Spending time with the family has risen to the top of the list of things Americans want to do on vacation this summer.

The Travel Industry Association says family reunions and travel seem to go hand-in-hand, judging by the fact that 34 percent of U.S. adults have traveled to one in the past three years. This translates into nearly 72 million U.S. adults.

In fact, one in five (22%) U.S. adults say they took a trip to attend a family reunion in just the past year. Keeping with the family theme, more than half of reunions are held in someone's home (52%). City or town parks (12%) and national/state parks or forests (6%) are also popular. And family reunions occur with some frequency-at least once a year for half of family reunion travelers.

While statistics show most family reunions occur close to home, more and more extended families are packing up Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, nieces and nephews for journeys that venture farther a field. And every facet of the travel industry is taking notice.

Travel expert Valarie D’Elia offers these ideas for destination family reunions, far beyond the usual picnics and weekend getaways:

All-inclusive: Cruises and resorts
Best for: Active and diverse families who want a convenient, no-fuss vacation and the opportunity to mix it up with other guests. Offers a myriad of itineraries.

Watch out for: Extras such as excursions and the bar bill .

Must do: A private family reception.

Budget: Family of 20, 5 day cruise — $350-600 per person, everything but airfare included.

All-inclusive cruises and resorts are the no-brainer of family reunions. Since most everything is included, meals, some drinks, and entertainment, there are usually few budget surprises. Mainstream cruise lines such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Holland America specialize in bringing big groups of relatives together with activities for all ages. Mom can be at the spa, kids can be entertained with age appropriate activities, and while Grandpa is teeing off on deck, Grandma can be learning the intricacies of serving afternoon tea. Families get together at dinnertime to swap stories and organize the next day.

Dedicated cruise planners make it easy to coordinate all the details and will pass some perks along for the big groups.

Carnival for instance offers one free berth for every 15 bookings, and provides special on-board amenities - champagne and chocolates, stateroom upgrades, private cocktail receptions. Another trend developing is the use of online resources to keep the family connected before the big voyage, with chat rooms, online polls and newsletter tools.

Resources:

www.carnivalconnections.com
www.royalcaribbean.com
www.ncl.com
www.hollandamerica.com
www.disneycruise.com

Reunion packages: Disney Magical Gatherings
Best for: Mickey fanatics 5 years and older who want a customized itinerary with a designer Disney theme. Special perks for groups of 8 or more.

Watch out for: Peak season & crowds.

Must do: Fast Pass & Kid Swap.

Budget: Family of 10, 7 nights, $1,400 per person, airfare, Disney hotel, park hopper passes, dining plan and two special activities ALL included.

Magical Gatherings is an innovative program with new products and services designed for extended travel groups planning a Walt Disney World Resort vacation. New online tools make it easier than ever to plan a multi-household vacation.

And groups of eight or more staying at a Walt Disney World resort can book new Grand Gatherings experiences that include the “Safari Celebration Dinner,” “International Dinner and IllumiNations Dessert Reception,” “Magical Fireworks Voyage” and “Good Morning Gatherings.” Dedicated planning specialists will assist Grand Gathering groups with special celebrations, dining and recreation reservations.

Groups can make Magical Gatherings reservations anytime with easy-to-use Magical Gatherings online planning tools. Magical Gatherings vacations can take place at Walt Disney World deluxe, moderate or value resorts, with an itinerary that covers the theme parks, water parks and other entertainment and recreational locations within the 47-square-mile Vacation Kingdom.

The Magical Gatherings vacation-planning program provides easy, step-by-step tools, including a Vacation Planning Kit complete with DVD or video. Online vacation planning is a breeze with the new Web-based Magical Gatherings Planner at www.disneyworld.com/magicalgatherings. The online tools allow you to send invitations to family and friends, engage in group chats about your itinerary, create polls for consensus building, browse and share other Walt Disney World Web pages and build a complete group vacation itinerary.

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