Taking the Kids: Holiday smarts, whether you are joining the family or getting away

I get the appeal. You don’t want to be a guest (who wants to sleep on the lumpy sofa bed again?) Nor do you want to host (too many loads of laundry, too many meals to prepare).

That doesn’t mean you necessarily want to get away from your family. Multigenerational family travel grew by more than 35 percent during the first half of this year, where older adults, which could be family members or grandparents, booked stays with kids or grandchildren, according to a recent survey by Airbnb. (Just make sure there are enough bathrooms and the elders know not to criticize anyone’s parenting, piercings, lifestyle or job choices. Don’t discipline anyone else’s children either or try to force vegans or vegetarians to eat meat.)

Families don’t want to leave their pets behind either but they may not be welcome at grandma’s condo or your aunt’s house. Consider that Thanksgiving last year was the most popular time for U.S. guests to travel with their pets – more than 35,000 checked into Airbnbs.

If you are going to travel to see your family this holiday season, you want to stay somewhere comfortable where there is sufficient space, where you don’t have to worry about the kiddos getting into grandpa’s medicine and where you can relax. No wonder people search for places with hot tubs.

Don’t feel guilty if you simply want to get away from all the hoopla and family drama either. Many are worried about arguments over politics, others want to get away after a loss or a divorce.

This year, millennials and Gen Zers are looking to spend more on festive getaways than their elders, according to a Pricewaterhouse Coopers report that found that younger people are spending more on holiday travel.

According to the Airbnb survey, there has been more than a 25 percent increase in international searches for the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Who wouldn’t want to spend the holidays in Paris, London or Puerto Vallarta, the top three searches? Just be mindful that even if it costs more, you are better off with nonstop flights or the fewest connections available.

If there are no kids in the equation, opt for an adult-oriented getaway – an adults-only resort, perhaps, stargazing in the Atacama Desert of Chile where you can enjoy some of the cleanest skies in the southern hemisphere, an adults-only escape at Hotel Three Sixty in Southern Costa Rica or perhaps a visit to Napa Valley at the newly renovated Meritage Resort and Spa with pools that face the vineyards and an iconic spa in a naturally formed Estate Cave. Perhaps Italy where the boutique Grand Universe Lucca, Autograph Collectio n is in a historic palazzo within the medieval city walls or a Virgin Voyages all-adults cruise.

But if you are going to forgo the family gathering, make sure you don’t leave any hurt feelings in your wake. Perhaps send a gift basket. Daily Harvest has no-subscription Give Deliciously Collection boxes filled with easy-to-prep meals and snacks made from organic fruits and veggies.

If you are going to meet up with the family but choose to stay elsewhere, be honest about why. (The would-be hosts actually might be relieved.) Perhaps you are worried about the toddlers in a non-child-proofed home. Maybe you simply can’t abide your brother’s new girlfriend.

Maybe you want to treat the kids to a special holiday experience.

Skip decorating at home. Consider treating yourselves to a hotel decked out for the holidays. The New York Marriott Marquis boasts 25 Days of Festive Fun that started Dec. 1 through Dec. 25, complete with Santa, decorating Christmas cookies, the chance to create slime masterpieces, listening to Broadway stars singing Christmas c arols and more. The Marquis has teamed up with Christmas in America to deck the halls with festive decor and lights in a select block of rooms, ensuring that the holiday excitement continues after a day of adventure. Plus, guests will even receive a themed gift from the beloved Marquis Theater Broadway show“Elf”.

In Chicago, you can book the Santa Suite at Swissôtel Chicago. Perched on the 41st floor of Swissôtel Chicago, the Santa Suite will feature 17 holiday trees with decorations inspired by classic songs like, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” and more. The suite will be decked out with dazzling décor, twinkling lights and, of course, Santa Claus himsel f, as well as a build-your-own hot cocoa bar and the chance to make holiday crafts (without having to clean up the mess). Perfect for a family gathering.

In Wyoming, just three hours from Chicago, the luxe Brush Creek Ranch celebrates with gingerbread house decorating, sleigh rides, holiday movies , snowshoeing, fat tire biking Snowga, nightly evening fireside s’mores and more. You won’t have to worry about entertaining the kids as there is the Li’L Wranglers Children’s Program (for those four to seven).

In Florida, Camp Margaritaville Auburndale, located an hour southwest of Orlando and just outside of Lakeland, Florida, has Themed Weeks Throughout December with special holiday events and a "Camp More, Spend Less" promotion.

And then there’s Orlando with plenty of holiday doings outside as well as inside the theme parks, including stage productions, concerts, special museum exhibits, as well as the Epcot International Festival of Holidays, SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration, Holidays at LEGOLAND Florida, Universal Orlando Resort, Holidays in Space at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and resorts decked out for the season.

Good luck telling the family!

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(For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow TakingTheKids on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments. The fourth edition of The Kid’s Guide to New York City and the third edition of The Kid’s Guide to Washington D.C. are the latest in a series of 14 books for kid travelers published by Eileen.)