Tips for Making Your Family Vacation Safe & Fun

June 12, 2019

Proper Planning Means Less Headaches & More Enjoyment!

In the United States, it is widely known that we benefit from far less time off than other countries. In fact, the United States is the only country in the advanced economy that doesn’t guarantee paid time off to its workers, other than an occasional holiday, and even for some businesses, that is not guaranteed. American workers receive a third or less of the time off received by those in the United Kingdom. And sadly, even with such a paltry amount of time-off, only about one-fourth of American adults actually maximize the time off that they receive.
Because time-off is often hard to come by, it is important that when vacationing, you can make it safe and enjoyable for you and your family. Vacation offers a much-needed reboot for workers that often blend work and home life in today’s modern economy. And it is no surprise that those who take time away to truly relax and decompress, come back to work far more productive than they were before leaving on their vacation.
Making your Vacation Safe and Enjoyable this Summer
In order to maximize your vacation, follow these nine simple tips.
1. Do your homework before you book. If you are traveling with children, regardless of their age, ensure you select a suitable destination that is safe and healthy for travelers of all ages. If traveling overseas, check in advance for vaccination requirements, and then work with your physician to ensure all family members are properly immunized.
2. Understand your insurance coverage and what is or is not covered when traveling, especially if traveling abroad.
3. If you will be visited a crowded place, practice safety routines with your entire family, multiple times. Make sure your children know what to do and where to go if they are ever separated from you in a crowded place. A great option in advance of your trip is to invest in a tracking device that can alert you to their destination at any time. There are a variety of wearable devices now available and appropriate for children that can help to keep them safe while adding an element of fun (most kids love gadgets and gizmos).
4. If you have young children, take some time to safety proof your hotel room to ensure that they are less likely to sustain an injury.
5. Bring plenty of activity items for kids, especially if you will be traveling for hours on end by plane, train, or automobile. Coloring books, game books, and even iPads preprogrammed with child-appropriate programs and movies can be lifesavers.
6. Bring your own medical supply kit, complete with bandages, aspirin, medical ointment to lessen the risk of infection in cuts and scrapes, etc. Make sure your family knows where the medical kit will be kept while traveling.
7. Ensure all family members have an information card with important names and numbers, that is kept on their person during travel. This should include phone numbers for parents and guardians, as well as a trusted adult that is not traveling with you and your family. If traveling abroad, include the number of the local embassy. And, be sure to add the name, phone number, and address for where you are staying.
8. Have a back-up plan for each and every activity that is on your itinerary, just in the event an intended destination or closed, or you made a mistake when reviewing hours of operation or admittance requirements.
9. Make sure your itinerary is child-friendly but offers something for everyone. If you are planning some adult-friendly activities, make sure that those events are inter-mingled around activities that will be interesting for your children. And, don’t be afraid to come prepared with some special snacks or small reward-type items that your child can earn by demonstrating appropriate behavior when participating in an activity that they might not find as interesting or entertaining.
The key to a safe and enjoyable vacation comes down to proper planning. Make sure you take the time to thoroughly research your options and develop a plan that will entice everyone on your trip, even if for just portions at a time. And, once you have started your vacation, allow yourself to unwind, relax, and disconnect. You will be able to provide a much better experience for your family and loved ones if you allow yourself to enjoy it alongside them. Would you like to review your insurance protection prior to your family trip? We LOVE to help! Feel welcome to call us at 607-324-7500.

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Auto Rates and Finger Prints: Both are Unique to You!

By Jeff Ryan • April 7, 2026

Factors You Can’t Easily Control These factors are built into your profile, but still play a major role: Your location: Claim trends, traffic, and weather patterns where you principally drive. Your age and driving experience: Especially for younger drivers. Other drivers in your household: Their age and driving history. The vehicle you own: Unique to the Year, Make, Model, and Sub-model’s damageability and cost of parts/labor. These factors significantly influence price differences, but they don’t tell the whole story. Factors You Can Control This is where habits and wise decisions can make a real difference: Your driving habits: Minimizing tickets and accidents can have a direct impact. Your coverage choices: Liability limits, deductibles, and optional coverages can vary widely. Your insurance consistency: Avoiding lapses in coverage. Your annual mileage: How much and how often you drive. Discount opportunities: Bundling, pay-in-full, NYS defensive driving course. Your Insurance Score (Yes—You Can Influence It) Insurance companies use a credit-based insurance score as part of their rating process. While it’s based on financial behaviors, it is not permanent—and it can be improved over time. Simple habits like: Paying bills on time Reducing outstanding debt Avoiding excessive credit inquiries… can positively impact your score—and in turn, your insurance rates. Your insurance score is under your control and a worthy mid to long-term project in and of itself. For more information on what you can do to positively influence your score, see: Great 8 Tip #8 - What's Credit Got to Do with Insurance? How Can I Improve My Auto Insurance Score Why Comparing Rates Doesn’t Work When someone says, “I only pay…” , the uniqueness of their fingerprint is missing. What are their: Deductibles Driving history Insurance score Household profile Coverage limits: what they may be giving up in terms of protection. Price without context can be misleading and discouraging.