Make Your Family Trip With Kids a Breeze
So, summer is here. Bright and long sunny days, with an ice cream cone or two - there is hardly any other season better than this for a family vacation. This is the time when your children are full of excitement. It's a perfect chance for some quality bonding between parents and kids and between siblings.
That being said, travelling with kids or toddlers is not easy. Between extreme heat, bugs, sun and water, there are few challenges to tackle to keep your kids safe and healthy. But, with some proactive measures, you can reduce the "ouch" factor and take the fun side of summer sky-high. Here are some useful tips that you can use in your next trip.
Set your plans in stone!
Planning in advance is the key to a stress-free family vacation. If you are travelling with kids, this is even more crucial.
Sometimes, even your children or significant other may come up with better ideas. So, have a family meeting before you hit the road, and plan activities that will be fun for everyone. You can go through a guide with local activities listed. When you will know where you will be and what other major highlights are close by, it will keep your schedule smooth.
As vacations barely go as planned, you don't have to plan too far ahead. Try to keep things spontaneous, yet, keep hints from travel guides in mind.
Decide on cost and fix budget:
The cost of your trip more or less depends on how you decide to spend. So, take your time and decide how much your vacation would cost you. When you are estimating your budget, make sure you have some wiggle room (overestimate rather than underestimating). This is because you might face many things during your trip, like extra expenses, that you don't foresee now. If you think you will fall short of budget, make cuts where you can.
What are the major highlights?
Make sure that the place where you are heading is kid friendly. You don't want to bore your kids by taking them to some place, say museums or art galleries. Of course, there are some kids who are keenly interested in such stuffs, but for the rest, parks and movie theatres can do the trick. You know what your kids like right? Apart from entertainment stuffs, check for things like cots and highchairs.
Know about the Climate and cultures:
Make sure the place has favorable climate and weather – avoid places that have extreme weather conditions. Check merits and demerits of the place. Figure out what type of recreational facilities are available there – it can be culture, shopping, beaches, theatres, parks. Similarly, you don't want to miss the food, when you are in such a jolly mood. Find out the local specialty, along with the restaurants that serve it.
You can research it online – browse travel photos, videos and journals posted by real people. They share their experiences, which can help you big time.
Don't delay to make reservations of flight tickets, hotels, car rentals and other things. The moment you come up with your vacation spot, start this process.
Entertainment throughout the journey:
You know how easily your children can get bored, right? This can just add up to your traveling hassles. But the good thing is, you don't have to bring stars to the ground to entertain them. If your kids are really small, take a bag of toys or crayons. And, pack some story books (my son's favorite), snacks, playing cards or some Lego. You don't have to spend big bucks for this. Carry the stuff that's already in your house. If your kids are a bit older, carry DVD players and game consoles. Make a good playlist and sing along with them.
Transportation:
If you are taking your own car then probably you are all set to go. If not, you need to book a reliable transportation service a few days ahead. You don't want to roam around here and there, along with your little ones, looking for a rental car in the middle of your trip. In such cases, you might end up wasting your valuable time along with some extra bucks.
Finding a good transportation company is not as hard as it seems to be. All you need to do is go online and look for a car rental service in that particular place. Open the website and learn about the company. Check their work experiences and facilities. Don't forget to check the testimonials as it will tell you a lot about the company.
If you are taking flights, book the tickets at least two months before your trip. As the seats might get booked or the prices might skyrocket, the earlier you book, the better. Not just your flights, you can also book many other services. This will ensure that you don't have to stand in a line with strangers for hours. Spending 3 minutes preparing can save you 3 odd hours later.
Health
Health is another big concern when traveling with kids. Before heading up for a trip, check if you and your children need vaccinations. A small first aid kit can also come in handy during the journey. When you are packing clothes, make sure that they are suitable to the climate of your destination. You don't want to carry a heavy jacket for your summer trip.
You!
Being a parent is itself a challenge. You work so hard to make your kids happy. During this process, you tend to forget what you really are.
Never get lost into a parent character so deeply that you miss out all the fun. Remember, it's your vacation too. You've probably managed this time very hardly – convincing a boss is never easy.
