My Online Guides, Tutorials Collection Blog » Home & Family

PGP Startup Guide

KhaTu — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 05:02:16 +0000

Xenon (an48138@anon.penet.fi) has kindly posted an info sheet on getting
MacPGP 2.3a up and running, encouraging somebody to come along and write the
same thing for the PC version. Well, hell, here it is. Questions,
comments, bitches, and e-mail about this kind of stuff in general are
welcome at an50928@anon.penet.fi. Our public key to verify the document can
be found at the end of this document, and also on keyservers all over the
damn place.

Contents
========
Section 1 – Intro
<1.0> What the hell is this document?
<1.1> What the hell is PGP?

Section 2 – Obtaining It
<2.1> BBSs
<2.2> America Online
<2.3> CompuServe
<2.4> InterNet
<2.5> Setting it up

Section 3 – Using It
<3.1> Generating a Key
<3.2> Keys & keyrings
<3.3> Keyservers
<3.4> Signing
<3.5> Encrypting
<3.6> Other useful commands

Section 4 – Miscellaneous
<4.1> Legal Issues
<4.2> ViaCrypt
<4.3> Version History
<4.4> Everything Else

================================================================================

Section 1 – Intro
<1.0> What the hell is this document?

This document is an intro to PGP on MS-DOS machines. It’s designed for a
first-time user of PGP, and will get them through finding the program;
getting the program; and, finally, using the program in a basic way. In
other words, a good way to get more people using PGP.

<1.1> What the hell is PGP?

PGP is a cryptography system that allows you to send data to other people
with what amounts to excellent security. The important point about PGP,
though, is that you never have to meet the person you’re sending encrypted
information to. This might not make sense at first, but this capability is
essential to the benefits PGP can provide.

Traditional encryption techniques have one key. The two people meet first,
and exchange this key; then, afterwards, one encrypts the data with the key,
sends it to the other person, who uses the same key to decrypt it. Simple,
eh?

Well, PGP can do that, but it can also do something else, called public-key
encryption. This means that you encrypt a document with somebody’s “public
key” – which is freely distributed – and *only they* will be able to decrypt
it, with their corresponding private key. Nobody else can. Not even you,
right after you’ve encrypted it with their public key.

Some people may wonder why PGP is necessary. Some people probably don’t
care. However, the two of us work remote in a distributed environment – our
modems are our connection to the office, and anytime we’re sending sensitive
data through any kind of network, we’re risking somebody else grabbing a
copy. With PGP, that’s no longer an issue.

Additionally, we’re always sure that documents come from where they were
supposed to, since it’s impossible to forge the digital “signatures” that
PGP creates. For example, nobody knows who the two of us really are – the
anonymous server takes care of that. However, once you’ve got our public
key, you’ll know that anything verified by that key came from us – without
ever meeting either of us. Thus, by coupling the anonymity of the InterNet
and the authentication of PGP, we can be anonymous, yet readily – and
reliably – identified. Cool, eh?

The only potential problems with public-key systems is verifying the public
keys you have; see below, as well as the PGP documentation, for help on
this.

Section 2 – Obtaining It
<2.1> BBSs

PGP is probably available on some local BBSs in your area. If your local
BBS lacks it, here’s some info from the PGP docs:

================================================================================
The GRAPEVINE BBS in Little Rock Arkansas has set up a special
account for people to download PGP for free. The SYSOP is Jim Wenzel,
at jim.wenzel@grapevine.lrk.ar.us. The following phone numbers are
applicable and should be dialed in the order presented (i.e., the
first one is the highest speed line): (501) 753-6859, (501)
753-8121, (501) 791-0124. When asked to login use the following
information:

name: PGP USER (‘PGP’ is 1st name, ‘USER’ is 2nd name)
password: PGP

PGP is also widely available on Fidonet, a large informal network of
PC-based bulletin board systems interconnected via modems. Check
your local bulletin board systems. It is available on many foreign
and domestic Fidonet BBS sites.

In New Zealand, try this (supposedly free) dial-up BBS system:
Kappa Crucis: +64 9 817-3714, -3725, -3324, -8424, -3094, -3393

Source and binary distributions of PGP are available from the Canadian
Broadcasting Corporation library, which is open to the public. It has
branches in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. Contact Max Allen, at
+1 416 205-6017 if you have questions.

For information on PGP implementations on the Apple Macintosh,
Commodore Amiga, or Atari ST, or any other questions about where to
get PGP for any other platform, contact Hugh Miller at
hmiller@lucpul.it.luc.edu.
================================================================================

<2.2> America Online

As of a few days ago, PGP is also available on America Online. If you have
any specific information on where PGP is available on AOL, please send it to
us; we’ll include it in a future version of this document.

<2.3> CompuServe

Officially, it’s not available on CompuServe, but try GO IBMFF and use the
File Finder on the keyword PGP; usually some forum still has it sitting
around, despite CIS’s management trying their best to get rid of it.

<2.4> InterNet

If you’re on the InterNet, the easiest way to dig up a copy of PGP is to ask
an “archie” server for the location. Borrowing from Xenon’s excellent
directions, find yourself an InterNet account, and telnet over to
archie.internic.net. Log in with a username of “archie”, and at the prompt,
type “prog pgp23a.zip”. You’ll get a list of sites and directories, a la:

================================================================================
Host soda.berkeley.edu (128.32.149.19)
Last updated 09:50 4 Nov 1993

Location: /pub/cypherpunks/pgp
FILE -rw-r–r– 320168 bytes 08:09 3 Jul 1993 pgp23a.zip

Host isy.liu.se (130.236.1.3)
Last updated 08:14 3 Nov 1993

Location: /pub/misc/pgp/2.3A
FILE -rw-r–r– 422851 bytes 10:58 19 Sep 1993 pgp23a.zip
================================================================================

Close archie by typing “bye”, then ftp to one of the above sites. Use
“anonymous” for the user name, and your e-mail address as a password. Type
“cd

”, where is the directory listed in the archie listing for
the site you’re ftping to. Type “binary”, which sets the binary mode on.
Then type “get ”, where is the filename listed by
archie. Finally, type “bye” to get back to your email system.

Get the file from your email system to your PC; this varies so much from
site to site that you’ll need somebody local to help.

