When traveling with kids, the idea of vacation can seem impossible. It’s hard to feel “on vacation” when caring for your kids while trying to experience another destination. While it isn’t necessarily easy to have an entirely stress-free vacation (even when traveling without kids), there are some things you can do to put yourself in the best position to enjoy your trip thoroughly. Here are our tips for planning a stress-free family vacation.
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How to Plan a Stress-Free Family Vacation: Tips and Tricks
Get the Right Mindset
Before considering planning your vacation, you must get into the right mindset. You won’t be traveling like you were before you had kids. You’ll need to bring along more things and account for their schedules. However, vacationing can be the perfect family bonding activity, so just accept that there will be some hiccups and enjoy the entire experience.
Plan Your Destination Carefully
When planning a vacation with kids, you should consider which destinations are best for your family. Theme parks like Walt Disney World and Disneyland can be a great option.
But if you’d rather go on a city, national park, or other type of vacation, you should look at the various activities, hotels, and restaurants offered in that destination. Find a destination that offers the most for your family.
You’ll also want to consider your kids’ preferences. For instance, a trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame may be a great option if you have a child who loves baseball.
Research Family-Friendly Activities in Advance
Once you’ve chosen a destination, you’ll want to research the activities you want to do in advance. Find out everything you need to know, including opening hours/days and whether tickets and reservations must be made before you go. I also recommend having a few backup options in case the weather doesn’t cooperate with your plans (especially if your plans are mostly outdoor).
Look for Fun Restaurants That are Kid-Friendly
While you don’t necessarily need to book all of your dining reservations in advance (unless you are visiting a theme park resort like Walt Disney World), you should research to find family-friendly restaurants at your vacation destination. Look for places with kids’ menus, and find out if they require reservations or are walk-in only.
Arrange Your Transportation Thoughtfully
As you consider traveling to your destination, you’ll need to consider a few things. Driving, of course, is the easiest option, as you’ll have room in your car for gear, won’t need to rent a car, and will have as much flexibility as you need to depart.
If you are flying, you may want to consider whether you’d prefer a layover. It’s usually easier to fly direct. I’d also recommend booking seats together on the plane—even if you have to pay extra for the seats.
Bring the Right Gear
Depending on your vacation destination and the ages of your kids, you may need to bring some gear. Whether it’s baby products or beach gear, these types of products can be difficult to fly with.
Consider renting any larger, essential gear on your vacation. In addition, if you are traveling with things you will dispose of at your destination, like diapers and wipes, consider shipping these to your hotel. Just check with the hotel first (some charge for this) and bring some with you for the flights.
Pack Enough But Not Too Much
Packing can be a challenge when traveling with kids. When traveling with younger children, you must pack for them and carry their gear. It can be a lot, especially if you push around a stroller and luggage.
Do some upfront work to make a packing list. If your destination has laundry facilities, doing laundry during your vacation can be a good idea so you don’t have to pack as many things.
Keep Your Kids’ Schedules in Mind
When traveling with younger kids, it is important to consider their daily schedules. Any variation from their typical meal or sleep times can result in frustration. Try to keep nap and bedtime schedules, even during your family vacation.
Buy Our Planner
Our downloadable planner is a great way to organize your vacation plans. You can purchase it at this link.
Don’t Overfill Your Days
Although it can be tempting to overfill your days with activities, this isn’t always a great idea for a family vacation. Consider your family’s preferences when scheduling your days.
Find a Hotel With Kid-Friendly Amenities
While some may consider a hotel just a place to sleep at night, some can be destinations in themselves. Consider finding a hotel with family-friendly amenities like pools, waterparks, beach access, family suites, and more.
Be Flexible
I like to plan every vacation detail, but when I started traveling with kids, I realized it was important to be flexible with my plans. If your kids are tired, need to get some energy out, or need to eat, it’s a good idea to take their cue and change your plans. If you are a planner like me, research in advance to see what plan B options are available at your destination.
We had a full outdoor activity agenda during one spring family vacation to Phoenix, Arizona. Unfortunately, it rained several days in a row, so we had to move on to plans B, C, and D!
Talk Through Plans With Kids
You may have planned a full agenda, but things may not work out as you expect if you don’t have buy-in from the whole family. If your kids are old enough to have an opinion, discuss family vacation plans with them before you depart.
Make it Easy on Yourself.
This is especially important if you are traveling with younger kids. Keep things simple with more casual dining options and less structure with your vacation. When my kids were younger, we especially enjoyed vacations at beach/pool resorts and theme parks. There was always something for them to enjoy.
Bring Entertainment
I understand you may be limiting screen time, especially on vacation. But remember the “make it easy on yourself” rule. It may be worth it if bringing along movies and games on a tablet will keep your little one entertained on the road.
Book Tours and Tickets in Advance
While I recommend keeping things as flexible as possible when traveling with younger kids, with older kids, you may want to make advance reservations. Some attractions still require admission reservations, so check everything before you go. We also recommend looking at GetYourGuide for tours and tickets at your destination.
