By I love to travel and also my family. My husband and I have the luxury of traveling for our careers. Kids like it when I plan our vacations because I usually plan some fun outings; from Universal VIP passes to dinner cruises. Here are some tips, after you have decided on the dates and the venue:
1. Go online and start researching the events that will happen in the area you are about to visit. This way you will know in advance if you want to attend an event for which you may need to buy tickets in advance (train with dinner, special show, etc.)
Launch a paper binder or folder on your computer desktop and store websites, notes and activities, as well as travel and hotel information.
2. If you have time, and if you like printed copies like I do, call or go online to the chamber of commerce of the city / town you are visiting. They love knowing when guests are coming and are invaluable in planning a wonderful vacation.
3. I look at how many days we are going to be, let’s say, from Sunday to Saturday. This gives me a good starting point. For example, on our trip to Ft. Myers, we knew that my husband and I wanted to visit Edison and Ford Winter Estates, we also wanted to kayak (my favorite hobby) and I also wanted to visit the state park for bird watching, hiking, biking. and I think there was another attraction that we wanted to visit. So I called or went online and got information on tickets, hours of operation, etc. From here, I would write a date for the visit in pencil.
4. I also learned early on not to book more than one or two events / attractions in a day, taking into account travel time, food, or just last minute trips.
5. It’s also a good idea to get coupon books or tourist brochures, these are great for local maps, restaurants, and coupons for restaurants and attractions. We also like to pack our favorite snacks.
6. By scheduling your activities for the week, you and the kids have something to look forward to and still have time to go to the beach or limited video games, etc.
7. It is also fun to plan your meals if you are staying in a place that has a kitchen. We usually try to have dinner at home, since they are more expensive than breakfast or lunch.
When we planned our trip to Williamsburg, VA last year, we called ahead and discovered that the hotel / resort where we were staying offered day trips to various locations. We decided to go to Washington DC, in one day, with their bus service. This allowed us to sit back and relax while chauffeured and they are good tour guides too. And you don’t have to worry about getting lost.
8. It is also a good idea to have the children contribute their opinions on the activities for the family to enjoy. For example, if children know that we are going skiing or going to the beach, they also enjoy doing research online and suggesting events, etc. With an active interest in vacation plans, children get excited about field trips and are better able to help where they are needed.
9. Kids can forget to go online and text their friends all day because they are too busy having fun with their family.
10. Also, to help keep distractions to a minimum, if you set ground rules ahead of time, and everyone knows what is expected, they will do their part, housework, etc., and behave to enjoy the activities that want. participate in.
Everyone also has to agree that a person may not feel 100 percent about an event, but once they go, they can realize that they enjoy that outing or event and will be glad they went. And everyone should also be nice to each other.