LIFE

Go for a walk solo

Or, you know, with the dog. There’s no shame in making in clear you need some alone time. Promise you won’t go far or do anything against the rules your parents set—and stick to that promise in your quest for freedom. Even heading downstairs by yourself and sitting with your legs in the hotel pool can give you the independence you need to join the family again for a civil dinner.

Schedule a Skype date with your buds back home

Between you, your parents and older siblings, we’re betting someone has a laptop, tablet or smartphone in their travel bag. Ask nicely if you can use it for 30 minutes to Skype with your besties back home. Sometimes all you need is to chat up someone different for a little while. And catch up on all the good stuff you’re missing.

Block off some quiet time

Can’t handle the 24/7 sibling chaos? Pull mom aside and say you’d be happy to help with your little bro later in the evening (or take him to the park early for Mom and Dad to sleep in a bit), but you need 60 whole minutes to yourself in the immediate future. Make your compromise fair and you’ll get what you’re looking for, guaranteed.

Ask more questions

When all else fails, turn into a mini inquisitor. Pretend you’re a journalist and ask your parents things you’ve never asked before. What was their first concert? What was their best spring break trip? If you’re stick with the parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles—the whole world, pretty much—you can at least make it more interesting by finding out things you never knew before.

What’s your tried-and-true way to stick out a souring family trip? Tell us in the comments!

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by Brittany Taylor | 2/1/2016