Travelling with your family can be very rewarding. It can be an adventure, a time for relaxation or for refreshing family connections. Unfortunately, it can also be very stressful and challenging, particularly when you’ve got teenagers or very young children in tow. Taking the time to plan your family holiday carefully will undoubtedly ease the pain.

Factor in a range of activities, so your time away is not too one-sided. Include plenty of downtime for you and your partner in your itinerary, rather than waiting to grab five minutes whenever you can. Before you start making your reservations and booking your tickets, here are some tips to help make your next holiday as near perfect as it can get.

Make Plans Together

No two families are the same, but whatever your family’s makeup it’s important everyone gets a say. Boys aren’t going to want to do the same things as their sisters. Teens aren’t likely to want to spend time doing the same things as their younger siblings. What you have to try to do is achieve a fair balance. Teenagers, in particular, appreciate being included in the planning process, and it creates a sense of personal investment in your trip.

Do Plenty of Research

For a holiday to be perfect everyone has to be happy. That includes both parents and all the children. Before you start making any concrete plans, you need to look for locations that offer something for everyone. A happy medium is not always easy to achieve, but if you do your research, you should be able to find the perfect spot.

Look for destinations that offer plenty of scope for relaxing days out, places to eat out and markets where you can buy local produce so you can also prepare food yourselves. Check whether there are any kids clubs in the area and what entertainment facilities there are nearby.

Make Sure All Your Paperwork is in Order

If you’re travelling out of the UK, everyone is going to need a passport. The days of adding children to their mother’s passports are long gone, and now everyone has to have their own, even babies. Applications need to be made in advance so there’s plenty of time for any delays. You’ll also need European Health Insurance Cards for every member of the family, plus travel insurance for added protection.

Decide on a Location

Realistically, you could travel to any location around the world, however, choosing more remote locations isn’t the best option if you’ve got young children. That being said, if you’ve done your research, and you know there’s plenty to do, then go for it. The opportunities for travel are endless and it’s really more of a personal choice. However, there are some destinations that are more popular than others.

What Style Accommodation?

Are you looking for an all-inclusive type of holiday or is self-catering more your thing? There are some amazing villas in Florida you might want to consider if you prefer being flexible, not having to stick to meal times and you don’t want to share a pool. You’ll get to enjoy some stunning scenery and be able to relax in luxurious surroundings. Choosing to go self-catering means you’re able to visit local markets, sample the local produce and enjoy cooking together as a family.

Have a Contingency Plan

It pays to have a contingency plan, because no matter how well you plan and prepare, there is always a chance things can go wrong. Far better to have a Plan B and not need to use it than find yourself stuck without any other options.

Staying Safe

When you’re travelling as a family, it’s important everyone knows what to do should someone decide they want to wander off. If your children are old enough, a mobile phone is essential. Before you leave home, everyone should be clear on what they have to do if they’ve turned the wrong way and found themselves on their own. When you arrive at a new location, pick an obvious landmark that’s easy to spot so you’ve got somewhere to meet.

Check what medical facilities are available in the area, and who to contact if you need emergency services. Look around the area to see where you can buy various types of medication and ensure you bring copies of your prescriptions if anyone is taking medication.

If you’re thinking about booking a holiday this year, these helpful tips will help you make it a perfect one.

Katie
Latest posts by Katie (see all)