by Ted Fernandez
Traveling with the whole family—kids and pets included—can be a challenging and stressful experience if not properly planned. But with the right preparations, your trip can be a wonderful and memorable adventure that will bring your family closer together. There are many factors to consider when traveling with kids and pets, from packing smart and limiting your travel time to reducing costs and finding family-friendly accommodations. Here are some tips to help you plan a fun family trip!
Take a Road Trip
When you’re traveling with kids and pets, taking a road trip is much more manageable than flying. You’ll have more control over your schedule on the road, with complete freedom to stop and stretch when everyone is getting restless. Road-tripping can also be more cost-effective than flying, especially when you have a large family. For pets and kids, being in a car can also be less stressful than flying. If you’re interested in a family road trip, consider renting a vintage camper bus from Vintage Surfari Wagons to make your adventure even more memorable!
Find Ways to Reduce Stress
To truly enjoy your vacation, take steps to relieve stress before you leave. Try to leave your work behind and avoid responding to work-related messages while you’re away. If travel-related decisions are creating stress in your life, take a deep breath and focus on your priorities. Gather all of the information you need to make an informed decision, but remember to listen to your gut as well. And once you decide where to go, which hotel to book, and what tourist attractions to visit, try to avoid second-guessing your decision. Just look forward to your trip!
Choose Kid- and Pet-Friendly Destinations
If you’re traveling with a pet, you’ll need to be careful about where you stay and what you do. Camping is always a fun pet-friendly activity. And your kids will love it too! If you’re embarking on a road trip and you’d rather stay in hotels, GoPetFriendly.com suggests private accommodations like Airbnb for more flexibility. Vacation rentals can also be more affordable, especially if you would like a space with separate rooms for you and your kids.
Bring Snacks and Activities
When traveling with pets and kids, everything will go more smoothly if you bring plenty of activities and snacks. Pack some interactive dog toys to keep your pup busy and mentally stimulated. Be sure to also bring training treats so you can reward good behavior on the road.
Activities and snacks can help your kids stay happy during long car rides and rainy days stuck in hotel rooms. Bon Voyage With Kids suggests magnetic road trip games, mad libs, audiobooks, Wikki Stix, word games, and sketchbooks. You can even get special crayons that your kids can use to draw pictures on the car windows!
Don’t Overschedule
Although you might want to pack a lot into your family trip, try not to overschedule your vacation. Don’t try to do everything. Instead, have everyone in your family list a few things they really want to do or see, and prioritize these activities. This will help you avoid treating your vacation like a big checklist so you can actually enjoy yourself!
Make Time for Relaxation
Limiting your vacation schedule will also allow more room for relaxation, which is crucial if you want to return home feeling rested and rejuvenated. If you have very young kids, consider bringing some other family members along so you can all take turns watching the little ones. This will give each adult some uninterrupted downtime. You can also plan slow activities for the evenings, like movie nights, to encourage your kids to wind down after a day of fun.
Traveling with your kids and pets can be a memorable experience. Planning ahead will ensure your trip is memorable for the right reasons! Choose destinations that are accommodating of kids and pets, pack engaging activities, and prepare yourself for a stress-free getaway. By following these tips, you can enjoy a fun and relaxing vacation with the whole family!
Are you looking to take a road trip in style? Consider renting a camper bus from Vintage Surfari Wagons! View our rentals today to find your perfect wagon.
