Having kids doesn’t mean that you have to stop traveling, it just means that you have to choose different types of vacations. Forget the all-inclusive couples resorts and maybe try a cruise, a visit to the theme parks or an RV Vacation to some of America’s favorite landmarks. Exploring a new place can be a great experience to give your kids as well as giving you the chance to get away from your everyday surroundings. Of course, planning a family vacation is a lot harder. Here are a few tips to reduce stress so that everyone enjoys the experience.
Time it right
Traveling with kids can be expensive. If your kids aren’t in school yet, take advantage of this by going during school semester time – the prices will be cheaper and there’ll be less crowds. If your kids are at school, you may want to be a bit more careful of going away mid-semester as some schools may have strict policies and penalties surrounding it.
Look for family-friendly accommodation
Finding accommodation that are catered to kids will give your children more to do – and if they’re having fun, you’re more likely to have fun. There could be kid-friendly food and drink options, as well as entertainment. Some resorts may even have day clubs for kids so that you can even get a chance to spend some time alone.
Make a packing list
Planning a vacation with kids means that there’s more to forget when packing. Make sure that you’ve got all the essentials by creating a packing list. Consider whether you need to buy any items such as swimwear or high factor sunscreen – these items can often get forgotten. Toothbrushes are also popular items that are often forgotten.
Bring enough snacks and toys for the flight
If you’re going on a plane and you have young kids, it’s important to pack some snacks and toys in your hand luggage to keep them occupied. Candy could be useful to give to your kids on take off and landing so that they don’t get too much pressure in their ears. A tablet could meanwhile be a useful toy for allowing your kids to play games or watch movies.
Book activities ahead
If you plan to visit any attractions or go on any trips while you’re away, it could be a sensible idea to book these before you jet off. This saves you the hassle of organizing these activities whilst you’re there – it’s one less thing to stress over, helping you to relax as much as you can.
Look out for child discounts
There may be some activities and attractions in which kids get discounted rates or even go free. These child discounts will save you money and they are worth taking advantage of.
Keep an eye on your kids
This is likely to be a priority for all parents, but it is easy to take your eye off the ball when you’ve finally got the chance to relax on a sunny beach. If you’re traveling with a partner, friends or family members, take it in shifts to watch over the kids – you then each get a chance to relax whilst always watching your kids to check that they’re not running into danger.
