I’m gonna give every parent out there some free advice: when you go on vacations with your family, don’t make them take tours. Just don’t. Unless it’s a teddy bear factory, I guarantee your kids will not even remotely care about whatever it is this nonspecific place is for.

The mistake some parents make when planning family vacations is choosing activities that only they consider fun. If you’re gonna bring the kids, you gotta work with them. Go to a theme park, visit a zoo or aquarium, try some unusual food. Don’t just dump your kids in a hotel daycare and spend the day sunbathing. I can tell you from personal experience that they will give you the stink eye for the entire rest of the vacation.

Obviously, what every kid likes is different, but if you just ask them “what do you want to do,” I’m sure they’ll give you a good jumping off point to find something the whole family can enjoy. Planning vacations can seem like a lot of work, but it’ll be worth it for the fun and bonding you’ll get when everything gels.