Enjoying a stress-free vacation, especially with kids, can seem like an exhausting search for the holy grail. You spend ages looking for your holiday rentals, putting down the money, and getting ready for the time ahead, and sometimes you can wind yourself up with it all. My friend told me she had the exact same thing on her recent trip to the Outer Banks in NC! She booked a really nice house in Corolla for the family to stay in and it was wonderful but she felt like the stresses of home were still there! Relaxing and winding down should be the principal focus of getting away, and enjoying the company of your close family. Keep young children happy and entertained when they begin to show signs of getting tired and growing bored. Carry a few of their favorite toys with you, as well as downloading some fun apps and games for them to play on your smartphone or iPad. Pack easy-to-play travel games such as snakes and ladders, battleships, puzzles, a deck of cards, and who’s who. Follow the four tips below to truly ensure your vacation goes smoothly from start to finish.
Get Transport Booked Early
Decide how you’re going to get from one place to the next using the easiest methods possible. If you need to get to the airport to catch a flight, then consider driving your own car and parking it onsite (for a fee) for the duration of your vacation, or get a cab both there and back. Look into the possibility of hiring a rental car to use while you’re away, and to enjoy the freedom to go where you want when you want. Find out more about securing your own form of transport, and begin adding more to your list of completed actions.
Book Flights and Hotels
Get the important parts like flights, excursions, and accommodation prepared ahead of schedule, as it’ll take the pressure off and you can even make some savings along the way. Once you’ve decided where you’re going, try and book the flights and the transport as soon as possible. Budget permitting, find the easiest and most convenient routes, the ones that take the least amount of time, and those that don’t involve you having to stop over for long periods of time. A straight through journey will negate the worry of having to get off, get organized, to then only board again. Another important aspect is where you are planning to stay. Book in advance if it is vacation season. Check whether the place has all the required amenities. You may also want to check if the hotel has good standards, for instance, if they have passed the food safety audit and maintains hygiene requirements.
Pack The Essentials
Resist the urge to pack too much, and instead think very sensibly about what you need and the weight of the luggage you’re taking with you. If you know you’re going to be spending time on the beach, why not treat yourself, and your family, to some of these sand free towels? Not only do they help keep the sand away, they fold down super-small so don’t take up heaps of space in your case like regular towels do. Pack the items you use every day and be strict with yourself. Try not to pack items that you’re fairly certain won’t see the light of day once you’ve touched down, or pieces of clothing that you’re not overly keen on. Pack light, fashionably, and most importantly, comfortably. Be sure to take a supportive pair of shoes, sandals, or boots with you if you know you’re going to have to walk some considerable distances.
Packing Tips
Learn how to fold your clothes so that you save space. Although you might think you know how to make the most of luggage space, the chances are that your skills can be improved. With this in mind, watch tutorials online and follow along as expert travelers show you how to squeeze your items into a small space. Save some room by vacuum packing, and strategically placing items around your case to maximize how much you can possibly cram in. Refrain from packing toiletries that you can pick up once you’re safely on the ground, or ones you can buy from duty-free.
