Creating Memories With Family Reunion Planning

Family reunion planning can be as extravagant or as simple as you want it to be. Some families plan dinners at the house or picnics at the park, while other families prefer staying at all-inclusive resorts and taking family reunion vacations together.

Any way you look at it, memories will be created, whether you burned that peach cobbler or not! So there's no use stressing out over the minute details. Yet you may be thinking that is easier said than done, so here are some tips for organizing a stress-free and fun reunion.

To avoid the stress of family reunion planning, some families choose to go on a reunion vacation that is arranged by a travel agent. For as low as $98/night, you could take a Vermont family reunion vacation at Tyler Place resort (www.tylerplace.com).

For $119/night, a family of four can rent a cabin at the YMCA campground in the Rocky Mountains (www.ymcarockies.org). For $179/person, a family of four could stay four nights at the Atlantis family reunion resort in the Bahamas.

"Over the past few years, we have seen a marked change in the numbers of large family groups traveling together," says Lauren Snyder, CMO, Atlantis Paradise Island Resorts. "As a result, we've upgraded our connecting rooms and created a Family Olympics program for large groups, including events on the beach and trophies for the winning team." As you can see, there are many options for your group to travel at affordable prices.

The most important thing to remember is that family reunion planning should be fun. The key to a stress-free family reunion is to plan well in advance, thus giving yourself enough time to get everything done.

Before you mail out family reunion invitations, send out a survey asking family members to number their top 3 choices (out of a list you've compiled) for an upcoming gathering. On the list, you could write family reunion ideas like someone's home, a Carnival Cruise, a mountain cabin, national park, YMCA park, banquet hall, restaurant, or an all-inclusive resort.

Be sure to do a little research and come up with price quotes and specific places so you can help family members select something in their budget. There are limitless possibilities, but you want as many kin to attend as possible, so it's important to survey before you book.

You can't please everyone, but at least you'll arrive at a general consensus.

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