20+ Helpful Travel Tips For The Perfect Family Vacation

Are you getting ready to take a fun trip with your family this summer? Whether you’re planning to rough it in the woods or relax at a beach resort, going on vacation with your loved ones can be a fantastic opportunity to bond. Looking for ways to get the most out of your quality time together? We have a few travel tips and ideas to make the experience unforgettable!

Family vacation plans can be challenging to organize, especially when each person in your group has their own unique travel style. When putting together an itinerary for your trip, make sure to include summer activities that everyone will enjoy. You should also leave a little wiggle room for spontaneous adventures! 

Are you ready to have the best vacation ever? We think these travel tips will help you plan an incredible trip for the whole family! Before you continue, did you get a chance to check out our previous post? If not, you can do that here. Otherwise, keep reading to find some of the best ways to take your summer vacation to the next level!

Choose A Destination That’s Fun For Everyone

The first rule of organizing a family vacation is to compromise. Let’s say you’d like to hit up as many museums and historical landmarks as possible, while your kids would rather spend their summer at a waterpark. If you want to plan a trip that you’ll all enjoy, be sure to research your destination and make sure there are plenty of things to do for everyone in your group! 

Give Glamping A Try

If you’re taking a family camping trip this summer, you may be struggling to plan an experience that both hardcore wilderness explorers and casual nature lovers will enjoy. Glamping is a great way to get all the comforts of a hotel in the great outdoors.

Rent A Cabin For The Whole Family

Staying at a hotel can be fun, but when the goal of your vacation is to bond with your family, there might be better options to explore. This summer, consider renting a cabin where your group can enjoy a common living room and kitchen all to yourselves! You’ll not only get to spend more of your trip together, but you’ll also be able to save money by cooking your own meals.

Stay In A Treehouse

Where you choose to stay during your family vacation can significantly impact your overall travel experience. You could play it safe and book a couple of rooms at a seaside resort, or you could embrace your adventurous side and rent a treehouse in the middle of the woods!

Plan A Few Swimming Opportunities 

Everyone has their own dream vacation, but there’s one thing that most people can agree on. If you’re going to travel in the summer, swimming is a must! As you plan your trip, be sure to scope out beaches and pools where your family can spend some quality time by the water.

Avoid Crowded Destinations

There’s nothing worse than arriving at your travel destination only to find that the streets are crammed with tourists! Not only does this make it a challenge to get around, but it also increases the risk of spreading COVID-19 on your trip. Do your research before hitting the road and choose a location that’s not usually a vacation hotspot. 

Take Advantage Of Local Markets

One of the best ways to experience a new travel destination is to check out local activities. Summer is peak market and festival season, so be sure to do a little research on fun events you and your family can enjoy on your vacation.

Not Everything Has To Be A Group Activity

While it’s true that the whole point of a family trip is to spend quality time together, that doesn’t mean that you have to do everything as a group! Everyone should have the option to sit out activities they’re not interested in or explore attractions on their own. Letting people have some space can help you keep tension to a minimum during your summer vacation. 

Make Sure Your Bags Are Up To The Task

Before you start packing your bags, are you sure they have what it takes to survive your family vacation? If your suitcase doesn’t have the space to accommodate everything you need, or if you’re missing a crucial piece of luggage, it’s time to do a little shopping before your trip!

Pack A Cooler Just in Case

Eating at restaurants on your summer vacation can be fun, but what do you do with your leftovers? If you’re spending a lot of time on the road, or if your hotel room doesn’t have a fridge, having a cooler on hand to store perishables is a must.

Bring Lots Of Sunscreen

Nothing ruins a summer vacation faster than getting a terrible sunburn. Don’t let this mishap interrupt your quality time with your family. Pack sunscreen and make sure everyone applies (and reapplies) it generously during your trip! 

Pack A Few Travel Size Board Games

No matter how many fun family activities you have planned for your vacation, there will always be some downtime during your trip. Prevent boredom on rainy days or quiet evenings by bringing a few travel-size board games you can play together! 

Bring Your Own Beach Umbrella

Everyone loves soaking up the sun during summer vacation, but your skin is going to need a break at some point. Make sure to take a beach umbrella on your family trip to shield you from the brightness.

Don’t Forget To Bring A Travel Mug

When you’re on vacation with your family, you can’t always guarantee that everyone will want to make the same stops as you along the way. If you need frequent caffeine breaks during your trip, don’t make your group wait for you at every coffee shop. Instead, buy a travel mug you can fill up in the morning and sip throughout the day!

Pick A Light Read

Whether you’re relaxing on the beach or hanging out in your hotel room, it’s always nice to have something to read on vacation. If you’re looking for a fun, upbeat book that’s perfect for summer trips, take a look for feel-good novel and non-fiction recommendations. 

Pack A High-Quality Camera

No matter where you end up going on your family vacation, you’re going to make some fantastic memories with the people you love. Want to get amazing photos of your trip to look back on? You can buy a high-tech travel camera you can bring with you on all your summer adventures. 

Keep Your Items Organized 

It’s easy to lose track of your personal items when you’re living out of a suitcase. Organizer travel accessories can help you keep your bags neat so that you’re spending less time looking for things and more time enjoying your family vacation! 

Prepare Plenty Of Family-Friendly Snacks

Exploring local food is part of the fun of traveling, but it can eat into your time and budget. If you and your family want to limit your restaurant spending this summer, be sure to pack some delicious, non-perishable snacks!

Wear Comfortable Shoes 

You may think your favorite sneakers or flip-flops are the perfect shoes to wear on your trip, but hours of traveling in them might change your mind! Make sure your summer footwear can stand up to your family vacation.

Commemorate Your Trip With A Photo Keepsake

No one wants their vacation to end, but you’re going to have to come home eventually. If you’re looking for a unique way to make your summer memories last, let 3D Crystal Gift turn your travel photos into a realistic 3D crystal engraving! You can take a look at our shapes here. 

We hope these travel tips help you plan an incredible family vacation you’ll never forget! Want to discover more fun summer ideas? Check out the rest of our blog here! You can also find more personalized memory gifts in our shop.