Travel tips that worked for us
June 26th, 2008 by LorraineIt turned out out to be a fabulous family vacation. It’s the first one that our new family has all taken together and it set a positive tone for our future endeavors.
There are a few main things that we did that I think really contributed to our success.
First of all, the planning. We didn’t do a whole lot of it. We were so incredibly busy in the months before the trip that we set up the major logistics: flights, condo and car and didn’t talk much about it after that. I think that this kept the kids from getting over excited or making the trip the focus of all things family for too long a period.
We let them know that we would set the agenda and choose the parks and schedule. We asked for their input at a family meeting about a week before departure and told them our decisions a few days before we left.
This set the general tone of putting the adults in charge. We told them the daily schedule, we chose the rides and we picked the restaurants. We told the kids that no matter what we did it was going to be fun.
We indulged, but not over.
We did not overload on candy and soda and treats. We ate a good breakfast before we left the condo, stopped for lunch midway through the day, included fruits and vegetables in our meals and enjoyed a cool snack in the late afternoon. We drank a lot of water throughout the day. We even brought our vitamins.
We developed a schedule and stuck to it: not rigid, but routine. Kids do better when they know what to expect and feel like it is dependable.
We didn’t try to do EVERYTHING. People can become acquisitive with experience as well as material things. We were neither. We avoided it by enjoying the moment and rolling with the punches. When things didn’t go as planned we reminded ourselves that the most important thing about the trip is all of us being together, no matter what we are doing.
I already mentioned our souvenir rule in an earlier entry: One per day, at the end of the day. It should cost around $10 and anything else could be bought with the child’s own money.
Only bring what you can carry, there’s no need to lug around any unnecessary stuff.
For me, comfort was important. I did plan ahead on that. I shopped a few months before the trip to find a pair of shoes that could stand days of walking in the parks. Sneakers make my feet too hot, slippers make them sore. Birkenstocks are too ugly. I found exactly what I wanted and they made all the difference. I bought a pair of 9 West sandals that look stylish but offer great support. I wore them a few times before the trip to make sure they would suffice.
I also picked out a few dresses that are loose and comfortable that I could wear day and night. I did.
The rest of the family wore shorts, t-shirts and slippers the whole time. They were fine.
We brought one bag per person.
I tried not to over pack. I did better this time than usual, but I still brought too much stuff. So did our oldest. I managed to limit the shoes. Everything I packed could be worn with my stylish sandals or a pair of slippers, both black. I also brought only one purse, a small backpack and a tote bag for towels and such. I used each of them. I did put in a pair of sneakers for exercise or hikes. I could have done with a few less shirts and shorts. But only a few.
Finally, our in-laws joined us. It made for a great mix of adults and children. A whole week together from morning until bedtime, three meals a day, long lines in rides for a busy family of four who are each used to doing their own thing, might prove uncomfortable at times. With six of us, we mingled and mixed, held onto each other’s bags and took turns taking the kids to the bathroom. It worked out just fine.
These are the main things that I think made our trip so great. We got to enjoy the best our family has to offer and have a total blast.
Does anybody have any ideas to add?
