If your family is like mine, you have some beach bums and some river rats, some road-trippers and some who get carsick, some who love luxury and some whose idea of heaven is a tent. Is it possible to accommodate all of these differences and actually enjoy a multigenerational vacation? Survey says yes! Here's how to handle some key differences.

Transportation Preferences

If you choose a destination that's not too far from home, it's possible for some family members to drive and for others to fly.

This compromise works best if the plan is to stay in one general area and make short day trips from that area. Otherwise the ones who hate car trips still spend a lot of time in the car.

Do some family members want to take a cruise and others object? If the problem is seasickness, most large cruise ships have stabilizers to reduce motion. In addition, modern seasickness remedies work well for most people. It's also wise to research itineraries and choose a route through calm seas.

Luxury or Budget Accommodations

Another difficulty that arises in multifamily vacations is a difference in what the families can afford to spend. This discrepancy creates the most difficulty when choosing lodging, as lodging often accounts for the largest expenditure.

Families can often save money by renting a house, cabin or large condo. If this is too much togetherness for one segment of the family, that faction can always rent separate accommodations nearby.

If some family members enjoy camping and others do not, let the non-campers stay in a nearby lodge or motel.

Grandparents who can afford to do so sometimes pick up the tab for everyone's lodging, which removes that issue from contention.

Other Expenses

Have a specific plan for handling expenses before you leave home. For example, agree on separate checks when eating out. Generous grandparents may pick up the tab for some restaurant meals. When being treated, it's polite to exercise restraint in ordering.

When staying in lodging with a kitchen, some families put a certain amount into a kitty for food. This can be per person or per family, or a certain amount per adult and per child. If the kitty runs out, everyone has to put in more money. Any money left at the end is divided back up. The community money is not to be used for anything not for community consumption. Some families find it works best if alcohol is purchased separately, so that non-drinkers aren't financing others' beverages.

Food Issues

Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, peanut-free, low-calorie, low-fat, diabetic: It often seems that every person in a family is on a different diet. That can make eating together problematic.

This situation should be addressed in the vacation-planning stage. Those who need special dietary accommodations should take responsibility for their own needs as much as possible. On the other hand, those who are blissfully regimen-free should not insist on eating in restaurants with menus that are limited and/or unhealthy. Families can split up for meals if they are in an area with a nice variety of restaurants.

When the family is utilizing lodging with kitchen facilities, accommodating different diets can be easier. Just purchase a nice variety of fruits and vegetables, supplemented with beans, nuts, cheese and eggs for protein. Meat, starchy foods and desserts can be added for those whose diets allow them.

Child Care and Other Duties

Often when grandparents are around grandchildren, they enjoy helping with their care and entertainment. Grandparents are more likely to become fatigued while traveling and should not be expected or allowed to take on the bulk of child care.

Grandparents are often happy to spend a night or two babysitting while the younger folks have a night out. But they shouldn't be stuck with kid duty every night.

Other duties, such as straightening up, cooking and running errands, should also be shared. This may be difficult for the grandparents, especially grandmothers, who may be accustomed to doing it all. A bigger problem is that the family matriarch or patriarch may be accustomed to being in control. Switching to a more democratic mode can be difficult.

Entertainment for All

When it comes to entertainment, my family's philosophy is that everyone should be able to do some of what they enjoy most, but no one should be allowed to call all of the shots. At a recent beach vacation, for example, we enjoyed fishing, boating, surfing, swimming and beach-combing. No one had to do any particular activity; those who were disinclined could always stay at the beach house, where we played games and put together jigsaw puzzles. A bit reluctantly, we even took the teen granddaughters shopping. Everyone gets to do some of what they really want to do.

Electronic entertainment can be a source of discord. Grandparents may not approve of grandchildren constantly being on their devices, but it is up to the parents to regulate their use. If a family is sharing living quarters, there should be some agreement about television watching. It should be restricted to certain times, or done in a private area such as a bedroom or TV lounge.

Alone Time and Quiet Time

Many family members will begin to feel stressed if they don't have some alone time, or some time with just a spouse. Those who fall into this category may volunteer to escape the crowd by doing the shopping or running errands. They may go for early morning jogs or late night strolls. When families share housing, a closed bedroom door should mean "Do not disturb."

It may not help when you have a gaggle of teenagers, but certain times should be designated as quiet times. If you want to get up before dawn, feel free but don't turn on the television. If you want to stay up until the wee hours, that's okay, too, but don't keep the others awake.

Rules for Children

Some families get together and make some basic rules for the kids in the family. Here are some examples of rules that may avoid conflicts:

• Children must be in bed with lights out at a specific time.
• No electronics at the table.
• Kids must hang up their towels.
• Children don't help themselves to food without asking.

Often a case of cousin rivalry will disturb the peace. Usually separating the warring parties for a time will let the conflict blow over.

Practice Tolerance

"I'd rather have a root canal without anesthetic!" "No way, Jose!" Comments like these are not uncommon on message boards when multigenerational vacations are the topic. Some families clearly should not vacation together, especially if those families have unresolved conflicts.

For other families, those whose members genuinely like and care for each other, the key is cutting each other a little slack. Try not to get irritated if your brother-in-law drinks the last Diet Coke, or your nephew leaves Legos all over the living room. Trust me. Minor irritations will vanish like dew in the sunlight. It's the laughter, the sharing and the adventures that you'll remember.

Want to experience multigenerational travel without the hassle? Take at look at these Top Grandparent Travel Companies, or plan to go to Grandparent Camp. You may also be interested in a DIY Resort Vacation or in Vacation Destinations for Movers and Cruisers.