Stress-free family reunion planning tips

You might also consider concierge- or club-level floors. Those floors carry considerable upcharges, but you can make that money back. You'll generally find food presentations all day —

breakfast, snacks, afternoon tea, cocktail hour, late-night cordials. You'll have an exclusive lobby where everyone can congregate at their leisure for greeting and grazing. Also,

almost every concierge level I've seen has a cappuccino machine, which can save you lots on those expensive lattes. THE BIG BEACH HOUSE I once stayed in a beach house that slept 24

people comfortably. It had five floors with two massive kitchens on separate floors, and every one of the 10 bathrooms had a large basket overflowing with rolls of toilet paper. Yep,

that's a perfect place for a reunion, with long, unrushed days on the beach, then evenings for eating, watching movies, playing cards and talking. Look for large and affordable

properties, starting on the North Carolina coast and continuing all the way to the Florida Panhandle. Delegating such chores as shopping, cooking, cleanup and laundry is a must. Also a must:

a large grill, which cuts way down on cleanup. Call rental home companies, or look online at vrbo.com, homeaway.com and airbnb.com. THE CRUISE Last but not least, you can have someone else

do it all for you — preparing meals, making beds and organizing activities. And in fact, cruising is the most popular choice for destination reunions. Now that there are ports all around the

U.S., the ease of driving to the ship gives the cruise another major advantage. The cruise, like the all-inclusive resort, will have activities and kids' clubs to keep everyone

occupied. Plus, you'll know the bulk of your travel expenses upfront. Cruise lines begin to throw in serious perks and amenities once you hit the eight-cabin mark or have 16 in your

party: upgraded cabins, private shore excursions and shipboard credits toward free spa treatments. It's a good idea to compare many different lines to see what they offer, or you could

always use a travel agent who will know how to make the most of your group leverage. PRESERVE YOUR MEMORIES Wherever you decide to go and whatever you decide to do, think about booking a

professional photographer to preserve this great moment in your family's history. And don't forget to order T-shirts, reunion-style, all in the same color and with the name of your

family or the theme of the reunion. How about: "I had to go on a cruise with 31 members of my family and all I got was this lousy T-shirt!"