How To Plan A Stress-Free Family Vacation

Making time for a family vacation is becoming increasingly more difficult with managing work, life, and kids. It can be tough to get a chance to take a break, so when we can finally take a vacation, it’s important that it’s stress-free. Unfortunately for many, having a stress-free family vacation is a difficult feat to accomplish.

With the stress of planning a vacation and the stress of work responsibilities being put on the back-burner, many people find themselves not having time to relax, or having to ultimately cancel their travel plans. But, taking vacations are extremely important for our wellbeing. People need time to recharge and enjoy time with their loved ones.

When it comes to the stress of vacation planning, the first way to significantly reduce stress is by simply planning ahead. So, here are some of our top tips for mastering vacation planning with the family.

Picking a Great Vacation Spot

There are some places that are better for family vacations than others If you are taking your entire family, you’ll want a spot that’s child friendly. This could open up your options to include a family resort or even a cruise. Not only do many of these places have many options for the entire family, they require very little planning, and many of the amenities are included.

Some other vacationing spots can include destinations that have theme parks (like Disney World). This can provide your family with ways to keep busy, so you do not have to plan out excursions.

Finding Quality Time with Your Partner

During a family vacation it can be especially tough to carve out quality time for you and your partner. Making this a priority is important because it allows you to invest time in your relationship that will help you feel close with your significant other.

Carving out time for you and your partner is invaluable. Especially if you choose a vacationing option that is family-friendly, they will likely have entertainment for your children so you can go and spend time with each other.

Make Time to Relax

Frequently, families will find themselves going on vacation and staying busy from the time they get up till the time they go to bed. Staying busy on a vacation is fine but doing so at the expense of your sanity is not. Many families will find themselves even more exhausted after a trip than before.

Remember that you took a vacation because you needed a rest. So, don’t overdo it, or you won’t feel refreshed when you come back from your trip. Making time for doing nothing is important. Children also get cranky when they’re exhausted, so avoid staying so busy that everyone gets in a bad mood.

Don’t Stress Over the Little Things

If you’re a planner and planned the entire trip out, you need to recognize that your plan may not perfectly follow your schedule, and that’s okay. Things do not always go exactly according to plan but remember to not let it get in the way of having fun.

Being so locked into a schedule can stress you and your family out. You can’t force fun and you can’t force a schedule. Use your plan as a guideline but be willing to stay flexible and adapt. There are some factors you just simply cannot plan for.

At the end of the day you want to remember the enjoyable time you spent with your family. If something goes wrong, realize that it does not have to be perfect and work together to find something else to do. Once you let go of your plans, even just a little bit, you let go of stress.

Budget Wisely

Families tend to use vacations as a time to spend extra money on things they don’t need. You may not need a new pair of shoes to walk around in or a new outfit. Make sure to get the essentials for the trip, but don’t go crazy.

Money is already stressful enough, so don’t let it get in the way of your vacation. You may have to spend money on food but try and save where you can. Budgeting realistically is important when traveling. Making a travel budget beforehand will be a good guideline for you as you travel and do things.

Remember to Have a Good Time

The most important thing to remember about a family vacation is to just have fun. Enjoy the time you spend with your family and ask yourself what you’ll want to remember on the trip. Is it that you followed your schedule or that you all laughed and had a great time?

Spending time with family is important and by eliminating stressors from planning a family vacation, you can prioritize the things that really matter.