There’s often a lot of pressure on a family holiday and spending much more time together than usual. Finding activities that keep different ages happy and entertained can be tricky, and the expense of a big family holiday can all lead to extra stress. We often find it takes a few days to settle into a new routine, and then things calm down a bit as the kids ease into enjoying the time together.
There are lots of ways to make travel with the family easier, and sometimes just a few small tweaks can save a lot of arguments.
Do Something For Everyone
Generally, you will find that one of the main things you all argue and get stressed about when you are travelling is that you are not doing things people in your family will enjoy. So it’s a good idea to make sure, when you are planning the trip out, that you are doing something for everyone at some point in the trip. It might even be that you field ideas from your family as to what you should do and then use that to plan the trip. If you have a big age gap between children, keeping everyone happy is that bit harder, but there are usually plenty of activities to span the age range. Treetop climbing and anywhere with a water slide works for us!
Try to do a mix that will cater to every family member throughout your stay, from a Chicago architecture boat tour to a fun-filled day at the local fairground.
Go Camping
One of the simpler ways to travel with family is to go camping. While there are no doubt particular stresses involved in this, it is also a great way to feel connected to nature and enjoy the simple life together. Camping can be approached in many ways, but to make it as easy as possible, you may want to buy a camper trailer and book yourself in for a campsite. Searching for a campsite with activities close by or good amenities on site will also help reduce stress levels.
Go Somewhere Familiar
If you want as low a stress experience as possible this year, then you could always go somewhere that you have been before. Familiarity with an area means you know what to expect and can hopefully relax a bit easier and just get on with enjoying the experience of travelling together. It also means less time and effort needs to go into the planning process which can also be stressful if you are time short.
Plan Early
The earlier you plan out the details of your trip, the less stressful it should be with less risk of activities being booked up or campsites not being available. Encouraging children to get involved in the planning and perhaps choose some activities or day trips can help too!
Planning early also means you can book restaurants for special meals or plan food and drink to take with you.
Leave a Reply