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 Weekend Getaways
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 Do You Try to Avoid Kids While Traveling?
 Whether you're a young honeymooner in search of undisturbed romance, an empty nester celebrating retirement or a parent that just needs a break from your own little angels, you may be considering a child-free vacation. But sometimes it isn't as easy as it sounds -- especially if you're traveling over the summer or during the holidays when the kids are out of school.
How can you avoid the kid crush? Arm yourself with a little advance planning. Read on for our tips on picking the right destination, the right hotel and the right time of year for your grownups-only getaway.
 When to Go
If possible, plan your trip to avoid school holidays like summer, Christmas/New Year's and Easter. September is often an ideal time to travel, with kids back in school and balmy temperatures lingering in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere.
You may also want to travel during the week rather than on weekends -- you'll avoid not only kids in school but also their working parents. One notable exception to this rule is museums: call ahead to make sure the institution of your choice isn't hosting a school field trip on the day you'd like to visit.
Where to Go
Families tend to flock to beaches, but that doesn't necessarily mean you have to avoid them yourself. If you're planning a beach getaway, be sure to do your research before you go; you're less likely to find families at, say, Miami's trendy South Beach than at other public access points nearby. Try to seek out more secluded stretches of sand that might be harder to get to or that are missing some of the facilities (snack bars, changing tables, restrooms) that make beaches more convenient for families. Many upscale hotels may offer access to their own private shoreline, allowing you to avoid the families that rent apartments or condos and visit public beaches.
 Another traditional vacationing spot for families is national parks. Luckily, most parks offer thousands of miles of trails for hikers, bikers, climbers and motorists alike -- so with the help of a good map, you'll be sure to escape the crowds around the major sights. If you can schedule your trip outside the summer vacation season -- even better!
If you're planning a getaway to a major city, try to plan your trip during that particular destination's off-season if possible, and call ahead to major attractions like museums and monuments to make sure your visit doesn't coincide with a school trip. Seek out adult-friendly attractions, like pub tours, art galleries and boutique shopping, and spend a little more to eat in upscale restaurants rather than casual chains. Or go where picky children fear to tread and try out some ethnic eateries! Eating later in the evening may help too.
When choosing a destination, think exotic. Instead of traveling to more popular Caribbean islands like Jamaica or the Bahamas, try quieter ones like Dominica or Curacao. (Better yet, if your budget allows, go to Tahiti!) The longer (and more expensive) the flight to get there, the less likely it is that families will have the money or the stamina to make the trip. This doesn't necessarily mean that you have to go all the way across the globe to enjoy some adults-only time -- just that you may have to seek out the less-traveled corners of the place you want to visit.
Though cruises are becoming an increasingly family-friendly vacation option (particularly on mass-market cruise lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean and NCL), there are still plenty of ships where you won't have to worry about being splashed every time you walk out on the pool deck. Try an upscale luxury line, or, at the opposite extreme, the hardly luxurious easyCruise, which and draws a young crowd in their 20's, 30's and 40's (although ships do not have children's facilities, kids are permitted onboard). British P&O Cruises offers adults-only sailings on its newest ship, Arcadia. Alaska, Canada/New England, and more exotic destinations like Tahiti and South America tend to draw older, more sedate crowds than family meccas like the Caribbean and the Mexican Riviera. You'll also see fewer kids if you book a longer cruise (more than seven nights). As with on-land restaurants, you'll see fewer kids if you choose the late seating at dinner. For more on child-free cruising, see Holiday Travel -- Avoiding Kids.
Other adult-friendly vacation options include spa vacations or a casino trip to Las Vegas, Reno or Atlantic City.
Where to Stay
If you'd rather not hear the pitter-patter of little feet charging past your hotel room every morning, it's best to do plenty of research before choosing your accommodations. Skip the well-known budget chains and seek out intimate bed and breakfasts, historic inns or upscale hotels. Be sure to scrutinize the property's Web site or brochure -- if it's offering lots of family packages or amenities for kids, you may want to look elsewhere. Call the front desk and inquire about their children's policy; if it's a small enough property, you could even ask whether there will be any families staying there during the time period you're considering.
 One way to assure yourself a kids-free getaway is to book a stay at an adults-only resort, most of which are found in the Caribbean. The Sandals chain offers couples-only resorts in Jamaica, Antigua, St. Lucia and the Bahamas, but there are plenty of others; your travel agent can help you find them.
If You Can't Beat 'Em ...
If you've taken all our tips and still find yourself next to a howling child on the subway or surrounded by little ones cavorting at a campground, it may be time to cut your losses and remember that you were once a kid too. In between your all-adult moments, let loose a little -- grab a Frisbee and play along, help build a sandcastle, make funny faces at an unhappy child. After all, you've got your whole life to be an adult.
Related Links
Senior Travel Deals
Hotel and B&B Resources
Single Travel: Tips for Going Solo
Read Trip Reports by Fellow Travelers!
--written by Sarah Schlichter
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