Raising a teen? Here’s some advice on vacations from the book “How to Survive Your Teenager” (Hundreds of Heads Books, www.hundredsofheads.com, $13.95), straight from people who’ve done it:

“On vacations, do things that interest them. One year, while at Cape Cod, where my kids insist there is nothing to do, we let them both go to a drag show in Provincetown. They had a blast and talked about it for days, particularly because it was risqué and that they were allowed to see a more adult venue. They have done other things there, too, such as take in a windsurfing lesson, go horseback riding and bike, but it was fun to let them take in an evening, safe, adult excursion.”

—Ann Haaland, Highland, N.Y., mother of two daughters, 23 and 20

“Have a whine-free vacation: It’s possible! One year, I told my kids, who were then 13 and 11, that at the end of each day of vacation I would give them each $5. Their eyes grew big as platters, thinking of what they could buy. But then I told them that every time they whined, I would deduct $1. It worked like a charm! Most days both kids earned $5, and a few days $4. One day my son whined because he was only getting $4, so he got $3. That was the first and only time that happened! Besides having a nearly whine-free vacation, I think this technique taught my teens consequences, responsibility, and how to save and spend money.”

—Jean Nick, Kintnersville, Pa., mother of one daughter, 16, and one son, 14

“Get them their own room at the hotel. I wasn’t about to sit around for hours on my vacation waiting for my daughter to get out of the bathroom. Leave them in the room and let them order room service and watch TV. And when you hear gripes about an activity you’ve planned, say, ‘Humor me.’”

—Pat Curry, Athens, Ga., parent of two daughters, 17 and 15

“A great experience for your teen is a mission trip to a third-world country. My older daughter wanted to go to Haiti with her dad. We challenged her to raise at least $100 of the $1,000. She raised all of it.

—Anonymous, Atlanta, parent of two daughters, 16 and 14

“We’d be going through the most gorgeous scenery on a summer vacation in Colorado and my kids would be in the backseat with their noses in books. It made me so mad. Kids don’t always share all your interests, but when we’d get to the top of that mountain and throw snowballs at each other, I knew the trip was worth it.”

—M.F., Buffalo Grove, Ill., parent of two daughters, 21 and 20

Hundreds of Heads Books’ survival guides offer the wisdom of the masses by assembling the experiences and advice of hundreds of people who have gone through life’s biggest challenges and have insight to share.