The last couple of years have been pretty much a no-go for family vacations. Seeing family in general has been tough at times with restrictions and worries about the pandemic. Now that life is getting back to normal, planning a family trip is a great way to reconnect with loved ones and make up for lost time. With the last two years to catch up on — and the excitement of finally being able to get away — this year people can start planning the best family vacations both in the U.S. and abroad, with eight out of 10 American travelers excited to travel in the next 12 months.
Stress-Busting Tips
With all the excitement that comes with planning memorable family vacations, there is plenty to organize. With lots of people to coordinate and different age groups, along with all of their varying interests to consider, it’s worth doing some planning to make sure the trip goes as stress-free and smooth as possible, nothing is forgotten, and everyone plays a role. Here are our top tips.
Share common items
Packing can be a pain. No matter how thorough we are, there's usually something we forget. With a family vacation, there is more to remember when you’re packing for children, too, but coordinating with other adult family members means you can increase the odds of remembering to bring along the essentials. Writing lists together and sharing them, as well as deciding who will bring certain commonly used items that can be used by all, is a great way to make sure nothing is forgotten. Sharing commonly used items helps conserve luggage space, too.
Create family travel guidelines
You may have rules or guidelines at home specific to your family, such as times kids know they need to be home by, no shoes on the couch, and such. Having similar guidelines for vacations that bring different households together is a fantastic way of making sure everyone is comfortable and safe and knows where they stand. These might include children not going near water without an adult, having a designated safe space for passports to be kept, or deciding on a time everyone meets for dinner. It’s also helpful to familiarize yourself with COVID guidelines in the area you’re visiting.
Make an itinerary
On the subject of everyone knowing where they stand, writing an itinerary and making sure everyone has a copy is key. It helps each family member know where they should be at any given time. And if anyone becomes separated from the rest of the party, they know where they are staying, who they are flying with, and the times of connections.
Prepare for the unexpected
However organized we are, nothing goes 100% as planned, so it’s a good idea to be prepared for delays, illness, lost toys kids can’t live without, or anything else that could potentially spoil your plans. These things happen, but they don’t have to spoil your trip. Make sure an assortment of activities are packed to relieve boredom of young children with a long wait ahead, have a fully stocked first aid kit, and if you’re traveling with children, for goodness sake don’t forget the snacks!
How Can Travel Insurance Help?
Preparing for the unexpected can be further helped by considering taking out travel insurance. It can help ease any bumps in the road such as lost luggage, canceled flights, or delays due to illness. Chat with Seven Corners about what your party needs and to find a plan that suits those needs.
Traveling with children or large parties can be stressful at times. However, knowing that if the unexpected should occur, it won’t come with any unpredictable costs, or unnecessary delays, means you can get on with the business of having a fun-filled, memorable family vacation that makes up for lost time.
About the Author
Nikki Vivian is a UK-based writer with more than10 years’ experience writing for print and online publications, covering topics from lifestyle and parenting, to food and travel to careers and professional development. Nikki has been published in The Guardian, writes regular profiles for Prospects, and is an expert contributor for several careers websites to name a few.
