Taking one’s family away on vacation is an annual thing for many people. If you plan on taking yours away then you need to meticulously plan your trip so that it goes seamlessly. A failure to plan could lead to mistakes being made. You don’t want to upset your family or ruin their time so mistakes and mishaps need to be avoided.
If you have never had to plan a family vacation before then you probably won’t know where to start; thanks to this post you don’t need to. Here is everything you need to know:
Consider Activities
One of the first things you need to think about if you are planning a family vacation is the activities that you are going to be doing each day. Obviously, a family vacation should be filled with as many entertaining activities as possible. Research the specific area you are traveling to so you can familiarise yourself with the kind of activities that are recommended there. For example, there are some great Maryland waterparks and some beautiful Californian beaches. You should be able to find a full list of all of the activities in the place that you are going online as well as reviews for them. Reading an activity’s reviews is one of the best things you can do as it will give you accurate insight into what they are really like and help you to decide whether or not they are suitable for your family.
Booking Hotel Rooms
Where is your family going to stay? A lot of people book hotels but did you know you can rent a private villa for all of you to sleep in? Renting a private villa of course isn’t cheap but it is an effective way of keeping everybody together and having a more intimate trip. Hotel room stays are disjointed and detached because everybody sleeps in their own room and does their own thing. When you are all in a villa together you can spend more time with each other and plan nightly activities like board games.
Early Reservations
Try and make reservations for hotels, villas, and activities early. The earlier you make your reservations the more likely they are to be accepted. A lot of people make the mistake of leaving bookings until the last minute but doing this is a pretty effective way of ruining your vacation and preventing loved ones from being able to enjoy themselves. Leaving bookings until the last minute also means you will have to pay more. You can save a fortune by booking hotel rooms several weeks or months in advance of your trip.
Researching Location
Spend some time researching locations before you book your hotel rooms and buy activity tickets. Do not make the mistake of booking everything before you research. Researching an area will help you to get more of an idea of what it is like to visit there. Something else to note is that by researching you will be able to learn more about the types of activities waiting for you all upon arrival.
You shouldn’t be the only one researching, however. Ask your family members to do their own research too so you can all collectively decide whether or not a specific location is right for your next family trip.
Meal Planning
Something a lot of people completely overlook when they are planning a vacation is their breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. If you do not think about your daily meals then you could end up going somewhere with poor restaurants and no supermarkets. One of the advantages of staying in a villa is that you can buy ingredients and cook meals in the villa’s kitchen. Some campsites also have cooking facilities which means that you can prepare food for yourself and your loved ones. Meal planning should be at the top of your list of things to do so do not overlook it.
Family Fun
Family fun is what family vacations are all about. You need to do everything you can to ensure that your trip is an entertaining, fun one. Invest as much time and effort into your trip as you can so you can ensure it is entertaining for all. Make sure that everybody has a say in booking and planning the vacation so everybody feels equally interested and committed. If you do everything independently then it will feel more like your trip than everybody else’s. Have a family meeting and talk it through.
Going away on a family vacation is a good way to create lasting memories. A lot of people make the mistake of booking things in a hurry, failing to tell loved ones about their plans or give them a say. Make sure you talk through any plans or ideas you have with family members so you can come to a group decision.
