Recently updated on January 17th, 2020 at 10:44 pm
It’d been quite a few years since I’d taken a holiday with the family (my parents and younger brother). And those embarrassing arguments over where to eat and who wanted to see what were still ingrained on my mind.
So when it was suggested that we take a trip together once more, with gran in tow, you can’t blame me for wanting to jet off into the sunset or think up some elaborate excuse as to why I couldn’t join them. Neither of those happened, of course. And I’m pleased to be able to share the successes of this family holiday.
Pick a country you all want to visit
It sounds obvious but if three of you want to take a tour of Croatia and two of don’t, you’ve already fallen at the first hurdle. Enthusiasm won’t only be missing from those ‘I-don’t-want-to-see-that’ moments; it’ll be missing from the start. And that leads nicely onto my next point…
Choose a destination with lots to see and do
A trip to a small get-away-from-it-all island might entertain everyone for the first day or two, but that’s all. A country like Italy has heaps of history, art, culture, fabulous foods and plenty of opportunities for all-round family fun. Or perhaps consider a trip to somewhere like Costa Rica, which is exotically intriguing and has a plethora of extraordinary wildlife to fascinate all ages.
Consider taking a family-oriented touring holiday
A guided trip was the perfect option for us. Once we’d nailed down where we all wanted to go, a planned itinerary made the whole experience a lot less painful. Each day was mapped out, so we all knew where we were going and what we were going to experience before we left. That saved a lot of arguments!
Make the most of any spare time
It’s impossible to satisfy everyone’s needs, no matter how perfect the plan seems. Our trip included free time in the itinerary, and it meant that those of us who wanted to experience something different could go off and do so – without upsetting anyone. However you decide to travel, try and make room for every member of the family to choose one additional activity to enjoy together.
Eat regularly and get plenty of sleep
I don’t know about you, but my happy-go-lucky mood quickly deteriorates when I’m hungry and have had limited sleep. If you’ve got a non-stop itinerary, plenty of sleep and regular snack stops will mean everyone’s got more energy for the day ahead.
Looking for your next family getaway? Check out Trafalgar’s hassle-free Family Experiences trips, which are geared towards the whole family – from children to grandparents.