Summertime is the most popular time for vacations. That being said, it can also be the most stressful time. Lots of people are traveling here and there. You'll often wait in lines at popular locations. Lucky for you, I created this post just in time for your family vacation. Here are vacation tips to help you have a happy, relaxing trip!
Jump to:
- Key Takeaways
- Service your car before you leave for vacation.
- Have the kids involved in the planning process.
- Have a Flexible Itinerary
- How to Take A Great Relaxing Vacation
- Pack for activities.
- Pack items you'll actually use.
- Family Travel Packing & Storage Table
- Set aside time for packing
- Think ahead and schedule daytime and evening events with the entire family in mind.
- Add some time for exploring to your schedule.
- Teach the kids about the area they are visiting.
- Have a positive attitude and get excited.
- Turn off your messaging and data plan so you can concentrate on family and friends.
- Manage expectations
- Carve out time for yourself.
- faq
Key Takeaways
- Service your car a week before your vacation to avoid issues while traveling.
- Involve kids in planning by asking for their input on destinations and activities.
- Create a flexible itinerary and allow downtime to relax and explore spontaneously.
- Pack smartly with a checklist (affiliate) to ensure you have everything you need for activities and everyone in the family.
- Maintain a positive attitude, manage expectations, and carve out personal time during the vacation.
Service your car before you leave for vacation.
If you plan to drive to your relaxation spot, make sure your car is in good working condition. Get that oil change, don't forget the tire rotation, and get the brakes checked. Many service stations now do a full inspection when you bring your car in for an oil change. It's recommended to do this at least a week in advance to allow for any necessary repairs before your vacation. You don't want car problems while on vacation.
Have the kids involved in the planning process.
If the kids are old enough to complain about what they are doing, give them small tasks to review, such as reading the destination city to find more places to visit. Have them find places to eat online for particular days.
Holding a family meeting at the beginning to discuss where to go and what to do helps everyone. Below are some questions to ask at this family meeting:
- Where do you want to go in the northeast, southwest, etc..?
- Would you like to visit ..... or ....?
- Do you want to go to theme parks, beaches, or downtown cities?
- How about going to an event, like a theatre show or a sports game?
- Do you want to visit national parks?
- Do you prefer staying in a hotel, on a cruise ship, or in an Airbnb? Do you like to sleep separately or share a room?
- Should we drive, fly, or take a train?
- How long should the vacation be? Shorter than one week, a week, two weeks, or longer - shorter trips are great for younger kids.
- Should we cook meals or eat out? How often? Do you want a kitchen or a kitchenette?
- When do you want to take a vacation? After school ends, before it begins, in the middle of summer, or winter break.
- Do you prefer swimming in a pool or at the beach?
Are you celebrating a birthday while on vacation? Have the kids pick a place to eat for the special family member. Getting them involved will help them take ownership of the trip.
Have a Flexible Itinerary
Creating an itinerary helps, but don't make it too tight. Scheduling one activity and one dining-out event per day is sufficient. After all, everyone may want to take a nap too; it's vacation. This post shares more tips for a relaxing trip. Feel free to check it out.
How to Take A Great Relaxing Vacation
Sometimes when we go on vacation, we don't necessarily have a relaxing time. Has this ever happened to you? You go on vacation, and with all the running around and the tight schedule, you come home saying to yourself. That wasn't relaxing at all. How frustrating!
Pack for activities.
Make a customized packing list for clothing and supplies you will need for your various activities. Doing this a few weeks before you leave will help you think through what you need. When you create a thorough packing checklist (affiliate), you can revise it for future trips as the kids get older.
Here is a two-page checklist for you to share. It includes columns for up to 5 family members.
Pack items you'll actually use.
Some items can leave a mess in your luggage (affiliate) and carry-on bag. So, make sure you have the right storage items for different things. See the list below of the top items you may need on your family trip.
