Top 5 Ways to Make Family Travel More Enjoyable (and Less Stressful!)

 **Collaborative Post**

The sheer excitement of planning a family holiday, picturing sunny days and shared adventures, often competes with the daunting logistics of getting everyone there happily and minimising the number of times you hear "are we there yet" from the backseats!. Of course, we pack for every possible scenario (including an extra set of underwear for every day....), and worry about keeping little ones (and sometimes bigger ones) during long stretches of travel. However, with a thoughtful approach, those initial feelings of overwhelming complexity can truly melt away.

Here are some useful tips for your next family adventure and how to keep the stress levels to a minimum. 

Choose Accommodation and Transport That Suits All Ages

When you book your accommodation, look beyond just the room size. Look at the services and amenities available that cater to various family members. Is the hotel aimed at families or more adults only, if adults only you may find yourself feeling out of place and trying to keep quiet your whole stay.  A hotel or resort with a dedicated kids club, for instance, offers you a chance to enjoy a peaceful dinner while your children are happily engaged and supervised. 

Similarly, when you plan transport, consider more than just the lowest price. For example, choosing a direct flight, even if it costs slightly more, helps you avoid the immense friction and stress of changing planes with children and bags. If you plan to travel long distances by train, try to book a four-seat section with a table, which allows everyone to spread out, play games, and eat comfortably. Always book ahead if you can, the last thing you want to be worrying about is whether there will be space or if you can all sit together, booking ahead and choosing your seats can be a huge relief on the day. 

Build in Flexibility and Entertainment for Children

You will find that scheduling one major activity per day and leaving the afternoon open for spontaneity or rest prevents everyone from reaching exhaustion. Think about the downtime as an essential ingredient, not a gap to fill. I would even suggest trying to include one day with no plans, that way if you all feel you need a day to just relax you don't have to cancel anything, but if you find you want to do something, you can always find something on the day. 

For on-the-go entertainment, instead of relying solely on screens, pack a small, easy-to-carry bag of novel items like books or travel games, if you have older kids a pack of cards can create hours of fun! Handing a child a new drawing pad or a small puzzle during a restaurant wait or a transfer keeps them occupied and engaged, and gives them a much-needed break from the structured schedule. I make my two children up a backpack with some snacks, a drink and some activities in and give it to them the morning off so its all new and exciting, it seems to work to keep them entertained and happy. 

Consider Alternative Holiday Formats

When you want to see multiple locations without the hassle of constantly packing and unpacking, an alternative format like a cruise offers a highly effective solution. This approach allows your family to wake up in a new, exciting destination each morning while maintaining a stable, familiar ‘base’ on the ship.

The benefits are significant: everyone only unpacks once, and the onboard facilities often include diverse dining, pools, and activities that keep every age group happy. For those wanting to explore different locations and enjoy some winter sun, searching for Canary Islands cruises offers a great mix of destination variety and reliable warm weather.

Prioritise Planning and Budget Early

You should start preparing your budget well before booking to ensure that you account for all the hidden costs that can quickly inflate the cost of a holiday, and try to plan ahead for this. Think beyond the flight and accommodation, and make a separate fund for expenses like travel insurance, airport parking, tips, and planned excursions. For instance, if you anticipate visiting a specific water park or taking a day trip, book tickets in advance. 

Remember, convenience costs, so buying drinks and snacks when out and about is going to cost more. It is always worth having a separate "emergency fund" of spending money too, in case you need to buy something unexpected, such as shoes breaking or needing to change your tickets, etc. 

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