While considering your family vacation this year, try not to read through those lusty magazines about the jet-set lifestyle of those Hollywood types. And certainly don’t juxtapose post-baby bodies with the likes Angelina Jolie-Pitt, it’s an embarrassing undertaking.

Back here in the world of reality, where the once-upon-a-time world traveling twosome multiplies into a family of three or perhaps more, those exotic vacations are no longer about basking on Caribbean beaches drinking fruity cocktails. Its more about a growing bag of extra diapers, portable crib, and car seat. And then there are also the increased costs to wrestle with.

So, does a retired globe-trotting couple have any options? Well, you could stay at home with a large glass of wine in hand and travel to make believe destinations while vicariously surfing sites like this one.

But that’s just wrong.

You and even your little ones need to get out there and see what the world is all about. And keep this in mind: If your savings is shrinking, so is the world. Those once “too pricey” destination getaways and high falutin’ resorts that were at one time beyond your means last year may have dropped prices just low enough to become affordable in 2012.

Plan judiciously, and this year you and your crew could be exploring the souks in Marrakesh, tubing through caves in Central America, riding the Gondola at Banff or even going on that once-in-a-lifetime trip to New Zealand.