Image courtesy of Latina Moms.
As I am writing this, I am currently on a plane headed to some far off destination after three long years being restricted by social distancing and the fears of the pandemic.
While the coronavirus is here to stay, it is exciting to finally have some sense of normalcy in our day-to-day lives.
Many of us can agree that traveling brings happiness and joy.
The idea of going to a new place and being exposed to diverse cultures, languages, and cuisines opens our minds to endless possibilities.
When it comes down to planning the perfect family vacation, many factors come into play. Planning travel can quickly become overwhelming because not only do you have to think about yourself, but also you have to take into account what the rest of the family wants to do.
But worry not. I have come up with some tips to help plan the perfect family vacation in a breeze.
Consider the Season
Do you want to go to a tropical island or a winter wonderland? It is essential to be clear from the beginning as to what you are envisioning from your vacation so that you do not end up going to a destination that is the complete opposite.
If you want to be sitting by the beach sipping on margaritas, choose a destination like Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, which has lots of warmth and sunshine.
Be mindful of hurricane season as you do not want to cancel your perfect family vacation at the last minute due to mother nature.
Plan the Logistics
When I was a single college student, I would just book a flight and show up at the airport. I put no thought behind factors such as transportation, currency exchange, and cellphone communication.
It was only when I had a layover in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and had to find a taxi at 2 am to transfer to the international airport to catch my flight in 6 hours back home that I realized poor planning on my part was a problem.
My husband works in logistics, so when he and I started traveling together, I noticed just how peaceful traveling could be when you plan everything accordingly.
Now I can’t lie and say I don’t make fun of him for being so anal and creating Excel spreadsheets regarding our vacations. However, knowing what activities and excursions we will be taking and even allocating time for relaxing is a surefire way to have a perfect family vacation.
Consider Accommodations
Now that you are traveling with your children, it is vital to take into account where you will be sleeping. Whereas before, you may have been okay with staying at a hostel, this may not be as realistic with children.
If you have an infant, ask the hotel if they offer a crib before booking. After a long day of walking and exploring, the last thing you want is to come back to a place that you do not like or that makes you feel uncomfortable.
And a tip I share whenever I can with my hotel-loving friends is to make sure they offer complimentary breakfast.
To me, this is non-negotiable because I do not have to worry about finding breakfast in the morning, and they always have a buffet of options (and who doesn’t like to save money?).
Amiga, pack your bags and enjoy your time off! Traveling will not be stressful if you plan everything in advance.