How to Plan a Family Vacation: The Ultimate Guide

Planning for a family vacation is a fun and exciting time.

Research shows that family vacations are essential for bonding with your children and they make for happier kids. Family vacations also give you the chance to create memories for your children that will last a lifetime that is far more valuable than material items.

If you’re planning your next family vacation, there are many important steps to remember. From scheduling to accommodation to budgeting, you don’t want to miss a thing while you’re planning.

Keep reading for the ultimate guide in planning a family vacation.

Confirm Dates Ahead of Time

When planning a vacation and traveling with family, you want to double-check and cross-reference important dates on your calendar.

This is especially important if you’re traveling with a large number of family members. You want to ensure that the allotted vacation time is aligned with everyone’s school and work schedule.

If you book the wrong date for your transportation or accommodation, it could cost you a lot to reschedule.

Decide on a Destination

If you and your family are deciding on the best places to visit, be sure that everyone gets a chance to express what they want from their vacation.

With multiple family members and a variety of age groups, there are likely to be many different opinions. Be sure that everyone gets a chance to communicate and then compromise on a destination that has a little something for everyone.

If the children want to go to an amusement park but the adults want to go to Paris, choose a place that offers a cultural experience and a fun excursion for the children.

Budget Accordingly and Save Saving Early

Budgeting for your family vacation is one of the most important parts of planning for a trip.

You want to be sure that you’ve considered everything so that you don’t exceed your family’s budget. For most trips, you will need to budget for:

Transportation, including flights, getting to and from the airport, parking, and getting around in your destination
Accommodation in a hotel, Airbnb, or resort
Food and drinks throughout your stay
Leisure activities and entertainment
Tours and excursions
Souvenirs and gifts
Emergencies

Planning an affordable vacation means having a solid budget.

Saving ahead of time is a great way to ensure that you are ready when the time comes to take your vacation. There are also small ways in which you can save money.

Booking an all-inclusive vacation can take care of flights, accommodation, food, and drinks all in one go. Or you can book a trip that doesn’t involve a flight and you can opt for a road trip instead.

Whatever you choose, start saving before you start planning.

Arrange Your Transportation

Your mode of transportation will depend on your destination.

If your family vacation is in the state or a driveable state, you want to make sure that your car is in good shape for a long drive. Be sure to take your car to the mechanic before you go on your trip and budget for gas to get there.

You might be traveling by plane with your family and if you have younger children or a large family, airport travel might be a bit more challenging. Talk to your little ones about what to expect at the airport and the plane trip.

Be sure to book your plane tickets well in advance to get the best possible price. While booking your plane tickets, reserve your airport parking ahead of time to save time and money when you arrive at the airport.

Book Your Accommodations

There are a variety of accommodation options for your family, depending on where you travel.

You might choose a resort, a hotel, a cottage, an Airbnb, or a campsite. Depending on your destination, you must choose the right accommodation for your family. These will vary in price according to the amenities and convenience.

Higher-end accommodation that is close to leisure activities might be worth the cost to save on time and transportation. If you have a large family you might benefit from renting an Airbnb so you can share a home rather than being divided up into hotel rooms.

This will depend on your family’s needs, your destination, and your budget. But be sure to book your accommodation ahead of time to get the best price and the perfect accommodation to suit your family’s needs.

Plan a Memorable Shared Experience

During most family vacations, children of all ages want to do different things and adults want their time to relax. But a family vacation is all about a shared experience.

Plan at least one thing that the family can do together that will be enjoyable and memorable for everyone.

It can be a hike to watch a sunset, a horseback ride on the beach, or a family skydiving excursion. This will be a different experience for each family but the important thing is that it will be memorable.