Planning a vacation for your family should be fun and exciting. It usually starts out that way, but often takes way more time and effort than you anticipated. That’s often our experience after years of travel planning for our family. Let’s talk about planning a vacation and how to maximise value and experiences, while cutting back on travel anxiety and stress. We have a few tips to share.
A family vacation to say, Florida, does take a fair amount of coordination. You need to choose your location, decide on the best time of year to travel, manage your flights, accommodation, activities, food, transfers and possibly car hire. It can be a lot to think about.
Don’t forget that there will be things at home to think about too, pet sitters maybe?
You then need to keep everything within your budget, whatever that may be.
If you’re travelling with kids things are even more complicated! Family accommodation is harder to find and it’s more expensive. You also need to plan an itinerary that will keep every member of the family happy.
We find it’s best not to cut every cost to suit a daily budget. Skipping that big ticket attraction may save you hundreds of dollars, but that day out could be the single biggest memory for your kids. This is why we always say we don’t set a budget for travel, it has to cost as much as it costs.
Just know how to spend wisely on the things that matter to your family, and save on the things that don’t matter so much. For us that’s normally hotels, we very rarely spend a large amount on accommodation when we’d rather take the kids to Disney or Legoland.
How To Plan A Family Vacation
Start Thinking About Things Early, If You Want Everything Planned in Advance.
Booking flights at the last minute can be fun and sometimes saves you money. We booked flights to Vietnam this year less than 24 hours before departure! But family holidays, are usually less spur of the moment.
If we assume you’re booking a spring or summer vacation, during school holidays, flights, hotels and tours may be fully booked if you wait too long.
The sweet spot for booking flights, we find, is about 3 months before departure.
Early planning allows you to check if you’re travelling at a good time of year, compare flights and hotels in several locations, research activities or local events, and really find the perfect accommodation and destination for your unique needs and budget.
You may find that in popular places like Florida, a package aimed at families may save you money over booking everything individually.
These vacation packages may include ticketed attractions, like water parks or theme parks, airport shuttles, food discounts and more. The full cost is totally up-front, you’ll have less chance to go over budget by gradually adding more and more to your trip.
If you’ve got everything reserved before you go then that’s one less thing you have to think about when you’re actually on vacation. Less time sorting things out, more time chillaxing or having fun.
I’m always booking activities, hotels, buses and trains, as we travel. What I think will take 5 minutes never does. Don’t be me, if you want a stressless trip.
Focus on What’s Most Important For The Success of Your Vacation, First
What will make or break your vacation? Whatever is most important to you and your family, is where the money should go first.
Lock in those most important activities, then figure out what else you can afford. Don’t get sidetracked by shopping for souvenirs or endless snack stops. Book the memorable dining event & show, but self-cater at other times.
Focus on making the memories!
The Best Family-Friendly Accommodation for Your Vacation
Where you stay can make or break the trip for various reasons. You don’t have to book the most expensive 5 star hotel, just book the place that suits your needs.
When our kids were younger, we very rarely booked 5 star hotels, it’s too expensive for most families and honestly, the kids won’t care! Find them a place with a pool and ice cream and they won’t even know about the hotel’s star rating.
Save the 5 stars for romantic couples breaks once the kids have flown.
Find somewhere that’s comfortable, clean, well located, and that is family-friendly. Some places don’t allow children at all, including some hostels and adults only resorts.
When you’re thinking about location, what would you prefer? To be within walking distance of an attraction or the beach maybe? Or are you happy to spend time in a vehicle most days? Also consider the times you have to be at certain places. Will you have to be up super early if getting to the theme park require a drive and parking?
Not every hotel, hostel, or motel, has family rooms or suites, searching for these (in whatever booking platform you prefer) will narrow down your list of possible choices. Don’t forget to compare hotel costs vs holiday home rental costs.
Accommodation with a fridge or kitchenette is great to help with self-catering for picky eaters or to stay on a tight budget. Book somewhere with breakfast (or coffee!) included. Expensive coffees bought in cafes really add up. My kids love a buffet breakfast!
If you’re travelling with babies or toddlers always check that the accommodation can proving high chairs and cribs. Look out for children stay free deals, this usually works for kids up to about 12 years old, but the cut-off age varies.
Some hotels and apartment hotels have laundry facilities, this can be a God-send with little ones. Particularly if you pack light, which we recommend.
