Travelling with the in-laws: vacation in paradise.

Travelling with in-laws could be fun and exciting, but it could equally be sensitive. Having your inlaws around and making trips together to some paradise could be a very wonderful and memorable event, but it could be fraught with emotional and families sensitivities. Yet, it is very possible to proceed on that vacation with your in-laws and other folks without necessarily stepping on toes or hurting anyone’s feelings if you’d apply yourself to the following advice:

a. Have enough money to cover every expense:  Although this should not necessarily be an issue, it is always better to have enough money at hand and on cards to offset expenses for everyone. Not that you are really expecting to shoulder the extra expenses of everyone on your trip, but it is just better to be prepared in case you have to save the day.

b. Plan on who will do what: You must plan on who will do what on your trip so that there is no conflict of interests. For instance, are you planning on booking for hotel reservations for everyone or renting a condo? If you are renting a condo, will you be eating out or cooking meals yourself, and who will do the cooking? Your wife, you, or your in-laws…or will you have to rotate cooking among yourselves? Who will drive if you are hiring a van or SUV for your vacation trip, and who will take care of the little ones?

c. Keep the vacation short and sweet:  If it is very possible for you to determine the length and duration of the trip with your in-laws, it is always better to make it short but sweet while it lasted. For instance, instead of going on 2-week holidays in some resort or city, make it a weekend holiday that will last only the weekend or at most 5 days. The more you stay with your in-laws during a holiday trip the more the possibility of crises brewing here and there.

d. Allow for space:  Although it is great to travel together with in-laws and even spend days together doing things on the trip, you must allow for individual space. Everyone needs his own space, and your in-laws sure need theirs while they are with you. Give room, and everyone will appreciate it without making it obvious.

e. Put on your best behavior: You don’t need to be told to put on your best behavior here, do you? Avoid any controversial topics and watch your tempers and outbursts. You must never be the first and only person to complain about the flight schedules, the restaurant menus, the accommodation or anything else. You must remember that the holiday affords them ample opportunity to watch you under different conditions and situations, and you must be careful how you behave or you might lose it all with them.