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Ahhh, summer: a time for lying on the beach, taking a road trip, grilling in the backyard — and, often, going to a family reunion family reunions are a staple of the summer months and with many modern families scattered all over the country or even the globe, reunions are increasingly taking on a greater significance. Of course, planning a vacation for 20 or 30 of your nearest and dearest relatives can be a logistical challenge. That’s where our practical tips can help.

1. Allow yourself at least six months to a year to plan your reunion, especially if you have a particularly large group or if you’re booking flights, cruises or vacation rentals. You’ll get more choice and lower prices if you book well in advance.
2. You’ll also need to decide on a date. You may have to travel over weekends or school holidays.
3. Coordinating a reunion is a daunting task, but there are several Web sites that can help.
4. Keep in mind your family’s budget, interests and age range. If you have a lot of family members arriving by air, for example, you may not want to pick a resort that’s three hours from the nearest airport.
5. Where to Stay.
Do you love the idea of your whole family bonding in one big house or lodge, hanging out on the front porch and cooking meals together? Or does the very thought of sharing bathrooms and staying under the same roof as your in-laws give you hives?
6. Booking Your Trip.
Because booking travel for a large group can be complicated and time-consuming, you may want to consider consulting a travel agent. Some resorts and hotels have reunion coordinators that can also be a big help with your planning.
7. Activities
Once you’ve booked your trip, the next step is to decide what to do once everyone arrives. Try to strike a balance between organized activities and down time — maybe you’ll all take a morning hike together but have a few free hours after lunch for shopping, golfing, napping or just catching up on all the latest family gossip.

One final word of advice: don’t force togetherness. If different members of your family have different needs or budgets, there’s no reason that you all have to spend the night in the same place — remember, you can always hang out together during the day.