Summertime, when school is out and everyone wants to enjoy the weather, is the biggest time for family vacations. So what can you do as a traveler? What can your hotel property offer, or your tour operator feature, to make this the most enjoyable and least stressful experience for your guests?
I was recently reading The Globetrotter Diaries by Michael Clinton, and he offered these five tips, which would be useful to incorporate into your trip planning. As a boutique travel PR agency, we advise our hotel and lifestyle clients to make sure programs are offered for kids in order to make the vacation for parents truly a time of relaxation.
Consider the following:
1. Provide formalized physical activities so kids can burn off steam after a long flight or car ride. This can include water polo, hikes, soccer in a nearby park, or even just a simple jog on the beach.
2. Arrange for a van to pick you up at the airport and make sure it’s loaded with cold drinks and yummy snacks. Everyone gets hungry when on the road.
3. Head to outdoor festivals and farmer’s markets. Kids like to be out and about, so check Gogobot.com to find out what’s going on in your destination. Every city offers events, many of which are free, so plan ahead!
4. Make sure your hotel offers rooms that have interconnecting rooms, so you can check on your kids. If they are over twelve years of age, psychologists say they can be on their own – but make sure your teen can handle the freedom. And they must have their cell phone with them, telling you where they are when.
5. Get a babysitter! Parents are entitled to alone time, whether it’s a walk in the park, a few hours of shopping, or dinner for two. Most hotels nowadays offer sitters, and it’s worth the bucks. After all you’ve earned it!
Visit Gogobot.com as their Family Tribe has many suggestions of where to stay and where to play, as well as reviews by members.