Collaborative post
Top Ways to Make Your First Family Holiday A Success
Your first family holiday is always an exciting but stressful time, especially when you have younger kids who struggle to sit still or stay quiet for more than a few minutes at a time. As eager as you have been to get away and bask in the sun, there is the lingering worry that a family holiday could be too much hassle, and you would rather do nothing than deal with tantrums and long journeys.
But, you’ve earned this holiday as much as anyone else. While your kids may act up occasionally, you also know that they might need a holiday just as much as you. So, if you’re planning your first family holiday, here are some top tips to make it a success.
Find Kid-Friendly Accommodation
The last thing anyone wants is to book a relaxing family holiday only for a group of rowdy kids to shoes up. Before going anywhere, research the best family-friendly resorts around France or other parts of Europe.
Some villas are more family-oriented than others, and while you can take kids to places not designed for families, you risk upsetting other guests. You don’t want to get off on the wrong foot, so look for an option that welcomes kids and includes a range of activities that will keep them entertained and gives you and your partner the chance to spend quality time together.
Keep Everyone Healthy and Safe
Staying healthy while on holiday is easy most of the time, but you and your kids could get too excited doing some activities, and you may injure yourself if you aren’t careful. If you’ve travelled somewhere warmer than what you’re used to, make sure you apply plenty of suncream and remember these tips to prevent baby heat rash if you have small children travelling with you.
You should also be careful when doing activities with your family. Keep everybody close and warn them not to speak to strangers. Teaching phone numbers and taking a photo of them before entering any parks or museums will also help you find them if they wander off from you.
Bring In-Transit Entertainment
If your kids are prone to acting out when they get bored, bring something to entertain them. Their phones, tablets, or portable game consoles are good ideas, but so are books, music, and games.
This entertainment is crucial for ensuring their journey flies by. Even though you might not think a two-hour flight is too long, this could be different for younger children and if they have acted out before, you should know how to keep them happy.
Have a Plan
No one should arrive somewhere without knowing what to do. As soon as you land or cross the border, get to your hotel or resort and settle in. Once you have put your suitcases down, you may want to wander around the area to get to know shops and other essentials.
But, you also need a plan. While your first day can be lazy, you need to know what you’re doing tomorrow. Research where you are going and what time it takes to get there as this will help you outline your itinerary and prevent delays so you can make the most of your holiday.
… But Don’t Stick to It Religiously
Despite that, you should also feel comfortable being flexible. Although you know what you want to do, things can happen which may get in the way of any planned activities. If the weather isn’t as you’d hoped or certain attractions are closed, you need to be ready to do something else because you don’t want to spend the entire time lounging around the hotel.
Don’t force yourself or your family to do anything that may not seem as fun as it once did originally. If an attraction is not as expected, cut it short and try something else. Hopefully, you won’t need to travel too far between activities.
Do Your Research
You can avoid plenty of disappointment if you do your research before you depart. This can help you identify which activities are worth doing and which are not as exciting or valuable as they seem. When researching what to do, it’s best to look at the most recent reviews to see what is still operating and whether it is good.
You can also check out local forums or social media groups which could offer recommendations, especially if these groups are geared towards families like yours. Otherwise, you may get inappropriate recommendations that don’t suit the vibe of your holiday.
Arrange Travel Insurance
Although you hope nothing goes wrong on holiday, you never want to tempt fate. This is why arranging travel insurance is such an important aspect of booking and enjoying a successful family holiday. Your policy should cover a wide range of possible incidents, including theft, medical expenses or delayed flights.
At the very least, it gives you crucial peace of mind and ensures you don’t feel nervous doing anything while you are out and about. You should still exercise caution if you do high-risk activities but you know that it will cover severe costs.
Think Convenience Over Adventure
You and your partner may have been all about adventure once upon a time. You relished the opportunity to do something different and exciting. However, things have changed. While you still have that adventurous spark, you also have kids to take care of, so those long hikes may be a thing of the past for now.
Besides, arranging your holiday can be stressful, and stress is the last thing you’re looking for. This is why all-inclusive holidays are so popular. You don’t even need to leave the resort if you don’t want to. You’ll get everything done for you, so you can focus on putting your feet up and soaking up the sun.
Pack Their Suitcase
It only takes one holiday to realise that you should never let your kids (and even your partner) pack for themselves. You never know what they might try to sneak inside, which could mean they do not have anything suitable for the holiday. Instead, you’ll find toys or snacks or piles of mud from the garden. Because kids.
Sticking to a list of packing essentials ensures you and your family pack everything they need. If you want to make sure that nothing that shouldn’t come ends up in the suitcase, make a game of the process by packing together. This can also make your kids feel more involved and help them get more excited about their holiday as they’ll be able to envision themselves there.
Book Things In Advance
If you’ve ever been to some of the busiest parts of the world during holiday times before, you know that you may spend most of your time queuing to get into places. No one wants to be on their feet for so long without going anywhere, so booking things in advance can help you avoid this.
You may be able to find fast pass booking options that allow you to skip the line. These benefits often cost more, but the extra cost can be worth it. This is especially true if you go to a theme park or similarly exciting place as you know you won’t spend your entire day waiting around.
Be Wary of Scams
Non-locals are often the target of fraud and other scams while travelling. Being in a different country can sometimes be overwhelming, and you may become a target by someone who appears friendly but really wants to take your money, waste your time or both.
However many people are worried about coming off as rude when faced with people offering to help, so they will give them the benefit of the doubt and listen to a story or follow them to a secret transport option. Don’t fall into these traps. Even if you aren’t in danger, your scammer will still try to get more money out of you, which can put a severe dent in your holiday finances.
Relax
Your holiday is supposed to be fun and stress-free. So, give yourself the benefit of relaxing. Sure, you may need to drive everyone around or organise fun things to do, but you also deserve to take a break. If you want to chill by the pool or enjoy a glass of wine or two with dinner, do it.
After all, it’s your holiday as much as anyone else’s. While you want to make sure your kids enjoy themselves, you should have fun as well. This could be your chance to share parenting responsibilities more than you’re able to at home, so work out a schedule with your partner so both of you you can make the most of the trip.
A Welcome Break
Everyone deserves a holiday, whether you take a road trip to the coast or pack your suitcase for a quick overseas adventure. Wherever you go, these tips will help you and your family enjoy every moment of your holiday and you’ll look forward to next year’s trip, too.