Top 5 books for planning a family vacation

Perusing the shelves of your local bookstore, you’re bound to find hundreds of books full of information on the best travel destinations and tips for everything travel related. The problem is that many of them were not written with the unique challenges of traveling with children in mind. There are, however, several which stand out from the crowd. These books will provide you with great advice on top holiday destinations and activities appropriate for your child, as well as tips for packing, flying, driving, and more when you have a youngster along for the ride. These books also make great gifts for families with young children.

1. Frommer’s 500 Places to Take Your Kids Before They Grow Up

By Holly Hughes
A favorite for many families, 500 Places to Take Your Kids Before They Grow Up is a travel guide written specifically for families looking for age-appropriate activities and sights for their children. The guide’s listings contain information on family-friendly destinations, activities, accommodations, and more. The best part is each listing specifies the age for which an activity or destination is appropriate, so you’ll have no problem finding fun and interesting places to take your children, no matter their age. This is a great book whether you’re looking for something to do with your child in your own neighborhood or half a world away.

2. 100 Best Family Resorts in North America

By Janet Tice and Jane Wilford
Choosing accommodations can be one of the toughest parts of planning a trip when you’re traveling with children. Are you interested in a resort with a pool or a playground? Do you need babysitting services? Would you like to find a resort that offers craft or other activities for your children? 100 Best Family Resorts in North America can help you find kid-friendly accommodations that meet the needs of your entire family and fit within your budget.

3. The Travel Mom’s Ultimate Book of Family Travel: Planning, Surviving, and Enjoying Your Vacation Together

By Emily Kaufman

This book is great because it deals with the realities of a family holiday, the positives and the negatives. Written in a friendly and engaging manner, this book provides readers with information about different modes of travel, packing, and dealing with the unexpected. It doesn’t contain a lot of new advice, but it does provide great ideas for traveling with children, all in one handy guide.

4. Trouble-Free Travel with Children: Helpful Hints for Travel on the Go

By Vicki Lansky
The author of this book keeps lots of real-life travel scenarios in mind, and addresses the questions and concerns parents will have when traveling with preschoolers and other children. It’s chock-full of information about dealing with everything from arguing children to eating out. It also contains some great resources.

5. The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids

By Bob Sehlinger, Liliane Opsomer, and Len Testa
Want to make sure you and your child get the most out of your trip to Disney World? This book contains great tips on planning your trip, avoiding lines that last for hours, and age appropriateness for rides and attractions. This book is a must-have before you head to Disney.

Photo originally posted by vieux bandit

Topic:  Top five Monday | 3 Comments
Tags:  family, guide books

About the author

Amy Bender is a freelance writer and blogger. She is author of Gatlinburg: A Guide for Tourists, and a regular contributor to The BudgetTravelista.com. In addition to travel writing, Amy also specializes in writing web content, writing and editing public relations materials, and blogging.