Many of us are looking forward to spreading our wings and seeing more of the world in the weeks and months ahead. If you’re excited to organize a trip with your family and you want everything to run smoothly, here are some top tips to plan stress-free family travel.
Get everyone involved in choosing a destination
When you travel with your kids or you take a trip with family members, it’s always beneficial to gather ideas and suggestions before you choose a destination. Ideally, you want to find a location that will appeal to everyone in your party. Discuss options, ask people what they would like to do while they’re on vacation and explore different destinations before you make a decision. If you have children who have very different interests, opt for a location that offers a range of activities and the chance to combine action and adventure with rest and relaxation. You could go camping near the coast or visit a city or a large town that is near the beach or a national park, for example. Stress-free family travel means choosing a destination that’s a winner for everyone.
Set a budget to begin with
Setting a budget is one of the most important aspects of planning any trip. Before you start looking for hotels or thinking about booking flights or hiring an RV, figure out how much you want to spend. If you have a figure in mind, you can filter results and focus on locations and packages that are affordable.
Want to know how budgeting can help you save for a vacation in the first place? Here’s a budgeting article that gives all the details. And this article on How to Save Enough Money to Travel could help you save up to $3500!
Designed by Heather Young
Book in advance
Booking in advance is beneficial because it reduces the risk of missing out if the demand for vacations or specific accommodation options is high, and it can also save you money and eliminate stress. From airport transport and parking to hotels, villas and apartments for rent, to flights and attraction tickets, it’s usually best to book online ahead of your travel date. You can also use comparison sites and search engines to find the best deals. Traveling at the moment may be very different than before the pandemic. Make sure you are aware of any restrictions or additional entry requirements that are in place before you book.
Packing lists
When you have a large family, packing for any trip can be time-consuming. Even if you’re only going camping for the weekend or you’re renting a beach house for a few days, you might feel like you’ve got an endless to-do list. To make packing quick and easy, write a list of everything you need for your trip. Include items you already have that can go in your cases and bags as well as anything you need to buy before you travel. Give yourself plenty of time to work through your lists and double-check you have the essentials, including travel documents, chargers and any medication you need before you leave home. For more information on packing successfully, see this post: Packing for Success.
There’s nothing quite like a family vacation but sometimes, planning a trip can be stressful. To keep stress at bay and ensure everyone is looking forward to the trip, explore different destinations, plan in advance, set a budget at the beginning and write down everything you need to buy or pack. Here’s to stress-free family travel that refreshes and relaxes you and your family!
Great insights! I remember a family trip we planned together and we left the decision of air travel or road trip up to the kids. I think they liked that.