A vacation is a fun time to relax and unwind from your typical busy life. When you have kids, a family vacation can feel like a lot of stress is following you on what is supposed to be an enjoyable vacation. Here are some tips on how to enjoy a vacation with kids.
What to Consider Before Your Family Vacation
Family vacations are often some of our fondest memories from childhood when we were growing up. You want to create long-lasting experiences for your kids, whether it be a trip to the beach, an amusement park, or anywhere in between.
Vacations can relieve stress for both parents and kids, as well as create opportunities for family bonding. While that can be the case, coordinating a trip as a parent does come with its own stresses.
Studies show that post-pandemic travel is on the rise, with everything from air travel to national park attendance expected to skyrocket this summer. Navigating packed airports and crowded tourist attractions may sound like a nightmare if you have small kids to wrangle. You might find it hard to enjoy yourself when you’re worried about your child’s safety or dealing with meltdowns in public.
If you want to return from your family vacation feeling refreshed, not worn out, here are some steps you can take.
Bring a Nanny
A great way to take some stress off your shoulders is by bringing a trusted nanny to care for your kids. You don’t have to feel parental guilt about hiring a nanny — it allows you free time away from the kids with someone you trust to look after them.
Bring an Older Cousin
Bringing a nanny on a trip can be expensive, depending on where you go. Ask an older cousin or family member to come with you in place of a nanny. You get some time with family while a trusted loved one is there to look after the kids when you need them. They’re another set of eyes and hands to help look after the kids and keep them entertained.
Go With Friends
There are many family-friendly vacation spots to go to with friends — either your children’s friends and their family or your own friends. These vacations could be a day trip to attractions like amusement parks or a weeklong trip to a beach house. Either way, having others around for help and entertainment is a great way to make the trip memorable.
Take Dinner Shifts
If you go with only your family, you can work out a schedule to take dinner shifts with the kids. You might value alone time and regrouping over a nice meal to yourself. Discuss a schedule with your partner where you can take turns going out and enjoying yourself while they watch the kids. This also works really well when you go on vacation with friends. One night, the wives go out, the next the husbands, and then each couple individually.
Find a Hotel With Childcare
Before you book your hotel, consider if any of them have childcare services. It can help you decide which one to book. Even if one hotel is pricier than the other, it might be worth ensuring you have a place for your kids to go when you want a night alone with your partner. Having a childcare option at a hotel gives you a safety net when you need time away from the kids.
Invite Grandparents on the Family Vacation
Grandparents love spending time with their grandchildren. Having them take over some of the care is a great way for them to spend time together and take part of the load off of you. Watching your kids bond with their grandparents and experience a vacation together will be a time they will never forget.
Choose Engaging Activities
Choosing engaging activities for family members of all ages is important for enjoying vacations. If you do something your kids don’t want to do, the vacation could become an extended complaining tour. There are so many options to keep you and your kids entertained on vacation. Make a list of excursions you are interested in and ask for their input on what they think will be the most fun. Having exciting activities planned is in the best interest of everyone going on the trip.
Enjoy Your Trip
Going on a family vacation should be something the whole family enjoys for the rest of their lives. If the thought of packing up the kids for a big trip sounds stressful, don’t feel like you can’t go on a fun vacation. Embrace having everyone there and make the most of your time together.
About The Author
Cora Gold is a mother and writer who aims to connect with other moms through her experiences navigating motherhood. Cora is the Editor-in-Chief of Revivalist magazine and writes for sites including For Every Mom, MommyBites, and Playground Professionals. When she’s not writing about style and beauty for her magazine, Revivalist, she loves to share her experience with family life. Follow Cora on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
