Tips for Planning a Family Vacation

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Travel; Vacation
We have only taken a handful of “real” extended vacations so I am no expert but I will tell you spending lots of money on a poorly planned vacation will do nothing but empty your pocket book and fail to fill the memory bank with smiles!  Today I’m sharing a few tips I’ve found worked best for a successful vacation.

Budget

Nothing will kill a vacation buzz faster than trying to enjoy your time away while you are keeping a running total in your head of how broke you will be when you return.  My first recommendation is settling on a vacation budget that works for your family.  If a more expensive vacation is on your bucket list you can still make it happen, it just may take a longer savings plan.  Remembering the real reason behind your vacation is the time you spend together and memories that are made will go a long way to helping you stay focused.  So what are the things you should consider?
  • Airfaire – I am not a flight guru but I do know being flexible enough to shift your vacation by a day or so one direction or another can definitely save you dollars.  I have also found some luck searching for flights as part of a vacation package.
  • Lodging – If you are a teacher, employed by state government or higher education, be sure to check the special rate section as many times I am able to find a state/government rate to be at least $40 less than the “best” rate posted.
  • Food  – Dining out every meal can really add up so finding cheaper alternatives such as free hotel breakfast can really help to keep the budget down as can choosing to pass on soft drinks and choosing at least one meal which does not require tipping.
  • Excursions – Be sure to search for coupon codes online as many times you can save dollars by booking the excursion ahead of time.  Research any locations ahead of time to determine if outside food and drink can be brought in.  We will always opt to bring in our own water bottles and snacks verses hitting up the snack bar.
  • Rental Cars – With Uber like services you may be able to consider skipping the rental car and combining public transportation and Uber drivers to really cut some cost
  • Souvenirs – Decide on a set amount BEFORE your trip.  Everyone receives the same and has the freedom to choose but be very clear when it is gone it is gone.  My kids learned quickly not to spend it all on the first day.
  • Extras – If you are heading for a destination out of your current climate such as snow skiing or the islands, you will want to be sure to have the proper attire.  Planning a vacation far in advance allows you to look for seasonal merchandise at the end of the season and stock up. Looking for these items at thrift shops and or putting out a Facebook call for help from your local friends can also be a huge benefit.

Lodging

I have definitely made the mistake of choosing a cheaper hotel to save a little money more than once. Definitely do a little hotel hopping and read reviews online.   Saving a few dollars at the expense of a good nights sleep while on vacation can really put a kink (literally) in your vacation.  A few things I keep in mind when choosing our lodging.
  • Space – Is there plenty of space for everyone to sleep comfortably?  Having a little open common space also has been a plus with kids.  What you do not want to do is save money by cramming six family members into a hotel meant for 4.  Yes, yes I was dumb enough to try.
  • Free Breakfast – Having the freedom to send the kids down to grab their own breakfast each morning is a plus.  Typically there is something for everyone and we grab a few extra pieces of fruit and usually peanut butter packets to keep on the room for easy snacks.
  • Amenities – If you are not spending a ton of time where you are lodging this is not as big of a deal but having access to a pool or some sort of activity area can be a nice break at the end of a long day exploring.  A fridge at a minimum is a must for our family.  We almost always stock water bottles and fruit to carry with us for snacks during our day.  Don’t forget a bottle of wine for mom and dad!
  • Laundry services – No one wants to do laundry on vacation but having access to a washer and dryer means less packing on the front end.  This is especially a big deal for a beach vacation when lots of towels may be used.
  • Home vs Hotel – Renting a privately owned condo at the beach has been around a long time but have you used a service like VRBO or Airbnb to book a house or an apartment?  It can often times be more affordable but also more comfortable than a hotel setting.  We have not tried Airbnb but I have definitely been considering it.

Itinerary

My family loves a great vacation but their idea and mine are often not the same.  A beach vacation is amazing and I am able to lounge and relax the entire time but if you take me somewhere there are sites to see and things to do you can bet I’m going to be planning.  My tips for an itinerary is to definitely have one.  Know the area before hand, research best times for excursions, look for non touristy suggestions from locals.   I would also recommend scheduling in at least one sit down meal each day.  Make sure you have all the details in an easy to access location.  The last thing you want is to have a fabulous suggestion for dinner and no number handy to call for reservations.

