Tip #3: One-stop holidaying
With very young families, it's best not to shift hotels, so find one fabulous property, unpack the trunk of toys and settle in. Better yet, find accommodations that are geared to families (this translates to carrying fewer toys) -- or use a tour operator to do it for you. Of course, when you pick only one spot, it needs to be the right one, so make sure there’s plenty close at hand to distract the whole family. For meals, consider a villa where you can hire a chef to cook for you on the premises, and book with an agency who can arrange babysitting for those nights you want to go out.

Tip #4: Think big and be creative
Sure, everybody likes a beach. But what’s going to leave the biggest impression -- building sand castles in Florida, or snorkeling through a marine park in Thailand? Surfing lessons in Costa Rica will render any tween atwitter, and you’ll no doubt be able to slip in some rainforest education on the side. On a trip to Vietnam, set aside an afternoon to visit a children’s orphanage, or work with a local agency to donate a cow to a family that you can visit together. Build wildlife appreciation by tracking tortoises in the Galapagos Islands. Extraordinary experiences not only bring families together, but also create lasting memories your kids will carry forever.

Tip #5: Minimize flying woes
There’s no magical potion that can make flying with tots a breeze. However, there are things you can do to minimize the impact of the journey -- and avoid making enemies of everyone on your 737. Starting with the obvious, do everything in your power to avoid connections, and consider sticking to similar time zones when kids are young. Where possible, schedule flights so that naptime falls mid-air. For tiny travelers, buy a handful of small new toys and wrap them up -- then present your bundle of joy with a new one every couple of hours. This will keep him busy and engaged. After all, it’s the boredom that destroys families…or at least flights.