After a year of being locked down, the urge to get away has never been greater. While there are still travel restrictions in place in some areas, it’s still good to have something planned for you and your family to look forward to. Whether you’re intending to stay in your home country or travel abroad, any trip takes careful planning, especially when you’re trying to balance your family’s annual budget. If you’re ready to start making plans for your next family vacation, here’re a few tips to help you get the most out of your getaway.
Pick a Kid-friendly Destination
You might be keen to lounge on the beach for a week, or perhaps visit a city or town that can offer cultural sights. While these activities might be enough to keep the adults happy, your kids might not enjoy this as much. Make sure that you’re choosing a destination that has something for your children to enjoy, too. For example, is there a theme park or water park nearby you could take them to for the day? Are there local activities such as museums with tours designed for families, or water sports? Think about what you can incorporate into your holiday to help keep your kids entertained and the adults happy and relaxed, too.
Consider Accommodation Options
There are always various options when it comes to choosing your accommodation during your trip, and a lot of families might be attracted to all-inclusive resorts as they usually have clubs for the kids, and you don’t have to worry about food or drink. While there are certainly benefits to this kind of resort, private holiday rentals have their perks, too. These tend to have a homier feel to them, which might be more comfortable if you are staying for a week or more. Self-catering options like this also give you more flexibility regarding what you want to eat and can be better for those with dietary requirements as you can organize your menus yourself. It’s also nice to have some privacy as a family away from other holidaymakers, too.
Flights
If you are traveling abroad and you need to fly to get to your destination, this can be an expensive part of the trip. Using a comparison website to find good deals on your flights is always worth it, but be aware that the cheapest flights are usually connecting ones or are scheduled at hours that might not be ideal for younger kids to travel. Your budget will determine your options but always shop around before you settle on a price. You’ll also need to consider how you’re getting to the airport. If you are planning to take a taxi, book this in advance and make sure it is big enough to fit everyone in your family and your luggage. If you are driving to the airport yourself, you’ll need to face the additional costs of leaving your car in the airport’s secure car park. For better rates on this, use websites like ParkON.
Keeping The Kids Entertained During Travel
Another thing to keep in mind is how you’re going to keep your kids entertained during the journey to your destination. If you’re going on a long-haul flight, there is usually in-flight entertainment like movies and TV shows that might be suitable. However, it’s always good to have some other ways to pass the time in case that isn’t enough. Books of word searches and other puzzles are great at exercising your kids’ brains and can be fun for them. If you own a tablet or smartphone, perhaps look at the gaming apps on there, or download something for them to watch? Books are also a great way to stay entertained and help the journey go faster, and having some holiday reading material is a must for everyone!
Clothes and Accessories
Shopping for your vacation can be a great way to help you get even more excited about your trip, and it’s the perfect excuse to treat yourself to a few new outfits. Although you might want to look stylish when you’re going out for meals on your vacation, it’s still important to remember to invest in some sensible clothing and shoes for comfort, especially if you think you’ll spend a lot of time walking around the sight-seeing. You’ll also need plenty of sun-block, even if you’re vacationing in the mountains during winter, as your family’s skin still needs protection!
You should also remember to get reusable travel bottles for your liquids if you are traveling by plane as these are more sustainable and cost-effective in the long term than purchasing travel-sized shampoos etc.
If you and your family are keen to start your annual vacations again and would love to go somewhere exciting a new next year, use these tips to help you get the most out of your holiday experience.