Planning for the Family Vacation
Source: Tauck
- Involve! Everyone wants to be part of something they created. As possible, give your child a voice and vote in where they’re going.
- Learn! Go to the library and take out books, maps or videos on the place you’re going. The internet is a great tool as well. Show where the country, state or city is in relation to where you live. Read about what you’ll see and do. Read about the history and culture of the place—be it the wolves in Yellowstone or the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
- Anticipate! Put it on the calendar and count down the days so both parents, grandparents, etc. and the children have an idea when all of this is to happen.
- Reinforce! Talk about the destination at breakfast or dinner time and what they'd like to see, have them list some places or activities they may be able to partake in.
- Roll it! Rolled clothes take up less space in the suitcase—you’ll fit more in.
- Kids get their own bags. Pack backpacks / small carry on bags together before the trip, and let the children choose a few small toys to bring for the plane ride. Washable white boards and markers for drawing are inexpensive and fun inclusions. Try to keep the items small and light—otherwise it may become too heavy for small arms and the adult is left schlepping that too!
- Don’t be a sherpa. You can always purchase something if the weather changes. The more you pack, the more you carry, the more you’ll have to keep an eye on, the more irritated you are at risk of becoming.
- Dress for the day. Brightly colored clothes make kids easier to spot in a crowd. Comfortable, loose fitting clothing makes everyone happier.
- Surprise! Buy each kid little gifts in advance, hide them, and then surprise each of them while the plane is taking off. Wrapping each one individually and giving them out every 30 minutes also works — it keeps them entertained!
- Burn off energy. At the airport, walk around; don’t just sit at the gate. Leave the sitting for the plane! Also, don’t forget to go the bathroom before you board.
- I’m hungry! Bring lots of snacks but not too high in salt – more salt means more drinking which means more trips to the bathroom….just when you’re ready to take off! Also, many airlines now offer special kids meals—call to reserve before your flight.
- I’m thirsty! On the subject of drinking... although it's less expensive than buying it at the airport, bottled water brought in from outside will not go through security... so you may want to buy some after passing through security.
- Keep everyone comfortable. If the child has allergies or get colds very easily-bring along decongestant for the plane ride. Chewing gum or sucking on lollipops help the ears ‘pop’ or equalize during take off.
- Seat distractions. Check with the airlines to determine if headsets are free on board. Otherwise, purchase a cheap headset before you fly, so they can listen to the music on their own or the movie on board for long flights. Also, many children love the window seat so they can watch the Atlantic Ocean, the Rocky Mountains or other natural wonders pass under them—call in advance to reserve your seat preference.
- Play destination bingo with pennies or 20 questions.
- A deck of cards is endlessly fun for Go Fish, Hearts, Solitaire, building card towers, etc.
- Small coloring pencils and a sketch pad are great to draw and play games. A washable white board and markers also work well.
- For older kids, a journal or small scrapbook they can fill in daily with pictures offers a lifetime of memories. On a tour, if the older kids / teens make new friends, have them write in a community journal and then ask the tour director to copy the pages and hand out to those who wrote in the journal as a keepsake.
- In welcoming your family on a Tauck Bridges adventure, we encourage you to unplug from your personal tech devices during shared group time... leaving you fully present for the stories, shared conversations and family fun that make the experience as memorable as the destination.
- Sleep before! Get plenty of sleep for at least the two nights before traveling.
- Be a local. Try to adjust to the local time as much as possible—eat and sleep according to the new clock.
- Exercise and go outdoors. Natural light and physical exertion help to ‘reset’ your internal clock to the new time.
Source: Tauck