<2.5> Setting it up

Once you’ve got it on your PC, unzip PGP into its own directory. You’ll
also need to set two environment variables for PGP to be happy. One, TZ,
sets the time zone for the system; here are some examples from the PGP docs:

For Amsterdam:    SET TZ=MET-1DST
For Arizona:      SET TZ=MST7     (Arizona never uses daylight savings time)
For Aukland:      SET TZ=NZT-13
For Chicago:      SET TZ=CST6CDT
For Denver:       SET TZ=MST7MDT
For London:       SET TZ=GMT0BST
For Los Angeles: SET TZ=PST8PDT
For Moscow:       SET TZ=MSK-3MSD
For New York:     SET TZ=EST5EDT

Then set PGPPATH to the location you’ve unzipped PGP into; for example:

SET PGPPATH=C:\PGP

READ THE DOCS! What follows from here is a good way to get started, but
there are a number of issues raised in the documentation that *must* be
known for safe and reliable operation!

Section 3 – Using It
<3.1> Generating a Key

PGP works on the principle of “public-key” encryption. This means that
every key has two parts: a secret part you keep close to your heart, and a
public part you scatter to the winds. The two have some mysterious,
mathematical relationship that Einstein couldn’t understand, but for our
purposes all that matters is that the public part can decrypt things
encrypted by the secret part, and vice versa. Thus, the first step in using
PGP is to generate your key. Type:

PGP -kg

Select a key length; the bigger, the more secure. Most people use 1024
bits, and it isn’t that much slower. Following this, PGP will ask you for
your user name. For example:

Out and About
|—–+—–| |———-+———-|
| |
| +———-+ Email Address, in <> brackets
+—————————–+ User Name, plain text

Please follow this pattern; since a lot of people are starting to use their
PGP keyrings with their friend’s PGP keys as their email directories,
keeping things relatively constant is a Good Thing.

It’ll then ask you for a “pass phrase.” This pass phrase is *very*
important. What PGP does, to insure that your secret key is used only when
authorized, is encrypt the secret key data with this “pass phrase,” so that
only if the pass phrase is known will the secret key work. As with most
kinds of password, this should not be something easily guess. Differing
from most passwords, though, is that this phrase can pretty much be any text
you want, with long lengths encouraged. Use random characters interspersed
with text, like hey1me$for*turkeys^clinton. Don’t use famous quotations, or
anything easily guessed, since this pass phrase is what keeps your secret
key secure.

The program will then want some number of random keystrokes. This probably
sounds silly, but it’s actually very important. Computers can generate
pseudorandom numbers, but truly random numbers are impossible – computers
are fancy calculators, and randomness comes hard. So, PGP wants some
keystrokes – which it times – to derive some truly random numbers for
generating the keys.

Then it generates the key. Go have lunch while this is happening; it’s
probably the most boring interface yet come up with by any programmer,
unless you enjoy periods and plus signs. A lot. Especially if you have a
slow machine.

Finally, PGP will beep, and you’ve got a public and a secret key, stored on,
logically enough, a public and a secret keyring. Which, of course, brings
us to keyrings.

BUT WAIT!! Before you touch the next section, execute the following
command:

PGP -ks

Where is some part of your user ID that you typed in above. You’ll
have to type in that damn pass phrase – you did remember it, didn’t you? -
and PGP will sign your key with your key. While this probably sounds
redundant, it actually plays a very important part in assuring that your key
remains unmolested. Nothing worse than molested keys …

<3.2> Keys & keyrings

We mentioned keyrings above. Well, if you’ve got keys in real life,
keyrings are a good place to put them. PGP keys aren’t any different.

PGP, by default, has two keyrings: public and secret. Since you’ve already
generated a key pair, you’ve got one public and one secret key – the two
matching parts of your key. These are stored on two keyrings; logically,
there’s a public one (stored in PUBRING.PGP), and a secret one (stored in
SECRING.PGP). The public keyring also will eventually contain keys for your
friends and such; the material on it is desiged for public distribution. The
SECRING.PGP file, on the other hand, is *very* valuable. With that file and
your pass phrase, anybody can sign documents with your “electronic”
signature, and decrypt things sent to you. Don’t let it out of your sight;
while your pass phrase does protect the contents of the secret ring to a
certain extent, keeping the file secure is just as important as keeping the
pass phrase secret.

Since public keys can be distributed freely, they can be obtained from
keyservers (see below), among many other places. The PGP distribution
includes one called KEYS.ASC, which includes the public keys of the authors
of PGP. As a first exercise, let’s add it to your public keyring with this
command:

PGP -ka KEYS.ASC

PGP will ask if you want to certify any of the keys you’ve just added. Say
“no”; certification means you know for sure that the key belongs to a user.
If you later get keys from friends who hand them to you personally, you can
say “yes” when you add their keys, telling PGP you know the keys really
belong to who they claim to.

To view the contents of your public keyring, use this:

PGP -kv

And wham! A list appears, one line for each key on your ring. You’ll
notice your key down at the bottom, along with a list of the authors. Each
line starting with “pub” represents one distinct key; note that keys can
have more than one name or email address attached to them.

The anonymous key for the two of us can be found at the bottom of this
document. You’ll need it on your public keyring in order to verify this
document in a later section. Save the chunk of text to a file, then tell
PGP to add it with a similar command to what we used to add the authors’
keys:

PGP -ka

Of course, you’re not always going to be adding keys; you’ll need to extract
yours, as well as other people’s when you sign them. To extract any public
key from your keyring in the above format, use the command:

PGP -kxa

Where is some unique part of their name or email address. For example,
to create a copy of your public key to pass around to your friends, type:

PGP -kxa MYKEY.ASC

Where is some part of the name or email address you used when creating
the key. The file MYKEY.ASC – which will look very similar to our key above
– can be easily put in email messages, text editors, posted on bulletin
boards, everything. Distribute it far and wide; this will help prevent
other people from trying to distribute fake public keys in your name.

<3.3> Keyservers

Keyservers are a muy bueno invention to spread public keys faster than the
SR-71 used to fly. Basically, keyservers are a group of computers that
maintain a massive (800+K, last I checked) public keyring with thousands of
keys on it. You can query this server to get a specific person’s public
key, either to send something to them, or to verify one they’ve already sent
to you. Here’s some info, which shows regularly in alt.security.pgp. Check
there for the latest info:

================================================================================
Each keyserver processes requests in the form of mail messages. The
commands for the server are entered on the Subject: line.

To: pgp-public-keys@pgp.iastate.edu
From: johndoe@some.site.edu
Subject: help

Sending your key to ONE server is enough. After it processes your
key, it will forward your add request to other servers automagically.

