Stress
10 Easy Tips for a Stress-Free Family Vacation - Vacation Survival Ideas
Author: Ronnie Nijmeh, ACQYR.com
10 Easy Tips for a Stress-Free Family Vacation
It's summer. Time for the whole family to get away for a relaxing, fun-filled family vacation, right? Or does your vacation mean frayed nerves, child tantrums and meltdowns for the whole family? Traveling with kids can sometimes be an adventure all on its own. Not always a good one at that.
We've put together 10 easy tips to ensure that your next vacation is high on fun and low on stress.
1. Involve the kids.
Get the kids involved during the early planning stages and give them a say in what you'll be doing. This gets the kids excited about what they will be seeing and doing. As well, when they have a stake in the planning process it helps to set expectations and ensure that things go smoothly. Have each member of the family make a list of "must sees" and compare; you'll also be able to get a consensus on activities for the whole family. Unless the kids are aspiring young thespians, save the Shakespearian theatre review for a "parents only" getaway.
2. Budget ahead of time.
One of the most common vacation woes is overspending or running out of money before the trip is over. Before planning any vacation, look at what you can afford, set your budget, then stick to it. Know to the penny how much you can spend every day, and if you spend a little too much one day, plan some free activities to make up for the previous day's indulgence. If your children are old enough, give them a vacation budget for souvenirs and activities and let them manage it.
3. Confirm, confirm, confirm.
Before setting foot outside the house, confirm your hotel, flight and/or car rental reservations. This simple step could save you from hours of stress later as you, and the family, try to hunt down alternative lodging or transportation. If you are driving, purchase maps ahead of time and confirm which route to take.
4. Plan your activities.
While you don't need to have your itinerary carved in stone, you will want to have enough flexibility to go on spontaneous adventures. Conduct online research beforehand to check out the events and attractions at your vacation destination, creating a rough outline of your vacation activities. Be sure to have a handful of "rainy day" activities planned, just in case. If you want to go to a popular amusement park, zoo or local attraction, see if you can purchase tickets online or reserve a spot ahead of time.
5. Travel light.
It's tempting to get into the "everything but the kitchen sink" mentality when packing; but unless you are flying into a remote area, you can get items like shampoo, diapers, or an extra t-shirt when you arrive. Children, especially little ones, often require a mind-boggling amount of baby gear; consider leaving strollers and cribs behind, and instead renting them ahead of time. (Hint: If the hotel doesn't offer kids' gear rentals, type "baby equipment rental" plus the name of your destination city into any search engine.)
6. No cramming!
There is no use driving yourself (and your family) crazy by trying to do everything. If you try to do too much in too little time, you’re only going to run yourself ragged. Resist the urge to over-schedule your vacation time, and always remember to allow plenty of time for naps, an extra hour at the zoo, or an unscheduled side-trip to a local attraction. Try scheduling planned outings in the mornings when kids have more energy, and leave the afternoons free for more low-stress activities such as lazing around the pool. Don't forget that vacations are about creating family memories and returning home relaxed.
7. Make your money go further.
No matter what you've allotted for your vacation fund, stretch it out further by looking for discount coupons, incentives, reward programs and special deals when doing your initial vacation research. Many resorts and family vacation destinations have "kids play free" programs and many tourism offices offer booklets filled with coupons. Consider bringing along DVDs for a family movie night one evening in the hotel. Dining out can be expensive, plan a few picnics and try to book a hotel room with a kitchenette for the occasional meal in.
8. Avoid the masses.
Line-ups and crowds are no fun, and often make kids -- and grown-ups! -- stressed-out and cranky. Think about scheduling your family vacation during the off-season periods such as late September. Traveling during the high season? There are still plenty of tricks to avoid throngs of fellow vacationers. Fly during the week to potentially avoid crowded airports and overbooked planes. Schedule activities earlier in the mornings before the masses arrive. Avoid restaurants during peak periods: for example arrive for lunch just before noon or after two o'clock. Want to see a popular attraction? Go on an escorted tour, as they are often given preferential status. Buy tickets and make reservations ahead of time.
9. Create an "Entertainment Bag."
Whether it is a long, cross-country drive or an unexpected airport delay understand that there will be times when the kids are bored out of their minds. Have an entertainment bag ready and be prepared to dole out coloring books, crayons, disposable cameras, a travel journal, or inexpensive toys and games. Plan as you will, there will be a time you will need to have food at hand, so throw in some easy-grab snacks such as individual bags of crackers or cookies, juice boxes, bottled water, granola bars or raisins. Also, have a few car games up your sleeve such as Name That Tune, 20 Questions or Travel Bingo.
10. Stick to your routine.
While it is tempting to toss routine out the window when on vacation, remember that most kids thrive on it. New places, food and people are exciting for adults, but often little ones can't adapt as easily to new experiences, altered bedtimes or changed eating habits. To reduce stress, try to return to the hotel for scheduled nap times or do familiar routine activities such as a bedtime story. Bring favorite toys along or that special blanket... your kids will be happier, and ultimately so will you.
If you want additional methods and techniques for coping with stress and anxiety, check out Stress Busters by ACQYR -- an A to Z toolkit for helping you reduce stress in your life. It's jam-packed with strategies, case studies, interviews with leading stress experts, self-assessments, worksheets and much more. It also includes telephone coaching sessions.
How stressed are you? Are you at risk for complications due to stress? You can find out. Take the Free Stress Test. PLUS, get exclusive access to a FREE 7-day stress course so you can begin living your life how YOU want, happily ever after. Take the FREE Stress Test now!
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Published: April 19, 2007
