A little advance planning will help you plan the best holiday for your family, keep the kids happy en route to your destination, and make it more fun for the whole clan while you're away. Here's what the experts suggest:

Use a Travel Agent

Using a professional can save you time and headaches. Travel agents offer access to unbiased information, such as which airlines are best for kids or which seats on the plane will be most comfortable for your family depending on the age of your kids, says Kari Thomas, a travel agent at Will Travel in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. "Travel agents also know whether you'll need immunizations, passports, or other documentation for your trip."

Check the Calendar

Theme parks are most crowded — and often most expensive — during the school holidays, says Thomas. So if the prospect of spending half a day queuing for the toilet at an amusement park isn't your idea of a fun time, consider booking your trip during the off-season. "You'll have more breathing room," says Thomas. "And the fact that you're going off-season usually means a better price. Just keep in mind that sometimes it's considered the off-season because of weather, so make sure you plan rainy day activities."

Choose Kid-Friendly Accommodations

Whatever your budget, from one-star to five, some hotel chains are more kid-friendly than others. "The Ritz Carlton and Hyatt chains offer fantastic kids programs," says Thomas. "The better kids programs have supervised activities, such as crafts, and they bring in the local culture so kids learn about it in a fun way." While organized tours don't typically welcome young children, if you're looking for a relaxed getaway, consider an all-inclusive resort, such as Beaches, says Cindy Grant, owner of Expert Family Travel in Dallas: "You're staying in one spot and you don't have to go off on excursions. Because everything is paid for in advance, it's a lot easier; your teen won't need your credit card to grab lunch in the restaurant while you lounge by the pool."

Plan for Safety

Call your hotel to request a non-smoking room without a balcony and find out if they provide childproofing equipment, such as outlet covers and drawer locks, suggests Debra Holtzman, a child-safety advocate and the author of The Safe Baby: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Home Safety (Sentient Publications). "If not, make your own kit before you leave home using masking tape, outlet covers, strong rubber bands, a night light and a first aid kit." Masking tape will come in handy to hold drawers closed and attach thick wash clothes to cover up sharp table corners. Rubber bands will be useful for keeping drape and blind strings out of your toddler's reach.

Try a Taste of Culture

If you're traveling to a foreign destination, such as Europe, Africa, or Asia, watch movies and look at books on the area to give your children an idea of what to expect, says Grant. This will help prepare them for the culture shock of visiting a foreign country. You could also try serving some of the local cuisine before you go. Heading to India? Order Indian food for dinner so the kids can sample the kinds of dishes they'll be eating while you're away.

Ask for Input

After you've made the baseline decisions, involve the children in the trip planning so they have a vested interest. "If you're undecided between two hotels, maybe let your teenager decide which hotel to stay at or to choose the flight times or seats on the plane," says Thomas. If you know you'll have one day at an amusement park, look at brochures or web sites with your child and let her choose what activities she'd like to do first when she arrives, says Grant. Same goes for packing: for a younger child, lay out choices of appropriate clothes and make room in the suitcase for the teddy bear they can't sleep without.

Don't Forget to Include Downtime

If every second of your holiday is scheduled, you'll likely have a tired cranky crew on your hands. Plan to have some free time each day so each family members can do their own thing: whether it's reading, playing with their favorite toys, or relaxing by the hotel pool.

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