The Most Important Factors To Decide Before Booking Family Trip

It’s all about timing. The first step for planning a vacation is deciding on the date. If you have kids and they are students, the best time should be traveling on their holidays. Nevertheless, as a rule, many families tend to book vacations during the school holidays so you’ll hardly find many great deals. Unless you’ll plan in advance. Moreover, don't forget that traveling during shoulder season saves some money.

Determine your budget. Before you start planning your trip, it's important to know how much money you can spend on your family trip. Consider the costs of transportation, accommodation, meals, and activities when determining your budget. Undoubtedly, you and your family will have to manage their expectations because it won’t be possible to pursue and do everything for everyone.

Choose a destination. There are so many places you could go on a family trip, so it's important to decide on a destination that will be enjoyable for everyone. Consider the interests and preferences of each family member, as well as the time of year and the type of trip you want to take (beach, mountain, city, etc.). Research different destinations and consider factors like cost, weather, and activities before making your decision. Sometimes off-beaten destinations are way better than the most popular ones. 

By plane, by train, by ferry, or by car? Once you know where you're going, you'll need to book your transportation. This could be flights, a road trip, or some other mode of transportation. Consider factors like cost, convenience, and comfort when making your decision. Look for deals and discounts. If you want to visit more than one destination, you can look for a train overnight so you don’t need to pay for accommodation. 

Book accommodation. There are many different types of accommodation you could choose for your family trip, including hotels, vacation rentals, or camping. Consider the amenities you want and the location of the accommodation concerning your activities. Look for deals and discounts. It's believed that directly booking a hotel ensures the best price. However, it works not every time. That's why we recommend using RatePunk- a free browser extension that scans hotel booking sites to check if you are paying the cheapest price.

Plan activities. Think about the types of activities that will be fun for everyone in your family or at least the majority. They might want to visit local attractions, go to museums, participate in outdoor activities, or just relax and enjoy some quality time together. There is a chance to try and do many things but usually, trips have a limited time. That’s why chose the most essential  activities that might be fun and memorable to remember.

Pack like a pro. Make a list of everything you'll need for your trip and start packing a few days in advance. This will help ensure you remember everything important and will give you time to purchase any items you may have forgotten. Pack essentials like clothes, toiletries, medicine, and any necessary documents, as well as any items you'll need for your activities (e.g. swimsuits, sunscreen, hiking shoes). Make sure all passports are up to date. Generally, travelers’ passports should be valid for at least 6 months beyond their departure date. 

Enjoy your trip. The most important step in planning a family trip is to relax and have fun! Don't worry about everything being perfect, just focus on enjoying your time together as a family. If something unexpected happens - turn the journey into an adventure. Doing everything you have decided sure is a great thing. However sometimes making spontaneous decitions might lead to extraordinary experiences. Take lots of pictures and create memories that will last a lifetime.