Holiday travel need not involve a trip to a boring unheard of town and sleeping on couches or kid beds. Families these days are enjoying the trend toward planning holiday celebrations at vacation destinations. This way, family members get to use vacation time to go somewhere fun and interesting, instead of simply returning to their home towns. Whether you are a family of thrill seekers off on a ski vacation or a romantic couple seeking nothing more than some palm trees and a warm sea breeze, consider doing something different this holiday season.

You can always send your family back home a postcard, and in many cases, still be on hand for an abbreviated version of gift giving and turkey consumption. And if you really want to, bring the rest of the clan along. Chances are everyone—including grandma, grandpa, mom, dad, aunts, uncles and kids—will all enjoy something different for the holidays.

Popular destinations for holiday family gatherings include Caribbean Cruises, Hawaii, Lake Tahoe and Florida.

Vacation destinations such as these are eager to accommodate families interested in an alternative to the family gathering at a home. Families are also glad to avoid any bickering about who will host the family for the holidays and it is nice to skip all the housework needed to prepare for guests.


Healthy Holidays

Headlines might lead you to believe that traveling is hazardous to your health. That is the paradox, only the rare cases ever make the evening news.

The flu and other common communicable illnesses are more prevalent in schools, work environments and day care centers. In fact, an injury from a traffic accident is more likely than catching a serious disease while traveling.

A reasonable concern of course is the common cold. People are more likely to catch a cold while flying than in their daily lives. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t have much to do with the re-circulated air on planes. More likely culprits include lower humidity at high altitudes, which stress the nose and throat, and the simple fact of being in close quarters with potentially germy fellow fliers.

So, while you are not as likely to catch something on your next trip as the headlines might indicate, it is a good idea to take some practical precautions.


Happy Holidays

Bad things can happen when you’re about to travel. A hurricane could flatten the Caribbean resort that has your $1000 deposit. Your flight could be delayed, causing you to miss your connection. Or your boss might send the end-all message: “You can’t go. We have a crisis and I need you here.”

In situations like these, travel insurance is your best protection. Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance typically reimburse you for prepaid expenses if you need to cancel or interrupt your trip. Other types of insurance cover anything from lost luggage to medical evacuation. Insurance can typically be purchased for 4 percent to 8 percent of the cost of your trip.

Though no one ever plans to use it, travel insurance can provide a tremendous amount of security and peace of mind. And if we are talking about the family holiday vacation, this peace of mind carries added value and importance. Buy travel insurance at the same time you pay for your trip. Otherwise you risk missing deadlines that insurers set. Timing is critical. Just as you can’t buy fire insurance for a house that’s burning, you can’t get hurricane insurance after a storm has been reported.


10 Tips for Holiday Family Vacations

1 Plan as early as possible to get good rates on flights  and rooms.

2 Be willing to compromise. If everyone can’t decide on where to go, let majority rule. If the vacation turns out to be a bust, everyone will know who to listen to next time.

3 Plan for free time. Don’t pack so many activities into each day that nerves get frazzled and tempers flare. Relax and have fun at a leisurely pace.

4 Wash your hands. Most experts suggest this basic rule. Wash up thoroughly, especially before eating.

5 Carry antiseptic wipes. Use them when soap and water aren’t handy. Also use them to wipe down the TV remote, phone and other objects you come into contact with in your hotel room.

6 Drink plenty of water. It’s important to stay hydrated, especially when flying. Whenever possible, make sure your water comes from a sealed bottle.

7 Sleep tight. Make sure the sheet and not the blanket or bedspread is next to your face when you go to sleep. The sheets are likely to be freshly laundered, while blankets and bedspreads tend to be laundered less frequently. By following common sense rules, you’ll likely come home with pleasant memories and not an unwelcome bug. As for the statistics on car crashes being more prevalent, remember to buckle up, know the rules of the road, and practice defensive driving no matter where you are.

8 Find out if your existing health insurance will cover you while vacationing.

9 To protect yourself from financial default, buy a policy from an insurance carrier. Many credit card companies now also offer many forms of travel insurance as part of their services.

10 Once you purchase a policy read it carefully. Call the insurance provider if you don’t understand the requirements.

By Bob Hebert

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