reputation, however, comes high prices, and it has become increasingly difficult to find bargain deals in the city. That is why we created a list of budget restaurants, bars and activities that both locals and tourists can use when going out in Boston. Spanning the unique Boston neighborhoods, we have suggestions whether you are with family, friends or single. We also provide ideas for dates that won't break the bank - great especially for a first outing, yet perfect also for a change of pace in the old routine. Finding The Best Timeshare For You ? Make The Search An Adventure! Taking the plunge from average vacationer to vacation property owner is a big jump. The fear associated with a full, outright purchase of property hundreds or even thousands of miles away from home can be blissfully alleviated through the purchase of a timeshare. Shropshire - Englands Forgotten County Shropshire is England's forgotten county, but it is well worth making the effort to get there. It is only three hours by train from London and there is plenty to see and do. It is primarily a rural county steeped in history bordering as it does mid Wales, from Oswestry in the northwest to Ludlow and the Hereford border in the south. Choosing a Maui Condo Rental Agent Choosing a condo in Maui is definitely a great investment. If you are in the market for a new condo in Maui, you should research the process involved in buying your Maui condo, a good place to start is a visit to as many of the Maui condo rental agents as possible. Visiting the Best Orlando Timeshare Resorts: A Report on My Familys Trip to Central Florida Visiting the best Orlando timeshare resorts: a report on my family's trip to Central Florida, Walt Disney World, and the perfect place to spend our holiday every year. Scottish Roadtrips -- Encountering Porridge with Salt and Other Dangers Edinburgh and beyond Customized Services is What makes a Vacation Rental the Best The home away from home but a little bit more better is what the vacation rentals should be. They should be a lot functional and provide you with a lot of facilities and amenities that you would find in your home and a little bit more. This article looks at what makes these chalets or condos the luxurious properties which the clients crave to rent each time. Luxury could mean very different based on the locality the property is in. If you are in a Ski resort you would want the hot tubs and the cozy fireplaces to make the stay a wonderful experience. If you are in one of the exotic places deep in the jungle where Mosquitoes and insects have the best of the place; then luxury means a simple Mosquito net and a small spray to get these pesky creatures out. In this article let's see what it means to spend time in luxury in the beautiful ski resort area of Whistler. Orlando Vacation Homes - Comparing Homes to Hotels When staying in Orlando, you really do have a lot of choices ... sort of. One of the big decisions that the travel sites and the travel books will alert you to is whether to stay on property or off. A Review of Popular Punta Cana Hotels Punta Cana is an affordable destination in a magnificent tropical setting. There are hotels that range from moderate to the luxurious. Capitalizing on cheap land and the virtually insatiable desire of Europeans for sunny holidays during the depths of winter, a half-dozen European hotel chains have rushed to acquire large tracts of sugarcane plantations and pastureland. As a result there are at least a dozen mega hotels, most with over 500 rooms, that attract a large clientele. All Inclusive Vacations Most of the time, when an individual is planning a vacation, they have to consider all aspects of the time they will spend away from home. The lodging, the transportation, the meals and so on are all things that have to be thought of. One way to limit the expense that all of this creates, is to book an all inclusive vacation. While this will not alleviate all of the things an individual has to think about, it will help to reduce the amount of planning that is needed. Is A Disneyland Vacation Right For You? Disneyland became the very definition of a theme park and family vacation when it opened in California in July, 1955. Cottage Holidays Holiday time is around the corner and its time to plan where to go and what sort of holiday you prefer. |
home | site map |
© 2005 |