Share Expectations

This is HUGE!  We talk about the vacation ahead of time so everyone is on the same page.  More than once I have planned an amazing vacation but at the end of the day it was all about ME!  I didn’t take the time to determine what would make the vacation enjoyable for everyone.  Once I figured this out I realized we did not have to do every single thing together.  The boys love to fish and while I do enjoy it the girls are not necessarily all about it.  Scheduling a day for the boys to do what they would like to do while we have some girl time can make for a happier reunion in the evening.

Flexibility

While having a plan will definitely give you more bang for your buck, being flexible when things do not go as planned is super important.  You cannot control mother nature nor can you plan for an unanticipated illness.  Letting a small bump in the road derail your emotions will leave you feeling blue.  Be ready to make the best of an inconvenience along the way.

Extras

You will always find those little aha items that make your vacation just a little bit more comfortable and smooth.  Here are a few of my favorites when travel allows.
  • My own pillow
  • A small fan (or at the very least a white noise app)
  • Rolling bags or backpacks; teach your kidos to be in charge of their own bags as early as possible
  • Earplugs
  • Portable charger
  • Luggage scale (because check in is not that time to find out your bag is 51 lbs)
Those are just a few things which have worked for our family over the years.  What are your favorite tips for creating a vacation with memories of smiles instead of tears?
Travel
If you are like me and enjoy dragging your mom around the country sometimes too you might also like these Tips for Traveling with your Mom!
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32 Comments

  4. Great tips I particularly like the budget ones. When I was putting money in envelopes for our trip I tried to WAY over budget for everything. I figured worst case scenario we spend it all. Best case we come home with a nest egg for our next trip!

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  5. Yes, yes, yes! Shelley, if someone follows your advice, they'll be headed for a great vacation for sure! I especially "amen" flexibility (never my default setting, but I try for the good of my family) and shared expectations. Love this…and this fun party! So glad I found it via Tuesday Talk!

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  6. You are spot on with this advice!! I am so paranoid about my suitcase being over but thanks to the scale, I'm never the one at the airport shifting things around to make it under than precious 50 pound mark.

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  7. Great tips, Shelly! Last year we went to the beach and everyone was perfectly happy. This year we are going to Branson (Silver Dollar City) and I am a little more stressed out….as I know you can relate…to trying to make my kids all happy, even though they're quite spread out in age. Thankfully Silver Dollar City has activities that my 2&4 year old will enjoy doing with Dad, while my 16 year old and I can ride a few of the more thrilling rides. Wish me luck!

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  9. I wholeheartedly agree with these tips, paticularly talkiing about expecatations fro the vaction ahead of time so that everyone is on the same page…more or less

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  19. For real Liz…when I was younger we made the mistake a couple of times of biting off a bigger vacation than we could afford. I paid to get us there and then was stressed the entire time trying to pinch pennies!! Crazy! You can have a very special time without that stress no matter what you choose.

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  22. The beach to me is always the perfect vacation because I will totally relax. Riley hates the sand….hates it. Ugh…it's so hard these days trying to get all of us together so I need to just start planning a summer trip and a winter trip and whoever can come can come. When are you guys going? We are going to Springfield the last week of June and depending on the baseball schedule we may end up venturing over to Branson.

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  27. Making sure to over prepare them for the fun to be had is something that really has helped. Plus, once my kids were older I would be talking about what we were going to do and find out really fast if they were totally planning to hate it! haha

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  29. My heart is racing just looking at this list. Maybe I should pay you to plan our vacations – haha! It's so unlike me, and yet it works so well. My travel scale comes in the form of a husband that has thrown so many boxes over the years he can pretty much guess any weight. It's like his super power. HAHA!

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  30. Not scrimping on the hotel. On our way to Nashville, someone else picked a HELL HOLE for the first night on the road to save money. It was awful. We rented a house through VRBO. Lots of space, not more expensive than a hotel, so we cooked breakfast in every day.

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  31. We always spend more money for the hotel; mostly because with three kids if we bump up to a suite with separate sleeping rooms and a kitchen we do save in the long run.

    Reply

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