Before you go ahead and plan your ideal family vacation for this year, there are several considerations that need to be made, regardless of whether you will be travelling with little children or teens that are difficult to amuse. I love family travel, and there is no reason why you cannot do the same!
Here are some of our top recommendations for easing the stress of your trip and making the most of the quality time you have to spend together while you’re gone.
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Good packing
When you travel with your family, you have a lot of responsibilities, so stressing about the amount of luggage you may carry and the items that you are not allowed to bring can only make the beginning of your vacation more stressful. Make sure you are familiar with the regulations that your airline has regarding the size of your luggage, liquids, and electronic devices such as tablets and gaming consoles before you leave on your vacation. When you are packing, perform a thorough double-check of everything to avoid wasting time at the airport. Keep a few pieces of clothing, such as swimwear and an extra outfit for the kids, in your carry-on bag in case your checked bag goes missing. This is a smart suggestion in case your suitcase goes missing.
Think about nap time
If you’re travelling with young kids, especially ones who haven’t started school yet, try to plan your trip around when they sleep if you can. If your child usually takes a nap at a certain time, try to find a flight that leaves just before that time. That way, they can still sleep and you can relax a bit more. Or, if you’re booking a flight that will take a long time, think about adding a stopover to break up the trip and give your kids a chance to run around and get tired before the next leg of your trip. For example, if you want to take your family to the Far East, you could stop in Dubai to see the city and enjoy its beaches and waterparks. By twinning, the city with Thailand, Malaysia, and Bali, families who don’t want to take a long flight to Asia can do so. A Walt Disney World escape is great! But, make sure you plan in nap times so they can enjoy the vacation without the effects of jet lag.
One of the reasons I love family travel is that we cater for the younglings needs; if they need a nap, let’s schedule it in if we can, even if it’s in the buggy while you are out exploring!
Order ahead and make plans
If your airline provides meals for children, you should make reservations for those meals in advance so that you can ensure that your children will be fed something they enjoy and that they will be fed while they are in flight. Check to discover whether your airline offers any movies or shows that are appropriate for children. In that case, you won’t have to bring nearly as much entertainment with you as you would otherwise. If nothing is entertaining to do, be sure to carry enough things to keep the children occupied. For example, you might download movies to a tablet, bring a few colouring books or puzzles, and don’t forget to bring your most beloved toy or teddy bear. When on a vacation with your family, planning and reserving activities in advance is one of the most beneficial things you can do.
Drink plenty of water
It is essential to stay hydrated both while you are in the air and once you have arrived at your destination. If you are travelling somewhere like the Indian Ocean, where the temperature and humidity are likely to be high, you should make sure that you always carry water with you so that you and your children do not become dehydrated. Pack a bag and bring along a couple of water bottles that are empty so that you can fill them up once you reach your destination. When you get there, locate the convenience store that is most convenient for you.
Safe sightseeing
If you and your family decide to venture out of the resort to do some sightseeing, you must arrange a “meeting spot” if you become separated. You and your spouse could get separated, and you can’t always bank on a strong cell phone signal while you’re away from home, so make sure you all know where to meet up and get back together. This is important not only for the protection of your child but also for your peace of mind. It is important to make sure that you and the children are easily identifiable in a crowded area, thus it is a good idea to wear bright clothing. You might also want to slip a business card from the hotel into their pockets if they become disoriented and stray off.
Plan the details of your trip
If you’re travelling with your family, it’s important to plan and have at least a general idea of where you want to go, what you want to see and do while you’re away, and how you want to spend your time while you’re away. Even though it might be fun to be spontaneous while on vacation, it’s important to plan. Remember that trips or activities with kids, particularly younger children, could take longer, so make sure to leave yourself plenty of extra time to enjoy whatever it is you’re doing. You can also check online to see if there are any discounts or special offers for certain family-friendly destinations to visit so that you can get the most value for your money.
Bring some entertainment
Make sure you always have something to keep yourself engaged during times when you don’t have much to do. This could be something as simple as a book or as complex as a portable electronic device. Everyone will have a better time as a result of this, which will make the vacation more enjoyable overall. Children may experience boredom while travelling long distances in a car. Therefore, turning on their favourite show may keep them entertained for several hours. The same is true for travelling by train or aeroplane.
Plan for any potential concerns
Consider the things that could go wrong on your vacation and make preparations for those contingencies. You will be better equipped to deal with any unforeseen challenges as a result of doing this. You just cannot handle everything, but awareness is an absolute necessity. It has the potential to ease some concerns that, in the absence of planning, could have been much more serious.
Top up your jabs
You and your family should take the same precautions as you would for any extended journey and ensure that you have all the necessary prescriptions and immunizations. To ensure that you have enough time to prepare for your trip, you should schedule a visit to the doctor as soon as you can after booking your trip. Additionally, you must have a first aid kit along with you. It ought to comprise the essentials, such as acetaminophen, bandages, and insect repellent, in addition to any other medications that you and your children could require.
Find the best places for families
When shopping for a hotel for your family, it is important to determine whether or not the hotel has the amenities that you require. For instance, if you want to be in constant proximity to your children, you should book rooms that are connected to one another. You should also check out the kid’s club and determine whether or not any eateries are suitable for children. It is in your best interest to conduct a significant amount of research before going anywhere to avoid being dissatisfied or having problems along the way.
These tips should help you to plan the perfect family getaway. Do you have any other tips that could help? Please share them in the comments below. We do also have a series of posts for things to do with kids in various different locations across the globe, so why not take a look at our recommendations?
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Helen
Helen
Helen is a mum to two, social media consultant, and website editor; and this site is (we think) the only Social Enterprise parenting magazine!Since giving up being a business analyst when juggling travel, work and kids proved too complicated, she founded KiddyCharts so she could be with her kids, and use those grey cells at the same time.KiddyCharts has reach of over 1.1million across social and the site. The blog works with big family brands (including travel) to help promote their services, as well as offering free resources to parents of kids under 10.It gives 51%+ profits to Reverence for Life, who fund a number of important initiatives in Africa, including bringing running water and basic equipment to a school in Tanzania.Helen has worked as a digital marketing consultant (IDM qualified) with various organisations, including Channel Mum, Truprint, Talk to Mums, and Micro Scooters. She loves to be creative in the brand campaigns she works on.Get in touch TODAY!