Most people don’t need to be sold on the benefits of vacationing. However, a lot can go wrong during a family outing without a proper plan. Below are four tips to help prepare for your family vacation as a unit.
1. Consider Your Options Together
Get input from everyone before making your decision. A great way to brainstorm as a unit is by listing both personal and group interests collectively. Ask your children directly about the sights and activities they want to experience. This is important because by allowing the members of your family to weigh in, you’ll be letting each know how much you value cooperation and involvement.
Practicing these two traits now will help acclimate your family to the collective participation you expect to see during the trip. Lead by example and begin your family brainstorm session, but remain open to the ideas of others.
Also, show up prepared. By doing some research on family vacations ahead of time, you’ll already have plenty of options to share with your children. For example, relaxing cruises from California host a variety of adult and child activities sure to entice your partner and kids.
2. Figure Out Your Budget and Stick to It
While keeping to your budget may be the least glamorous part of traveling, staying within your limit will ensure your vacation remains as stress-free as possible. Make sure to be realistic in terms of how much your trip will cost as a whole. Money for entertainment, food, transportation, and accommodations must be considered separately in most cases.
If your family is big, renting a condo, cabin, or house might be a better option than a hotel as you’ll undoubtedly require extra space. What is more, lodgings such as these will be sure to have a kitchen, an option which will save you money on food as well.
Traveling to popular spots during off seasons can be an excellent way to cut costs while still experiencing the best destinations. In general, you will find better deals in the fall to places such as Europe and less expensive fare to places such as Australia in the summer.
3. Stay Flexible and Keep an Open Schedule
It’s all too easy to burn out early in your vacation if you plan too many activities at once. By striving only to complete one or two activities per day, you’ll be keeping your options open and your stress level low.
Sticking to an agenda is a smart way to stay on track only if your family is up for it. Pay attention to your children’s and partner’s moods. If you or your family members are feeling overwhelmed with the vacation schedule, avoid further discomfort and skip the excursion. Remember, relaxation time is equally important to adventure time. By checking in with both yourself and your family, you’ll be better able to gauge your collective energy level. This is important if you want your vacation to be the pleasant experience you planned and paid for.
4. Plan For Alone and Couple Time
It’s only normal that as a parent you’ll want to make sure your children are enjoying themselves. However, putting your own needs aside in order to accommodate others only works when you set boundaries. Balance out your trip by planning moments for yourself. Enjoying a walk alone, a good book, or warm bath can be great ways to unwind. What matters is that you give yourself an opportunity for solitude.
Spending time with your partner away from the kids is equally important. If possible, plan for a dinner out or breakfast alone. If you don’t have childcare options, planning an engaging activity for your children ahead of time can both keep them busy and your date running smoothly.
As exciting and beneficial as vacations are, it’s easy to become overwhelmed during your travels. By planning a flexible vacation as a unit, with a set budget and time for solitude, your time away will be the enjoyable experience intended.
Choose Your Destination Carefully
The destination itself is often the key focus of your holiday, so it is important that you make the right choice before booking those flights. However, with hundreds of countries, cities, and towns to choose from – the prospect of selecting just one destination can be particularly stressful. Thankfully, this process can be made easier by deciding exactly what you want for your holiday. For example, are you looking to spend time in nature or looking for a bustling city escape? Are you ready to sit outside in the sizzling sun, or do your children want to see snow for the first time?
Asking these questions can help narrow down the decision-making process, bringing you closer to your perfect travel destination. Then, you need to carefully consider things such as travel, accessibility, accommodation and attractions. Thankfully, a lot of the information you need can be found online. For example, if you were planning on visiting Tennesse, a quick search of fun things to do in Nashville will bring up a wealth of family-friend activities for your to participate in – such as a trip to the Adventure Works Zipline Forest. Once you’ve chosen your destination, it’s time to get everyone involved in the more specific aspects of planning.
