With school holidays upon us, families will be looking to get away for some much needed rest and relaxation. However, planning a trip as a family, especially if you have small children can be particularly challenging as not all establishments are particularly kid friendly. Here are some ideas on how to plan a great hassle-free trip for your brood.
Travelling
When travelling with young kids, getting to your destination in one piece seems like more than half the battle! If you’re flying, arrive at the airport extra early to allow for check in procedure and finding your gate. If driving, take plenty of breaks and make lots of pit stops to give children the chance to work off any excess energy. Be sure to take along toys and games to keep kids occupied through the duration of the trip. Once you arrive, most families will find it more convenient to hire a car than to try and navigate public transport with small children.
Accommodation
It’s hard finding family accommodation, as many popular destinations tend to cater to couples and business travellers. When picking a good kid friendly hotel, you’ll want to find one that has facilities like a swimming pool or children’s arcade. If you’re looking to plan a night on the town away from the kids, try and make a hotel reservation at a place that will also offer baby-sitting services for a small fee. Ensure that there are lifts available if you find you have a lot more luggage.
Things to Do
Cities are great places to explore and most will offer a number of outings that both kids and adults can enjoy. Zoos, aquariums and parks are always popular destinations of choice. At night, try and see if you can book tickets to see a show or take in some local theatre. Find out if there are any free local events on when you’re in the area – it gives you a great taste of the local culture.
Eating Out
Family focused restaurants are hard to come by and it’s that much harder when you’re in unfamiliar territory. When dining out, keep an eye out for restaurants with other families already there, preferably with kids your age. Be cautious about introducing new foods as your child may have allergies that you are not yet aware of. Try and see if you can arrange for someone to care for the kids for a night and treat yourselves to night on the town.
The most important tip for successful family holiday is to plan ahead, expect things to take longer and be extra courteous to staff members. If you look to enjoy yourselves as a family, you’ll gather some delightful memories to share.