A holiday can be a great and exciting time for the whole family, or it can be a disaster waiting to happen. Family holidays don’t need to be a difficult or stressful time; if you do something thinking and planning beforehand, they can be a rewarding experience

There are many family-friendly holiday options available, so before you start planning the Great Family Getaway, think about what it is that you want from your holiday.

Where and when

The first thing to decide is where and when you want to go as a family. Are you going overseas, and if so, where are you thinking of? This will probably depend on what time of year you go. Unfortunately, school holidays are the most popular time to travel, and that means that both air fares and accommodation can be more expensive, and some resorts may be booked out early. Air travel with young children has its own issues as well, so be prepared for those eventualities. If you’re planning on holidaying in Australia, there are options there as well: are you after a camping holiday, or would you rather stay in a holiday apartment? Or is a resort holiday more to your liking. Whatever the case, make sure it’s somewhere the whole family can enjoy.

Keeping to budget

Holidays are never really that cheap, especially when the whole family is involved, so it’s a good idea to make a budget and stick to it. It may mean the difference between driving and flying, or staying in a spa resort or a camping ground, but you don’t want to over-extend your finances. Also keep in mind that apart from travel and accommodation costs, there are meals and activities to pay for as well. Luxury resorts and beach resorts sound enticing, but they can be expensive when the whole family is involved.

Activities and day trips

Once you’ve decided on your destination, do some research into nearby activities and attractions and discuss with your family what everyone would like to do or see. Make a rough itinerary, and try to include activities that will suit the whole family. Plan what tours you want to go on, and book them before you go, so you have everything confirmed. And bear in mind that lengthy day trips can be tiring for children, and for yourselves too.

Activity-free time is important too

It’s also a good idea to keep some time free for non-scheduled activities. If your itinerary is too tight, you’ll find yourselves exhausted, and not rested. So put some time aside to relax by the pool, or walk along the beach, and don’t be scared to let the children go off and have their own ‘parent-free’ time. When you’re all away together, it can feel like you’re living in each other’s back pockets, so some free time is actually a good idea. A resort holiday is good for this, because there are usually activities and groups for children, especially if it’s a kid-friendly resort.

Feeling the need for a holiday? To start planning your family getaway, begin your search here.