Seven Tips To Get You Ready For A Happy Family Vacation

If you are getting ready for a family vacation here are seven tips to make certain that it will be a happy family experience, with as much joy and little stress as possible.
Travel Tip #1: Do your research ahead of time. Have you researched any towns or cities, parks, or points of interest that you may want to explore, either along the way or at your destination. A point of interest depends on your family’s interests. Areas of interest could be related to a sports venue, a natural feature such as waterfall, historical monuments, a facility related to the arts or music such as a museum or performing arts center, or could involve local cuisine or arts and crafts. This research should not fall to one family member, everyone can get involved.
Travel Tip #2: Know the directions for getting to your destination. If you are reaching your destination by plane and need to rent a car, have you packed a GPS or do you have a printout of the directions that will get you from your rental car pickup point to your first destination? If you are driving, have you selected your route and again have a GPS, maps, or a printout of directions.
Travel Tip #3: Prepare your kids ahead of time for the vacation. Let them know what to expect. Find a book from the library which is related to where you are going and read it together. Have your kids draw pictures about what they expect to see on the vacation. Let your kids pack a boredom bag that they can carry with them. It should include items that will keep them occupied and that they find comforting.
Travel Tip #4: Give your kids instructions for what to do if they get separated from you. It’s very important to discuss what you expect your children to do if they get lost. Each child should have a small card that they carry in his or her pocket which includes your destination’s address and phone number and your cell phone number.
Travel Tip #5: Make certain to pack essentials for the trip. These essentials include a first aid kit and water for the trip. Also, if you will be on a plane, pack items such as medications that you can’t be without in your carry-on bag in case your checked luggage takes longer to reach its destination than you do.
Travel Tip #6: Use your packing checklist to make certain that everything is packed. Now is a good time to create a packing checklist for this vacation and all future ones if you haven’t done so already. Such a list ensures that nothing critical gets left behind. Make certain to include sun protection items such as hats, sunglasses, and sun tan lotion.
Travel Tip #7: Pack items to chronicle your vacation. It’s fun to look back on your family vacation and reminisce about all the adventures planned and unexpected. Taking photos, sketching scenes, or writing journal entries will ensure that those memories are preserved.