Family vacations are the stuff memories are made of, though those memories are not necessarily always good ones. Vacations can be fraught with drama, stress and overall turbulence, and can make even the most patient parents pull their hair out.
Fortunately, however, vacations can also be fun and full of adventure. Here are five simple tips to help families make great memories on vacation.
1. Use the kids clubs.
Sure, parents all know that the reason they bring their kids with them on vacation is to actually be with them, but sometimes too much togetherness can get to be too much. So take advantage of the kids clubs many hotels offer and get a break from each other. Some clubs even offer valuable lessons.
The Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort offers Camp Hyatt for kids aged 4-12 which features lessons in local culture, language, and arts and crafts. Supervised clubs can get expensive but look for family-friendly resorts that offer it as a value-added service or for off-season deals.
The Breakers Palm Beach, a luxury resort in South Florida, is including their Coconut Crew Interactive Camp for kids, along with $400 of other benefits, with room rates during their slower summer season.
2. Bring snacks and drinks.
Some kids are adventurous and will eat anything, anywhere ... but the majority of kids just are not. So why stress out?
Bring a bunch of snacks and juice boxes, including both healthy and more fun options, and have confidence that the kids will not go hungry. Plus, bringing some food into a resort cuts down on time going out for food, and money.
3. Splurge on a big room.
Going on vacation can be expensive, but when traveling with a family one of the necessities is to stay in a room that is comfortable for everyone. Suites work well to give parents and kids a little space. Some resorts offer connecting rooms, sometimes at a discount, for those who need even more privacy.
The Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort and Spa, an upscale property outside Jacksonville, Florida has one- and two-bedroom villas for not much more than the price of a regular hotel room.
Though the extra money may seem difficult to justify, parents will thank themselves when they can shut the door on the kids after a long day and spend the night with each other, a late night movie and a room service menu.
Taking a family vacation can take a little more planning and involve a little more stress than the pre-baby getaways, but they can be fun in other ways. And memories will be made that will last a lifetime.
Sources:
Aruba.Hyatt.com. Web. 6 February 2013. "Activities: Kids".
http://www.aruba.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels-aruba/activities/kids/schedule.jsp
Thebreakers.com. Web. 6 February 2013. "Vacation packages".
http://www.thebreakers.com/florida_vacation_packages/
Sawgrassmarriott.com. Web. 6 February 2013. "Accomodations: Villas".
http://www.sawgrassmarriott.com/accommodations/villas
Reviewed February 7, 2013
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith