As exciting as a family vacation can be there must be some consideration to ensure everyone has the best holiday ever. It is important that everyone’s needs and perspectives are incorporated into the final plan.
In our family we have a tendency to manage planning like you would any business project – with meetings, deadlines, budgets. There may be someone appointed to organize but it is important they are not “in charge”. Everyone should be able to express their ideas. Have someone else act like a recording secretary to write down suggestions and action items. Be sure to share the followup items so that one person isn’t overwhelmed with the duty.
Start by give enough lead time so that everyone can prepare. Budgeting, scheduling vacation time, working around school and other holidays are important. Not only are holidays the most expensive for travel, but the in-laws may have traditions they do not want to miss out on. Stay away from Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving and school breaks if you can. Avoiding peak season may also make it easier to get time off work.
Each family will require their privacy. Sharing rooms when the children were younger doesn’t work now. They all have families of their own. Sleeping arrangements must be fair. Consider as well the age of the children in each family. The little ones may still require afternoon naps, and have stringent meal times, bed times and food requirements. The same may apply for the more senior members of the group.
Researching your destination is important to find many alternate activities to choose from. Some family members are more adventurous or active than others, some more sedate, and some have goals that may not be the same as everyone else. Be sure that the list of “must dos” are given priority for every member.
Plan at least one activity each day to get together. We picked dinner. Choosing your dining destination must take into consider food allergies, likes and dislikes. For example, we are a family of seafood lovers, except for my oldest son in law. Menu options for him are a must.
During the day each family is free to explore their interests. When they are the same as other members they may join up, but it is not necessary (or healthy) to be together all the time. This is where a trip to Disney, or a cruise is an excellent choice for a family vacation. Lots to see and do without making each member dependent on the other for entertainment.
To say we are excited for our upcoming adventure would be understating the obvious. We’ll send pictures!