For example, to add your key to the keyserver, or to update your key if it is
already there, send a message similar to the following to any server:

To: pgp-public-keys@pgp.iastate.edu
From: johndoe@some.site.edu
Subject: add

—–BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK—–
Version: 2.2

—–END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK—–

COMPROMISED KEYS: Create a Key Revocation Certificate (read the PGP
docs on how to do that) and mail your key to the server once again,
with the ADD command.

Valid commands are:

Command                Message body contains
– - ———————- ————————————————-
ADD                    Your PGP public key (key to add is body of msg)
INDEX                  List all PGP keys the server knows about (-kv)
VERBOSE INDEX          List all PGP keys, verbose format (-kvv)
GET                    Get the whole public key ring (split)
GET userid             Get just that one key
MGET regexp            Get all keys which match /regexp/
LAST days              Get the keys updated in the last `days’ days
– - ————————————————————————
Internet connected sites:
pgp-public-keys@pgp.mit.edu
Derek Atkins
warlord@MIT.EDU
FTP: pgp.mit.edu:/pub/keys/public-keys.pgp
pgp-public-keys@phil.utmb.edu
John Perry
perry@phil.utmb.edu
FTP: phil.utmb.edu:/pub/pgp/public-keys.pgp
pgp-public-keys@demon.co.uk
Mark Turner
mark@demon.co.uk
FTP: ftp.demon.co.uk:/pub/pgp/pubring.pgp
================================================================================

<3.4> Signing

By signing a key, you’re stating to the world that you know that the key in
fact does belong to the name shown. The benefit of this is that, if you
know the “introducer” – the person who’s signed a public key you’re going to
use – can be trusted with handling keys, then you don’t necessarily have to
verify the key itself. While this can easily descend into a complex tangle
of what exactly qualifies as “signing,” for the purposes of this
introduction, you sign a key like this:

PGP -ks

You’ll be prompted for your pass phrase – we honestly hope you’ve remembered
that thing damn well by now – and PGP will “sign” the key for you. Then,
extract that person’s public key – which will now include your signature -
and send it to them. They can add it to their public keyring, and they’ll
suddenly gain the benefit of your signature. This means that if they’re
communicating with somebody who doesn’t know them, but knows you, the third
person can use your signature to verify the key’s validity.

If somebody else signs your key and sends it back to you, use the PGP -ka
command (mentioned above) to add the amended key back onto your public
keyring. PGP will recognize that just a signature has been added, and will
append that to your keyring, meaning that the next time you extract your
public key, that signature will go along with it.

To see signatures on your keyring, use a modified version of the view
command we used before:

PGP -kvv

<3.5> Encrypting

Heh. And you thought all we were ever going to talk about was keys and
crap, right? You’ll be happy to know that PGP is pretty good at its primary
mission in life – encryption. The most simple form is this:

PGP -e

Where is the file to encrypt, and is the target user who’s
going to decode it. This’ll create another file called .pgp, which is
the encrypted text. Send it off, and the other user will be able to decode
it. When you receive an encrypted file back, simply type:

PGP

And PGP will figure out that it needs to decrypt the file, and do so.

Now, you think you’re set, because you’ve encrypted a file, right? Well,
there’s only one flaw in this grand strategy: while only one person in the
world can decrypt that file, that person won’t have any assurance of where
the file came from. That’s where digital signatures come into the picture.

A digital signature irrevocably identifies whatever you’re sending as having
come from you. A very nice thing to have. Best of all, it’s easy as sin to
do. Just add one character to the command line you used above:

PGP -es

You’ll be prompted for your pass phrase (getting good at typing that in
yet?), and then PGP will first sign the document with your secret key -
allowing it to be verified with your public key on the other end – and then
encrypting it with the other person’s public key, so only their secret key
can decrypt it.

You can also just sign a document; this allows the document’s source to be
verified, without any sort of encryption. A good example is what you’re
reading right now. Save it to a file, and type:

PGP

Where, of course, is the name of the file you saved this document to.
It’ll work for a few seconds, then say (hopefully) it’s got a good signature
from us. It’ll then produce a non-signed version, which contains the
original message text; if the signature was good, that text is the same as
what we originally put out, and you know it came from us.

<3.6> Other useful commands

There are two other commands you should probably know.

First, there’s the Radix-64 switch, which tells PGP to produce files which
can be emailed, UUEncoded-style, through mail networks. To do this, you
just add an “a” to whatever you’re sending, a la:

BEFORE: PGP -es example.txt Mary
AFTER: PGP -esa example.txt Mary

The output will be sent to example.asc; furthermore, it’ll be convienently
split into chunks the mailers can handle, it the file is long enough. We
used this switch already, above, for extracting keys, since the ASCII
format, for something the size of keys, is far more versatile than a binary
representation.

Second, there’s clearsigning; this means you add your signature, but leave
the document readable, which was what we did for this document. To do this:

PGP -sta +clearsig

Which will produce a file called .asc, containing the document, with a
signature at the end.

Section 4 – Miscellaneous
<4.1> Legal Issues

Oh yeah – PGP is illegal, at least if you live in the US and Canada. Why?

PGP makes use of the RSA public-key algorithm, developed at MIT with tax
dollars. The US Government then allowed a company out in California to
patent this algorithm; thus, if you’re using this product in the US or
Canada, you’re likely violating that patent. See the next section on how to
get around this. Also, if you know anything about the situation, please
send us email on how we can get the goverment to use tax dollars to develop
technology, then hand exclusive implementation rights to us. This would be
a most excellent thing to have happen.

If you’re out of the US or Canada, using PGP is not a problem, since the
patent laws don’t apply; just *don’t ask a friend in the US or Canada to
send you a copy*. Thanks to the US Government’s enlightened export
restrictions, PGP is considered to be munitions, meaning that you could get
sacked with serious shit if you either import or export it to/from the US
and/or Canada, including posting over the InterNet, or any other
international information service. That’s why Phil Zimmerman’s being
investigated by the San Jose customs office right now. Yep, our tax dollars
hard at work.

