Family enjoying a beach vacation. (Photo Credit: pixdeluxe/E+)
Planning a family vacation can feel absolutely overwhelming at times, and that's true whether you're piecing together a lengthy international trip, an all-inclusive resort stay or a cruise. The fact is, there are few places to turn for reputable, unbiased travel advice, and it can be difficult to trust the so-called "travel influencer" tips found on social media platforms and YouTube.
Ultimately, that's where travel agents and travel advisors come into play. While you can always research trips and book flights and resorts on your own, a travel agent can offer tailored advice based on the type of family trip you want to have.
Not only that, but travel agents can offer advice you absolutely won't get elsewhere. For example, they can guide you through various travel hassles you may encounter on your trip, or give you tips on what to pack. They can also help you figure out how much you should and shouldn't plan in a day based on your travel style. The best part? Most travel agents offer all this and more for free since they get paid commission for booking travel for you in the first place.
With all this in mind, we reached out to travel agents to find out some of their best tips for family vacations in today's high-priced and rapidly changing travel landscape. According to eight members of the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), here are some of the best tips to consider if you're still planning an epic family holiday in 2023.
Book Early and Be Flexible
Travel agent Tonya Waite of Belle Vie Travel says she always suggests families start planning and booking their accommodations, flights, and attractions well in advance. "This helps ensure there is availability for their dates, and it helps them secure the best pricing," she said.
In the meantime, she suggests families also try to be as flexible as possible.
"With the state of air travel, flexibility is needed," said Waite. "Even if not traveling by air, I still suggest they are prepared to adapt and make changes as needed."
Family on summer vacation. (Photo Credit: SHansche/iStock/Getty Images Plus)
Avoid Overplanning
While you may want to have some activities booked for your vacation with kids, there are times when you can definitely have "too much of a good thing."
Travel agent Ilisa Oman of One World Family Travel, LLC says to remember that your vacation isn't a death march, and that you don't have to try to see everything under the sun on a single trip.
Instead of planning out every hour of every day, Oman suggests planning fewer activities and more spontaneity in order to have fun and make memories with less pressure and stress.
Build In Some Downtime
Travel advisor Chuck Lionberger of MEI-Travel (IC affiliation) says that, any time you're planning travel with small kids, you need to pack a lot of patience and set realistic expectations. With small kids especially, he recommends setting a goal for what you want to experience in the morning and then plan for a return to the hotel by late morning to early afternoon.
Kids and adults need some time to wind down, maybe take a nap, spend some time in the pool or some other activity before heading back out in the late afternoon or evening, he said.
"If you're vacationing somewhere hot, this is a great way to avoid those blistering afternoon temperatures," he said.
Give Up On Last-Minute Deals
Travel agent Lesley Egbert of Live Longitude Travel says that, for the most part, last-minute travel deals are a thing of the past. She says she finds this is the case right now since travel interest is at an all-time high, and resorts, cruise lines and other suppliers are offering more incentives to book early as well.
"With unprecedented demand, it's best to plan ahead to get the best selection of availability so that you don't miss out on what you are wanting to experience," said Egbert. "We're advising clients to start planning nine to 12 months in advance and at least a year in advance for high interest destinations like Japan and Africa."
Consider a Fun Road Trip
While you can always fly to your destination if you prefer it, planning a road trip to your hotel or cruise port can lead to financial savings and some extra fun.
Family on vacation. (photo via Apiwan Borrikonratchata / iStock / Getty Images Plus)
Travel agent Senora Kelly of Paradise Travel Services says she always suggests clients who are driving pack a cooler of water bottles, juices, sandwiches and snacks in order to cut down on stops and save money along the way. Parents can also study the route ahead of time in order to prepare themselves to answer questions and point out places of interest as well.
"Print off a copy of the roadmap so the kids can follow along with the drive to make it more interesting," she said. "Be patient, relax and enjoy making memories!"
Avoid Passport Mishaps
Shelley Morse of Horizon Vacations says parents with kids should always check their children's passports before they begin planning international travel. It's important to remember that children under 16-years-old are given passports with a five-year expiration, whereas adult passports are good for 10 years.
"I've had some parents who felt like they just renewed their child's passport but it's been four and a half years," she said. "With the current passport processing delays, it's important to check these expiration dates before you book to ensure you can get the updated passport back in time."
Morse adds that everyone (both kids and adults) should also have a six-month validity from your return date of travel, as many destinations now require this.
Resist the Temptation to Overpack
If you haven't traveled with kids before or you're prone to stuffing your luggage with everything you think you could possibly need, Linda Toth-Winterkorn of The Trip Goddess says you should rethink your packing strategy before your next family trip. Toth-Winterkorn says a big part of enjoying a successful trip is scaling down on packed items, and even avoiding checked bags if you can.
The travel agent argues that not checking bags cuts down on checked baggage fees, and it saves a ton of time not having to wait for luggage at the airport.
"The less time spent waiting, the happier your family is," she said.
Kids jumping off a sailboat (Photo via Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention and Visitors Bureau)
Get Your Kids Involved
Finally, Angie Brandt of Both Worlds Travel says getting children involved in the trip planning process (in bite-sized pieces) can give them a sense of ownership and control and help them adjust to the stressors of travel upfront. Many families are going on their first big vacation since the pandemic and the crowds alone can feel overwhelming, she said.
Brandt recommends finding something your destination is known for and having the kids read up on it before the trip. Examples can be anything from the best fish and chips in London to the best croissant in Paris or the most interesting exhibit at a museum you plan to visit. From there, kids can get involved and excited about a few activities ahead of time.
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