Kids clubs may be useful to your family, or kids playgrounds, games rooms, babysitting, pools, and water slides. If you plan on spending some of your time in your hotel, not out and about exploring, look for these.
We highly recommend booking somewhere with a pool if you’re visiting a hot climate. It’s the fastest way to cool down.
Family Vacation Preferences, For All of You!
One of my kids loves camping, the other loathes it. Some kids are picky eaters, some hate sand, some don’t do well on buses. You need to figure out what works for everyone.
Always ask your kids what they want to do on vacation and give them options. I found days on the beach boring as a kid, but my mother loved them. It didn’t make for a fun time for everyone. We’re not all the same. If you ask the kids what they’d most enjoy and get them involved in planning, they’ll feel heard.
Unfortunately, you often find out what kids don’t like by trying it. In our case it was camping. Never again!
Divide and conquer is often a good plan if you travel with kids. One child may want to go to the petting zoo, the other might prefer thrill rides. It’s OK for a family to split up and do different things sometimes. We do it often!
This is particularly important when you have big age gaps in your family.
Also, allow everyone enough rest time, or down time if needed. Teenagers need their sleep, not just the preschoolers.
Maybe a parent would love a nearby museum while another guardian supervises nap time or a kids movie.
Plan and book those essential activities, but also be aware of any reason not to go ahead. Kids can get sick, even on vacation, so don’t overschedule.
Some parents overschedule every second, thinking it’ll be more efficient. That can lead to burnout. Instead, build in some breathing room. A spontaneous beach day might be more fun than a packed itinerary.
Explore What Else is Local and Affordable at Your Destination
The big attractions are fun but they’re not the only way to make lasting memories. Quieter moments, off the beaten path, may stick with you the longest and be more budget-friendly.
A public park with amazing play equipment, or even water play, may make your toddler’s day. Local events, timed just right, can add extra layers of fun. For instance we stumbled upon the “Posh Pooches” event in Celebration Florida. My younger son was smitten by the pups in cute outfits. It was completely free.
Enjoy a wild deserted beach for a run around with Mum or Dad, and chance finds in tide pools. Do you remember when we found those black shark teeth? The kids loved that, again completely free.
Find out if there are local events, festivals, or even farmer’s markets. Any event may enhance your holiday, just do a little research online. A farmer’s market can be a good place for a cheap lunch, and you’ll be supporting local people, rather than the big chains.
Use The Vacation Perks You Already Have
Many people overlook the benefits they already have. Travel reward programs, frequent flier memberships and credit card bonuses can all help you stretch your budget.
Before you book anything, check if you can take advantage of any of the following ways to save on travel. Can you think of more?
- Points or air-miles to cover flights or hotels
- Loyalty programs which offer free upgrades or breakfast
- Hidden perks bundled into online travel platforms
- Discounts through various memberships or your workplace.
- Free, or discounted travel insurance through your bank.
Be sure to have membership numbers on hand as most loyalty programs will need you to add these when you use their apps.
A free breakfast or free parking fee might not sound like a huge saving, but small amounts ad up quickly for a family.
Spend Where It Counts
Getting value isn’t about cutting every possible expense. It’s about making thoughtful choices which enhance your experience and cut out the fluff. So when you’re thinking about your budget, try this:Avoid spending on things which won’t be remembered.
- Allocate more for experiences which create memories.
- Choose convenience in areas which reduce your workload
- Don’t be afraid to spend a little more if it reduces stress. Sometimes, spending slightly more up front saves you more later.
- Booking a resort with on-site dining might cost more per night but if it means no late-night fast food runs, it’s probably worth it.
Don’t Try to Do Everything
There’s this pressure sometimes to do every possible activity just because you’re on vacation.
You don’t need to do it all. You just need to do the things which matter most to your family.
- Do less with more intention. Be in the moment.
- Let some moments happen naturally
- Don’t stress if plans change
- Stay flexible so everyone enjoys themselves
- If something goes wrong, it’s okay. That’s part of the story. Don’t aim for perfection; aim for meaningful memories you can look back on later.
- A great family vacation doesn’t have to break your budget and it doesn’t have to be flawless. Time spent together is precious.
- What it needs is planning and a little flexibility.
If you choose wisely, prepare early and prioritize the right things, you’ll create a vacation which brings everyone closer without leaving your bank account in recovery mode.
Do what works for your family and don’t forget to actually enjoy it while it’s happening.
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