Have you ever been so excited for a vacation only to be a little let down by the whole experience? Family vacations can be uplifting, great for bonding and a good opportunity to let go of the rules and just relax sans routine.
However, they are also the most difficult to ensure that they go according to plan – and ‘relaxing’ seems to take a backseat sometimes, especially with younger children.
Here are a few little things you can do to make sure you have a great time – pre, during and post vacation:
Plan some highlights and let the rest come together on its own
Sometimes over-planning and under-planning can both backfire. Over-planning could lead to having too much to do, your family getting tired and not getting to relax on the vacation. Under-planning could lead to a lot of time wasted asking “what should we do today?”
Keep a few highlights on your itinerary, like a theme park, an architectural site or a local festival – anything that interests you and let the rest flow.
Simple things like walking along new roads without a destination can sometimes be the most interesting.
Clean your house before you leave for the trip
Trust us, it’s important. It may seem like it has nothing to do with your vacation but no one wants to come home to an untidy house after a good vacation. It makes real life seem all the more daunting.
Clean up, make your beds, empty out your refrigerator (perishables), turn off all important switches, check if the stove’s gas is off, do the laundry – it’ll be a welcoming sight when you enter your cozy home.
Stock up on non-perishables before you leave
Essentials that you may need right away like tea, coffee, a few packaged snacks, frozen meat (keep in the freezer), masala packets and anything that will not have you running to the grocery store the minute you enter your home.
Check the weather forecast at your destination
Once you’ve booked your tickets, there isn’t anything you can do about the weather. However, checking the forecast gives you an idea of what activities would be better suited for the days to come.
For example, if it’s raining, you can decide to go to the museum on that day and keep the beach trip for another day. It’ll also give you an idea of how you should pack, you may not pack for a cold breeze but you might just need a sweater.
Make the journey count as much as the destination
Whether it’s a road trip, a train ride or a flight, the journey can sometimes be as exciting as the trip. For road/train trips, get lots of snacks and activities for the kids.
Make up a game, or learn the lyrics to a new song, or just sit back and put on a great playlist and enjoy the ride.
Get conjoining rooms
If your children are old enough to be in a separate room, then why not consider getting conjoining rooms in the hotel?
Privacy and personal space do not need to be given up on holiday. It works out best for all parties. If budget is a concern, there are many people who now rent out apartment space for a reasonable price.
Keep expectations low and have fun!
The higher your expectations of the trip, the more room it has to disappoint you. Some studies say that the excitement that builds up towards the trip can heighten the expectations too much, when you’re actually there.
So know that your goal is to have fun but don’t think too much along the lines of ‘this is going to be the trip of a lifetime’. Things don’t always go as planned, and that’s a hundred percent alright.
