Summer Vacations Prove Hard to Come By

Even though summer seems like the perfect time to travel, many local families and individuals barely found the time to get out of town.

And with the first day of school looming, the window of opportunity has all but slammed shut.

"There are really only a couple of weeks where you can get away," said Hinsdale resident Barb Schwartz, who cited the end of July and beginning of August as the time when most local families travel.

Schwartz, the mother of five children ranging in age from 11 to 19,  said that with so many activities available to local kids, the summer schedule fills up before most can find a time to get a vacation underway.

Schwartz's family planned a trip to Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, but had to wait for her son's Little League All-Star season to be over before they could leave Hinsdale.

The trip also had to be made before l girls golf and  football practices began—not to mention the start of school.

In addition to the time constraints on traveling, planning a trip can also be a big commitment. Some locals may have found it easier to get professional help when navigating vacation planning.

Dorothy Stephan of  said that the most popular travel destination for her clients is Europe, but busy families often can't plan such a trip on their own.

"Most people do know what area of Europe they want to see," Stephan said, "and we advise the best way to do it is according to what they want to do or are able to do."

Stephan also emphasized the foresight travelers need to have. The clients she is working with this month are planning trips that won't take place until 2012. 

For busy families, advice from companies such as Hinsdale Travel Service and Tower Travel Management in Clarendon Hills can help make planning a trip easier—even if finding time for a vacation remains difficult.

Carolyn Ritch, who specializes in planning leisure trips at Tower Travel, recommends cruises to the Caribbean or Alaska for families.

"They're a great value, and they entertain the very littlest to the very oldest of clients," Ritch said. "The multiple islands and stops can offer different activities at different ports."

Other ideal options for families are all-inclusive trips, but the "happiest place on Earth" remains the top destination.

"Disney World is always popular in the summer," Ritch said. 

Maybe next year.