Family vacations and stress free don't always go hand in hand. Every parent deserves to have a vacation they can actually enjoy. If you dread your family vacation because it does nothing but cause more stress for you, take heart. The following tips will help you enjoy your vacation with kids in tow.

Plan Ahead

Planning is the most important part of having a stress-less family vacation. If you take steps before you leave to plan out what you will need to really enjoy the trip, you'll find that you will be able to relax a whole lot more.

One of the most important parts of planning is involving your kids. If your kids are old enough, involve them directly in planning the trip. Not all of their ideas will be practical, but do your best to ask questions and find out what they want to do.

One of the biggest causes of stress on a vacation is the kids complaining about the activities. When they have a hand in deciding what will be going on, they will be less likely to complain. If complaining does pop up during the trip, you can gently remind them that they had a hand in planning the trip.

When you are planning, be sure to avoid packing too much into one day. Although you may have a limited amount of time for your vacation, you want to be sure that you give yourself and your family some breathing room. Visiting five different locations in one day is a sure fire recipe for frazzled nerves and fighting. Before you arrive at your destination, list your top picks for sightseeing and then save the rest for the next trip.

Travel Light

This may not seem possible with kids and especially younger kids, but you'll find that you will all enjoy the trip more if you don't have to lug around a bunch of luggage. Have your children select one to three special toys for the journey and just say no to the rest. Figure out what you can buy when you get there (shampoo, an extra shirt) and what must absolutely come with you (prescription medications). You may even be able to leave the stroller and other baby gear at home if your hotel provides rentals.

Bring a "Waiting" Bag

If you are sightseeing or going to an amusement park while you are vacationing, you will spend some time waiting. Even the most well-mannered kids can get testy while they are waiting.

Solve this problem by creating a bag of special goodies that you children can use while they are waiting. Include a deck of cards, some small puzzles, a few word searches, some snacks, electronic travel games and coloring books. Whatever you feel is necessary to keep your kids distracted, throw it in the bag. Hold onto the bag and only bring it out when your kids absolutely need it. This way waiting becomes something special!

With these tips, you'll reduce your stress and be able to have an enjoyable family vacation.