Trying to plan the perfect holiday for you and your family? It isn’t as hard as you think. If you stick to these 5 hot tips while planning your next family holiday, you’ll be stress-free before you leave.
Dig For Discounts
Unique to traveling with children or large family groups, it is possible to find deep discounts in some situations.
Travel companies, restaurants, hotels, tourist activities, tour guides, etc. will often offer discounts for family members younger than a certain age. Sometimes children under 3- or 4-years-old are even free! Search for these types of activities to keep your budget low.
If the group you’re traveling with is large enough, you may qualify for deals based on your size alone. When booking tickets for events, games, and other activities, look for discounts for groups that usually begin at 8 people and above.
Keep The Kids Busy
Whether you’re on a flight, skipping around town, or on board a cruise, it is important to make sure there is always something for the kids to do.
Some trips are adult-centered, and don’t leave many options for little ones. Be sure to know what you’re getting into beforehand. If there isn’t much to entertain your children with, plan ahead and bring some games along. Are there mixed-ages in your group? Even though each activity might not be age-appropriate for everyone, make sure everyone gets a turn choosing what he or she’d like to do.
If mom and dad are looking for some alone time on the holiday, that’s okay! Plenty of vacations offer kid-friendly alternatives. Cruises are great options, as they usually have babysitting, kid camps, or daycare available. This option is also common with all-inclusive resorts.
Sometimes travel by plane is hard for young children. While it can be assumed there won’t be much for them in the way of entertainment, be sure to bring your own. Bring a carry-on backpack that is lightweight for them to carry by themselves, and stuff it full of travel goodies: DVD player with movies, hand-held games, stuffed animals, crayons and coloring books.
Re-consider Your Travel Options
If you and your partner are seasoned travelers that easily hop on and off a tram or can quickly navigate your way through the NYC subway system, it may be worth re-considering your travel options when bringing along children.
If you usually don’t rent a car, check out how much it will cost. It may be worth spending a little extra money to know your children are safe and out of harms way, especially if your destination is loud and busy.
Traveling with infants and toddlers can be tough. Will you need a stroller? Is there another way of getting about that might make it easier? While you may not have to think of these things at home during your normal routine, be sure to plan ahead for your trip, as the place you’re traveling to may be much different than what you and your children are used to.
Try To Align Schedules
While it may seem impossible, one of the most important parts of planning a family trip is getting away at a time that fits everyone’s schedule.
It probably won’t ever be perfect, but aim to spend your holiday when there are as few conflicts as possible.
Summer is a great time to get away for children. With no school, try and stay away from any camps, practices, or summer school they have to attend.
For adults who work, be strategic with your planning. Instead of blindly using paid time off, aim to get off days that your company may already have off, such as major holidays like Memorial Day and the Fourth of July (in the U.S.A.). If those don’t coincide with your travel plans, use the days you normally have off – for most people, this means weekends.
If everyone in the family can travel without having to worry what’s going on back home with school or work, you’re more likely to have a happy family getaway (Take The Entire Family On A Vacation).
Make — And Stick To — A Budget
Trips can be pricey, but many times the expenses build up once you’re already traveling.
Though you may have planned the perfect trip at just the right price, it’s also important to set a budget for your itinerary while you’re traveling. How much can you spend per meal? Is it okay to go out for ice cream every night, or does it need to be limited to twice during the trip? Can you afford to go to a certain theme park?
Set strict expectations for children. If they understand ahead of time that they can only get 1 souvenir for “X” dollars, they’ll be less likely to keep asking for the duration of the trip.
Once you have a budget set ahead of time, stick to it. It will make the trip — before, during, and after — much less stressful. Know more on (How To Travel On A Budget)
Family holidays can create some of the best memories you and your children will have. Make your next getaway as simple and as stress-free as possible, and you’ll have memories that will last you a lifetime.
