Tips for Planning a Family Holiday with Your Kids

I love going on family holidays. They’re something that I feel I really missed out on when I was a child myself, so I strive to get in as many great family holiday memories as possible now that I am a parent. Now, I am not saying that going on holiday doesn’t come without any stress or anxiety, but I have definitely learnt a few tips along the way that do make the process of traveling with your kids a lot easier. 

So if you are planning a family holiday this year, check out my 5 pro tips for planning a family holiday with your kids below. 

1. Plan the logistics of your holiday in advance (airlines, hotels, car rental, etc.)

Going on holiday with the kids can be stressful in its own right, so making sure you take care of all the important details before you set off is a great way to reduce stress and anxiety when traveling. If we’re not stressing out about the logistics, we’re free to live in the moment and make memories.

Start by planning the location and what the weather will be like given the time of year you’re planning on setting off in. Have a look at plane prices and availability, book your tickets and look at any onboard extras you may like. Checking out car rental prices is also a useful bit of research to do before you leave as it will enable you to budget for this expenditure and book a suitable vehicle for you and your family to use.

2. Choose a destination that has plenty of activities that are appropriate for both the kids and adults

Family holidays aren’t just about the kids. It can be tedious to do children focused activities all the time, not to mention, expensive. No one wants to go on holiday and spend a whole day at a funfair watching their child bounce on a bouncy castle for £2 every 10 minutes. 

Make sure when you set about choosing a destination for your holiday that there are plenty of activities that you can do as a family. Think about boat tours, visiting exciting places, what type of facilities are available, and where you can eat together as a family. 

Family holidays are about making memories, so ensure that you have a good selection of things to do to suit everyone’s needs.

3. Ensure you allow plenty of time to do everything on your itinerary/schedule

Planning out a holiday schedule may sound a bit extreme, but when you’re going on holiday with children, you want to make sure you make the most of the time you’ve got. Planning a good amount of time for activities will prevent stress and tantrums, and allow you to all get the most from your holiday.

It’s a good idea to plan for traffic jams, accidents, and general delays. 

4. Research any attractions before you go to help you decide what to do first on vacation & what not to miss out on

Thanks to COVID 19, many attractions require pre-booking for entry, so ensure that you’ve checked the admission terms before you arrive at your destination to avoid any disappointment. Doing a spot of research before setting off on your family holiday will reduce stress and anxiety and allow you to maximise time spent together having fun. It’ll also help you put together a ‘roadmap’ of what to do and where to go first.

5. Make sure your kids will be entertained while you’re busy during the day and vice versa at night so that everyone is happy and has a memorable time together as a family

If you’re taking a road trip, having entertainment for your children is pretty much essential. Charge up the tablets the night before, pack some books, some colouring essentials, and don’t forget their favourite toys. 

Equally, the evenings can be dull for children as the high from all the excitement of the day fades away. Packing things to do as a family, such as a pack of playing cards, is a good way to bond as a family and entertain the children without the use of screens.