Family vacations are an opportunity to spend uninterrupted quality time with the people we love most in the world. They are also a chance to build memories, feed their curiosity, and give them experiences that will stay with your children throughout their lives. From new challenges and surprises to discovering passions, they truly are a magical time.
Of course, family vacations also have the potential to be stressful and are notoriously difficult to plan, especially when you are trying to plan a vacation for children of different ages.
Here are some handy tips to help you plan the ultimate family vacation.
Start planning as soon as you can
The first point to bear in mind is that the sooner you start planning the vacation, the less stressful and more successful it is likely to be. When you start researching, planning, saving, and booking with plenty of time to spare, you can ensure that you get the best from each aspect of the trip, e.g., the best dates, the best destination, the best accommodation, tickets to the right events. You will also have plenty of time to shop for any clothes or other vacation essentials you might need without having to panic-buy.
Set a budget
Your vacation plans will be dictated by your budget, so make sure you have this in mind from the outset. You might want to spend less on accommodation, for example, to ensure that you can pay for entry to attractions or activities while you are there. If you want to make the most of the vacation and ensure it is as memorable as possible, applying for a personal loan like those from OneMain Financial could give you a bigger budget for the vacation of your dreams in exchange for a fixed monthly payment over time.
Be as flexible with dates as you can
It is often easier to book a vacation if you can be flexible with your dates. If you are set on particular dates, this will significantly restrict your options. Aim for flexibility of 3 to 4 days if possible.
Book adjoining rooms or a large family suite
While spending time with the children is wonderful, at the end of a long and tiring day, it is lovely to have a separate space where mom and dad can relax. Adjoining hotel rooms, a family suite, or renting a cottage or cabin will give you some time to recharge and will also make your children feel more independent.
Find days out that the whole family will enjoy
Some hotels and resorts will organize activities and clubs specifically for children so that the kids can make friends and blow off steam while mom and dad enjoy some time together. However, make sure you balance this with plenty of activities that everyone in the family can enjoy together. It could be as simple as taking a walk along the beach after dinner or as exciting as a family day out to a theme park.
Plan in some downtime
Finally, be sure to plan for some downtime. If you are constantly rushing from one activity to another, trying to cram as much in as you can, you will lose energy, and the vacation will start to feel like hard work. Free time gives everyone time to relax and boosts the mood of the family while also leaving opportunities for genuine emotional connections.
