How to Plan a Stress-Free Family Vacations
Are you already dreaming about your next family vacation? Vacations can be a little frustrating at times, but they’re the perfect opportunity for many amazing memories. Whether you plan to go to the beach, the mountains, or even the big city walking trip, you can take a memorable family vacation that’s low-stress and fun for everyone.
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How to Plan a Stress-Free Family Vacations
Keep these tips in mind to reduce stress on your next family vacation:
Plan ahead
To see some sights, consider taking a bus tour. Everyone sits down, which relieves aching feet from walking, while still exploring the new surroundings.
With kids, visiting just one museum per day may be your best bet. If it rains on a day you planned to go to the water park, switch to another day’s plans to see a movie or do another indoor activity.
Also, every third or fourth day, plan an easy day where you sleep late, hang out at the hotel, or take short walks around the area. Plan some low-stress days.
Expect the unexpected
It’s a positive experience for kids to learn that, sometimes, even the best planning is affected by weather, mistakes made by the hotel, and other events out of your control. Talk to your kids in advance about these unplanned possibilities.
Set up a flexible schedule for each vacation day. When you have a day-to-day plan, kids can look forward to things they want to do. Plan a special kid activity for each day.
Delegate responsibilities to each child
Maybe your twelve-year-old can be assigned to keep the eight-year-old occupied while at the airport. Or your teen can be in charge of watching over Mom and Dad’s luggage when they go to the restroom or magazine shop before take-off.
Before traveling, brainstorm with your kids about how to solve potential challenges. Tell your kids that you’re counting on them to make the trip as enjoyable as possible.
Change seating arrangements during travel
Whether you’re flying, taking a train, or traveling by car, switch up the seating every half-day or so. Sit in the back seat with your five-year-old daughter while your eleven-year-old son sits in the front with Dad until lunch.
Then, change seats after lunch. Consistent seat-changing can freshen up conversations and ease tensions between the kids.
Think about comfort items: If your four-year-old takes naps, bring along the stuffed animal they sleep with at home as their “comfort” item. For your teen, ensure they have their favorite hand-held electronic device to pass the travel time.
Take surprise items
For each child, pack new, unseen items to thrill and distract them from the monotony of travel. Trinkets like sticker books for younger kids, word puzzles for eight- to twelve-year-olds, and magazines for teens help time pass.
A book about a child’s favorite subjects or even a new game for their hand-held device can be a godsend when stress starts to trickle in.
What are your tips for planning a stress free vacation? I’d love to hear how you prepare for these fun days of summer vacation!