With the kids out of school and the beautiful weather, summer is the ideal time to step away from the office and spend some quality time with the ones you love. With every other family on the block thinking the same thing, however, you'll want to get a leg up on the competition by planning a summer vacation that will get the whole family excited. Here are a few tips to help get the most out of your excursion:
Ask the kids where they want to go
This may scare some parents, but involving your kids in vacation planning will help them feel like they have a voice in their own home. Try sitting the whole family down for a brainstorm session of possible destinations and activities, then working through the options together. While some kids may make a few suggestions that don't fit within your budget, it's important to treat their ideas as valid options for the trip. This will not only help their self esteem, it can help kids develop important critical thinking and logic skills.
Bring a tablet or laptop to the kitchen table and check out websites on the places or activities you're looking to do on your summer vacation. It's important to be well informed on your options, so be sure to browse review sites and social media postings for nearby attractions as well. This could have the added bonus of getting the kids excited for something they never even knew was out there.
Having your children help with the planning will get them excited for your vacation.
Know your budget
Having an idea of where you'd like to go and what you'd like to do on your family vacation will help you plan out a reasonable budget for your trip. In addition to obvious expenses like airfare, food and lodging, you'll want to be sure you have a firm understanding of the intangibles. Theme park gift shops can have serious markups on souvenirs, and different areas have differing taxation laws. Do your research to avoid putting too much of a dent in your next bank statement. If at all possible, you'll also want to build in a small contingency fund within your budget just in case you run into some unexpected expenses along the way.
Don't be afraid to relax
This can be a tough one, particularly for parents with small children, but it's important to remember that a family vacation is just that - a vacation. Vacations are meant to be relaxing, and while it's important to remain an attentive and observant parent, it's also important to have fun with the family while you can. Don't plan out every second of every day and keep your eyes off your smartphone unless you're taking a cute video of your kids having the time of their lives! It's important that you enjoy yourself out there too, so loosen the reigns a little bit. It will make the trip better for you and your whole family.