8 Tips for a Stress-free Start to a Family Vacation

Family vacations should be fun and memorable. With a busy family and demanding jobs, organizing a trip might add unnecessary stress to your life.  Whether you arrange it yourself, or have a professional organizer help, here’s a simple guide covering the basics:

DRAW UP A BUDGET:  Agree on the costs with your partner. Include travel, accommodation, meals, activities, transportation, and perhaps babysitting. Add a buffer for unintended expenses.

HAVE A FAMILY MEETING: Ask every person for a wish list of activities, and try to include something for everyone on the itinerary.  Consider individual likes and dislikes, children’s ages, and physical abilities.

DO YOUR RESEARCH: Monitor flight deals. Look for child-friendly accommodations and discounts for kid meals. Check if the hotel has a swimming pool.  If you have a dog, stroller or wheelchair, do you prefer the ground floor?  What activities are available? Costs?

PRE-BOOK EVENTS AND EXTRAS: Plan for travel from the airport.  Find out which excursions are popular and pre-book to avoid disappointment.   Arrange car rentals ahead of time (they are costly at airport). Consider health insurance if traveling abroad.

MAKE TRAVEL KID-FRIENDLY: Keep the kids busy with games, snacks, and books, and also be mindful of the comfort of your fellow passengers. Give the kids a map of your route so they can follow along.

BUILD IN DOWN-TIME: Ensure your itinerary has flexibility so you have time to relax in your room or around the pool.  Leave room for spontaneity; what a shame to miss out on a great outing you stumble across because you have pre-paid activities all day everyday.

PACK CAREFULLY: Google the weather and make sure your clothing is appropriate. If traveling overseas, remember an electric adapter.

ARRANGE FOR HOUSE CARE: Arrange for daily/weekly house checks, pet boarding, mail/newspaper stops, plant watering, etc.  Potomac Concierge specializes in Peace of Mind House Checks.

Potomac Concierge and our Professional Organizers can help make your dream vacation a reality.  Take the “work” out of your family’s next vacation. We can arrange everything, assist by taking over parts of the planning and provide peace of mind while you are gone.