<4.2> ViaCrypt

However, all is not lost for US users. A company called ViaCrypt in Arizona
is selling a properly licensed version of PGP which, for all practical
purposes, is completely compatible with v2.3a. Here’s a small blurb:

================================================================================
ViaCrypt, Inc., will begin shipping ViaCrypt PGP today, 1 November 1993.
ViaCrypt PGP is a commercial public-key encryption package which is
based on, and virtually identical with, the freeware program known as
PGP, or `Pretty Good Privacy.’ (The source code is in fact identical to
that of the freeware version 2.3a of PGP, with the exception of the RSA
encryption module, which is one ViaCrypt developed in-house after
acquiring a license for the algorithm from PKPartners. In addition,
ViaCrypt incorporates a few bug fixes. The private-key crypto algorithm
is IDEA, as in freeware PGP, for which ViaCrypt has obtained a license
from Ascom-Tech AG of Zurich.)
================================================================================

Contact info:

ViaCrypt
2104 W. Peoria Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85029 USA
602-944-0773 (Voice)
602-943-2601 (FAX)
70304.41@compuserve.com (Netmail)

<4.3> Version History

93/11/28 v1.0 Initial Version

<4.4> Everything Else

Please let us know if you find any problems with this document or have any
questions about it; we can be reached at an50928@anon.penet.fi as long as
that anonymous server remains up. Let’s hope it does, because otherwise
you’ll have one damn hell of a time finding us. If this document helps you,
by all means pass it on to every person you know, and maybe a few you don’t.
Post it on lots of BBSs, all over the place, ad naseum. Tell everybody you
know to start using PGP, because the more people use PGP, the less we all
have to worry about a President Orwell.

================================================================================

Contents Copyright (C) 1993 by Out and About. Assuming you could figure out
who and where we are, that might mean something, but hey …

- —–BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE—–
Version: 2.3a

iQCVAgUBLPgwgXv2tR+FRQuZAQFBvgP/c5VY0QBkZhOZhFGH1lfpCpfc/tT6FrNw
dae81c049wNj4jORq1eodm2pn8ObgrmK6qb5CQS2CST27fBD1wtnGvyyisvfYtqa
yaYs2qBBEwkURZI7M6kjCdL1snaQ14ScfYLQiBH0jqle+uORsHeke429NG0fr6oa
zVlyOqFvMQs=
=Hl80
– —–END PGP SIGNATURE—–

Here’s our key:

- —–BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK—–
Version: 2.3a

mQCNAiztdHkAAAEEAL3VO4LItnVBwLGZi6Hux2MoWkpqDE4gZtSGu2NAgE6zaT+6
B8NibIwCPxL+8qfeS36BqvZ3GbSOI0SJldUc9sXZeNHsB7RnLgUTmA9mLoaDeL7k
IHXKpk2uc1CuzLawaY9WDflnntumfhD7p7JReoI7/PZPSzR813v2tR+FRQuZAAUR
tCVPdXQgYW5kIEFib3V0IDxhbjUwOTI4QGFub24ucGVuZXQuZmk+iQCVAgUQLO12
SXv2tR+FRQuZAQELzgP9FADqM3zy7P8BxPFK7oIxlf8+e1TtYmM1aA+1zHeu0kp9
Sxk5IgydAZmBCVihu78V+oaG+7+gTwqCc3MHJoEpmsrK+E6hsZYW1EWW4tUDisRe
uSICYLOdqaWOGzIdBXJX3NZEYyA4bv7dHd+VEESNQrDbQDqHD7+tLVwQtqZEQ5o=
=QQEg
– —–END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK—–

Tags: Hacking & Security, Home & Family, pgp, pgp startup, startup guide

Family Vacations are Just a Mouse Click Away

Tony Tran — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 06:01:06 +0000

Once thought of as a vacation for couples, cruises are fast becoming a favorite for family vacations. Modern cruise lines know that if they can plan fun activities for the teens, their Mom and Dad will have fun, too. The first point to start your search should be to go directly to the cruise companies themselves. A quick search on your favorite search engine, like MSN will give all the top cruise lines in seconds. Many of the cruise companies offer last minute special offers that can be the perfect family vacations and save you a bundle. While on these websites, check for package deals for family holidays. Many cruise lines like to partner with the airline companies to provide “one stop shopping” for their customers. These may not always be the best choice but in a few clicks , your family holidays can be booked. One of my family’s favorite family travel spots is sunny Florida. The big theme parks like to put together package deals to make planning your family vacation easier. Most of these package deals will include everything from airfare, tickets to the park, rental cars and even free parking at the park. Because Florida is such a success with families, hotels often offer “kids eat for free” deals. This can be essential savings for a family of four. The hotels that offer these discounts are generally the ones that are children-friendly and offer entertainment to keep the children busy when not at the parks. Getting there can be one of the biggest expenses of your family travel, so check to see if the airlines are offering any special discounts to your destination. You may find a buy one ticket and get another for half price deal, or some offer special rates for children under a certain age. If you’re shopping for the best airfare at “the right time” you may even stumble onto a fantastic deal that an airline is offering to fill up seats on certain flights. These deals are limited in time, so have your credit card at hand when you search.Airlines and travel agencies will often feature promotional periods where they will take care of everything for your all family for one price. Such promotions are often offered just once or twice a year to create attention for their business. If your timing is correct you can take advantage of one of these deals. Ask around to see when and if your airline or travel agent offers these special discounts for family holidays.If you’re not sure of the destination of your trip or how much you should budget for your family holidays, get online and start browsing the web. There are online offers that can not be offered elsewhere, with a little luck and good timing, you can plan great family vacations without going bankrupt!

By: Adam Lee

About the Author:

About the Author: How to get best deals without going bankrupt, high quality and lots of fun from your family travel? Answers here: Family Travels Are A Click Away. The author runs a dedicated family travel information website summing up free family holiday advice and helpful content.

Tags: Family Vacations, Favorite Family, Home & Family, Mouse Click, Perfect Family, Travel Spots

Lower Healthcare Costs With a Little Family Teamwork

Tony Tran — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 15:04:32 +0000

With health care costs rising much faster than the general rate of inflation, it is vital that we do everything in our power to keep these costs for our own family as low as possible. There are many areas that are within our control, making it easy to take advantage of all of them.

Here are some suggestions for helping lower health care costs for the whole family:

· If you don’t already have a family doctor, primary care physician or nurse-practitioner, find one. Trips to the emergency room are expensive, and may not be necessary if you have a relationship with a healthcare provider. Ask friends for referrals, or call several doctors’ offices in your area to find out who is taking new patients, and schedule a visit with one or two of them to establish yourself as a patient with that office.

· Take advantage of all free health-care screenings provided in your town. Free blood pressure and cholesterol screenings, mammograms and other services are often available once or twice a year. Call your county health department to see when these screenings will be offered, or look for local health fairs which often provided these services.

· If you are ill and the doctor prescribes medicine, request the least expensive drug available for your condition, and ask for free samples. Your doctor may often give you as much as you need.