Family Travel Packing & Storage Table
| Item Bringing | Storage Solution from Amazon (affiliate) |
| Clothing | Packing cubes (one per family member or by category) |
| Pocketbook Organizer | Get an insert to organize the inside of your pocketbook |
| Kids' Entertainment - Books, toys, coloring supplies | Small backpack or car organizer bin |
| Small items in your carry-on bag | Pick a bag with lots of pockets |
| Laundry - Dirty clothes, swimsuits | Wet/dry bag or mesh laundry bag |
| First Aid - Band-aids, pain relievers, thermometer | Compact first-aid pouch |
| Shoes (affiliate) - Sneakers, sandals, dress shoes (affiliate) | Shoe bags (keeps them separate from clothes) |
| Toiletries (affiliate) | Clear zippered pouch |
| Electronics - Chargers, headphones, tablets (affiliate), cables | Cable organizer pouch or small zip case, or check out my post on how to create an electronic tech traveling kit. |
| Documents - IDs, passports, tickets, insurance cards | Waterproof document folder or travel RFID wallet to keep them protected |
| Snacks & Drinks - Snacks, water bottles, spill-proof cups | Insulated cooler bag or reusable snack bags |
Set aside time for packing
If you are busy before a trip, pack the Sunday before your trip right after you do laundry.
There is always something to do before going away. This page allows you to record everything. If possible, staple or use double-sided tape to keep these two pages together.
NOTE: Extra spaces are provided for other items you need to take on your vacation. Extra columns are provided to add children.
Below are two other packing checklists (affiliate) to help you with specific types of vacations.
HOW TO EASILY PACK FOR A SHORE VACATION WITHOUT STRESS
THE ULTIMATE CRUISE PACKING LIST EVERYONE NEEDS
Think ahead and schedule daytime and evening events with the entire family in mind.
Decide ahead of time what evening activities you'll do. Will the kids need someone to watch them? What will you be doing while the kids are doing their activities? Ask these questions before you go and decide on a plan. Visit our post about packing for long trips.
Add some time for exploring to your schedule.
Not everything needs to be scheduled while on vacation. Try visiting local landmarks in between events. You can visit local parks, museums, trails, shopping areas, outlet malls, etc. that you didn't plan to see for something spontaneous to do.
Teach the kids about the area they are visiting.
It doesn't have to be a formal history lesson. Casual online learning about the area the kids will be visiting works well. Research the culture. Show them where the destination is on a map. Is the city famous for something? Find out. Learning how it was founded is also easy and can help them feel more comfortable. A little information can help even the shyest kids feel more comfortable on the trip.
Have a positive attitude and get excited.
Every family vacation should be happy. If something unexpected happens, be flexible with your schedule. Share with your kids the benefits of this vacation and what makes the place you're visiting fun.
Turn off your messaging and data plan so you can concentrate on family and friends.
This can be difficult for everyone to do throughout the entire vacation. But how about turning off your cellphones during every meal? To spark conversation, talk about the day's activities and what family members are looking forward to. At dinner, talk about your favorite thing that day and what you want to do again in the future. This will help your family members feel more involved and more willing to take part in the trip.
Manage expectations
Not everything will be perfect on the vacation. Expect tiredness, meltdowns, schedule delays, and possibly even missed events. Young kids have their own pace and energy levels, so be flexible. Remember, it is essential to spend time together, not to make it a perfect trip.
Carve out time for yourself.
You do not have to do everything together. Have a night out with your spouse or partner, and let the teens participate in their own activity. Adding this time in will make everyone feel better by the end of the vacation. It will help with minimizing arguments.
When looking back on their childhoods, kids remember their vacations. So make every vacation happy and memorable. Taking the time to plan and organize your vacation will help you and your kids feel happier and more relaxed throughout the trip.
faq
Aim for 4-6 weeks out for most trips. That gives you time to build a flexible itinerary, order any packing supplies you're missing, and involve the kids in choosing a few activities; all without the last-minute scramble that leads to forgotten items.
Use packing cubes sorted by person or category so you can see everything at a glance, and pack a spare outfit in each carry-on for delays or spills. A pre-trip checklist (room by room, not just clothes) catches the small stuff- chargers, meds, snacks- before it's forgotten.
Build a short "must-do" list and a longer "nice-to-have" list. Lock in reservations only where they're required, and leave at least one unplanned block per day for weather, naps, or a spontaneous find; that's usually what keeps everyone happiest.
A compact first-aid pouch, a portable charger, and a waterproof document folder for IDs and reservations cover most surprises. Keep these in one easy-to-reach bag instead of buried in checked luggage.
Pack a small backpack or car organizer bin per child with a few quiet activities, snacks in reusable bags, and a spill-proof cup. Letting each kid pick one item themselves gives them ownership over the trip, too.
Now it is your turn. What was your favorite childhood vacation? Please leave a comment.
Please note that this post contains affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn affiliate fees if you decide to make a purchase.
Below are more vacation organization tips to help you and your family enjoy your summer travel.
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