I usually plan every family trip meticulously. Letting my father-in-law take over was the best thing I've ever done.

• I typically plan all our family vacations, but recently, I let my father-in-law take charge. • Although it was hard for me to let go of the reins, it turned out to be one of my favorite trips. • He did things a little differently than I would have, but it was nice to be able to relax.

As a travel writer, I consider myself a vacation expert — which means I like to be in control when planning family trips.

However, as the self-appointed trip director, I find the self-inflicted pressure to curate the perfect trip can get overwhelming.

For a recent family vacation, though, my father-in-law did the planning, including choosing the destination: Alvor, Portugal. It made perfect sense, as he'd been there several times with my mother-in-law, so he was familiar with the destination. Plus, h