· If you smoke, stop. If you can’t motivate yourself, call the American Lung Association for assistance. As a last resort, sit down and write your own obituary, assuming you died today of a heart attack or stroke. List your survivors, and then stop and think how their lives would be without you. Think about all the events in their lives that you don’t want to miss such as graduations, weddings, the birth of grandchildren, etc. Carry a copy of your obituary with you at all times, and take it out and read it whenever you crave a cigarette.

· Call a family meeting to discuss ways to be healthier, even if you have never had a family meeting before! Explain to everyone that money spent on doctors and medicine is money that won’t be available for family fun. It is important to get everyone’s commitment to developing healthier habits. Ask for suggestions, and write them down. Even younger children may surprise you with their ideas! Schedule a family meeting once a week to see how everyone is doing.

In the family meeting, here are some suggestions of what you might want to cover:

· Make sure everyone knows to cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing.

· Discuss the importance of hand washing, and the proper way to wash. Most germs are spread by the hands. Use plenty of soap, and wash long enough to sing the “Happy Birthday” song or one verse of “Old McDonald Had a Farm”.

· Make sure everyone in the family gets plenty of Vitamin C every day. An orange or a small glass of pure orange juice will help the immune system fight illness. A diet high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains will also help the body resist disease.

· If your family members are overweight, do something about it. Stop frying your foods and switch to baking or other healthier cooking methods. Turn off the TV during dinner and get to know each other. Plan two healthy snacks a day for everyone. Put sensible portions of food on your plates instead of serving family-style, and eat slowly. Follow the USDA food pyramid suggestions when planning your family’s meals.

· Exercise is also very important for healthy bodies. Take the whole family for a walk every day, or just get out and shoot hoops, play freeze tag, throw a Frisbee, ride your bikes, or do whatever it is you like to do. If the weather is bad, put on some music and dance, or work out to an exercise video. Take turns letting each family member choose the exercise activity for the day, and get everyone to agree to do the chosen activity without complaining.

· Make sure everyone gets enough sleep. Children need nine hours or more every night, and adults usually need seven or eight hours. If your children are involved in too many outside activities, eliminate the ones they enjoy the least. A rested body fights illness better than a tired body.

Be proactive about your family’s health, and you can save big money on your health care expenses!

By: Bev Grey

About the Author:

Bev Grey is founder and president of Grandma’s Healthy Kids Club, a website that offers age-appropriate weight loss programs and other items for children and adults. She is also author of “The Project”, a fictional story for children or adults who work with children, and “Ending the Cycle of Obesity”, an e-book containing several articles she has written about healthy living and childhood obesity. For more information visit www.grandmashealthykidsclub.com.

Tags: Care Physician, Family Teamwork, Health Fairs, Healthcare Provider, Home & Family, Local Health

Franchise a Family Business

Tony Tran — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 08:31:29 +0000

A large family can supply needed employees

A franchise that has many employees working in it on different shifts is one that a large family could run quite well if the family members are so inclined. The family must however get along with each other, as they will spend even more time together if they work in the business together. Sibling rivalries can become even more pronounced when the family members need to spend even more time together. If the family gets along well together then this franchise idea may be a perfect way for the business to solve the employee need.

Another concern with using family members to work in the business is even the most harmonious families can be strained a little when they have to also spend their working hours together. Also if one of them is put in charge when the owner is not present, this must be explained and made clear that there can only be one boss running a shift.

A natural selection for assistant manager

If one of the family members is older and a natural leader of peers, then this person could be made the assistant manager or a shift supervisor. This has two advantages of letting the family member learn the business by running a part of it and being responsible of what happens when they are in charge. Some families have purchased a franchise in order to give a family member a job. In some cases it works and in some cases it is a disaster in the making. It comes down to whether the family member is capable of handling the job.

Other family-run businesses decide early to let their children learn from people outside of the family and these businesses bring in outside managers and supervisors on purpose. Smart help that is not related can create an advantageous situation for the younger family members to learn from. The removal of inside family authority can open the way for a better learning scenario.

Each situation must be judged on its own merits and handled with some care. Other employees can be affected if an incompetent family member is put in charge. This is a serious dilemma when it is done to good employees. They will resent the new boss and may leave when they become unhappy enough. Losing good employees over a bad decision like this can hurt the business in the long run.

Advantages of paying family members

When you give a family member money out of your pocket, you cannot deduct this money as a business expense. If you pay them to work in the business, this can be deducted like any other employee expense. The advantage to the owner is they get to use before-tax dollars to pay the family member. When it comes out of the pocket and is not a paycheck, this money is after-tax money for the owner. This tax advantage can be significant when larger sums of money are involved. This is a very good way to get money in the hands of a son or daughter without paying taxes on it yourself.

Using the family franchise as a teaching tool

A franchise that has family in key spots is a terrific way to teach how to run a business. This is true from both positive aspects as well as negative aspects. The family franchise can teach in real time all elements of running a business. First and foremost it teaches how to deal with all types of customers. It teaches how to handle employees and supervisors. Details like tax decisions can be explained as to the consequences. Staying with a budget and handling suppliers can be brought home to the family member the owner is trying to educate. The importance of proper advertising using radio, TV or newspapers can be demonstrated in real life situations and not as a textbook case. All of the things an owner has to worry about when running a successful business can be shown to the family member in great detail. This real time learning experience can have a positive affect in the life of the family member. If they stay with the business, the decisions are likely to be better and if they go out on their own, they have a better idea what to do and what not to do.

Dealing with the day-to-day business decisions in real life is more likely to sink in than ideas read in a book. Being able to see the result brings home the correctness of the decision. If it works: why? And if it does not work: why? An analysis of the results can be illuminating to the trainee.

Turning over the business

Having a son or daughter in the business solves another problem that may come up in the future. Who will buy the business when the owner decides to sell? If the son or daughter likes the business and wants to continue it when the owner wants to retire, a natural progression is already in place. The son or daughter should be able to continue the success the owner enjoyed and not have to learn a new business. They already know what to do and how to do it. This built-in buyer helps in many ways such as long term planning and changes for growth.

Making the business more successful makes sense when the son or daughter will be the beneficiary. Keeping it in the family is a very real incentive for most owners.

