Some parents shy away from the idea of organizing a family vacation for fear of being subjected to tantrums and screaming all day long. One small mistake or lack of preparation can turn the trip into a nightmare. But travel can be a good experience for the whole family, as long as you follow these tips.
Choosing the right destination
Choosing a destination can take weeks or even months when traveling as a family. Several criteria come into play: the age of the children, the flight time, the time difference, the climatic conditions as well as the activities available on site. Before deciding on a host country, ask your neighbors, relatives and friends. Ask about their favorite destination with their children. The Internet is also an excellent source of information for finding tourist sites suitable for family vacations. After the selection, compare the living standards of the countries. Choose the destination that best suits your budget. Then, get a guidebook, preferably dedicated to family travel, to prepare you for the context, constraints and conditions of the host country.
Organize a kid-friendly itinerary
The road-trip represents an opportunity to get closer to your children. Therefore, fun must be part of the experience. To do this, consult specialized platforms offering several itineraries. As far as possible, vary the modes of transportation, from airplanes to buses, cabs and even boats. This way, the children stay alert. Conversely, boredom quickly sets in if you limit yourself to a single mode of transportation. Before committing to a trip, study the travel time and anticipate possible changes. With this in mind, plan for 2 to 3 nights in one location. With children, allow yourself 3 hours of driving time per day.
Plan the activities
Organizing a family vacation means planning activities in advance. Planning allows you to keep a steady pace. It's also a good way to visit all the points of interest in the area. For example, Saturday: arrival and installation, Sunday: discovery of the outskirts, Monday: family excursion, Tuesday: lazy day, Wednesday: visit of the parks, Thursday: visit of the animations, Friday: goodbye drink with the neighbors, Saturday: return. Organize the schedule with all participants. This way, you can get the whole family on board and avoid disagreements. However, leave a little room for the unexpected and remain flexible with the schedule.