Last week a friend of mine texted me and a few friends calling for a girl's trip in 2016.  We all replied IN!  This got me thinking about two things...Is this part of her New Year's resolution....take a girl's trip or traveling more in 2016?  Or maybe her New Year's resolution was to stop thinking about it and make it happen.  This lead me to my second thought of how easy it is to think and talk about, then later we worry about the details (especially us Moms) and nothing happens.  I have been on lots of hypothetical vacations!

There is actually a term called Travel Paralysis.  Sounds scary, huh!  I thought I may have coined this phrase, but some other travel junkie beat me too it!  An article I read recently suggests that it takes 80 plus days for the average consumer to make just two travel decisions.  I'm talking minor decisions.  The loads of information on the internet to wade through can be overwhelming and over the top time consuming, thus leading to the dreaded first world problem of Travel Paralysis!  In our case, my girlfriends are good.  I'm a travel planner so there will be no Travel Paralysis on my watch!  But how many of you out there are suffering from this wretched condition?  Too many!

Include some travel decisions in your 2016 New Year's resolutions.  Take that overdue romantic trip with your spouse, take your kids somewhere else besides the beach, take a girls trip to NYC or splurge and finally take that trip to Europe you've always wanted to take.  I hereby free you of your Travel Paralysis!

Don't make these packing mistakes, especially the ones related to lost luggage! I've had my luggage lost twice! On both trips it was a big inconvenience and not a fun way to begin a vacation. But I learned a good lesson and it has effected the way we pack ever since. The first time my bag went MIA was on a ski trip. I had to wear my friends ski clothes for 2 days. Now we pack one carry-on with 1 day of ski attire for everyone. The second time was a doozy! Two of our bags were lost going over to Europe with our 3 kids...their first time overseas. I will never forget that airport experience! I was sleep deprived, it was 3 am our time, everyone was crabby and no one at the airport spoke good English or seemed to care. Probably not my personal best moment! ;) Always make sure those items you cannot do without for 1-2 days are on the plane with you, whether on a carry-on or in a backpack. Actually, you can go overseas with just a carry-on for up to 2 weeks...I'll show you how in a future post soon!

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE ON BIGGEST PACKING MISTAKES

Do something unexpected and different with your family this year. Many parents feel the counting down of time with their kids (I know I am...2.5 years left with my oldest). Create memories and a family bonding experience they will never forget. If you are looking for alternatives to the beach, consider these options.

1) THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA
A family trip to California offers it all...great weather year round, sight seeing in San Fran, LA and in between along the Pacific Coast Hwy. You can still squeeze in some beach time on this trip!
2) THE FLORIDA KEYS
If you can't go without the beach, this is the trip for you. Fantastic snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, kayaking, fishing and the different keys are within easy driving distance from each other. TIP: pick a more family oriented key for your base, otherwise, you may be hanging out with the spring breakers!
3) SKI TRIP
This is one of my favorite family bonding trips! There's nothing like skiing the slopes together. Given the amount of snow the west is getting this year, this is a great option (especially if your spring break is in March but early April may still be great).
4) NEW YORK CITY
One of my favorite cities! There are endless things to do here for the family...sight seeing, history and just watching them take in this amazing city. Spring is a great time to visit this expensive city...flights and accommodations will be more affordable than visiting during the Fall and holidays.
5)EUROPE
If you want to take your family to Europe, the spring is a great time. Most families take this trip during the summer when it is peak. The spring will be more affordable and way less crowded. Italy is a great option for families...the coast, the countryside, fascinating cities, food and unbelievable Gelato!

**2 bonus options, but pricey during spring break: Hawaii and Turks and Caicos. Both are great family trips to put on your list!