It doesn’t matter whether you are planning a simple road trip or whether you are looking to hot foot it overseas, you should always prepare for a travel adventure. Taking a journey, however short or long, needs a thorough organization. There’s nothing worse than venturing abroad without any sort of itinerary, only to realize that you needed a visa before you could even set foot in the country. Some people thrive on organizing a trip and see at part of their vacation. The preparation can get them enthused about a destination and help them budget for their travels. For some people, the thought of planning a trip is boring and tedious.
However you view the planning process, it needs to be done. By creating even the most bare skeleton itinerary you will get so much more out of your trip. You never know, you might stumble across a festival, a free event, or a carnival for kids. Take a look at this guide to help you prepare for your dream family vacation.
Paperwork
Yes, it’s the most boring aspect of your trip planning but it’s also the most important. You need to investigate the necessary documentation you require to venture into another country. You may require visas or permits. This might mean that you have to make a specific trip in person to an embassy or visa center to ensure that you are issued with the correct paperwork. Applying for a working visa when you are merely tourists is expensive and pointless. Also, make sure that your passports are up to date. Without this important travel document, you are going nowhere. Get them out two months before you travel, check them over and then keep them in a safe place, so you aren’t rushing around the morning of your travel day and turning your house upside down.
Budget
Nearly every family has to budget for their vacation and you want to get the most bang for your buck. Traveling with your brood is never cheap as everyone has their own wants and needs from the trip. Kids need to be enthused and engaged at all times, otherwise poor behavior can creep in simply because of boredom.
When budgeting, take a look at the free events that are taking place in your vacation destination. Is there a natural history museum that you can while away a few hours in if the weather isn’t looking good? Are there any free outdoor events like park runs, outdoor theater or workshops that the kids could get involved in? Plan a few free activities into your itinerary and you can save some cash to spend elsewhere.
If your heading for an iconic destination for your travels, then you want to partake in the tourist hotspots. Head to Las Vegas and the chances are you will want to book some Las Vegas show tickets to experience the glamor, excitement and thrill of a show at one of the top hotels in the city. Venture overseas to Paris and you’ll want to spend some of your money scaling the Eiffel Tower. Hot foot it to London and it makes sense that you will want to investigate the nooks and crannies of the Tower of London. These excursions aren’t cheap but can be counterbalanced by the free activities you have planned.
Accommodation
Budgeting for a trip can extend into your accommodation choices. While you refuse to stay in an unsanitary dive, there are deals to be had on top class hotels and resorts. If you book early, you can often take advantage of an early bird offer. Head to the comparison websites to check out the reservation fees for a particular hotel across a whole host of websites.
If hotels are a tad expensive but you don’t fancy slumming it in a hostel with your offspring, consider camping or a caravan park. These are family orientated spaces that are safe and clean and cheap. Singing around a campfire can be a lot of fun and a great bonding experience to have with your kids.
Flights
If you are venturing overseas, then you probably need to investigate flights. By all means fly business class, but this will be eating into a massive portion of your holiday budget, if not blowing it altogether. Instead fly economy, especially if the flight is short haul. Keep your eye on comparison websites and utilize any air miles that you have built up to pay for your flight. If you’re looking to book a real budget flight, consider flying at odd hours. A flight at two in the morning could be a third less than the very same flight at two in the afternoon.
Packing
Packing for your trip will require some research into your destination. If you are venturing out in winter, don’t pack that unwieldy duffle coat. Instead, consider layers, such as a vest, tee shirt, thin polo neck, insulating sweater, and windbreaker. This way, you can pack more and you will never have to get too hot or too cold.
A fun way to pack for your travels is to give every member of your brood there own piece of luggage. While this might not work for toddlers, getting your kids to pack their own kit (after some supervision from you) is a good way to get them engaged with the packing process. If you are hot footing it to a few places and traveling between destinations, there’s nothing better than a front loading backpack. And remember to roll instead of fold to maximize space and prevent creases in clothes. Backpacks are comfortable, easy to transport, and you can even carry them on as hand luggage on flights. This can make flying a whole lot easier than if you’re waiting for your luggage at an airport carousel for hours on end.
Traveling with your family should be exciting and joyous. However, it can also be stressful. You can minimize this stress by being more organized and planning your dream vacation before you even set foot on the plane.
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