I’ve read many articles about surviving the holidays. I even shared one with you about avoid expectations at the holidays (Read It Here). Yet, it’s not Christmas or Thanksgiving, and still some of you are dreading the upcoming season. What season is that? Vacation season!
Vacations are supposed to be a break from reality – a chance to step out from the day to day mundane and see a new place, take a well-needed break, enjoy time with family or friends, and breathe in adventure. Unfortunately, even the most well-intentioned families return from vacations having missed those joys. Excitement, thrill, peace, and relaxation are replaced by stress, anxiety, arguments, and frustration. Protect your family’s experience and survive vacation season by following these helpful guidelines.
10 Tips to Surviving Vacation Season (And Actually Enjoying Yourself)
1. Stay in your budget.
Stretching your money too thin only adds to stress. Be clear before vacation about plans, how often you will eat out and where you’ll take your expeditions. If you’re traveling with friends or extended family, decide ahead of time how the hotel or condo expensive will be divided. If groceries are purchased, how will these be split? Tackle these details beforehand and avoid the awkwardness and resentment.
2. Consider everyone’s interests.
If dad hates big crowds, that popular touristy location may not bring the peace and calm dad hoped for on vacation. If mom burns easily, she may prefer a trip into the woods rather than the beach. Once you’ve decided on a destination, ask each family member to write down something they want to do on the trip. Then, use that information to create a loose itinerary (I say “loose” because high-expectation, strict schedules lend themselves perfectly to stress) that offers everyone something to enjoy.
3. Work in some down time.
Though you may have a hundred things on your trip itinerary, one of them should be some downtime. No one wants to come back from vacation more tired or more stressed than when they left in the first place. This is especially important for multi-generational families. Toddlers still need naps and rest whether they are home or away. Don’t be afraid to schedule in a nap time. For those who don’t care to catch an afternoon snooze, they may opt for a quiet walk or bike ride.
4. Be flexible with your expectations.
There is nothing wrong with having a list of things you’d like to do on your trip. I actually encouraged it in point #2. But, don’t pack your schedule so full that you don’t have any wiggle room for spontaneity. Weather and children’s energy levels can often throw us a curveball. Relax your preconceived expectations for the trip and be willing to set a tone of flexibility if an audible must be called.
5. Be generous in spacing.
If you are taking the family on an extended trip, be aware of spacing issues. Too many people in too small of a space for too long will result in higher tensions. Not than anyone is entitled to a life of luxury, but if you want to enjoy a stress-free vacation, it won’t happen by having eight people sharing one room and one bathroom if you’re not used to those arrangements at home already. It’s better to pay the upgrade fee for a bigger hotel room than to constantly be all over each other in a smaller room.
6. Blended families should communicate and collaborate.
Parents should discuss schedules and make arrangements if vacation plans will affect custody agreements. Also, discuss vacation destinations. Has one parent been planning a trip to Disney? Don’t hijack their plans and beat them to it. It will cause tension between parents and force an awkward situation on your child. Work together to ensure everyone involved enjoys their trips. Be respectful of one another’s visitation rights and custody weeks or weekends.
7. Do your maintenance work.
Is there some unresolved issue your family has been facing? Tension between two kids or unresolved argument between you and your spouse? Determine to resolve these problems before heading out on the road. You will enjoy the vacation much more if these concerns are behind you.
8. Leave work at work.
Your family vacation will be filled with lifelong memories. A parent on the phone or computer with work non-stop shouldn’t be one of them. You earn vacation days for a reason – to vacate work for a few days. Give your family 100% of your time and attention, especially if they are used to having to share your attention at home. Your spouse and children will appreciate your willingness to put them ahead of work. Besides, work will be there when you get back. Those vacation sights, sounds, and tastes will not. A well rested employee is a more productive employee, so taking time away will yield big results when you get back.
9. Pack smart.
Preparation is the key to success, right? Don’t overpack and have to haul excess luggage through airports or cramp vehicle space during road trips. Don’t underpack and have to purchase unnecessary items you already had at home. When traveling with children, pack an appropriate amount of entertainment. Books, videos, good ole coloring books and crayons, or other age-appropriate boredom-killers will save you from a lot of whining and headache. Don’t forget the snacks too. Convenience stores and airport snack bars have highly inflated prices, so pack a bag of everyone’s favorite belly and tastebud pleasers.
10. Give yourself extra time.
You may be a pro at buzzing through the airport or perhaps pride yourself in beating the GPS’s estimated time of arrival. But when you bring multiple people – particularly children – into the mix, you will want more margin for your clock. Plan for the extra bathroom stops. Get to the airport early. Arrive at ticket booths before the crowds. It will require some extra planning, but you’ll be less stressed if you’re not staring at and battling the clock.
Family vacations do not happen nearly as often as they need to, and travel can be a wonderful bonding time. Most importantly, savor the time together. Take extra pictures. And laugh A LOT! Bon Voyage!
– Joel Walton