Conclusions

A franchise run by the family has many advantageous and some negatives. The employee problem is not as confining if there is help from the family. Management can be a family contribution or it can be kept outside of the family and used only to teach the family members and run the company. Most franchises that have family working in them gravitate toward having family in positions of power and decision-making. It must be made clear that a family member who is put in charge is the boss and other members working for this boss must do as told. This person must be listened to just as any other boss would be listened too. The owner must make this point in order to prevent normal family in-fighting from occurring. Sibling jealousy and disrespect cannot be allowed to take place in the business. If it shows up it must be stopped. The business comes first and all family members must be willing to recognize this fact.

A family can run a franchise with great success if the head of the family lays down the rules at the beginning and makes sure they are followed. The advantages are many and the negatives can be handled when honestly confronted.

By: Bill Henthorn

About the Author:

Bill Henthorn formerly was principal broker and owner of a resort / commercial real estate brokerage in Honolulu which specialized in representing sellers in transactions up to $50MM.He currently serves as the marketing director of http://www.acquireo.com

Tags: Boss, Business Supply, Family Business, Family Members, Home & Family, Merits

Lake of the Ozarks Family Fun

Tony Tran — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 08:31:33 +0000

Bringing the whole family on a vacation to the Lake of the Ozarks can lead to plenty of good, family fun. There is so much to do and see in the area. Many of the activities are made for families. Of course, if you are looking for specific family fun activities or events in the Lake area, there are many to suit families with members of all ages, even the most finicky. In short, the Lake of the Ozarks has family fun for everyone.

The following locations and activities are just a brief sampling of all that Osage Beach and surrounding areas have to offer families of all shapes and sizes.

Water Parks

If you are looking to get wet and have a splashing good time the Lake of the Ozarks water parks is a great place for family fun. There are two water parks in the Lake Ozarks area.

The first water park, Big Surf Water Park, is an outdoor park offering something for everyone. You can enjoy a wave pool, trips down the space bowl, or a luxurious float down the river. Babies can enjoy their very own tropical splash island and there is an activity pool for older children.

The second water park, Timber Falls Water Park, is an indoor water park located at Tan-Tar-A resort. This water park is modeled to resemble a three story tree house in the Lake Ozarks wilderness. This amazing tree house comes complete with buckets, suspension bridges, water blasters, and web crawls. Additionally, a huge water bucket is constantly turning and drops loads of water on everyone in the tree house every two minutes! This park is amazing to look at and equals tons of family fun for everyone.

Amusement Parks

The Big Shots Amusement Park is owned by Big Surf Water Park. At this great park you will have your chance to enjoy numerous rides and attractions. You will be able to partake in water rides and traditional rides. Some of the more popular rides include bumper boats, Naskart, Go Karts on the Turbo Track, and the Bumper Cars. Smaller children will love the Junior Stock Cars, the Carousel, and the Happy Kangaroo.

Additionally, the Mill Creek Mini-Golf and the Bungee Trampoline are family favorites by both residents and visitors to Lake of the Ozarks.

Family Fun Parks

There are six family fun parks in the area. One of the most popular parks is Miner Mike’s Family Fun Park. Miner Mike’s allows your family to enjoy the Runaway Mine Train roller coaster, the Chuck Wagon Ferris Wheel, the Gold Mine Bumper Cars, and much more. There is also plenty of opportunity to win prizes as you play games of different types. Smaller children will love the Miner Maze, which has tons of balls, cushions, and connected tubing.

The Lake

No discussion of activities is complete without mentioning the Lake itself. With over 1100 miles of shoreline and a main channel running for over 90 miles there is plenty of room for boating, fishing, skiing, or tubing. Anchoring in one of the hundreds of coves to enjoy an afternoon of swimming is a favorite pastime. Some sit by the lake and just relax, always a favorite activity.

This is just a small sample of all of the family activities visitors can partake in when they travel to Lake of the Ozarks. As you can see, this beautiful area has activities indoors and outdoors. From sporting events and outdoor activities to cultural events and educational options, there is plenty to do and see for everyone at Lake of the Ozarks.

By: Dave Huffman

About the Author:

Dave Huffman is a property manager for vacation rentals in Tan Tar A Estates at the Lake of the Ozarks. Go to http://www.davehuffman.com for lodging.

Tags: Bumper Cars, Home & Family, Lake Ozarks, Space Bowl, Splash Island, Water Rides

Family Vacations in La Manga Del Mar Menor

Tony Tran — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 14:31:31 +0000

Family vacations in La Manga Del Mar Menor boast adventure, culture and relaxation all in one exciting trip. The famous strip along the southeastern coast of Spain offers activities which appeal to both young and old. The region’s cuisine, warm waters and recreational activities make it the perfect place for a family vacation.

La Manga Del Mar Menor consists of a 22 kilometer strip of land between Spain and the Mediterranean Sea. Due to its unique location, it encloses Europe’s largest saltwater lake, Mar Menor. It’s temperature is considerably warmer than its larger cousin, the Mediterranean Sea. The strip is a scant kilometer at its widest and 300 meters at its narrowest spot.

It size gives visitors the choice between two distinctive bodies of water in which to swim and play. The Mar Menor, which translates to “Little Sea,” is a favorite for those seeking family vacations. It’s been called “the world’s largest swimming pool” because of its warm temperature. Since it’s also shallow, it is an ideal spot for children to frolic.

La Manga Del Mar Menor is conveniently located near a number of major tourist destinations. It is situated just a few hours from major centers like Murcia and Cartagena. This means even more opportunities for families to explore the best of Spain. Both cities have a rich history which will interest children and adults alike. Museums, ancient ruins, cathedrals and landmarks beckon tourists on family vacations. Even the youngest family members will appreciate the Naval Museum in Cartagena and the Bullfighting Museum in Murcia.

The Torrevieja Water Park (Torrevieja Aquopolis) is also within a few hours drive of La Manga Del Mar Menor. The aqua park attracts tens of thousands of locals and tourists on family vacations from June to September each year. The theme park of Terra Mitica is also popular with families on vacation. It is located in Benidorm along the Costa Blanca across from La Manga Del Mar Menor.

Family vacation packages at the world famous La Manga Club resort on the Mar Menor take the guesswork out of holiday planning. Guests can choose from a variety of family-oriented activities. Many of its services are available to guests staying outside of the club as well.

Families also rave about the abundance of outdoor recreation available all along the Costa Blanca and the Mar Menor strip. Horseback riding is a popular option. Quad biking is another favorite. Rentals, equipment and lessons are available in various locations in the Mar Menor coastal region.

No family vacation in La Manga Del Mar Menor is complete without taking part in a water sport. The Mar Menor is an ideal spot for water recreation due to its shallow depth and balmy temperature. Kite-surfing, windsurfing, sailing, scuba diving and snorkeling are just a few of the many local favorites. Tours can be chartered at a number of locations along the coast and strip. Most of these have family-friendly options and can accommodate even the youngest of family members.

