A family vacation is a wonderful way to spend time with your loved ones, create unforgettable memories, and get some much-needed rest and relaxation. But, trips with your kin don’t always play out as perfectly as you envision — and when things go awry, it can quickly derail your whole trip. To ensure your next getaway with the folks who mean the most to you plays out as smoothly as possible, consider these essential family vacation tips when planning your next escape.
Figure out a Budget
Creating and sticking to a budget is one of the most important steps when planning your family vacation. Decide on how much you are willing to spend on the trip, then break it down to include transportation costs, accommodations, food/eating out, entertainment/activities, souvenirs and any other miscellaneous expenses. If you’re not sure how to do this, there are a number of software tools and applications that can assist you in calculating all the various costs associated with your trip.
Create a Travel Fund
It’s also a good idea to establish a travel fund before you start booking your reservations and activities, so that everyone in the family knows how much they need to save on a regular basis to reach your savings goal. This is a great way to teach kids about the importance of saving and can help to alleviate some of the stress that comes with planning a trip because you’ll already have some money put aside for it.
Pick a Destination
Once you’ve established a budget, it’s time to start thinking about where you want to go on your getaway. Consider your family’s interests and what each person wants to see and do. If your kids are excited about riding the rides at a theme park, a trip to one may be just their speed. Or, if your family craves adventure, you could plan a thrill-seeking trip that includes skipping, snowboarding, surfing, ziplining and more!
If your family isn’t quite ready to take the plunge into a foreign destination, there are many options within the United States that offer all-inclusive vacations. All-inclusive resorts are a great option for families with kids of all ages, as they offer special amenities and activities designed to cater to the needs of children and teens alike.
Final Thoughts
There are endless possibilities for family vacations, so it’s important to find a destination that will be a good fit for all members of your family. Once you do, the joy of spending quality time together and learning about a new culture will last long after your return home.
Souvenirs are a fun part of any trip, but it’s important to set a budget for this as well. A tried and true method for doing this is to have each person contribute a small amount of change to a jar that will be used exclusively for souvenirs. By the end of your trip, you’ll be surprised by how much you managed to save by doing this!
