Family holidays are either brilliant or completely disastrous. After all, it can be hard for you to balance the demands of energetic children, or even temperamental teenagers for that matter. If you want some help planning the best vacation ever then these tips will certainly help you to have the best time without compromise.
Choose your Destination Wisely
If you want to maximise your chance of having a fantastic holiday, then you need to think about the needs that everyone has. Blazing sunshine might seem like a good idea for adults, but if you have very young children then they may struggle to stay cool in the heat. At the same time, a waterpark may sound like a brilliant idea for the kids, but adults may grow tired of all the fun. If you want to help yourself here, it helps to find a location that works for everyone.
Ask the Kids to Help Out
Don’t be afraid to ask the kids to help you with your planning. Consider getting an atlas or even a globe out and explore the world as a family. You can also talk about the different regions that could be an option too, as this will get everyone excited about the upcoming adventure. It’s also great for instilling a lifelong passion for travelling in your kids too, so make sure that you keep that in mind.
Get your Vaccinations
Making sure that every single person in the family has the right vaccinations is crucial. If you don’t take the time to do your research, then you may end up putting yourself at risk and this is the last thing that you need. If you are going somewhere that has malaria, then make sure that you pack some repellent and also cover up your skin as much as possible. This will help you to avoid any nasty bites and it will also protect your skin from being exposed to the sun too much. Of course, travelling to climates like this may not be a good idea if you have younger children, but if you have teenagers then it can be an enriching experience.
Medical Kit
Something as simple as a bee sting can easily induce hysteria when you have kids. For this reason, you need to make sure that you are equipped with a medical kit that comes complete with antihistamines, pain killers, wipes and even plasters too. You never know where the nearest pharmacy is going to be, and this can cause problems if you find yourself in a sticky situation. It’s more than possible for you to buy medical kits online if you aren’t quite sure what you’re looking for.
Packing
Packing for a trip can be a daunting process to say the least, but you do need to try and resist involving everyone here. After all, your child may think that the most important thing is packing toys and if you don’t have the space or baggage allowance for this then you might end up with tears and tantrums., One way for you to get around this would be for you to make a list of absolutely everything you need, well in advance. That way, you can see what space you have left, and let your child fill it with what they want to take.
Organising and Booking Seats
Getting a passport photo of your child can be stressful.The last thing that you need is to have tons of added pressure on top of this, so make sure that you have plenty of time to take care of everything. If you are flying then there are plenty of benefits to booking your seats in advance, including a lower price and even being able to sit together. If you are driving, then you need to make sure that your car is up to the job. If you are concerned that your old family car just isn’t road-trip material, then it may be time for an upgrade. Check out this ultimate guide to buying a car to find out more.
Take Photos
You might have triple-checked your passports and they may be valid and packed, but it’s always a good idea for you to take a copy where possible. If you end up losing your passport, it’s much better to have a copy when compared to not having a passport at all, so make sure that you take this into account. If you have a different surname to your child, or if you have an adopted child then it’s a good idea for you to take their birth certificate or even the adoption papers with you as this will speed things up when you get to border control. Sometimes, if you are taking someone else’s child with you and the parents are not present, you might need to have written consent as well. This isn’t always required but if you want your trip to go as smoothly as possible then it helps to have it with you.
Timing
It can be super difficult to get a good flight, at a good time. This is especially the case if you are travelling during the school holidays. If you want to make the most out of your flight, you need to do your research. Sometimes it’s worth paying a bit extra to get a flight so that you can fly at a child-friendly time, or even so you can have a higher level of comfort during the journey.
Travel Entertainment
If you want your trip to go smoothly then try and keep the kids entertained as much as possible. There are plenty of ways for you to do this, for example, by taking an audiobook for older kids or even by packing a portable DVD player. If you are not able to pack anything like this then think of some good games that you can play while on the go. “I Spy” is always a winner, and it can help you to keep your kids occupied for long periods of time with ease.
Stop-Over
Flying long-haul will require a great strategy. Kids hate being stuck in one place for too long, and they may even grow weary of travelling too. If you want to alleviate any signs of cabin fever, then you need to plan a stop-over. This could include changing flights instead of flying direct, or it could even involve stopping off at a hotel to get some rest. This will break up the journey and it will also make it easier for you to unwind a little too. Stopping off somewhere can easily help with your jet-lag too, so it’s always worth looking into this.
Be the First Off
Labelling your cases is crucial, as it’s the only way for you to make sure that they don’t get lost. It also helps to make sure that you are the first off where possible, as this will help you to avoid the crowds and you may even be more relaxed too.
Jet-Lag
When you arrive at your destination, you might have another hurdle to deal with. Jet-lag. This is something that everyone dreads, but if you have a child then the whole thing can be even more problematic. You may find that your child is up in the early hours of the morning and that they are grumpy and ready for a nap not long after. For this reason, you need to plan your activities carefully. If you know that you are going to a waterpark at some point during your vacation, make sure that you do it on the second day rather than the first. This will give you more time to adjust and it will also work wonders for your kids too. If you are concerned about them being too energetic on the first day then try and book a hotel with a pool, or entertainment. This way you can keep them entertained without having to worry about venturing too far from your accommodation.
Self-Catering
A lot of families believe that self-catering is the best way to go as it gives you space, and you can also use the cooking facilities there too. You do however need to be practical when you are thinking about choosing this type of accommodation because you need to make sure that it suits your family’s needs. Think about it, do you want to be close to restaurants? Do you want to be near to the pool? What about the beach? By taking things like this into consideration, you can be sure to make the most out of your trip while also having the freedom to go wherever you want, whenever you want.
Check your Hotel Amenities
Hotels are really exciting places for children, but you need to take note that not every one is suitable for kids. Find out whether your hotel has an adjoining room, and whether or not there is a bath. Having a fridge can also be useful if you have a young baby, so it helps to look into this before you make the trip.
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