One of the biggest delights of any Spanish family vacation is enjoying local restaurants. Regional food is always embraced by tourists. It is characterized by local spices, exotic sea salts, fresh local produce, meat and fish. Many restaurants have kid-friendly options. If tourists can’t convince picky children to try Mediterranean food, there’s usually a pizza parlor nearby.

Many tourists come away surprised by the abundance of options available for family vacations in La Manga Del Mar Menor. In fact, a large percentage of vacationers return again and again to enjoy the family activities in the Mar Menor region.

By: Michael Lee

About the Author:

The La Manga Club Resort is the perfect resort location for your Holidays in Spain set on 1500 acres of breathtaking Spanish countryside.

La Manga Club holiday resort provides golf, tennis, horse riding, water sports, childrens club, cycling etc and if you would like to receive the La Manga Resort Guide please visit the website.

Tags: Boast, Home & Family, Little Sea, Manga Del Mar Menor, Swimming Pool, Warm Temperature

Family Vacation-managing Cost of Family Vacation in Africa Kenya

Tony Tran — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 14:37:22 +0000

Cost of Family Vacation in Africa

Family vacation air ticket to africa deals

A family vacation in africa usually involves air travel over long distances. Family vacation Air tickets from Norway, Netherlands, Bulgaria, russia, norway,sweden, netherlands and other countries can be exensive due to long distances involved. Booking your family vacation air ticket in advance helpd reduce the cost of family travel to africa. Africa Kenya air tickets alone can amount to a half of the oveall cost of a family vacation in africa. It will do you good to book them in advance as prices increase and availability reduces as you approach the africa summer vacation high season.

The average family vacation cost of a plane ticket from europe varies between $700-1000 per person return flight. The earlier the booking the better to save on inflated prices of africa vacation air tickets in summer.Some kenya airline and charter flights that offer good air ticket prices for family vacation safari in africa include;

Air kenya –discounted family tour in africa flights

Safari link- wilderness low cost family vacation air tickets in kenya

Flight 540- new kenya bargain family vacation cost air charter to mombasa

Kenya airway- kenya carrier and comfortable family vacation flights to Lamu,Mombasa and Kisumu

Africa kenya family vacation lodges & hotels cost

There is a wide range in prices of family vacation hotels and lodges in africa. Prices of Lodges in kenya catering for family travel in the national parks depend on the luxury level, the lodge star rating, the exclusivity of the lodge and the size of the africa travel family. Depending on the vacation luxury lodge you want for your family, you have manouveerbility to decide on the most cost saving facilitity in Kenya. affordable africa family vacation lodges in kenya are ususally the large complex lodges in parks.

Affordable kenya family vacation lodges for example have between 150-200 rooms and are equipped with a swimming pool, kid vacation games in kenya and other facilities for young children travelling with their parents. The best way to save on family vacation accommodation in africa kenya is to visit during off season periods when the lodge prices are reduced by half. Most off season periods are usually between february and may.

Some time this is not possible because it falls outside the family summer vacation travel period in europe. The second best way of saving the cost of a family vacation safari tour in africa is by buyying all inclusive discounted family vacation packages from tour operators of kenya. This way the tour operator sells to you’re the accommodation in africa lodges at cost price and you are able to save some money which cumilatively would be over $ 3000 for the entire vacation stay in kenya africa. Family vacation homestays is also a better way to save cost and also enjoy the hospitality of a kenya vacation rental in a home setting. Good lodges that offer discounted family vacation safari and travel in kenya include;

Keekorok lodge-the masai mara reduced cost family wildlife vacation spot

Serena lodge- affordable masai mara Kenya family animal holidays lodge

Sarova mara camp-the luxury family vacation accommodation at discounted rates

Sarova shaba-the good family vacation lodge in shaba reserve

Kilaguni lodge-the tsavo west kenya safe family vacation tour lodge

Ngulia lodge- comfortable kenya family travel to africa lodge among many others.

Saving on Road and Air Family Safari Cost in Kenya Africa

The cost of moving from one national pak attraction to the next in keya can be quite high and contribute to a higher priced family vacation package. Most of the parks are located atleast 3-5 hours from one another and the main means of local transport is either by road travel in a 4 x 4 safari vehicle or a tour mini van or by air using caravan airplanes that can take 12-30 passengers in kenya. The air safaris are the most convinient travel for a family vacation in africa but also the most expensive.

An air tickekt from Nairobi to the masai mara costs abour $130 one way per person while that to mombasa will cost you $ 100 one way per person. If you can afford this mean of travel, then compae prices for several africa kenya family vacation local air line companies and charter planes.

Alternatively take the road family safari in an 8 seater minivan. Where else this is a tiring option with atleast 3-8 hours spent on the road in a family vacation tour, it is the cheapest and also affords you the cnhace to see the rural kenya people and country side. You are able to make stop overs in the great rift valley and other special sightseeing areas for a family vacation in africa.

Your tour operator will be able to advice you on cheaper and affordable family vacation packages in Kenya africa. The tour operator will be able also to advice you on which is the best way to reduce cost of family vacation in africa through offering you reduced cost family tour packages in Kenya.

Have a cost saving day in africa family safari.

By: Robert Muhoho

About the Author:

Robert is a Africa Family vacation cost advisor with landmark safari ltd Kenya. To plan a discount and reduced price family vacation safari tour in Kenya, fill in a simple form here: http://www.landmarksafaris.com/planner or send them a quick email @ info@landmarksafaris.com or better read more safari fact at a blog http://www.eastAfricasafari.blogspot.com

Tags: Africa Africa, Africa Vacation, Air Ticket, Home & Family, Vacation Luxury, Vacation Safari

Family Attorney – What is the Price of a Combination of Laws and Sensitivity?

Tony Tran — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 19:52:16 +0000

Family attorney is a term widely used to describe attorneys that deal with the infinite aspects of family law, as well as those of property law, criminal law, probation law, etc.

A Multifaceted Job

The most common cases a family attorney has to deal with are child custody, divorce, abuse and domestic violence. However there are many more instances where even the best family attorney would have to work with kidnapping, parental rights, emancipation and so on. Seeing how a particular case can be related to other legal areas, specialization does not count in this kind of profession as experience does. The more experienced a family divorce attorney is the more chances are that he would have dealt with a case similar to yours.

