Planning a vacation can be complicated and stressful, especially if you have kids. You need to choose a destination and activities that will be fun for the whole family and that will fit your budget. Here are some tips to help you narrow down your options.
Find out What Type of Vacation Everybody Wants
Before you focus on specific places, find out what sort of destination each person would like to visit (for example, the beach, the mountains, a specific city or country) and the type of activities each person would like to do (such as spending time outdoors, visiting theme parks, or going to museums). Once you have a general sense of what each individual would like to do, you can begin to zero in on specific destinations.
Consider the Amount of Time You Have
If you have a stretch of two weeks or more, you might want to take a trip abroad. You’ll have plenty of time to travel, adjust to the time difference, and visit sites that are important to you.
If you have a relatively short amount of time available for your vacation, you don’t want to spend so much time getting to your destination and adjusting to the time difference that you don’t have an opportunity to relax and enjoy yourselves. You’ll be better off going somewhere closer to home.
Think About Your Kids’ Abilities and Temperaments
Young kids have lots of energy. Outdoor activities can be ideal for a family vacation, provided they’re appropriate for your children’s ages, physical abilities, and levels of maturity. Consider your kids’ attention spans, how well they follow directions, how they deal with different types of weather, and how they act when they’re tired.
Think about each person’s interests and look for opportunities to please everyone. For example, maybe one member of your family wants to go to the beach, and another is interested in history. You can travel to an area where you can spend time at the beach and devote one day to visiting a local museum or a site with historical significance.
Look for Travel Deals
There are lots of online resources where you can find discounts on airfare, hotels and entrance fees for family-friendly attractions. If you sign up for alerts, you can learn about deals as soon as they become available.
You can also save money if you plan your vacation during the off-season. Another benefit is that you’ll get to avoid large crowds.
If you want to visit family or friends, you might be able to stay with them instead of paying for a hotel. They can also tell you about local attractions that your kids will enjoy.
Ask Other Parents for Advice
Consult relatives and friends with kids around the same age as yours and ask them about vacations they have taken. Learn from their experiences (both positive and negative) so you can plan a trip that will be fun for your entire family.
