Whether you’re planning your first family vacation or an annual summer getaway, family trips are full of opportunities to create memories. But a change in scenery and routine also means opportunities for tantrums and drama—which can quickly turn a fun vacation into a chaotic nightmare.
With some planning, collaboration and conversations with your kids, leaving town doesn’t have to feel so overwhelming. Here are six family vacation tips that will help you plan a stress-free family getaway.
1. Make It Fun For Everyone
Voting on a vacation destination as a family is an easy way to make sure everyone enjoys the trip. Older children are more likely to enjoy spending time together if they have a say in planning, while younger ones might look forward to exploring places normally only seen in picture books. To choose a destination, hold a family meeting and have each member suggest one. Then, pick the trip that is most realistic for your budget, and appropriate for different age groups and energy levels.
2. Book the Right Lodging For Your Family
If you traveled before having kids, odds are that you had many hotel choices, and finding the right one was pretty easy. But where you stay is significant when traveling with kids.
Make sure the place you chose has enough space for all of you to rest and recharge. When traveling as a family, consider options that offer separate sleeping areas, such as an Airbnb or adjoining hotel rooms. You can also get creative with sleeping arrangements if you don’t want the expense of an additional hotel room by using an in-room crib or a pull-out couch. You can also invest in a slumberpod to make falling asleep at nights and for naps a breeze.
Renting a place with a kitchen or a mini-fridge and a microwave can help you save significantly on food costs. Many hotels offer free breakfasts, which is another good way to lower your food budget.
Wherever you stay, you can have groceries delivered to avoid spending precious vacation time at the grocery store.
3. Use a Packing List for Gear and Snacks
My childhood memories of packing for family vacation include overstuffing a station wagon with anything required for the trip, from food items to stacks of books and CD’s. To minimize overpacking without forgetting anything, bring essentials the whole family can use, as well as must-haves for each kid. A what to pack for family vacation checklist can make prepping for road trips, beach vacations and international travel easier. Once you arrive, locate the nearest shops (or hotel vending machines) for on-the-go snacks to tackle last minute hunger.
4. Get Vaccinations and Gather Passports
You don’t need to be traveling to a tropical or undeveloped area to need travel vaccines. The CDC’s traveler’s health list includes valuable information about the latest public health advisories and vaccine recommendations. Be sure to review their other helpful travel tips for families, such as when your children need a passport. Another resource: USA.gov’s list of required travel documents for children.
5. Seek Out Educational (Yet Fun!) Activities
Whether you’re traveling with just your own kids or choose to create vacation memories with another family, an itinerary of activities to please everyone is a must. The best way to make that happen? Letting everyone choose an activity. Kids might select adventurous activities that take you out of your comfort zone (which can be a great way to bond!), while adults and teens might seek out local attractions or a relaxing day by the pool. Considering everyone’s interests and energy levels will prevent boredom and avoid activity burnout.
6. Manage Expectations and Be Flexible
It’s normal for families to share a vision for an awesome vacation, only to feel let down when things don’t go as planned. To avoid this, resist the urge to make an itinerary for each day of the trip, and see where your collective mood takes you. If unforeseen obstacles—like closed museums, delayed flights or an unexpected vacation sickness—force you to change course, remind each other that being together to make memories (and have a good time!) are what’s important.
No vacation is perfect, but with preparation, patience and a good sense of humor, your family getaway can be full of fun. Embrace the chaos, celebrate the small wins, and focus on creating lifelong memories together.
Happy travels!
