Travel offers a brilliant opportunity for family bonding and relaxation. When you are going on holiday with family, planning smooths out a lot of the unexpected problems you might otherwise run into on the journey.
For our own family trips we plan well ahead, to keep things seamless and enjoyable. Here are five fundamental tips to help you structure an exceptional family vacation.
1. Arrange it early
Planning well ahead of time pays rich dividends. Plan family trips at least three months in advance. Not only does that give you enough of a buffer to save up without disrupting other plans, it also gets you the best arrangements on flights and hotels as an early booker.
2. Research flights properly
Invest some time researching everything you need before settling on your options. To begin with, pay attention to the best rates for flights to and from your destination. Google Flights is a useful tool for finding affordable fares and for spotting the cheapest month to travel. This matters, because airfares are usually a significant chunk of the budget.
3. Pick the right home away from home
Put real thought and research into choosing the right hotel, because you will spend a significant portion of your holiday there. After an exhausting day of activities and travel, everyone wants a good night's rest in a comfortable bed. When we book a hotel ourselves, we start by looking at what is available in the area through online travel agencies or sites like Tripadvisor, which make it easy to see the options. Then we contact the chosen hotel or business directly, because that is where the best rates usually are. Online travel agencies take a substantial commission, so hotels appreciate a direct booking and will often offer an incentive for one.
4. Settle on the must-see places
Another thing worth deciding before you set out is which attractions and activities you want in the itinerary. Your hotel is always a good place to ask about the spots, activities and tours in the area that are actually worth the time. Do not hesitate to clear up any questions you have before you arrive.
5. Have a destination-to-destination itinerary
The devil lies in the details. Plan down to the smallest one before you lock the front door and drive off. Have it all worked out with costs from the start: how to get to the airport, how to reach your hotel at each destination, which attractions you will visit on which day, and how you will travel between them.
These tips work for us and we hope they help you. Whenever you plan a family holiday to somewhere like Quepos or Manuel Antonio, give them a thought. There is obviously fun in being spontaneous and travelling without an itinerary, but when it comes to family travel, or travelling with children, it is always best to have a plan.
Pura Vida!
