Family Travel. Maybe you’ve heard those words and thought, “I can’t do that” or “I can’t afford to do that” or “I just plain don’t want to do that”. Well I’m hoping to change your mind or at least give you something to think about and perhaps some tips to get you started.
Finances-Don’t let your financial situation dictate whether you take your family on a vacation. There are all kinds of destinations to fit any budget, whether you want to stay at an upscale resort or prefer the camping route.
Answer the big question-What is the purpose of this vacation? Whether it is relaxation, family bonding, seeing extended family, adventure, education, change in climate or something else, this is always a good question to ask.
Mode of transportation-There are many ways to get from here to there, so be sure and research all of the options before settling on one. You also want to consider what is best for your kids in this case because traveling 20 hours in the car is not always the most stress free way to travel J. On the other hand if your finances won’t allow for airfare you should consider driving rather than not going altogether. Sometimes that car ride is where memories are made!
Interests-Figure out how to take your family’s interests and put that into a vacation. If you like the outdoors, hiking, camping and fishing then you might like Colorado. If you like history and maybe you’re a home school family you might like to take your kids on an educational trip to Washington DC. If you your kids just want to stay in a hotel and swim in the pool you may want to travel to a town that has inexpensive hotels and just get away for a couple nights.
Lodging-There are many lodging options which include hotels, resorts, timeshares, homes, cabins, condos and tents. The “best deal” will sometimes depend on what city you are staying in. I have found that in Florida you can get the best deal on a house, but in California you will want to look for a hotel. If you are traveling to Branson, a timeshare is the way to go and in Colorado you can find a deal on a cabin or condo. My favorite site to find timeshares, houses, cabins and condos is Ebay and if I’m looking for a hotel I go to Travelocity or Priceline.
Young children-Yes, there is a way to travel with young children, but you won’t always feel relaxed when you get back from vacation. Be flexible with your plans, make sure your plans include naps, plan and talk about where your child is going to sleep, eat as close to the same time as you do at home, bring activities wherever you go and have no expectations. These are just some of the things that have helped our family on vacation.
Timing-This is crucial when planning a family vacation. If you have kids who are not in school yet I would suggest traveling while school is in session, if you have kids in school I would travel right after school gets out or right before it starts. Certain times of the year are better for deals, like Colorado in the summer or Florida in the winter. You might also consider the school schedules of the state you are visiting because some kids go to school well into June.
Ready, set, go!-Prepare for your vacation by doing research, making a day to day plan for while you are gone including meals, ask questions on message boards or to your friends, start packing a few days ahead of time and if you are flying make sure to do online check in.
Allowance-Give yourself and your kids a budget or allowance for the trip. I like to use envelopes for each day with the gas, food, lodging, misc money in it and then I give each child an envelope with their spending money for the trip. This helps us stay on budget and lets the kids be in charge of their money so I don’t over spend on them as well.
Value-If you are still questioning the value of a family vacation I would ask you to think about how much QUALITY time you get to spend with your kids when you are at home. If you are like me you spend a good portion of your day cleaning, doing dishes, laundry, bathing kids, feeding kids, making phone calls, etc. which leaves you little time to enjoy your family. Taking a family vacation allows you the time to invest in your kids and do something fun with them and for them. My kid’s fondest memories are from our vacations.
Educate yourself-Become an expert on the destination you choose by educating yourself through friends, the internet, a travel agent or brochures. Using these sources to gather information will make your trip more enjoyable, relaxing and beneficial.
Luggage-Last, but not least you have the issue of baggage. If you are flying you need to take into account the extra fees for baggage or if you fly Southwest there are no fees. If you are driving you will need to pack to fit it into your car. Some questions to think about are, do you need a car seat, pack n play, high chair, stroller? Or some destinations have these things on hand that you can rent or perhaps are included in the price. It’s very nice not to have to bring these things with you if possible.
Thanks for letting me share some of my tidbits that I've learned along the way. Happy Travels!
Shannon Brotherton, mom to Gabby, 15, Kayla, 11, Alex, 8, Dylan, 4 and Hallie, 3
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