We’d like you to close your eyes and picture taking your next family vacation. Do you hear laughter and cheers? Do you see your family smiling and thinking that there’s nowhere else they’d rather be? Or, do you hear utter chaos reigning as your family bickers? Maybe you feel their sense of boredom and dread and they wished they were literally anywhere else with anyone else? Family vacations can be pretty stressful; you have a lot of different people (who already spend their lives together) far from home, likely tired and cranky. Juggling that is a quick route to a headache.
However, it doesn’t need to be filled with boredom nor stress. By following a few easy tips, you can reduce the chances of things going awry on your next family vacation and can help ensure a fun time for all.
Set expectations
Get the family together for a good old fashioned sit down and chat about the upcoming trip. Let the kids know how long you’ll be traveling, where you’ll be going to, and all of those not-so-fun details so that it’s all in the open. The unexpectedness can affect how children perceive the vacation. You have to remember, time is a little different for them; an hour of their time is a significant portion of their lives — you’ve lived thousands of hours. You can control the situation by being upfront with them. Additionally, you can let them help plan little pieces of the trip so they’re more excited and engaged in the trip.
Choose comfort
Traveling and enjoying all the activities you’ve planned will tucker you all out. Choose a place that’s close enough to the action while still far enough away that you aren’t kept up by ambient noise and light. Also, while it will be an extra cost, try to make sure everyone has their own space when it’s time to go to sleep. While you absolutely can share one room with a couple of beds, you’ll be happier having a door to close yourself off – and your kids will enjoy having their own room too. It’s little comforts that improve the overall trip.
Bring distractions
Traveling can get boring really quickly, and bored children often make mischief. Bring books, movies, and thanks to the advent of technology, portable game systems to keep them entertained on long car or plane rides.
Bring snacks
Ever hear the term hangry? It’s essentially a hunger-fueled meltdown. Bring snacks and thank us later.
Take it easy
Don’t cram every single second with activities. You need downtime and opportunities to take breaks and rest. No one will be having fun if you’re exhausted, sweaty, and stressed out trying to make tightly-scheduled appointments for activities.
Planning a family vacation, and subsequently going on said vacation, should be fun and exciting. It shouldn’t be some chore filled with mini chore-like activities in another city you need to check off your list. If you want a completely stress-free adventure with your family, contact our Denver travel agency office to speak with a representative to help you plan out the perfect family vacation. Call us today to learn more!
