No-Stress Vacations: Make Family Travel Great Again

A bit of preplanning is the best way to make vacation travel a smooth, fun affair

To ensure maximum enjoyment on family trips, make the arrangements far in advance. biletskiyevgeniy.com/Shutterstock

Travel that’s family-oriented, rather than for business, is supposed to be an enjoyable, exciting adventure. The good news is that, with careful preplanning, vacation travel can be a stress-free way to make great memories and possibly take a few epic selfies, too.

Bring plenty of activities to keep all members of the party quietly entertained, especially for any long bouts on public transport. CroMary/Shutterstock

Pick a Time and Place

As with so many things in life, planning is critical to the success of family travel. And it can actually be fun.

The first and easiest thing to do is to choose a destination, a decision that impacts all subsequent steps. With a destination in mind, the next task is to determine how you will get your family there. For nearby destinations, the family car may be the best option, but for trips further afield, commercial air travel is most likely the clear choice.

However, to keep this process moving forward, you need to decide when you’ll be traveling, because a number of factors can cause everything to become more complicated. As expected, airliners are often packed around holidays, such as on the days prior to and after Thanksgiving, and on the Fourth of July, but it may be surprising to learn that Aug. 9 sees the most airline traffic, according to research conducted by analytics firm Cirium in 2019.

In order to lessen the chances of delayed flights and the related possibility of missed connections, do some research to find travel dates on which flights are easier to secure, and quite possibly at lower rates than those charged for traditionally busy travel dates.

Bring a selfie stick to capture those memorable moments that always seem to occur when there’s no one around to take your photo.timquo/Shutterstock

Details to Consider

The next question to answer involves the degree of difficulty in getting to the destination. Direct flights make this a nonissue, but if you’ll need to make connections, how tight are they? Are they on the same airline? Allow no less than an hour to make a connecting flight. When it’s time to travel, if you’ll be checking in luggage, add a brightly colored ribbon on the handle to make it easy to identify at the luggage carousel.

Weather is another concern. Research typical weather during your preferred travel dates; if it has snowed heavily at your destination for the past five years, you might want to consider choosing another time to go.

For vacations that are close to home, keep it simple and drive, adding the fun of a road trip. Martin Charles Hatch/Shutterstock

Another often unconsidered factor involves seasonal events taking place in or near your destination. For example, a road trip vacation exploring the western United States that takes you through Cheyenne, Wyoming, can be made even more memorable by scheduling your visit to take place in late July to attend the spectacular Cheyenne Frontier Days event. It’s disheartening to arrive at a destination, only to realize an event you’d enjoy seeing either happened a week ago or will start a few days after you depart.

If you need to rent a vehicle, make sure ahead of time that it will have plenty of room for all the luggage and travelers in the group. ORION PRODUCTION/Shutterstock

On the other hand, if you want to leisurely explore the Black Hills region of South Dakota, taking in Mount Rushmore and other scenic spots, avoid dates that coincide with the annual Sturgis Motorcycle rally in early August, when the roads are full of motorcycles. These same concerns also apply to your preferred lodging: Hotels will be more expensive, with fewer rooms available, at peak travel times or on holiday and special event dates.

If you have to check luggage for a flight, add a colorful ribbon to make finding it at the luggage carousel much easier. Levent Konuk/Shutterstock

After Arriving

Once you arrive at your destination, how will you get around? If a friend or relative will loan you a vehicle, move on to the next step, but if not, you’ll need wheels. Public transportation isn’t always practical, so you’ll want to consider a rental vehicle or a ride-sharing service. The number of folks in your group and the amount of luggage will determine the size of vehicle you need to rent or request from a ride service.

Check with auto rental companies to make sure they have the right size car or van, and that it will be available for your travel dates. Book it as soon as possible after doing some shopping for the best rates; assuming it will be available when you arrive is a sure way to be disappointed. Download maps to make getting around easier and to find all the places you want to see in advance, while leaving time to explore unexpected delights.

Dress the kids in comfortable clothes and bring snacks to make long flights go smoothly. Aleksandra Suzi/Shutterstock

Bring Along

With the where, how, and when questions answered, you can next focus on the who and what-to-bring issues. If you’re traveling with young children, be sure to pack a few favorite toys and nonperishable snacks to keep them happy. Planning to launder clothes while traveling means you can pack only what you really need; traveling light is always best.

When you fly, dress for comfort, skipping the T-shirts and shorts, as airline cabins can get cold. Wear comfy shoes, but not flip-flops—nobody wants to see your feet! Savvy travelers carry medications and change of clothes in a carry-on in case their luggage gets lost.

Last of all, be flexible; things happen, so don’t get upset if plans run afoul of reality. You’re on vacation, so make it an adventure.