Traveling can be a magical experience, but it can also be stressful, especially if you’re planning a vacation with kids for the first time or catering to lots of different ages and tastes. Every trip should be memorable for the right reasons. In this handy guide, we’ve put together some top tips to make your next adventure as fun and stress-free as possible.
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Setting a budget
Most people don’t have a limitless budget. Figuring out your finances before you plan a trip is a great way to reduce stress and avoid spending too much. Analyze your bank statements and check your balances to determine how much you can afford to spend on your next vacation. If you have a tight budget, there are many ways to lower spending and find bargain breaks. Shopping around and comparing prices online is a fantastic way to save money and source amazing deals. You could also lower the cost of your trip by being flexible with dates and times if you’re booking flights and exploring budget-friendly accommodation options, such as camping and caravanning, glamping, hiring an RV and staying in basic hotels and hostels. If you’re traveling with friends or family members, it’s often cheaper to share apartments or large houses and villas than to book multiple hotel rooms.
Most people don’t have a limitless budget. Figuring out your finances before you plan a trip is a great way to reduce stress and avoid spending too much. Analyze your bank statements and check your balances to determine how much you can afford to spend on your next vacation. If you have a tight budget, there are many ways to lower spending and find bargain breaks. Shopping around and comparing prices online is a fantastic way to save money and source amazing deals. You could also lower the cost of your trip by being flexible with dates and times if you’re booking flights and exploring budget-friendly accommodation options, such as camping and caravanning, glamping, hiring an RV and staying in basic hotels and hostels. If you’re traveling with friends or family members, it’s often cheaper to share apartments or large houses and villas than to book multiple hotel rooms.
Once you’ve set a budget, compare prices and filter your search results. It’s worth looking for different types of breaks and bundles if you’re not set on a specific location or vacation type. Package holidays, which include flights, accommodation and transfers with an all-inclusive meal plan may be less expensive than booking everything separately and paying for food and drinks when you arrive, for example.
Choosing a location
Choosing a location is perhaps the most important task when planning a family trip. Essential factors to consider include travel time, transport and accommodation options and itinerary preferences. How long do you want to spend in the car or van if you’re on a road trip? Are you thinking about short or long-haul if you’re flying? What do you want to do when you arrive at your destination and what kinds of amenities and facilities do you want or need at the campsite or resort or in the local village, town or city? Research different options, real travel blogs and magazines and ask friends and colleagues who have kids for recommendations. Choose a location that will enable you to spend time doing things you as a group want to do. If you love the great outdoors, for example, you don’t want to choose a resort in the middle of nowhere that doesn’t offer any activities or excursions.
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Planning your journey
Many parents approach family vacations with a mixture of emotions. They can’t wait to spend quality time with their children and make magical memories, but they dread the journey. Long flights, hours on the road and lengthy boat, bus or train rides can be tiresome for kids. Children may get bored easily, there may be delays or disruptions, and routines can go out of the window. To minimize stress, it’s beneficial to plan your journey carefully. Try to choose flights or train or bus journeys that work with your child’s routine and break up the journey if you’re driving or considering long-haul destinations.
Many parents approach family vacations with a mixture of emotions. They can’t wait to spend quality time with their children and make magical memories, but they dread the journey. Long flights, hours on the road and lengthy boat, bus or train rides can be tiresome for kids. Children may get bored easily, there may be delays or disruptions, and routines can go out of the window. To minimize stress, it’s beneficial to plan your journey carefully. Try to choose flights or train or bus journeys that work with your child’s routine and break up the journey if you’re driving or considering long-haul destinations.
Entertainment is key for everyone when whiling away hours at airports, train stations or on long car or plane journeys. Pack toys and books for younger kids, download movies or TV boxsets, create new playlists and enjoy online games like solitaire. Charge devices, take travel chargers with you and look for ideas and inspiration online for games you can play en route. Try to make traveling part of the adventure. Small children will love working through a quiz or a list of objects or milestones to spot, for example, while older kids will appreciate stop-offs at galleries, museums, parks and nature trails.
Before you head off, check traffic and travel news and updates. Make sure you’ve got all the documents you need and give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport, bus station or train station. If you’re driving, it’s best to avoid peak times. In most cases, it’s wise to set off early in the morning or after the late afternoon rush hour.
Creating an itinerary
It’s fun to be spontaneous when you’re on vacation, but it’s also a good idea to have some plans in place if you’re keen to do some sightseeing or try different activities. Research the destination, read traveler reviews and find reputable tour agencies. You may need to book excursions or tickets for popular attractions in advance. Check opening hours and search for ticket prices. Many tourist attractions offer savings for booking online. It’s also worth seeing if you could save money by buying multi-tickets or a package, which covers more than one museum, zoo, theme park or landmark.
If you plan to travel outside of your hotel or campsite, or you’re staying in a city, figure out how you’re going to get from A to B. You may need to get to grips with a tram, train, bus or subway map, or you might need to plan a car or coach journey. If you’re going to lots of different places, organize your plans to minimize travel time. Group attractions and activities together by area. This will save you time and money.
When you travel with friends or relatives, it’s always helpful to ask for ideas and input from everyone to create an itinerary that reflects different interests and preferences. If you have varied hobbies, or you enjoy different types of breaks, you can always split up on some days and spend other days together as a group.
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Packing hacks
Packing can be time-consuming when you’ve got kids. To make the process quicker and easier, write checklists for every individual and give yourself plenty of time. Check laundry baskets and ask everyone to give you items they want to take a couple of weeks before you travel. Start packing a week before, adding anything you won’t need or use before your trip. Roll or fold items to maximize space and think about what you’ll need while you’re away. Check the weather forecast and consider your itinerary. Don’t forget travel adapters, chargers, toiletries and a first aid kit. If you’re going with a group of people, sort out who is taking what beforehand. If you’re going camping, for example, you can share cooking gadgets and washing up liquid.
Try to avoid taking too much stuff with you on vacation. It’s very easy to get carried away, especially if you have young kids and you haven’t been away with them before. Focus on the essentials and resist the temptation to pack a whole load of extra items just in case. Extra baggage charges can be very expensive. Weigh cases and bags before you travel. Unless you’re going to a remote destination, you’ll be able to buy most essentials if you need anything while you’re away.
If you’re unsure what to take on your first camping trip or overseas family vacation, there are some brilliant blogs and packing checklists online. It’s also a good idea to ask friends and family members for advice. Make a shopping list and then add the items to your packing lists.
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Family trips can be wonderful, but they can also be stressful. To minimize stress and ensure you enjoy every moment, it’s a fantastic idea to plan ahead and get organized. Set a budget, research locations and destinations and prepare for your journey. Write a packing list, look for information about activities, tours and excursions, and encourage everyone to share ideas.
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