Family Vacation: Making your Trips a Memory to Remember

Here are tips on how you can make your family vacation a trip to remember.

Some of our favourite childhood memories are made during family vacations. In fact, even seemingly bad moments together can bring a family closer together. 

There are major benefits to traveling with those you love most. Not only will you bond through mutual shared experiences in new, unfamiliar places, but getting out of your typical routine fosters deeper, more meaningful conversations. Sometimes we just need to get away from our everyday lives in order to truly relax.

However, in reality, family vacations can also be stressful. They do not always play out exactly as envisioned.

This is because we go in with some unrealistic expectations:

• Everyone will get along.
• The family will appreciate all the hard work that we put into planning the vacation.
• Everyone will enjoy all the activities that we so painstakingly scheduled.
• The pictures of the hotel on the Internet are completely accurate.

blah blah blah

But oftentimes, it just does not work that way. Life can be unpredictable; life on vacation with kids can be very unpredictable. So it is best if we keep our expectations realistic.

Kids will fight.

Not everyone in the family will enjoy every activity.

The accommodations might not be to your standard.

At some point every day someone will get cranky—- including you.

Your toddler will definitely at some point have a tantrum, usually more than once a day.

You will probably spend more money than you thought you would.

You might have to remind your kids to say “thank you” for taking them on the vacation - they might not be appreciative.

The weather will not cooperate for at least one day.

...and the list goes on.

Tips in Organizing a Family Vacation

To make the most out of your precious family time, you should:

1. Keep your family vacation expectations realistic.

Point made early on, so let us jump straight to number 2.

2. Consider a travel agent.

Agents are experts in wanderlust and have relationships that lead to a better vacation, and they can be your go-to person if any snafus happen. Check with your travel agent so you can fly off-peak and avoid congested airports. They are your connection to make changes quickly when things do not go as planned.

3. Decide on a mutual trip goal and get excited.

Talk about the trip and the destination with the kids, and involve them in the planning. The purpose of a vacation can take many different forms and agreeing on a mutual trip goal (for example, “try one new food every day of the trip”) before leaving will ensure everybody is on the same page. Having aspirations for adventures will have everyone working in together, and will cut back on the arguments you have while on the go.

Another important thing: set a budget before you go on your trip. Sticking to your allotted budget might be a challenge on the actual trip, but having an agreed upon budget might help discipline everyone to not purchase anything you see on the road.

4. Come up with safety game plans before you leave.

Make sure that safety is taken care of before you leave. Arm your kids with information on how to find help if they need it. Make sure they know the details of where they are staying. If you are traveling in a country where you do not speak the language, take a card that has the address and phone number in the local language from the hotel before you go strolling. Also, decide on a meeting place for crowded areas, so you never lose one another. This could be a restaurant or a police station.

5. Keep things simple; do not over pack.

When packing, let the kids help choose their outfits, but make sure you can mix, match, and layer the options. For older kids who want to decide for themselves on their clothing, still try to see if they are overpacked.

Try to finish all your packing and arrangements the day before your departure, no matter how difficult it may be. This lets all of you take a deep breath before the trip begins.

But do not forget this pro tip: always travel with snacks! This might save your day later on, so make sure that snack-packing is not overlooked, too!

6. Share responsibilities and do it together.

Couples that are happy duos make happy families. If one person feels as if he/she is tasked with planning every last detail while the partner catches up on Netflix, an argument is bound to happen. So, splitting up vacation duties is important. Involve the kids, too.

7. Expect the unexpected and go with the flow.

There will pretty much be hiccups you cannot plan ahead for, so keep your expectations realistic for your kids’ ages. And be flexible. This will show your kids a great example of how to handle disappointments and changes of plan—something they will carry with them (and that will make them awesome travelers) for life. Do not sweat the small stuff. 

8. Look for child-friendly accommodations.

Staying at an apartment-style hotel or Airbnb makes it easier to replicate that homey feeling with fully equipped kitchens and home-like amenities. You will have more room to spread out, while still being able to take advantage of hotel staff and amenities.

But this is not enough. Do your homework and prepare a child safety kit, because you would need to childproof your accommodation, too. Bring along outlet covers, a bathtub-faucet cover, and plastic cabinet locks.

9. Limit screen time.

This should be decided as a family. Doing so will ensure everyone is present and engaged during the trip. Adults should share photos in social media when you return from the trip, and kids' electronics should be limited to long flights or car rides.

10. Carve out meaningful time with your spouse—- always on every family vacation.

Indulging in one-on-one time with your spouse or partner while away can help the trip feel more therapeutic. Choosing a family-friendly resort is one way to work in a couple's time, and tiring the kids out during the day can mean alone time—or even a date night—later in the evening. If you are comfortable leaving the kids on their own, find a night to rent them a movie and order in room service, then sneak out for a bite just the two of you. It will feel like a treat for the kids, too! #freedom

Be creative!

Family vacations are important for developing stronger bonds and creating lasting memories. They have become even more important these days, as we are living in such a disconnected world—- even when family members are together in the same room, they are often on their individual devices connecting with other people. So let us make each family vacation a memory that everyone will cherish for the rest of their lives.

On a final note: just enjoy the time with your family - leave all the pressures and worry behind - and if your family vacation does not go as planned, remember there is always next year!