A family attorney has to be aware of the various family laws in different states as well so as to be able to relate them to property and criminal laws in the same state as his client. These internal rules are certainly not valid just for a family law attorney but also for other lawyers who specialize in different areas. However, the nature of work that a family attorney has to deal with is very sensitive as it concerns emotions and feelings related to the family.

When Children Are Involved

The most fragile section of the society is often involved in family law cases: children. Whether because of divorce or abuse, the protection of minors is the main focus of any family law attorney. Children are always the first ones to be represented and protected, although the case might not be raised by them. It is the duty of the jury and of the best family attorney to always stand by and shelter the innocent section of our society. Therefore, attorneys have to always be sensitive to emotional issues of minors. If traumatized at young age, the child will tend to face problems at all stages of life in future.

As the nature of the work is so various and so demanding, a family attorney will charge differently for each case. The fees depend on the hourly basis as well on the outcome of the case in court. The hourly rates depend on the area or the state, on the experience and popularity of the attorney and on the nature of the case. Retainer charges asked by attorneys are usually paid by the spouse with a higher income, if the second spouse is in financial difficulty. The court usually gives an order called ‘Pedente lite’ so that payment by the spouse with a higher income becomes compulsory.

By: Apurva Shree

About the Author:

Many aspects of the legal system are connected with family law, making this sector a very vast and competitive area for the family law attorney. It is therefore important, when choosing a family attorney, to check their experience, attitude towards sensitive issues and fees asked for. The combination of experience and sensitivity should result in the choice of the best family attorney.

Tags: Child Custody Divorce, Children Divorce, Divorce Protection, Emotions, Home & Family, Specialization

Fostering Harmony Using Family Vacations

Tony Tran — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 05:49:02 +0000

Growing up, my parents were sure to make sure that each and every year consisted of at least 2 family vacations. There were years that we didn’t have a lot of money to be taking lavish family vacations, but they always found some way to get all of us together and give us lasting memories. That’s what life and quality time is supposed to be about – the memories that will last a lifetime. There were years that they splurged and would fly all of us to Disney or the Bahamas.

Most of our family vacations were spent at the beach or camping in the wilderness. Camping didn’t cost very much money and somehow always ended up being a really peaceful vacation. All of the family fights and arguing seemed to be put on hold once we were out in the great outdoors. My parents had purchased a huge, two room tent one year to accommodate their growing children, and it was so much fun for us. My dad would let us stay up late and tell us stories while we snuggled into our sleeping bags. My mother would pretend to be annoyed that we were staying up past our bedtimes, but she was always smiling when she said it. The family vacations to the beach were always thrilling as well. They would rent a house or apartment a few blocks from the beach and we’d spend a week laying in the sun, jumping through the waves and running around in the sand.

It isn’t cheap to plan and take family vacations nowadays. Prices have skyrocketed and the price of fuel can cut some trips short. People are tending to not venture as far away from home to save money. Family vacations to Disney are often advertised that they are discounted or on sale, but even the lower costs can really add up for a larger family. The actual airfare and hotel might be reasonable, but you have to think about all of the food and drinks that add up on those relaxing family vacations. The admissions to the theme parks are amazingly high.

For families who are wanting to take family vacations that will be peaceful and memorable, you don’t always have to spend a fortune. My favorite memories of spending time with my family weren’t in the islands or theme parks, they were of camping. Of course, not every family craves spending time in the great outdoors. I know some families who can’t live without electricity and a comfy bed. There are other options. If you’re looking to travel someplace, see if there are package deals that might include all of your meals. That could save your family quite a bit of money. Visit the beaches in the off-season to take advantage of lower rates and smaller crowds of people. Visit local destinations instead of venturing farther away. And remember, family vacations aren’t always about where you go or how much money you spend – it is about making memories.

By: John Wellington

About the Author:

AllPassTravels gives our readers advice on holidays, vacations & other travel related issues.

Tags: Apartment, Drinks, Family Vacations, Fly, Home & Family, Quality Time

Your Guide To Planning A Family Vacation

Tony Tran — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:14:25 +0000

Planning a family vacation can be difficult, but it’s a great way to get the family on the same page, looking forward to an enjoyable vacation together. Family vacations are a great time to bond with the family and forge memorable experiences. The key to a successful family vacation is in the planning. Here are some tips for planning your family vacation.

First, start planning your family vacation well in advance of the actual trip. This can be a fun and exciting process, as you talk about possible destinations, methods of travel, and activities once you get there. Visit travel agents together and gather information from agents and over the Internet. Planning in advance will give you a better opportunity to find good deals by booking ahead.

Second, keep cool. Planning a family vacation should be fun in and of itself, not to mention the fun you will have on your vacation. Don’t turn this into a family fight, or dark cloud will loom over the whole vacation planning process, and maybe the vacation itself. If your family is grumpy or uninterested save your planning for a time when everyone feels better.

Third, let everyone have some input. Even the youngest children should get to have a say in the planning process. Planning a family vacation should be something everyone can be involved in. Not only will that be more enjoyable for them, but they will be less apt to blame you if things go wrong on the vacation, since they had a hand in the planning process.

Fourth, choose a family-friendly location. As you are considering different vacation spots, keep in mind that different members of the family have different interests and needs. Try to find someplace that will have something for everyone, even if they are not 100% entertained around the clock.

If you have smaller children, there are great resorts that offer kids programs that will keep your children entertained for an hour or all day. Similarly, resorts that have activities geared towards older children or teenagers can be fun if your children fall into those age brackets. Does your family have a common interest? If you like hiking, skiing, or snorkeling, consider someplace where you can participate together in those activities.

Finally, ask your travel agent about package deals, promotions for traveling at certain times of the year, or discounts for families with children. Not all package deal discounts get published on the agent’s website, so it pays to ask in person. You can often find good deals if you are flexible about when and where you go, so be sure to keep an open mind.

Planning a family vacation is part of the enjoyment of the vacation itself. It builds excitement and anticipation, allowing you and your children to dream about the great time you’re going to have. Even more importantly, a well-planned vacation is going to go more smoothly and be more enjoyable than one that was largely unplanned. Keep in mind everyone’s expectations and the activities they enjoy, and you’ll be better able to find a vacation destination or package that makes everyone happy.

By: Matt Ream

About the Author:

Planning a family vacation can be exciting, and it can be terrifying. Get crucial information that will assist you in the planning process at http://www.familyvacationnow.com

Tags: Clock, Family Fun, Good Deals, Great Time, Home & Family, Vacation Planning

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