Tips for Family Holidays

Family holidays can sound like a fantastic idea. However, they can end up being a lot of hard work. Taking children out of their normal environment and routine can lead to a lot of problems and so it is worth being well prepared.

Firstly, if you have a strict routine at home, then stick to it when on holiday. This might be certain meal times, bath times, bed times etc. If you do not stick to these then you could end up with very grumpy children. You may find that they don’t sleep well and then you could all end up cross, if they keep waking you up in the night.

Make sure you have plenty with you to entertain the children. You might think there is plenty to do, but if you want to sit down and relax, you do not want them pestering you for things to do. An idea of things to take are books, magazines, toys and games. Hand held computer games can also be great for in the car or while travelling.

A good plan is to get the children involved when you are choosing your holiday destination. Ask them what they want form a holiday. Although they are not paying, so should not take the ultimate decision, if you include them in the decision making then you will be able to make sure they get something they want from the trip and also if they complain about it, then you can remind them that they helped to choose it.

Budgeting for family holidays can be quite tricky. It can be useful to go all inclusive so that you know exactly how much it will all cost up front and you do not have to worry about it once you get there. Even if you are all inclusive make sure that you save up some money because there will always be things that you need or want to buy.

Try to share the chores or else it may feel harder work being on holiday than at home. Packing up daily picnics, doing the cooking and clearing up, keeping on top of the washing and things like this can make the holiday seem quite difficult. Sort at a jobs rota before you go or plan things so that you do not have to cook all of the time.

Travelling with a family can be difficult to so make sure that they have plenty of things to keep them entertained. It is also a good idea to have bedtime toys ready in case they want to go to sleep. Carry some basic medication just in case they feel unwell. Make sure they know what to expect from the journey and they should be able to adapt to it better and not make too much of a fuss.

If you think that it will be difficult, then consider waiting to travel until the children are older. There will still be plenty of opportunity to do so, but it might be more relaxing if you are not having to worry about them all of the time.