How to Plan a Family Vacation Everyone Will Love
Are you planning a vacation with the kids? And are you wondering about the type of vacation or how to manage some of the logistics to make sure the whole family has a good time?
In this blog, we’ve summarized some tips for a stress-free vacation that you and your family will enjoy.
THE FUN
1. Involve the family in your decision
If your kids are still young, this doesn’t necessarily mean asking them for suggestions. But you can start by listing out all the types of activities that each family member enjoys. You may have one child who moves around non-stop and loves sports and another who likes to read quietly or play video games. By making a list, you can find some common ground or find a vacation that can accommodate a range of interests.
If your kids are old enough, then you can ask each of them to share a list of places they’ve always wanted to go along with the reason why. The “why” is important so that you can understand what’s driving the interest, because you may be able to satisfy that interest at a range of different places.
Once you’ve reviewed all the interest areas, you’re now ready to decide on the type of experience that is most suitable for the whole family. Are you looking for a laid-back relaxing getaway, to sightsee and shop and maybe explore a new culture, architecture or cuisine, or for some adventure like ziplining or snorkeling?
A beach resort vacation, for example, could be a great choice that has something for everyone, especially with a little more extra planning. It may please your need to relax, for example, and then you can book an excursion to swim with the dolphins to appeal to the kids’ desire for adventure.
And so while some destinations will allow you to do a little bit of all of the above, you shouldn’t feel that you have to try to squeeze everything into one trip either. There will be other trips to come!
2. Try something new together
Memories are strongest when we’re doing something out of the ordinary, something that breaks our everyday routines and makes our brains take notice. Vacations are excellent for creating memories. Think back to your own vacations. Chances are good that you remember all your vacations, but do you notice that certain parts of each vacation stand out? And there are parts that you may actually not remember?
So beyond the novelty of going to a new place, try to do something unique together as a family while on vacation. It can even be something relatively small as long as it’s new. Maybe it’s a new type of dining experience one night that none of you have ever tried. Maybe it’s getting up extra early to see the sunrise on the beach. Enjoy the experience together and you will carry these special moments with you for life.
3. Don’t overpack your schedule
Yes, there’s so much you may want to do and see while you’re away! But overpacking your schedule is a recipe for fatigue for the whole family. Running from one thing to the next and worrying that you might be missing something is likely to lead to complaints from the kids, which will then affect everyone’s moods, and ultimately negate some of the positive experiences from the trip.
Leave room to wake up later one or more days if the kids are tired from the previous day’s activities. Leave room to breathe. Everyone will enjoy the vacation much more when there’s less in the schedule. You can always add things in if there is time and energy to spare.
THE LOGISTICS
1. Consider how much time you have available for travel
Based on the types of experiences your family is interested in, does it make more sense for you to take several long weekends (3-4 day weekends) over the summer instead of blocking off one week or more at a time?
Or is it the opposite where you need at least 2-3 weeks to make the most of your trip? Consider what this means for your time off over the course of the entire year. For example, do you need to reserve some days off for religious holidays or in December because you will have family or friends visiting?
2. Decide on when to travel and if there is any flexibility
For most families, summer is a great time to travel because the kids are off school. But since there is so much demand in the summer, flights can be very expensive if you didn’t book ahead when there was a seat sale. Accommodations and car rentals can also be expensive and unavailable for popular dates. There is currently a shortage of cars because fleets were sold off in the early phase of COVID, so make sure you check rates and availability in advance if you’re going to need one.
It’s still possible to get a last-minute deal on a vacation package, but this may mean you need more flexibility from your employer if you’re working (or from your clients if you’re running your own business). And if you have a nanny or caregiver, it may also make it harder for you to plan around their vacation schedule if your travel dates are unknown at the start of the summer. Even if you won’t know the dates now, give your employer and nanny/caregiver a heads up that you’re waiting on a deal and the general time period when you’re hoping to travel as early as possible.
Though not ideal to travel during the school year, depending on where you’re going, the prices of flights and accommodations can drop dramatically in September or October. But your timing needs to be evaluated in the context of the type of vacation your family wants. A little creativity (i.e. openness to destinations not on the family list but which can address all interest areas and flexibility of off-peak timing) can go a long way to saving you money while making everyone happy.
3. Budget for success
If you didn’t start saving earlier in the year, it’s not too late to start now. How much you want to spend may put some guardrails around the types of vacations that are possible, or maybe just the timing of them. For some families who have held off going away for the last two years because of COVID, the need to get away may override any cost concerns. But if budget matters to you, especially with the high inflation currently, figure out how much you’re willing to spend and review your expenses to see what you need to save each month and where you can cut back. Then ideally, you should proactively put money aside into a separate account each month that’s dedicated to vacation or other discretionary spending. This will save you the stress of higher credit card payments upon your return that were unplanned.
4. Take care of all vaccinations and travel documents, including insurance, in advance
Once you know where you’re going, make sure everyone’s necessary vaccinations are up to date. The Government of Canada recommends that you contact your health care provider or visit a travel health clinic at least 6 weeks before travel. See this link for where to find a travel healthcare site.
Check that all passports are valid at least 6 months before your departure date, and continue to be valid 6 months after your return date (most countries require this). If any of them will be expiring, renew them now. See the Government of Canada website for instructions on how to renew your passport here.
Consider getting travel insurance to cover the cost of any unexpected medical expenses. Check to see if you’re already covered for travel if you have a health insurance plan. And if not, check if any of your credit cards provide coverage for travel. If you do have coverage, review what’s included to make sure you’re comfortable with it based on where you’re headed. If you don’t have coverage through either of these means, then consider buying specific travel insurance. Paying a little upfront can save you a lot of money in the event of an incident, which of course, we hope will never happen.
5. Consider any food restrictions and needs; don’t let anyone go “hangry”!
If anyone has food allergies, is on a special diet, or is very picky about food, make sure that where you’re going will have options available for everyone’s tastes. You don’t want mealtimes to be a point of stress three times a day, every day, while you’re away. If you’re going to a resort, call them in advance to check the menus and flexibility. If you’re going to a city for sightseeing, scope out suitable restaurants near where you’ll be staying and pin them for reference, and find out where there are grocery stores if you’ll be at an AirBnB and may be dining in on some days.
Pack non-perishable snacks and beverages for the whole family for the flight/drive/train ride so that no one goes hungry. You never know how long lineups can be to get through customs in some countries, or if there are delays at the airport, or if there is traffic getting to your destination. Add potential time zone differences to the mix, and you can imagine the unpleasant outcome of hungry kids or parents stuck somewhere with no food for hours.
Planning a vacation is not always easy but if you’ve got these points covered, you’re well on your way to reducing stress for yourself and creating an experience that your family will appreciate and remember for years to come.
Credits: Photo by Lawrence Crayton on Unsplash
