Ellen Paderson from
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Vacations

Increasingly, parents are looking for new, exciting and less expensive ways to mark their child's milestone. As a travel agent for more than 15 years, I have been replacing traditional events with destination wedding or anniversary parties. I am now finding more and more families who are adapting this concept for their child's Bar/Bat Mitzvah.

Among the most popular packages are a Caribbean Bar Mitzvah Vacation with a flight to one of the islands and the ceremony in a historic synagogue, or a Caribbean Cruise Bar Mitzvah.

There are several reasons that a Bar Mitzvah Vacation concept is literally taking off:

Budget: With fewer invitees, the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Vacation is usually less expensive than a more traditional temple/reception type of affair. This may allow you to budget a 3-, 4- or even 7-day celebration; you will create memories that will last a lifetime.

Family Time: In a time when family time is minimal, this presents an opportunity for the family to spend much needed quality time together.

Family Ties: For interfaith families and those who don't have temple membership, the vacation alternative may be preferable.

Personality: For the Bar/Bat Mitzvah child, it's an adventure they'll never forget. For children with special needs, their role in the service can be reduced without anxiety. For kids who didn't complete Hebrew school or who don't do well in front of large audiences, there's a lot less pressure.

Unique for Sibling: Some parents who held a Bar/Bat Mitzvah's in a conventional way for their first child would like to explore a different option for their other children.

Alternative to Israel: Some families who had considered having the Bar/Bat Mtizvah in Israel may be rethinking that idea.