Family holidays and vacations are simply fun. The whole family is together, you all get to spend some quality time together while you’re relaxing and such holidays are perfect for bonding and making great memories. However, you can’t just pack a bag and go, sadly not. Rather, you need to have a plan, make sure you have packed everything and without anything missing out, then you can all sit back and relax on your holiday together. So, let’s see how to prep for your best-ever vacation.
Choose your destination and book early
The moment you decide to go on your family holiday, make sure to have a family meeting and find the perfect destination for everyone. Consider what your kids want, consider what you and your partner want and if there are too many differences try and find common ground. See what activities can make everyone happy and relaxed so you can all have some fun while on vacation.
Also, make sure to choose the best possible way of transport. For example, if your kids are young it’s maybe smarter to travel by a car than a plane or bus. To be on the safe side, especially if you are driving an older car, read up on everything you need to check before the trip on a trustworthy website like Drivr Zone.
After you’ve chosen the destination and mode of transportation, you should book everything as early as possible. Think a few months ahead and you will manage to find everything you want. This is especially important when travelling by plane, so that you can find the best deals for your desired dates. Also, by planning ahead, you will manage to find more decent accommodation and room type and you might even secure a free child place. Booking early will also enable you to stretch the payments over a few months, rather than paying a lot of money at once.
Check your passports
Now that you know where you’re going and you have some wiggle room before departure, you should make sure all of your passports are up to date. If some are outdated, you have plenty of time to get them renewed and ready for your vacation. Also, this will leave room for checking if the destination you picked requires any other documents, visas and so on.
Pro tip: make photocopies of all of your passports and when packing keep them separate from your original passports. This way, you will have proof of your documents if any of them get lost or stolen.
Split your belongings
Don’t have a suitcase for each family member. Yes, it is convenient to have all of your essentials in one place, but that can cause some drama if the bag gets lost. The best thing to do here is to split clothes and essentials evenly in each of the suitcases, so no one will be left without clothes if the drama does occur and something gets lost. Also, make sure to have all the essential medications, pajamas and important cuddly toys in your carry on luggage. This way, your little one can sleep and play without any problems if the bags don’t arrive on time.
Pack the essentials
Your essentials should be at your disposal at any time. Whether it’s about medicine, cuddly toys or snacks, you should be able to get them when you need them. Additionally, think about the comfort of your traveling. No matter what’s your means of transportation, you should always be able to get a nice comfy nap. That is why you should make sure to choose the best travel pillows for your family and have them with you. So, get everyone a backpack where you can nicely store all of your essentials. This way, you won’t take up too much space in the plane or in your car seats and they are so much easier to carry.
Prep your kids beforehand
No matter where you’re going, you should give your kids an insight into what to expect from your vacation together. You can find some books about your destination or articles on the Internet and simply introduce your kids to the culture you’re heading to. Also, let them know what kind of food can be eaten there, what are the attractions and simply let them prepare. This can also make things easier for you because they will have plenty of time to think about the attractions they want to see and where they would like to eat, which helps you create a detailed travel plan and avoid drama.
Plan some surprises
There is nothing better than that look on your kids’ faces when they get something that makes them happy and they didn’t see it coming. It is entirely up to you what’s going to be a surprise – after all, you know your kids the best – so make sure to include something special for them on your trip.
Do something adventurous
Yes, you have probably booked this holiday for some stress-free time, but that doesn’t mean you can go on a little adventure. Research what your destination offers and see what can get you all excited. You can find some kayaking opportunities, horseback riding, camping or even visiting a huge water park. Just make sure you get to do something out of the ordinary and all of your memories you make there will be even more special.
Family holidays are simply the best and everyone needs a little time off to bond with their family. However, if you want it to be flawless and fun, you should all come prepared. A little drama can be exciting, but it shouldn’t mess up your whole holiday, so be cautious and well prepared.
