With summer vacation in full swing, family schedules are quickly filling up with camps, sports and a variety of other activities. Coordinating a week or a few days to spend together can seem daunting – especially with your increased business travel. What do yo do?

Heck, stick them all on a plane and take them with you! Share your joy with the world. You won’t be the only one. According to a recent survey, business travelers took family members with them on 14% of the 435 million business trips they made last year (D.K. Shifflet & Associates). The line between business and pleasure travel has become fuzzy (not just the Vegas trips…). And in these uncertain economic times, bringing the family on a business trip can also reduce vacation costs. While many employers pay for expenses – there may be room for family members to take advantage of a “free” hotel room and rental car – does it get any better than that? Below we’ve outlined a few tips to consider if you plan on bringing the family with you.

Not every business trip is right for family. Ask yourself how much time will you be able to spend with the family when you are working? We all know that business travel frequently means long hours and then the dreaded “business dinners” spouses love, can go into the night. If you are going on a trip that requires focus and dedication, it’s best not to bring the family. It does them no good to come along on an exciting business excursion only to find themselves only seeing you on the flight home. They will be frustrated and you will wonder what value there was to the expense and trouble of bringing them if you could not enjoy them except to kiss them good night and wave good-bye in the morning. (Unless you enjoy that type of thing…)

Many of us are required to use our corporate travel department for our own reservations. But booking the family is usually up to you. Airlines and hotels like to offer early-booking discounts, so it’s a good idea to beat your fellow travelers to the deals before peak season starts. Alternatively, last-minute deals are also available, when suppliers offer deeply discounted leftover inventory. Check out HotWire, Last Minute Travel and 11 Hour Vacation. Be sure to read the fine print though.

By comparison shopping on Expedia, Orbitz and the airlines’ own web sites I recently saved several hundred dollars on my husband’s airfare. Don’t overlook low-fare lines like Southwest, Song and JetBlue – it is often best to go directly to them since the lowest fares may not be picked up by your search engine. And don’t forget to check out secondary airports, such as Providence, Rhode Island (instead of Boston’s Logan), or Long Beach Airport (instead of LAX). Fly midweek and stay over Saturday night for the best rates.

If you need to use your corporate travel group, it still doesn’t hurt to ask a hotel, “Is that your best price?” Members of AAA and other organizations may be eligible for special discounts, but you have to ask! Look for deals on Expedia and Hotels.com and try bargaining for a better rate by simply asking especially if you are adding additional nights to your trip. Many hotel chains offer web only deals so check out hotel sites as well.

This is not always an option through your corporate travel agent, but if you have flexibility it is worth looking into. These options offer more room, privacy and a homier feel than a hotel room for comparable or even lower prices. And there are extra cost savings by eating some meals in – I know you don’t want to cook, but… check out options at Hideaways International. Membership costs $185 a year but they offer discounts on villa rentals. Marriott Vacation Club rents villas from its pool of fractional ownership properties. Or try Resort Quest.

Compare amenities at several hotels before you book the lowest price. For a few dollars more, you might find there is free breakfast, free parking or even an onsite babysitting service that could really save money in the long run. Free accommodations for children (sharing a room with adults) have become the industry norm, but be sure to check the cut-off ages. And you should also explore kids-eat-free packages. The cost of food for a whole family can add up quickly. And since children are often notorious for being finicky eaters you don’t want to spend too much on restaurants. Some chains, like Holiday Inn, have a kids-eat-free policy (under 12). Buffets are always a good option and don’t forget to ask the concierge or front desk for suggestions on inexpensive local eateries.

Kids get sick, and weather turns bad—lots of things can ruin a trip. Buy third-party insurance – you can easily compare policies at Insure My Trip. Insurance is available from a travel agent, a travel insurance company—such as Travel Guard or Travelex — or buy prepackaged insurance direct from supplier.

With all the planning and preparation to bring your family along, its important not to lose site of why you are traveling in the first place – remember that work thing? Take time before you start the trip to make a schedule for work and play. Pre-plan activities for the family to do while you are working. And don’t forget to include time for you to join them. Having a few back-up activities at the ready might save the day if you get stuck at work – or conversely if you are able to sneak out a bit early one day.

I hope these suggestions make planning your next trip with the family an enjoyable experience. As always, I’d love to hear about things that worked for you so write to me at anne@wejetset.com. Travel safely and take pleasure in traveling with your family…

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