Mother and daughters cuddle together on a beach blanket enjoying a family vacation.

Tips for Planning a Family Vacation

Let’s be real – we all enjoy a good getaway, but traveling with kids can be challenging, especially during the winter. Winter weather brings the potential for flight delays and a plethora of other inconveniences during a trip. That doesn’t have to stop you from going on a vacation, and it can even be more enjoyable knowing you are somewhere on a beach instead of shoveling snow off your car to bring your kids to school. When planning a family vacation, we have a few tips to keep in mind and even a couple of ways to let your kids be involved in the planning process. Grab a glass of wine, and let’s get planning!

Your Family Vacation Checklist

The following tips are things to consider when planning your next family vacation. Some of these tips include how you can keep your kids involved in the planning process and keep them entertained during travel. Vacations should be something that the whole family enjoys, so let’s make it that way. Here are some things to consider for your family vacation planning:
  • Choose a destination everyone will enjoy: Maybe you want a relaxing getaway on the beach, but your kids want to enjoy the mountains. Deciding on a single place to visit with your family can take time and effort. Make a collective list of where each family member wants to go, and then from there, try to select a place that meets some of everyone’s wishes. For example, if you want a beach vacation but your kids want to visit the mountains, settling on a destination like Hawaii can be the best of both worlds.
  • Determine your budget ahead of time: A set budget will help guide your vacation planning. Some destinations are pretty expensive, while others can be more affordable. By determining a budget ahead of time, you can plan excursions, accommodations, and other entertainment more easily. Setting a family vacation budget will help keep you on track and not overspend while you’re away from home.
  • Plan your favorite excursions: Excursions are what make vacations fun! Include your kids in decision-making for excursions by having them share things that they enjoy doing – maybe swimming with dolphins, going on a zipline, laying out by the pool, and more. This will help them feel like they have a hand in planning the vacation. Also, it gives your kids something to look forward to while on vacation and will keep them busy. We recommend not scheduling more than two excursions per day so you can balance having fun and also relaxing.
  • Prepare for the trip: Once you have your vacation booked, now it’s time to pack. Make a list of everything you need to bring with you and for each kid. This will help you be organized and not get to the airport to realize you forgot something at home. Consider the climate where you’re going to make sure you’re packing appropriate clothing for you and your kids.
Hope enjoys going on vacation with her kids and spending quality time with them. Check out her Pinterest to see some of her special family vacations.