Every year, more and more people are giving up their vacation days either for financial reasons or because once you have kids, a vacation can seem like more work than time off.
But, vacations are an essential part of life. Taking time off is vital to maintaining your mental health, and family trips are a fantastic way to create memories your kids will cherish for a lifetime.
Planning a family vacation can be difficult, especially when you have young children. That said, it's not impossible.
Do you want to take your family on a once in a lifetime vacation, but aren't sure where to start planning? We can help.
Here is your complete guide on how to plan a family vacation.
Start Saving ASAP
Before you even decide on where you want to go, you can be sure of one thing: you're going to need a lot of extra cash to get there.
So, before you start planning the finer details of your trip, you should consider setting up a savings account to start squirreling away extra funds right away.
If you start saving now, by the time you decide where to go and get your trip all planned out, you'll have more than enough to cover your expenses with a little on the side for souvenirs.
Pick a Location
Once you start saving for your trip, you can begin to plan where you want to go.
You'll want to take your children's ages and interests into account, so you can make sure you pick a spot that has a little something for everyone.
You should also think about the travel time. If you have toddlers or very young children, a nine-hour flight could quickly devolve into a nightmare scenario.
Before picking a vacation spot, you'll also want to think about what kind of living accommodations would best suit your family. While a cabin in the woods can be fun for some families, it's not fun for everyone.
Decide on Travel Accommodations
Once you pick your location, you'll then need to decide how you're going to get there.
If you don't plan on going that far, you may want to think about taking your family on a good old-fashioned road trip. While road tripping isn't always the fastest option, it's generally the cheapest.
If you decide to rely on the family vehicle to get you to your vacation destination, remember to take it to the shop for an oil change and to have it inspected before you leave. Nothing puts a damper on a vacation faster than a breakdown on the interstate.
Flying is generally the fastest and safest way to travel. But, it can be more expensive and isn't suitable for every situation.
Trains are an oft-overlooked method of travel, but a fast and reliable way to get from point-A to point-B if your family would rather stay on the ground.
Safety First!
No matter how you decide to make your trip, you're going to want to make sure you prepare yourself and your family for an emergency.
Make sure you pack a well-stocked first aid or trauma kit, like our Just-in-Case Tiny Tots Safety Kit by St John.
If your children take any medications, you'll want to make sure you pack extra just in case and keep a few separate stores of medicine in case you lose one.
You should also pack plenty of other medication and medical supplies, like our Stick On Temperature Indicators or Cooling Patches, just in case your child picks up a bug while out on the road.
There's no such thing as being too prepared, especially when you have kids!
Set a Daily Budget
No matter how much you save for your trip, you always seem to end up spending more than you plan. One simple way to combat this is by creating a daily budget to help you track your expenses.
Your budget should include meal costs, entry fees, transportation, and a little extra wiggle room for unexpected expenses.
While you can track how much you're spending yourself with a pen and a scrap of paper, there are dozens of helpful apps available that can help you track and monitor your budget as well.
Create a Detailed Itinerary
ing Travelling with kids can be hectic, so you want to make sure you do everything you can to prepare yourself, and that means taking the time to create a detailed itinerary before you leave.
Creating an itinerary will help you keep track of events and activities your family wants to partake in during your trip, and help make orchestrating transportation a little bit smoother.
While making your itinerary, you should also make sure to include a few alternative plans in case of inclement weather or other unexpected events.
No matter what you plan on doing, you may want to consider throwing a Fevermates Just-in-Case Tiny Tots Safety Kit in your bag. You never know when someone is going to fall and scrape their knee.
Research Local Emergency Care
Before you even leave the house, you should take some time to research healthcare and emergency services in the area.
You should find the closest hospital and emergency room to your hotel, and keep a set of written directions on how to get there.
You should also make sure you pack some extra medicine and medical supplies, such as Fevermates Stick On Temperature Indicators and Cooling Patches. If you're planning on going abroad, it can sometimes be hard to find the same brands you usually use.
Who's Watching the House?
The final part of planning any trip is making sure someone is taking care of your home while you're gone.
If you don't want to go through the hassle of stopping your mail, you may want to ask a trusted neighbor or friend to collect it for you.
If you have any pets, you'll want to make sure you have your petsitter over before you leave to walk them through your pet's daily routine and make sure they have a way into the house.
Depending on how long you plan on being gone, you may also want to bring someone in to water your plants as well. For security purposes, you may also want to consider putting your lights on a timer.
Planning a Family Vacation: What's Next?
Planning a family vacation can seem like a lot of work. But, taking a little extra time to make sure everything is in order before you leave can make a world of difference when it comes to enjoying your trip.
Ready to start putting together your family's next dream vacation, and want to stock up on a few medical necessities before you hit the road? We've got you covered!
Contact us for more information about our products, or visit our site to place an order today.