There is one universal law everyone is well familiar with, the famous Murphy’s Law which states that “anything that can go wrong will go wrong.”
Lesser known is the fact that the mechanism of this law is usually put into motion by daring the universe with the following question: “What’s the worst that can happen?” If you’ve ever vacationed with your family without planning everything in advance, you know the answer to this question. Hell, no; you probably have a list. A relaxed, stress-free family vacation is, in fact, easily doable, provided you stick to three simple rules: plan everything thoroughly; stay organised; and be flexible.
“Everybody wants a revolution…”
“…but nobody wants to do the dishes.”
So you hate planning. It’s OK. Most people do. So share the burden: all the family members should be involved in the process. Include your kids from the start, from deciding on the destination and picking the itinerary, to making a list of things to do and places to see. Discuss activities that would be fun and enjoyable for everyone.
Allow the kids to make suggestions; get them a paper map, and encourage them to mark the places of interest with pins. Prepare them a scrapbook with basic info and pictures of things you’re planning to see. They can continue by adding photos, tickets, and other collectibles they find along the way.
This will (hopefully) keep them occupied for hours on end while travelling. For now, you can plan the budget, consider accommodation, and make reservations.
Start planning early
If you can plan your vacation months in advance, all the better: that implies possible discounts. Search for cheaper bookings, and check the place(s) you’ll be staying at. Make inquires about included services and amenities so as to avoid packing unnecessary things.
Make backup plans and consider all possibilities. Don’t leave anything to chance: some activities, such as visiting museums, might also require making reservations.
If your idea of travel is taking the fast route to your destination and using it as your HQ for nearby explorations, that’s fine, but if you want to take your time travelling around, stopping every so often to see different attractions, that can be a bit more challenging.
When planning your route, consider everything from fuel stations and rest stops to road and weather conditions. Install apps on your phone so you can get traffic notifications, and consult the weather forecast to get a clearer idea about the things to pack.
Don’t lose your focus
Now you’ll have to prepare your car for the trip. Let a qualified mechanic check if everything is in top order, then take some time to find travel and car insurance. There are several types of the latter, from basic, to advanced cover options that add damage (third-party insurance), and fully comp insurance. Choose the best level of cover you can afford: you’ll be paying for your family’s safety.
At this point, you will have collected a lot of trip-related stuff, so put it all in one folder. Collect the passports and travel documents, printed tickets and reservations with confirmation numbers, and insurance papers. Also, make a database with contact and other info on travel agencies, motels, camping spots, restaurants, fuel stations, car mechanics, and so on.
Compile the maps, lists, and checklists to create a unique list of things to do and see, as well as packing lists for each family member. Make notes of things to be done in advance, and those to be done immediately before the departure.
Remember: it’s not possible to foresee and to do everything. Demonstrate flexibility, and leave a few free hours each day for improvisation. The idea is to stay relaxed instead of stressing yourself out.
“Bread and circuses”
Before packing the clothes, prepare the first-aid and emergency kits, including flashlights, blankets, travel pillows, wet wipes, paper towels, hand sanitizer, plastic bags and, if necessary, extra diapers and clothes for kids.
Even if you’re planning to check on some restaurants along the way, sometimes things don’t go as planned, so bring enough water bottles and snacks. Children can get cranky when they’re hangry, so it’s better to have some food at hand instead of buying expensive, unhealthy treats at the rest stops.
Next, prepare toy kits with cards and other games safe to play in the car, a favourite toy or two, and DIY projects to keep your kids occupied (check Pinterest for some cool ideas). Also, include a travel journal, notebooks, and colour pencils.
Pack light by packing smart
Never ever leave the packing for the last moment! Strive to be practical and organised: consult your lists and start by packing heavier clothes on the bottom, and putting lighter clothes and a bag with toiletries on top for easier access. Roll rather than fold whenever possible, and separate socks and undergarments from the rest.
You can plan the daily outfits for the kids: put them in zipper bags that you’ll later use for storing dirty clothes. This will also prevent you from packing too much, and make everyday choice of clothes less of a headache while travelling.
Don’t forget to pack personal care items such as travel-sized bottles of shampoo, travel gel, toothpaste, and other necessities that you can store in commercially available cosmetic organisers.
In the end, pack the charging and USB cables for all your devices after you’ve made sure they’re fully charged. We assume you remembered to make a music playlist, and prepare some films and books. Leave phone games as the last resort for pacifying the children when all else fails to entertain.
Enjoy the vacation you deserve
After you’ve packed, the only thing to do is turn off the stove, then return home after driving for five kilometres to double-check if you’ve really turned it off.
Once you’re on your way, consider switching off your tech, and using it only for travelling purposes. It might be difficult to disconnect at first, but after some time spent with your family, you’ll discover that making memories together was well worth all that planning.
