Taking a family vacation doesn’t have to be expensive, especially if you can be flexible about timing and opportunistic when you see a great deal. It will be important to focus on where the family wants to vacation, have a budget that fits within your means. Here is a small guide for you to plan your family’s mini vacation-
1. Choose a destination
The fist step to plan your family vacation it’s to choose the destination. As travelers with children in tow, there are certain destinations you’ll have to cross off your list. Anywhere too remote, rainy, cold or hot is likely to cause more anxiety for you than it’s worth. That still leaves you with plenty of choice though, even in the hottest, rainiest and most remote places in India.
2. Set a budget
When choosing a destination, keep in mind how much you can afford. Look for family vacation packages being offered on discount site, which can result in real savings if you have some flexibility in your schedule.
3. Health and safety
Your family’s health and safety is no doubt priority number one on the list of steps to how to plan a family vacation. No matter how footloose and fancy-free you were in your former kidless life, when you travel with children, suddenly access to a hospital or an English-speaking doctor looms foremost in your mind. Especially if you’ve got children who inherited their parents’ daredevil genes.
4. Ask an expert
If you’ve never traveled to your desired destination before, there’s no better way to prepare than by asking an expert to help with your list of how to plan a family vacation. This might mean contacting a local blogger, finding local family groups or better yet, getting a reputable travel company to plan your trip. If you’re traveling to Asia, we are happy to help plan the perfect family-friendly vacation, based on the ages of your children and your unique travel desires.
5. Pack wisely
Only you know what’s going to work for you and your family on this step of how to plan a family vacation. You’ll see a lot of advice online about packing light and just as much advice telling you to pack everything so you’re prepared for every scenario. While it’s true that traveling with a baby requires some extra baggage for diapers, bottles, changes of clothes, burp rags, swaddles, toys and so on, once you get to toddler age you can start to whittle down your list of essentials.
6. Plan ahead with food
Traditional restaurants can put a big dent in your travel budget, and gas-station mini-marts and fast-food restaurants aren’t exactly known for nutritious fare. Visit a grocery store when you reach your destination and stock up on items for easy breakfasts and quick lunches, like cereal, fruit, bread, and peanut butter. If there are nice restaurants you’d like to visit, consider going for lunch rather than dinner. You can often order the same meal at a lower price.
A little preparation with these mini vacation tips can make your trip a huge success. If you’re planning a short, weekend vacation with the kids this year, planning ahead can make all the difference between a fun, relaxed trip and a stressful one.