Helping you through the biggest stress factors of planning a family holiday

Collaborative Post | Planning a family getaway often feels more frustrating than fun. However, being aware of common holiday planning pitfalls allows proactive steps to maintain your sanity and excitement. Here are major family holiday stressors and tips to avoid them:

Planning a Family Holiday (Photo by Natalya Zaritskaya on Unsplash)

Managing Costs
Trips easily inflate beyond budget between airfares, lodging, meals, and entertainment. Set parameters upfront on what you can spend, then choose affordable accommodations like holiday rentals with kitchens. Pack food staples. Limit lavish dinners out. Museums and parks provide budget fun.

Deciding on a destination
With so many ideas floating around, settling on a one-holiday location satisfying everyone seems impossible. Seek consensus by having each family member privately list their top 3 destinations first. Look for overlaps among the choices as a good compromise appealing to all.

Finding a holiday that the kids will enjoy too
Kids derailing a long-awaited trip limits appeal for parents too. Select family-oriented destinations with activities spanning ages, like beaches, zoos, and interactive museums. Schedule downtime to just lounge together as a family. Kids want your company more than perfect places. Family activity holidays are a great way to go on an adventure together as a family. You can choose from a wide range of activities that everyone will enjoy.

Booking everything In time
Procrastinating is perhaps the biggest cause of avoidable holiday stress. As early as possible, book flights using alerts for fare sales, reserve rental cars and accommodation and purchase entry tickets for popular attractions expected to sell out fast. Last-minute scrambling strains nerves and the wallet.

Getting everything organised at home first
Returning to piles of mail, laundry and an empty fridge after holidaying adds insult to injury. Tackle errands and chores in advance so you return to order. Ask neighbours to collect mail. Set up lawn mowing. Get groceries for next week. Anticipating needs allows you to fully switch off.

Fearing things will go wrong
Worrying about missed flights, lost passports and rained-out days sucks the joy from the planning process. Research reliable airlines, accommodations, and vendors with flexible policies. Purchase travel insurance providing coverage for trip interruptions. Then adopt a come-what-may attitude - flexibility fixes most issues.

Getting sick before or during the holiday
Pre-trip illness can derail plans entirely. All you can do is take precautions - eat well, get enough sleep, and get your flu shot. If someone falls ill during the holiday, take it in stride. Enjoy moments together inside and seek medical care as needed. Prioritise health over power sightseeing.

Forgetting important items
The nightmare of arriving to realise you've forgotten essentials like chargers, tickets or medications makes pre-travel days nerve-wracking. The last 24 hours, layout items like electronics, travel documents and prescriptions together in one spot to ensure they get packed. Set reminders on your phone too.

Missing pets while away
Guilt over leaving pets, especially if they've never boarded before, triggers stress. Ease separation anxiety by choosing a kennel with a great rating or a sitter you trust. Drive by for visits beforehand to acclimatise your pet. Schedule regular update calls when away. Reunions will be joyful.

Balancing fun with relaxation
Holidays jam-packed with sightseeing leave you needing a vacation afterwards. Blend active days with chill ones to lounge by the pool or sleep in. Take afternoons off mid-week for family time versus rushing between attractions. Not scheduling every moment brings the greatest enjoyment.


Disclaimer: this is a collaborative post.