* Written by guest blogger Leslie Campos, of Well Parents.

​Going on vacation is a fun and exciting way to try something new. Going alone comes with both challenges and benefits. If you plan to trek out on your own, consider these six tips to help you make the most of your trip and stay safe during the process. 

One of my favorite travel experiences to date was teaching English in Chengdu, China, to students aged twelve to eighteen years. I was in college in an English education major. I co-taught with a fellow student, and we had students in an intermediary English level class. Our students were amazing! They were eager to learn and eager to please. Their families took us out to eat and made us feel so welcome in their country. And although this was a volunteer opportunity, the school administrators provided on-campus housing and took us site-seeing on the weekends, including to the Panda Preserve there in Chengdu and to the Giant Buddha in Leshan.

Teaching English overseas is a great opportunity to see the world while earning a little money. It also offers an amazing opportunity to meet wonderful people, really learn about the people and culture of the country in which you teach, pick up some of the local language, and make a difference in the lives of young people.

It's no secret that I'm a fan of Alice in Wonderland. I have the animated 1951 Disney film practically memorized front to back. I love the live action remakes with Mia Wasikowska and Johnny Depp. I even love the animated 1988 Burbank Films Australia version of Alice in Wonderland.

If you're like me, you may wonder where you can find Alice in Wonderland-themed statues, restaurants, and shops.

I read a meme recently that said, "Traveling with kids isn't a vacation. It's just taking care of your kids in a different place." I laughed because of course there is some truth to that. But as parents we do not travel just to go on a nice, relaxing vacation. As kids get older and more self-sufficient, there will of course be times you will be able to relax and enjoy your vacation, but travel should be more than just lying around on a beach. Many of the reasons Marvin and I love to travel - for education, for cultural awareness, for personal growth, and for just a general change of scenery - are also reasons we want to travel with Emmett.

Let's start right off by defining what this article is not. This is not an article for seasoned travelers. If you already know what you're doing and have no worries when it comes to travel, you do not need this article. This is also not an article for people who have no desire to travel. Some people are homebodies, and that's totally cool. If you are content at home with all your creature comforts, this article is not aimed at you. And this is not an article for those who love to travel but are simply limited by budget or time constraints.

However, if you are a beginner traveler, and you want to travel but feel overwhelmed when you even start thinking about maybe trying to plan a family vacation, this is for you. You are not alone. Others feel the same worry and even dread when it comes to planning and executing a family trip. But this post is full of tips to help you set yourself up for vacation success.