Parents typically have a handle on expenses to cover before they hit the ski slopes or bask in the sun this winter with the kids. But when one of the kids gets invited to vacation with a friend, trip finances can get a bit more complicated.

Whether it's airplane tickets, hotel reservations, ski lift passes, meal money or souvenirs, a laundry list of “who's paying for what” issues should be addressed before your child goes off as a guest on another family's vacation trip.

But all too often, host and guest families dance around the money discussion, experts say, perhaps out of embarrassment or because it gets lost in the rush to get out of town.

While you may think you and the host family are on the same page, ignoring the financial details could lead to confusion and conflict that can make a trip memorable for the wrong reasons.

Patty Arvielo, the president and co-founder of New American Funding, a mortgage lending and financial services company, is a world traveler who has a 12-year-old son. She said she often invites friends or one of her nieces or nephews on trips so that her son has someone to hang out with.

Arvielo, of Tustin, Calif., keeps the trip finances simple.

“My philosophy always is if I do the inviting, then I expect to pay for the guest,” Arvielo said. “If the parents insist on paying for the ticket, I tell them my philosophy and how inviting their child makes the vacation more enjoyable for my child. If they still insist, I then go to ‘why don't you just send your child with spending money?' ... Then if they keep insisting, I let them and then thank them for the offer.”

My takeaway: Avoid any misunderstanding of who's footing the bill.

Here are some other travel etiquette tips for kids vacationing with other families:

In general, the closer you are to your hosts, the more likely they are to want to pay your son or daughter's way. Still, pin it down.

Kids should travel with their own pocket money or a debit card loaded with cash. How much money should your child bring? Before the trip, get an idea of what it costs for a whale-watching excursion, ski rentals, museum entry fees or other outings, so your youngster will have enough cash to offer to treat the host family to an activity, a tank of gas or just pizza and ice cream.

Give your kids their allowance ahead of time, so they'll have extra pocket money to spend.

If you're hosting and a young guest offers to pay for something, don't necessarily turn him or her down. It's an opportunity for a youngster to learn about reciprocity, even if it's a small amount.

Ask the host parents to be the banker — holding on to your child's wallet or putting it in the hotel room safe so it won't get lost and money won't get wasted.

And, after your child returns home, there's one last etiquette task to take care of — a very nice thank-you note.

Questions, comments, column ideas? Send an e-mail to srosen@kcstar.com.