Among families, vacations are the stuff of legends. These are the memorable times when the kids get to try something new and the parents are challenged not to have a meltdown when the kids have a meltdown. Vacations should be a happy and hassle-free time for everyone. Yes, there are mitigating factors like flight delays, long lines and nasty weather that can up-end your vacation plans. Even with all of the unknowns you should still keep your eye on the prize of having a great vacation. Here are 7 ways to achieve that ultimate family vacation without the stress:
- Plan Everything
A great family vacation can only happen with careful planning and that begins with a family meeting to decide on the destination. When the kids are younger you can certainly surprise them with a trip to the house of Mickey. However, the older the children, the more they’ll want to be involved in picking the destination. You might luck out because everyone just wants a chill beach vacation. Wouldn’t that be nice?
Once you’ve agreed to your destination, the planning can begin in earnest. Will you be flying or driving? Which hotels offer the best deals? What activities are on the bucket list? The more you can work out in advance, the better off you’ll be.
Timing is also crucial for your planning. By now, you probably know that you have to add at least thirty-minutes to any time frame that involves getting kids ready. To get your bunch through TSA screening, you might need even more time. Things also tend to go slow in the hotel room because everyone is crowded together. Factor in those potential time delays. Arriving early never hurt anyone!
- Don’t Overschedule
This tip especially applies for any theme park-centric trip. There is going to be a lot to do at those destinations and you don’t want to overschedule the day. Make a ride priority list and let that be your guide through the park. It will also help to get to the park as early as possible to ensure that you have a full day. Beyond the theme parks, you don’t want to pack up every day to the point of drop dead exhaustion. We can all get cranky in the late afternoon so be sure to leave room to relax in between the fun.
Speaking of relaxing, if it is possible, then you should try to plan some for mommy and daddy time. If you’re traveling with a teen and younger kids, then maybe the teen can watch the other kids while you go off for a special dinner. Many hotels offer babysitting services. That’s is something to definitely to take advantage of. It will be nice just to focus on each other and not have to worry about what everyone else is going to get for dinner and if they’re going to finish it.
- Always Be Snacking
Deep pockets and big purses are essential for a family vacation. That is where the snacks should be stored. Kids can hit low blood sugar grumpiness, too. That’s why you always want to have a treat ready to dispense. Plus, there’s a good chance that wherever you’re vacationing they will be charging a hefty price for the littlest snacks. Save money for the big meals and pack your own snacks.
- Get Travel Help
If you were to go online and Google, family vacation, then you would be swamped with hundreds of possibilities. That’s what it is helpful to work with travel agencies that can pull the entire trip together for you. A perfect example would be a company like Kimberly Tours with Charter North. They can pull a vacation package together from start to finish and accommodate all the special requests for the family. Letting someone else with travel knowledge and expertise book the vacation will be a big stress relief. You can also check Costco travel, they also provide you great travel packages and benefits (awesome guide to that here).
- Ask for Upgrades
Along every stop of your vacation, you should be asking for upgrades. This doesn’t mean your entire family is going to get bumped up to first class (unless you get bumped from a flight!). However, there could be upgrades for your rental car and hotel that would be available just by asking. Some of these upgrades might come with a nominal fee while others could just be a matter of timing and being nice to the person behind the counter. You’ll never know unless you ask.
- Try Going Off Grid
This is a family vacation and that means time for family bonding. If you’re flying or driving, then letting the kids watch their pads or DVD players is a good idea. Once you reach the destination, then the devices need to be put down. That includes you! By limiting the screen time, you’ll be able to engage together as a family. There will always be time to upload photos when the vacation is over.
Going off the grid also means leaving work at home. Barring a genuine emergency, everyone you leave behind at the office should know just that: You’re leaving them behind! Your kids are going to take their cue from you. If they see you on the phone, then that is where they’ll end up.
- Plan to Decompress
Have you ever heard the expression, I need a vacation from my vacation? That is usually voiced after a week of travel and activities that leaves everyone exhausted. That’s not necessarily a bad thing because it meant that you all had a great time. It might help if you can pad your vacation time with an extra day at the end. That day can be spent just decompressing back at home. Throw all the suitcase clothes in the laundry and wash the next day. Just relax, order take out and go through all those great pictures you took while you were away. That’s a nice end to any vacation. Safe travels!
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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