As most parents will testify, travelling on holiday with children can be challenging. Nevertheless, these are memories that are going to last a lifetime for the whole family. Here are some top tips to implement if you are looking to get the most from your next family getaway.
Get the paperwork in order
The paperwork for a family holiday can seem like a chore but it needs to be done. These tasks range from getting insurance from Staysure or another reputable provider, to making sure that the family’s EHIC (or other relevant healthcare) is up to date.
Of course, it doesn’t just need to involve health and safety. The last thing you want to be doing is searching for hotel bookings and boarding passes with your kids running riot next to you. Instead, try to be organised long before you travel.
Keep things simple
Plan a simple holiday schedule and don’t try to cram in too much to each day. Sometimes, a day at the beach or the pool will be enough without also ensuring they the go horse riding, wind surfing, climbing and to a surf lesson, too.
Plan early and pre-book
Many attractions in – or near – popular holiday resorts will allow you to book your activities before you go. You can often do this on-line. For example, if you are going skiing as a family, you can book ski hire, ski lessons and ski passes before you even set off.
Pack what you need
There are all sorts of tips for how to pack to go on holiday. The best tip is to pack what you think you will need then unpack and pack only two-thirds or half of what you have already laid out. The chances are you will never wear or use all that you think you should pack.
Make a list of essentials and stick to the list. Show your kids how to pack efficiently, too, because it’s a great lifeskill and it also means you will not need to carry around more luggage than is strictly required. The children can carry their own small hand luggage as well.
At the end of a holiday, make sure you check what you used and what you didn’t and keep a careful note of this for the next holiday.
Plan some me-time
Parents should be able to enjoy some time on their own to relax and enjoy activities. You can do this by planning some time for the kids at their own activities or child care. Many kids enjoy socialising with other children and they are likely to make friends, too, so that they can enjoy being with each other at the pool or around the holiday resort as well.
