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The Ultimate Christmas Gift – 5 Tips for Family Travel and Real Christmas Vacations

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The best gifts you can give don’t fit under a tree. They can’t be wrapped or purchased or be returned for something else. A new trend for the ultimate Christmas gift is family travel and real Christmas vacations.

It’s becoming increasingly popular for a reason…several reasons, actually. After spending weeks buried in the snow, entertaining extended family and friends, scouring stores for presents, decorating, sending out holiday cards, and making that octopus costume for the school Christmas play (apparently the cephalopod was present at the manger with Mary and Joseph), a family getaway is an amazing break from the bustle of the holiday season.

Related: Holiday Travel 2015 – Tips to Survive the Busiest Season

As my children grow older, the desire fanciful toys and must-have gadgets become a longing for fun and time together. Family travel and real Christmas vacations are a refreshing break from materialistic obsession that sometimes comes with the holiday. The memories become the gifts that you’ll truly treasure and they never break or get lost in the toy closet.

Tips For Family Travel and Real Christmas Vacations

1. For younger kids, make sure there are still presents for them under the tree. It will be harder to grasp the concept of the trip being the gift, so get them items pertaining to your vacation. I wrapped up things to keep my little ones occupied during the flight and the gift became a sanity-saver for me, too!

2. Be prepared to navigate crowds. The holiday can actually see an uptick in attendance in certain attractions. Theme parks and ski slopes tend to see the most interest.

Related: Tips and Tricks: Going Home for the Holidays

3. Book in advance. Destination holidays are becoming increasingly popular, so book as far in advance as you can.

4. Don’t be afraid to try something new. While Disney is a great family vacation, look into other exciting options like a dude ranch experience or culinary adventure in Seattle.

5. Don’t be tempted into making your vacation into an extended family event. While those trips can be amazing, don’t take on the stress during the time of year where family stress is amplified. Keep it simple and relaxing.