Familymoons:  What are They and Should You Have One?…

I know that most people think about a honeymoon as a time for newlyweds to relax and connect before launching into married life. Some treat that time as sacred – a time to be alone and unencumbered by outside issues and certainly not a time to be saddled with children. I, however, had a familymoon with my children and my second husband and I found it to be a wonderful time to build a strong relationship among all of us and a great time to create special memories.

In case you’ve never heard the term, a familymoon is a vacation that occurs after the wedding, just like a honeymoon, but it includes children and sometimes other family members.

There are some things you may want to consider when planning a familymoon. For example, if you want to make sure to have some quiet time with your new spouse, book a vacation at a location that has a children’s program. Cruise lines and all-inclusive resorts have particularly strong programs to entertain children from toddlers to teens. Before booking, be sure to ask about age restrictions, potty training rules, how they vet their employees, and hours that the children’s programs are available.

If you are tracking your wedding budget, remember to take into account extra airfare and baggage fees, as well as paying for any legal documentation like passports. Also, depending on your group size, you may need to account for riding in more than one taxi at a time, or renting two cars to fit all luggage and passengers.

Be prepared to take a little ribbing. I know people thought we were crazy to travel with the kids. We endured a lot of teasing, but looking back, it was the most wonderful and, at times, most romantic vacation I can remember.

Are you considering taking a familymoon?