Joanna James
While there are countless locations and activities that can be described as "family-friendly" planning the perfect getaway for your family will always require a personal approach. Although families around the world are largely similar, there are a great many things that make every family different. Whether you are organizing a holiday to Japan with the kids or a summer vacation in a destination closer to home, here's a comprehensive guide on building the perfect holiday from the ground up.
Before making any concrete plans for your family vacation, it's important to consider the type of travellers you are as a unit. It is necessary to take stock of past holiday experiences to determine what works and what doesn't in terms of travel plans. Does your family enjoy planned activities? or do you prefer spontaneous and spur-of-the-moment excursions to organized tours? Does your family enjoy moving around every few days to a different city and hotel or do they prefer to do day trips from one single base location? Do the kids enjoy spending time outdoors or are they introverts who prefer exploring museums and galleries to hiking and climbing up mountains? These are just some of the questions you must ask in order to understand your family as a group of travellers.
While this step may only include the adults in the group, knowing how much you can spend on the getaway is crucial before making any concrete decisions as to the destination. Depending on the duration of the holiday as well as the types of activities that appeal to the family members, it is crucial to figure out just how much you can comfortably spend on the road and stick to the number.
Even if it may lead to confusion and maybe even some conflict, it is necessary to brainstorm destination ideas with the whole family. Let the kids and teens also get involved as they are more likely to enjoy a destination when they have spent time learning and researching the reasons why it's their preferred location. Families who enjoy the countryside, for example, can take their pick of rural villages in Italy while city slickers can check out Tokyo and Nagoya on a trip to Japan. Once a few destinations have been suggested, let the family vote and come to a compromise on the most popular choices.
Spending too many hours on planes, airports, and train terminals and on the road, in general, can put a strain on even the closest families. There's nothing like extended travel hours to put a damper on a family vacation and turn your otherwise positive and excited little ones into a pack of unruly gremlins. This is why it is necessary to travel smart by using train and flight connections that do not include long layovers and time loitering around in train stations or airports. Road trips should also be organized to incorporate several pit stops along the way not only for restroom and snack breaks but to check out attractions en route.
Don't be afraid to plan some alone time during family vacations as there's no reason for every activity to be a family experience. Let your itinerary reflect the diverse interests of your family whether it's shopping, water sports, beach time or hiking and split up into groups every now and then so you're not spending every moment together. Families based at Travelodge Nagoya Sakae or any other hotels in Nagoya Japan, for example, might find that the Toyota Museum is only of interest to two members of the family. There's no need to drag everyone to the iconic automobile hotspot when the others are more interested in touring Nagoya Castle when you can divide and conquer.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
