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So you decided to take your family and spend the weekend at a lake house, a mountain cabin or a beach shack. All you have to do now is plan your getaway, pack and leave before it turns out that you’re needed at work on a Saturday, your kids want to stay to hang out with their friends and your husband decides to meet his buddies for a friendly game of poker. Luckily you can be ready within short few hours so get going before your weekend plans fall apart.

Start by booking the place you want to stay at. Even though it’s summer, you should be able to find vacancies, just check online and make the reservation. Paying upfront will be your argument with the family, so don’t hesitate to do it, especially if you’re going some place familiar. It will also save you the time at your destination, since all you’ll have to do is pick up the keys when you get there and give them back when you leave.

Once the reservation is made, check for the best route and estimated time of travel. For pop stars, actors or couture designers travel by limos is a given, buy you’ll rather be driving your family car, so make sure you have the precise address to enter into your GPS or print a detailed map with directions in order not to get lost. Whether you know the way or not, it’s good to check for any road closings and repairs, so that you can easily find an alternate route if need be.

When your accommodation and travel are taken care of, it’s time to pack. You’ll definitely need sunscreen and bug spray, as well as swim suits and swim trunks. Make sure you pack some warmer clothes just in case the evenings are cold, rubber shoes that can be worn in water and some light clothes for everybody to wear during the day if you’d like to go out for lunch or go hiking, for example. Also don’t forget about a good book and some music that you’ll be able to enjoy peacefully while the rest of the family plays in the water or collects wood for the bonfire.

Traveling with your family you need to be ready for all situations. Check your first aid kit to make sure you’re all well protected and pack a bag that will go in the car with you and not in the trunk with the rest of your luggage. In this bag make sure you have wet naps and regular tissues, a travel game in case the kids get bored, a couple of bottles of water and some snacks like pretzels or nuts. If your travel will be longer, and especially if one of your family members suffers from diabetes, heart problems or another illness, take a portable cooler and stock it with orange juice boxes, chocolate bars, sandwiches made on pita bread certified for diabetics and medication. That way anybody will be able to snack on something and get to the destination safely.