If you’re a member of a big family, what comes to your mind when you hear the word “vacation”? Perhaps your heart begins to palpitate as a bead of sweat forms on your brow. The luggage, the driving, the expense, the flights, the preparation – “it’s not worth it!” It is 100% possible to travel as a family without all that stress! From booking van rentals for big families to budgeting some time to relax, there are a wide variety of ways to avoid holidays from hell. See the essential tips below that will alleviate your anxiety as you plan your next family holiday.
How to Get Around – Van Rentals for Big Families
To save money, time and hassle, think about hiring a big vehicle that accommodates the whole family. Companies offer vehicles that can carry 12 passengers, the perfect option for van rentals for big families! This will make any road trip a whole lot easier as you can all travel from one location to another in comfort and style. Taxis are expensive and you don’t get the opportunity to share the journey together. Take control of your trip by renting your own large vehicle and then you can decide where you want to go, and when you want to go there. This is the ideal solution for big families that want the freedom to make their vacation unique.
Where to Stay?
While the idea of a luxurious hotel may sound appealing, the price can make your eyes water. Alternatively, think about renting a stocked self-catering home instead. This will save you a lot of money while also giving the members of the family the privacy and space they need to enjoy their time away. You can also enjoy the communal areas of the home to eat and spend time together, as well as the stocked kitchen that allows you the independence to prepare and create your own snacks and meals. Your wallet will thank you for it!
So Much to Do, So Little Time
Set some realistic goals as to how many activities you can cram into one trip. Don’t make the vacation a whistle-stop tour of everything yet leave the holiday having done nothing. With a large family to rush around, it’s going to be exhausting for everyone involved if you try and plan more than one activity every day. So be reasonable – schedule one activity per day so that you can all fully enjoy that experience without completely wearing anybody out.
Too. Many. Bags.
The adventure of travelling as a big family sure comes with some baggage (mentally, and literally!). With every additional bag comes an additional cost, so shop around for the flights with the best luggage deals. Do some research and see if you can save some money when it comes to luggage. Don’t just settle for the first deal you see! This will take some time and effort, but it will ensure that a burden of bags won’t bring a burden of bills with it.
Be Prepared
While you can never fully prepare for the unpredictable undertaking that is travelling with a family, there are some steps you can take to prepare in advance that will really make your life easier. If you plan on hiring some skis, book them before the trip. If you fancy a sail on a boat, reserve the experience in advance. This will take some considerable thought and planning, but the rewards will outweigh the sacrifices in the end. Especially when a large number of people are involved, you can’t guarantee that the rental store on the side of the mountain will be able to provide enough snowboards for a family day out. So, to avoid disappointment (and tantrums and arguments and sulking…), get it all booked in plenty of time and take some stress off your suntanned shoulders.
Ask… But Not Too Much
A big temptation when planning any vacation is to ask others who have done the same trip for recommendations. While a small number of recommendations are useful, a multitude of suggestions will just overwhelm you. When you already have a big number of people with a big number of ideas, you don’t need any more suggestions to cloud your decision making. Modestly accept that you won’t be able to do everything and make an essentials list of things that absolutely must be done before the journey home. In this way you’ll feel more relaxed and, if you’re feeling tired, you’ll have the flexibility to take some chill time without getting behind on your schedule.
Time to Relax
On the subject of the schedule, here’s something for your essentials list: relax. Make sure you give your mind and body the time to recover from the journey, adjust to the time zone and feel the benefits of the vacation you’ve been looking forward to and planning for so long. Don’t see every sight at the expense of your sanity. Plan some time to chill, don’t pressure yourself to seize every opportunity, go with the flow of you and your family and really enjoy the break from normality. Book a relaxing meal out, have a day by the pool or simply stay inside and play board games with the kids. Whatever it is that will make you feel calm and cool, do that. You’ll return home refreshed and ready to restart your normal life once again.
Your holiday won’t be perfect and there’ll be some bumps along the road but try not to focus too much on the things that go wrong. Maintain your perspective and enjoy the quality time with your family that you otherwise get to experience so rarely. Remember that the memories of this trip will last for lifetimes and the stories you create will be told around dinner tables for years to come. Don’t sweat the small stuff, just have fun and forget about the laundry piling up, the dust collecting at home, the deadlines looming at the office. Be present, be prepared and have a fantastic vacation with your big family!
