Planning an international holiday can be overwhelming at the best of times, but adding a couple of fussy kids to the mix makes it even more complicated.
Traveling with your family doesn’t have to be stressful, especially if you start the planning part well in advance.
Start with a list of destinations you would like to visit as a family, along with the activities you plan to do there. Then begin to narrow it down by deciding how much you are willing to spend and how far you want to travel.
This comprehensive guide to planning an unforgettable family vacation is here to help.
Below are eight tips to kick-start your journey:
1. Define Your Budget
Setting a budget for your international family vacation can be tricky.
It might feel impossible to stick to once you start looking at options, but there are ways to travel, have fun, and create lasting memories without wiping out your savings.
Traveling without a pre-set budget is a little like going camping without a compass – sure you can wander around the forest spontaneously, but it is only a matter of time until the bear of consequences arrives to ruin your fun.
Set a realistic budget with your partner and find a destination that can accommodate your family and your budget.
2. Rest Days
As tempting as it might be to max out every second of your vacation, especially when heading abroad, downtime is a must – particularly if you have small children.
Instead of filling up your calendar with outings and activities, schedule in a few afternoons of downtime at the hotel, that will give everyone a chance to relax.
Resorts and hotels typically offer various in-house amenities for the whole family, which are closer to home and less exhausting than doing tourist activities every day.
3. Plan Fun Activities
Traveling with kids is not for the faint-hearted, but it can also be one of the most rewarding experiences – provided you have adequately planned it.
Keeping the little ones entertained during the flight is hard enough, but you also need to factor in the possibility of a few rainy days ruining your outdoor agenda.
Choose a kid-friendly resort with plenty of activities, such as water parks, to keep children entertained both indoors and out. Resorts designed with families in mind will almost always have thought of everything any family could need.
4. Insurance
International vacations are an investment and all investments need protection.
Cancel for Any Reason insurance is designed to protect travelers from financial loss due to unforeseen events.
This insurance reimburses non-refundable bookings, reservations, and plane tickets, which makes it perfect for people looking for flexibility. While standard policies have limited terms for canceling, CFAR coverage can provide partial reimbursement even if the reason falls outside of those terms.
This type of insurance is useful for those traveling to areas prone to natural disasters and it can mitigate substantial financial loss.
5. Choose Age-Appropriate Locations
To plan an unforgettable international family vacation, involve your kids in the planning stages.
Choose age-appropriate destinations with diverse activities, and prioritize safety.
If you have young children, an adventure in the Amazon will probably not work out for you, but exploring Japan or Australia with their kid-friendly attractions will ensure that everyone has fun.
To prevent the excitement of this long-awaited adventure from being overshadowed by doubt, research family-friendly locations and pick from that list.
6. Pack Smart
The most important word a parent needs to learn when packing for an international vacation is versatility.
If you are traveling during the summer months, pack lightweight, quick-drying clothes for beach days, versatile shoes, and light jackets or jerseys in case it rains.
Use packing cubes to maximize space and keep everyone’s items organized. Remember to pack the essentials: underwear, a first-aid kit, and medications.
If you are packing for your kids, do one kid at a time to prevent confusion.
7. Book Early
Leaving bookings to the last minute will all but guarantee you a cramped hatchback, zero sea views, and subpar meals.
Learn from the international vacation masters and book ahead.
Booking early means securing the best deals on accommodation, car hire, flights, and activities; this will minimize stress and potentially save you money too.
Start planning your holiday a month or two in advance, and even earlier if you want to travel during peak seasons. That will give you and your family plenty of time to decide where to go and what to do when you get there.
8. Read Reviews
This one should go without saying, but unfortunately, clever marketing and trick photography still have families booking into dumps because they look amazing in a brochure.
Read reviews online (and not just on company websites) for an honest opinion on accommodation, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
Be fair when reading them – if one person out of 100 says the place sucks, chances are they are just a grumpy traveler. But, if that number is closer to 60 out of 100, stay away.
To End
Lastly, do not overcomplicate things. The real goal is to make memories with your family, and as long as you have that in the end, that is all that matters.
