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Making the Most of your Family Holiday

Families that play together, stay together, according to popular wisdom. Yet as the festive season approaches, anxiety often sets in. Will that long-anticipated trip disintegrate into comedy chaos, worthy of National Lampoon's blundering Griswolds?

Dreams Resorts & Spas and sister brand Sunscape Resorts & Spas offer up travel tips for families traveling together this holiday season.

1. Ship, don't schlep
Don't be a beast of burden this winter, staggering under pounds and pounds of kiddie kit. Savvy parents post essentials ahead or outsource to companies like Jetsetbabies.com, which sends diapers, infant food, formula and other products worldwide.

2. Splurge on a seven-night nanny
Bring along a relative to baby sit or go for professional polish with a temporary au pair (agencies such as 4Nannies.com charge modest rates for pairing families and suitable child minders). Alternately, many resorts, like Dreams Resorts & Spas and Sunscape Resorts & Spas, offer supervised children's programs.

3. Seating serenity
Swap shifts on the airplane. Book seats apart, if traveling with a partner. One adult can recuperate, while the other entertains the little ones.

4. Team teen
Make youngsters part of the process: discuss destinations and dreams, as well as the budget for fun excursions during the vacation. Put their skills to internet research, photography or languages to use. Older offspring can help navigate...if you dare.

5. Dedicated downtime
Schedule some solitude: even members of the most affectionate family need personal space. In close quarters, technology can be a boon: bring a portable CD player or iPod with earphones, hand-held computer games, a laptop or portable DVD player. Remember to pack plenty of batteries. 

With an array of amenities for every age and interest, with supervised clubs that keep kids and teens enthralled, Dreams Resorts & Spas are not just about getting away; they're about getting together. For information on vacation packages and reservations for Dreams Resorts & Spas, visit www.dreamsresorts.com,  or call 1 866 2 DREAMS.

Sunscape Resorts & Spas is a first-class all-inclusive concept in a tropical setting appealing to families, couples and singles. These Resorts & Spas are characterized by vibrant colors and a wide array of amenities, including live entertainment, fully equipped spas, state-of-the-art  fitness centers, and numerous bars and a variety of specialty restaurants. Amenities that distinguish the Sunscape Resorts & Spas experience of dynamic, entertaining and bracelet-free all-inclusive vacation, the Explorers Club for children that includes camping on the beach, big-screen TV entertainment on the beach and themed beach parties for adults and children alike.  For more information, visit www.sunscaperesorts.com.

Edited by Erika Wright

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