9 Easy Tips to Make Your Family Vacation Easier and More Enjoyable
Big trips with the family always sound like a good idea, but I've often found myself on family vacations thinking, "Remind me again why we're doing this?". I mean, going to to Target with the whole family is enough to make me want to pull my hair out, so is it any surprise that traveling to new cities and countries can often test the limits of my patience?
My family and I travel a lot, and after running up against the same pain points over and over again, I've learned some valuable lessons about what can be done to make the entire travel process easier for all of us. So, if you're planning a family vacation, here are my top tips to get the most out it:
Don't overpack.
This isn't groundbreaking advice, I know. And it's also advice that I will continue to struggle with myself, because I love treating my vacations like one big fashion show. But when you have a more complicated itinerary, having to move giant bags from place to place can be a real hassle, particularly in Europe where the cars (and their trunks) are smaller and cobblestones make it difficult to wheel suitcases around. The smaller and easier to maneuver your bags are, the happier you'll be. Bonus points if you can pack lightly enough to avoid checking bags--we've had our luggage get lost or delayed enough times to aim for carry-on only every time we go someplace. We recently invested in these expandable carry-on suitcases from Away.
Pack extra bags.
I know I just told you not to overpack but if you're filling your smaller suitcase to the brim, chances are you're not going to have enough room for the things you accumulate throughout your trip. We always end up with more stuff than when we started. Always. That's why I always pack a foldable duffel bag (or two) that we can use for the overflow. My go-to packable duffel is small enough to carry-on, yet sturdy enough to check safely. One of my favorite moves is making the extra bag our laundry bag; it makes getting the first load of post-vacation laundry started that much easier!
Do laundry along the way.
If you're going away on a longer vacation, having a bunch of clean clothes can feel like a real treat. When we went on our 5-week vacation to Europe, we knew we'd need to do some laundry, but we also knew we would not pay the exorbitant prices the hotels charge to do it for us. I mean, seriously...€7 for ONE pair of underwear? I'm all for paying a little more to hit the "easy button," but I can't bring myself to use hotel laundry service.
But if you can find a local laundromat--or better yet, a wash-and-fold spot that will do your laundry for you--it's worth some of your time to take advantage. When we were in Rome, we found a wash-and-fold laundry service that was only a short walk away from our hotel. We loaded up our extra duffel bags and dropped our 20+ pounds of laundry off to get washed, dried & folded for less than €40. And we didn't have to sit around and wait, thereby wasting our precious sightseeing time--we dropped it off, and picked it up the next day. SO EASY.
Get the private transfer.
If you're headed someplace new and unfamiliar, getting where you need to go can be really stressful. If you're not renting a car, pre-arranging your transportation--especially when you have your bags with you--is really worth it. Being able to get off a long flight and have someone waiting to take you where you need to go is so much better than worrying about where to find a taxi, or figuring out how to get everyone and their bags on public transportation. You're also likely to get some good information about your destination from your local driver. And when you book a transfer to take you back to the airport (or ferry terminal, or train station), they'll pick you up and make sure you're there with just enough time to spare--so you don't have to worry about timing either.
Don't over-schedule.
It's easy to want to see and do as much as possible when you have limited time in a destination. But guess what? Your kids probably don't care about seeing that extra museum or landmark or tour. If they're anything like mine, they'll humor you for a short time and then the complaining begins (in a whiny voice): "Why did we have to wake up so early? How much further do we have to walk? It's SO hot. I'm thirsty. When can we get ice cream? This is BORING."
I have found that when we take a more leisurely pace, they don't complain quite as much. And if I allow for some open time for them to be able to choose the activity--whether it is going to a park, swimming, or resting in the hotel room--everyone is in a better mood.
Don't under-schedule.
I know I just told you not to plan too much, but planning too little can be just as frustrating. On our recent trip, we had a couple of days where we had morning activities planned, but had left the afternoons and evenings open. I thought, "let's just wander around and see where the day takes us!" It took us back to the hotel room, where we sat around and argued about what to do next. We certainly weren't making the most of our time.
So if your itinerary has an abundance of free time, make sure you have a list of available activities at the ready so that you can propose options to your family. Another good plan is to get out in the morning, take some time to rest and recharge in the afternoon, and then make solid plans to head back out in the evening.
Research restaurant options.
Even if you don't have picky eaters, finding a good place to eat--especially in touristy areas--can be a challenge. Before you leave home, take the time to locate some good options near your hotel and in popular areas (this is also a service I offer, if this step sounds like something you don't want to do). You can create a Google map to be able to find your pre-screened restaurants easily while on the go. I also recommend making dinner reservations whenever you can--nothing makes the whole family crabbier than having to wait for food!
Take a local food tour.
On our most recent trip to Europe, my family and I did two private food tours--one in Naples, and one in Rome--and we all agree that these tours make the highlight reel. You get more than good food when you take a tour like this...you also get a private walking tour of the city you're in! If your kids aren't adventurous eaters, chances are still pretty good they'll find something they'll enjoy along the way (at the very least, they should like the dessert stop!).
Hire a photographer.
This is the one I was most skeptical about when I first did it. In fact, I may or may not have rolled my eyes at other tourists I saw being followed by a professional photographer. I mean, who can't take their own damn pictures?
As it turns out, it's me. I can't be trusted to take my own damn pictures.
In fact, after nearly all of my family vacations I found myself frustrated that I didn't get more shots of the whole family together. This is probably because every time I asked everyone to gather for the inevitably inadequate selfie, I was met with complaints and grumpy faces. Beyond those few shots, you'd be hard-pressed to find any pictures of me on vacation; as the family's primary picture-taker, there is never much photographic evidence that I was, in fact, on vacation with them (and those that exist are rarely flattering).
So for our trip to Europe, I thought I'd give Flytographer a shot. You pay a flat fee based on the amount of time you want your photo shoot to be (30-120 minutes), and you get a set number of pictures based on the length of your shoot (the longer the shoot, the more pics you get). You have a professional photographer guiding you through amazing locations for pictures, and they have all of the tips and tricks for avoiding crowds and other tourist photo pitfalls. I think the magic of it is that you have someone else telling your kids what to do (that always helps), and everyone knows that they just have to pose for pictures for a short, designated time. You don't have to stop in the middle of an activity to try to capture everyone in the moment (unless you want to). We did a couple of 60-minute shoots, and I have a whole bunch of quality family vacation photos--my Christmas cards are already sorted, and it's only July.
So there you have it, friends--my top tips for making your family vacation a bit easier (and more enjoyable for everyone). Do you have any tips to add? I'd love to hear them in the comments! And when you're ready to start planning your next stress-free family vacation, get in touch to learn more about Dash & Ramble's services. Happy travels!
