Five Tips for an Amazing Family Vacation

The busy summer travel season is right around the corner. A summer vacation is a rite of passage for many families. As you are satisfying your sense of wanderlust, be sure that you go into the adventure with the right plan. Here are five tips to ensure that your next family vacation will be the best that it can be.

Involve the kids in the planning process.

Half of the fun of a vacation is the planning process and the anticipation. Getting your kids involved in this aspect of the trip will engage them and make them feel like they have a voice. If they feel a sense of ownership of the family vacation, they will also be less likely to complain if things do not always pan out as planned. The kids will also gain a sense of self-satisfaction knowing that their hard work in planning paid off with the cultivation of awesome family memories.

Comfort on Road Trips

A classic family road trip is a fun way to connect with family members and enjoy the freedom of the open road. However, this togetherness needs to be comfortable to be enjoyable. Choosing a large SUV such as the 2019 Honda Pilot will ensure that every family member has the space that they need to be able to enjoy the road trip.

The Right Balance of Planning and Spontaneity

The best vacation itineraries have a rough guideline of a schedule with enough flexibility built in to allow for some spontaneity. If taking a road trip, you will want to make sure you have lodging accommodations each night of your journey, especially if you are traveling during the busy summer travel season. While winging it may have been exciting in your single days, you do not want to be stuck out on the road in the middle of nowhere with three kids, only to find that every hotel is booked solid. Likewise, the unpredictability of travel with children necessitates that you build in flexibility to your schedule. Striking the right balance may take a little trial and error, but you will find that it encourages a vacation that everyone will enjoy.

Take breaks with alone time.

Even the closest families need a little downtime while on vacation. You do not spend 24 hours together during your everyday life, so it is understandable to want to get a little break during vacation as well. Perhaps, this separation looks like a walk on a beach in the morning or afternoon downtime back at the hotel to read a book. Regardless of how these breaks work best for your schedule, your trip will go off more smoothly if everyone gets a little time to escape.

Plan age-appropriate vacations.

The key to an amazing family vacation is to plan trips that are age-appropriate. A big city adventure will not be much fun for toddlers, but middle school and high school kids will appreciate the energy and activities of a large metropolitan area. Every age will delight in a beach vacation frolicking in the sun and surf. The quintessential Disney theme park vacation is most appreciated by elementary school-aged kids. Bonus points to the parents if you can plan a trip that coincides with what your child is learning in school. For example, a trip to Washington DC or Boston is perfect during the school year when your child is taking US history. While a toddler may not appreciate viewing the original Declaration of Independence at the National Archives in the nation's capital, a middle school student taking US history will certainly see the relevance and meaning of the experience.