Even your kids love when you get involved in their activities. Join them, sing with them, and dance with them. There is still a hidden ‘child' within you - bring that child out! And, last but not the least; don't forget to pack your sense of humor.
That being said, travelling with kids or toddlers is not easy. Between extreme heat, bugs, sun and water, there are few challenges to tackle to keep your kids safe and healthy. But, with some proactive measures, you can reduce the "ouch" factor and take the fun side of summer sky-high. Here are some useful tips that you can use in your next trip.
Set your plans in stone!
Planning in advance is the key to a stress-free family vacation. If you are travelling with kids, this is even more crucial.
Sometimes, even your children or significant other may come up with better ideas. So, have a family meeting before you hit the road, and plan activities that will be fun for everyone. You can go through a guide with local activities listed. When you will know where you will be and what other major highlights are close by, it will keep your schedule smooth.
As vacations barely go as planned, you don't have to plan too far ahead. Try to keep things spontaneous, yet, keep hints from travel guides in mind.
Decide on cost and fix budget:
The cost of your trip more or less depends on how you decide to spend. So, take your time and decide how much your vacation would cost you. When you are estimating your budget, make sure you have some wiggle room (overestimate rather than underestimating). This is because you might face many things during your trip, like extra expenses, that you don't foresee now. If you think you will fall short of budget, make cuts where you can.
What are the major highlights?
Make sure that the place where you are heading is kid friendly. You don't want to bore your kids by taking them to some place, say museums or art galleries. Of course, there are some kids who are keenly interested in such stuffs, but for the rest, parks and movie theatres can do the trick. You know what your kids like right? Apart from entertainment stuffs, check for things like cots and highchairs.
Know about the Climate and cultures:
Make sure the place has favorable climate and weather – avoid places that have extreme weather conditions. Check merits and demerits of the place. Figure out what type of recreational facilities are available there – it can be culture, shopping, beaches, theatres, parks. Similarly, you don't want to miss the food, when you are in such a jolly mood. Find out the local specialty, along with the restaurants that serve it.
You can research it online – browse travel photos, videos and journals posted by real people. They share their experiences, which can help you big time.
Don't delay to make reservations of flight tickets, hotels, car rentals and other things. The moment you come up with your vacation spot, start this process.
Entertainment throughout the journey:
You know how easily your children can get bored, right? This can just add up to your traveling hassles. But the good thing is, you don't have to bring stars to the ground to entertain them. If your kids are really small, take a bag of toys or crayons. And, pack some story books (my son's favorite), snacks, playing cards or some Lego. You don't have to spend big bucks for this. Carry the stuff that's already in your house. If your kids are a bit older, carry DVD players and game consoles. Make a good playlist and sing along with them.
Transportation:
If you are taking your own car then probably you are all set to go. If not, you need to book a reliable transportation service a few days ahead. You don't want to roam around here and there, along with your little ones, looking for a rental car in the middle of your trip. In such cases, you might end up wasting your valuable time along with some extra bucks.
Finding a good transportation company is not as hard as it seems to be. All you need to do is go online and look for a car rental service in that particular place. Open the website and learn about the company. Check their work experiences and facilities. Don't forget to check the testimonials as it will tell you a lot about the company.
If you are taking flights, book the tickets at least two months before your trip. As the seats might get booked or the prices might skyrocket, the earlier you book, the better. Not just your flights, you can also book many other services. This will ensure that you don't have to stand in a line with strangers for hours. Spending 3 minutes preparing can save you 3 odd hours later.
Health
Health is another big concern when traveling with kids. Before heading up for a trip, check if you and your children need vaccinations. A small first aid kit can also come in handy during the journey. When you are packing clothes, make sure that they are suitable to the climate of your destination. You don't want to carry a heavy jacket for your summer trip.
You!
Being a parent is itself a challenge. You work so hard to make your kids happy. During this process, you tend to forget what you really are.
Never get lost into a parent character so deeply that you miss out all the fun. Remember, it's your vacation too. You've probably managed this time very hardly – convincing a boss is never easy.
Even your kids love when you get involved in their activities. Join them, sing with them, and dance with them. There is still a hidden ‘child' within you - bring that child out! And, last but not the least; don't forget to pack your sense of humor.
Source...