Before you were a parent, you could just book any last minute getaway deal, or pick a luxurious romantic beachside resort. However with a baby or young children in tow, it’s not quite as simple. Your first family holiday can be an apprehensive experience, but if you plan carefully, you can make it a relaxing and enjoyable break.
To make amazing memories on your first family holiday, here are a few things you may want to consider:
Child Friendly Accommodation
Goodbye worry free apartment, hello safety conscious accommodation. When you have little ones, you need to consider practicality. If you choose a hotel, make sure they have child friendly amenities, such as a kid’s pool, cots and high chairs. Or, if you want quality family time without the worry of a crying baby disturbing guests, or your child’s food tastes not being catered to, a self catering villa may be a good option – Tots to Travel have a great selection for young families.
Check Flight Times
While you may be happy to sit on an 8 hour flight that leaves at 5am, chances are, your children won’t feel the same. Time is everything when you’re travelling with kids, so try to find locations with shorter flights and aim to find sociable departures. Whatever you choose, make sure you have a list of flight activities and entertainment to make your journey a little easier.
Plan Your Itinerary
While you may be happy to go hiking or spend a day sun bathing, your kids will probably require something more. To keep your children happy, make sure you plan a good itinerary. If your children are older, plan a day at a water park or an excursion to another town. For younger ones, focus on small and simple activities, like collecting shells or paddling in the pool.
Organise and Reorganise
You can never be too prepared when going on a family holiday for the first time. To make your holiday as stress-free as possible, pack early making sure everything is washed and prepped, organise a basic first aid kit, buy snacks and drinks for the drive to the airport, and checking in early for your flight to ensure you are all sat together. Remember while you’re planning that whatever you do now, means less to organise while you’re away.
Your first family holiday should be a fun filled experience. Follow these tips to reduce the pressure and make sure you have a great time.
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Danielle
I don’t have my own family, but when I travel with my sister and (what feels like) her 342872934787234 kids I am OVERWHELMED. I give mothers so much credit because it is like a job just to go on a vacation. But she does exactly what you have here and I think you be organized tip is probably the best one. Make sure everything is done in advance and ready to go that way there are fewer surprise outside of your control! Great post =]
Danielle | http://www.FollowMyGut.com <3
Carmen Edelson
It can be very challenging traveling with young kids. I know we have three, but they are all grown up now. I remember the looks I would get from people on the plane as soon as they saw the kids. It’s important to keep them entertained, and also have snacks when they get the munchies. I spend countless hours getting organized with our kids, and that always worked.
Megan Earl
My husband and I are thinking about surprising our kids with a fun vacation! We’ve never taken a trip with them, though, so we have a LOT of research to do. Your tip about choosing child friendly accommodation is awesome. Staying in a hotel that wasn’t child friendly wouldn’t be very much fun with our 3 kids.
Carmen Edelson
You definitely have to do your research and find a hotel that caters to young kids, and has activities to keep them entertained without the day. Many of the hotels that we stayed in had programs for the children and they really enjoyed it, plus it gave us adults a little break. 🙂
Amy
I agree, when you kiss the luxurious and romantic beach hey aways to the side, a lot more planning is in order! Our kids have thankfully grown to a much easier stage, but those flights at 5 am are definitely a killer no matter what age. My most important lessons has been to learn to breathe when plans change or hiccups happen!
Carmen Edelson
We had a really bad experience once with American Airlines when the kids were young. We were on our way to Club Med, and had booked our flight months in advance. For some reason our seats were not assigned upon purchase. We got to the airport early, checked our bags and were told that our seats would be assigned at the gate. When we got to the gate I was told that the flight was oversold and that we weren’t going to get on the plane. As a mom with three young children who had booked her flight months in advance, I lost it at the airport. My husband said that he never saw me get so mad. That was probably the only time that I lost my cool.
Lara Dunning
My family travel days with kids are over for awhile, but these are great tips. It does take quite a bit of organization and planning.
Carmen Edelson
We still travel with our kids a lot even thought they are all grown up now. It still takes a lot of planning since I have to organize flights from different cities now to get us all together.
Monika
I like being disorganised during my trips and I hope that to some extent I’ll be able to do it all my life, although I do admit that travelling with others, and kids especially, requires more planning.
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Carmen Edelson
I guess that works for some people. I’m the total opposite with it comes with time management. I need to make sure all the planning is done before we travel.
Kenny
Thanks for sharing the tips.
Actually, I don’t suggest very much bringing my kids to travel when they are still babies/ toddlers:
Babies cry on the plane, they might get sick and they won’t remember about the trip anyway.
@ knycx.journeying
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Carmen Edelson
I agree if you don’t have to travel with young kids it’s best not too. In our case we have family all over the U.S, and it became a necessity to take the kids with us.
Danielle Des
There’s so much to consider when traveling with a family! I’m sure eventually it becomes like second nature, but I can understand where the anxiety is coming fom. I really like that there are sites out there for helping familes find appropriate accomodations, super helpful.
Carmen Edelson
As more and more parents travel with younger children each day, many hotels are working to accommodate their every need. I know of a few hotels that will even bring in cribs to your room.
James
Great blog and nice idea. Thanks for sharing.
Carmen Edelson
Thanks James! I was terrible to travel when my daughter was a toddler. Now many hotels are more accommodating and it’s easier to travel with your young ones.