Nothing quite compares to a good family vacation. Bonding with the people you love as you take in exciting new sights is a one-of-a-kind experience. However, this isn’t to say that all family vacations are joyous affairs. In the absence of proper planning, a seemingly idyllic travel excursion with your nearest and dearest can quickly go south. Few things are more frustrating than being stuck on a trip with people who are frustrated, miserable and at each other’s throats. Understanding the reasons family vacations go off the rails can help you plan your next big trip accordingly and avoid the pratfalls of traveling with your crew.
- Destination Selection
When planning a family vacation, it’s important that every member of your clan be given a chance to weigh in. Yes, at the end of the day, the decision ultimately lies with the parents, but it behooves you to take everyone’s opinions into account when making your choice. As any seasoned mom or dad knows, if a child doesn’t want to be somewhere, he or she is likely to take out their frustration on everyone around them. Needless to say, this can make for a miserable trip. So before making any formal travel arrangements, sit down with your entire crew to discuss possible destinations. After talking it out, you and the fam are likely to find a mutually-agreeable destination, as well as high-quality lodgings – like an accommodation-rich hotel near Niagara Falls.
- Itinerary
Even if your family is traveling to an attractive destination, you’re likely to experience disagreements regarding the trip’s itinerary. It practically goes without saying that some members of your travel party are going to enjoy certain activities more than others. To nip this issue in the bud, create a rough itinerary for every day of your trip before heading out. When putting together your schedule, make sure that each member of your family gets to select an equal number of activities. This ensures that even if certain people are displeased with a certain day’s activities, they’ll still have something to look forward to down the line.
- Family Fatigue
No matter how much you love your family, being around the same people 24/7 can be exhausting – and most people see a lot more of their families than they usually do while on vacation. A huge argument has the potential to put a damper on even the sunniest of trips, so if tempers begin to flare, encourage your crew to take a step back and calm down. Additionally, avoid allowing yourself to be sucked into someone else’s bad mood.
A well-planned family vacation is an experience you and your loved ones will cherish for years to come. On the flipside, a tension-fraught trip is something all of you will long to forget. Fortunately, pulling off a fun-filled vacation isn’t nearly as difficult as some families make it look. When working to ensure that your next big trip goes off without a hitch, it’s important to understand the most common reasons for unsuccessful family vacations.