Memorable family vacations happen in two ways. One, when things go horribly wrong and you laugh about it – after you’re home. And, two, when everything goes according to plan. Although your realitiy will fall somewhere in the middle, if you prepare for family travel in advance, you can avoid these common travel mistakes.
Save Your Sanity: Prepare For Family Travel
Experiencing travel as a parent has helped me see ways I can adjust my plans and attitude to avoid common mistakes. When transitioning from a solo traveler to a family traveler, I learned minor changes can really impact the quality of our adventures together. Traveling with kids doesn’t have to be an overwhelming experience! Simple tips to prepare for family travel can save our sanity and help us enjoy the beauty of the journey. If the unexpected occurs, we embrace the bumps in the road, and together we learn what works and most importantly – what doesn’t work!
1. Avoid Overdoing It
Few things are more stressful than tired kids and exhausted parents trying to enjoy an adventure together. It’s frustrating when our family is too busy on a trip that we can’t relax and enjoy ourselves. We focus on traveling with a flexible schedule and we avoid being strict and rigid about our plans.
Some of our best vacations have been those that allowed us time to take a break in the afternoon, perhaps, to enjoy a nap. The first question my husband asks while I’m planning our next trip is “when is nap time?” This “down” time is not limited to younger kids. Take an hour to relax at a park or to enjoy a hot beverage in a downtown coffee shop. It’s a great way to slow down and recharge. We have found that this is beneficial for both us as the adults and our children.
My focus during our trips is that we spend this time bonding with each other, away from our hectic routine at home. A relaxed atmosphere is a crucial aspect in making this happen.
Let me give you an example of what can go wrong when you overdo it. My family planned too many activities one day during our trip to the Dominican Republic. We were supposed to end our already busy day with sunset family photos. However, tired children and a tantrum in the sand was all we got! A picture is worth a thousand words, right?
2. Always Pack Snacks
I can become so engaged in our activities for the day that I forget how important it is to keep snacks on hand. We have found that the easiest solution to most every problem is a delicious snack! Seems simple enough, right?
Let’s be honest – packing snacks for a family of five can feel a lot like trying to store enough water to cross the desert! However, it’s not impossible and I have found that Pinterest is an excellent tool for parents when preparing snacks ahead of time. Check out the TravelingMom Travel Snack Board for some ideas. If you notice that the kids are getting cranky, take a moment to enjoy a quick tasty treat and watch as the fuel added to their bodies generates a smile on their faces!
If you notice that the kids are getting cranky, take a moment to enjoy a quick tasty treat and watch as the fuel added to their bodies generates a smile on their faces!
3. Share The Load
4. Research The Destination Ahead Of Time
I experience vacationer’s remorse when I realize that I should have done more research or read more reviews on our destination. This has happened to me more times then I’d like to admit. Let me share with you some examples of how my poor planning has affected our trips.
One time our family was visiting Atlanta, Georgia. I had planned to take the family to the aquarium. Once arriving, I realized the cost for this excursion was way more than I had assumed it would be. We travel on a budget and a surprise $175 (not including food) would take away from our other planned outings. If I had done the research in advance, I could have found discount tickets online or budgeted for this expense.
Another unexpected surprise we had was when our family traveled to the Dominican Republic. We were so excited when we finally arrived that we immediately headed down to the beach to soak up the view we had eagerly anticipated for months. We did see quite a view – just not the one we were expecting! I had failed to research the beaches ahead of time and didn’t realize our resort sat next to a “clothing optional” beach area. I will never forget the look on my innocent children’s faces as a grandma jogged, free as a jay bird, right past us!
Prepare For Family Travel: Embrace the Unplanned
When traveling with kids, things rarely go as planned. On our wild adventures, we have experienced forgetting our luggage, the stomach flu, pink eye, and so much more. The best advice I can offer is to embrace the unplanned! I have accepted in advance that there will be chaos and that, more than likely, something out of my control will happen. One of our best and most memorable trips involved a broken window on our van during our 1,000-mile journey to Michigan.
My ‘A’ type personality fought for a long time to stay in control of everything on our family trips. I soon learned that children take the predictability out of every occasion. Once I accepted that fact, I enjoyed our family adventures together so much more! Embrace it, enjoy, and keep on taking amazing vacations together!
Even if it’s just a quick getaway, try these planning tips. Read more about 3 other travel mistakes and how to avoid them.
Have you ever had a crazy travel experience while traveling with kids?
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Enjoyed your story, of it had young childre, I would use all your tips!!
Such an informative article! I could relate to many of the experiences. Wish I had read this several years ago!