Planning a family holiday can be a daunting task and certainly used to be one that we did not look forward to. That was before we started planning our holidays by creating a travel itinerary for our trip. Now before any family holiday we make sure we work through our itinerary and it helps make the whole process a lot easier and adds a little structure to our trips. From the feedback we’ve had we know there are busy parents out there that struggle when it comes to planning a holiday with the kids and so we thought we’d see if we can help you out a little. We’ve put together a detailed guide on how to create a family travel itinerary, including some of the essential dos and don’ts that we consider when planning a holiday.
Hopefully this guide can help take a little stress away from the planning stage and make your holiday a lot more fun for everyone!
Table of Contents
What goes in to creating and planning a family travel itinerary?
Understanding the basics
What is a travel itinerary?
As most of you will no doubt know, a travel itinerary is a detailed plan that outlines the activities, accommodations and transportation for your trip. Here at Ultimate Family Travel Inspiration we believe that when planning a family holiday, having a well-organized itinerary is crucial to making the most out of your holiday. A good itinerary helps ensure that all family members have a fun and enjoyable time away. It can be used to include information such as flight details, hotel reservations, planned activities and transportation arrangements and is a really useful way keeping everything in one place.
Why is it important?
A well crafted family travel itinerary helps to:-
Research tips
Start early
Begin your planning well in advance. This gives you plenty of time to research destinations, compare prices and make any necessary reservations for trips or activities you want to go on. Early planning can also help you take advantage of any early bird discounts that are available and avoid the stress of having to make those last-minute arrangements.
Use reliable sources
There is so much information available out there now that it is easy to find the resources relevant to your destination. Gather information from trustworthy sources such as travel blogs, forums, guidebooks and the official tourism websites. The resources available at Ultimate Family Travel Inspiration are a great place to start your planning journey.
Destinations
All Inclusive Hotels
Top tips
Seek recommendations
Generally speaking, we all know someone that has been on holiday somewhere. Speak to them. Ask friends, family or online communities for their recommendations and experiences. Personal insights can provide valuable tips and ideas and it is far easier to gauge how nice a hotel is or how fun a waterpark is if you have heard it from someone you know and trust. For example, parents who have travelled with young children (like us) can offer advice on kid-friendly activities and how to handle any potential challenges you may come across.
Understand local culture and customs
Researching the local culture and customs of your destination can help you avoid any inadvertent misunderstandings that could offend someone. Knowing basic phrases in the local language or understanding the destination countries tipping etiquette can really go a long way to endearing yourself with the local community. Quite often, just making a small amount of effort can lead to your holiday being that much more enjoyable.
Budgeting
Set a budget
Quite simply, holidays can be expensive. What starts off as a good deal can quickly spiral out of control and the costs can escalate. A meal out here, a snorkel trip there. They all add up.
Try to determine a realistic budget for your trip when in the planning stages. Look at covering all of the major known expenses such as accommodation, transportation, food, activities and of course souvenirs. You can then get a good idea of what your holiday is going to cost. A well-planned budget ensures you don’t overspend and helps you to make the most of your money.
Whenever we have planned a typical summer holiday to a resort we have found a great way to get a handle on costs is to look at staying at an All Inclusive resort. Wherever you are looking to go, there are plenty of hotels to choose from. We’ve also put together a collection of great family friendly All Inclusive hotels here to help with your planning.
Cost breakdown
Divide your budget into categories to keep track of expenses. A suggestion would be to use these as the key categories:
By breaking down your budget you can easily see where your money is going and make any adjustments if necessary before it is too late.
Money saving tips
There is a wealth of resources out there to help you look for deals and discounts. A lot of travel companies offer money off deals for certain seasons or destinations. TUI, for example, have regular offers like their ‘Free Kids Places’ deals which are great value for money. Make use of rewards programs where possible and look at last minute or budget-friendly destinations to stretch your travel budget further. Websites like Groupon and Travelzoo offer great deals on activities and dining. Finally, consider travelling during the off-season to save money on flights and accommodation where possible. Even saving a little across all of these areas can often mean there is enough left in the budget for an extra trip or a family meal out so it is definitely worth putting a little time in.
Emergency funds
Setting aside a portion of your budget as a contingency for unexpected expenses to avoid financial stress during your trip is one of our big recommendations. This could cover anything from medical emergencies to unexpected travel delays. Having an emergency fund ensures that you can handle any surprises without compromising your travel plans and can often be the difference between the dream holiday or the holiday from hell!
How do you pack efficiently with kids around? Check out our top tips
Scheduling considerations
Trip duration
Quite often, we decide on the length of our holiday based upon our availability and that of those coming with us. For example, the majority of family holidays take place during school holidays due to the constraints around the children required to be at school during term time.
Another factor to how long to go away for is the nature of the trip or holiday. A week-long trip may be ideal for exploring a single city or a few days at a theme park, while a two-week trip is more suited to a multi-destination adventure or a long haul holiday.
Deciding on how long you want to be away for is a key part to planning and creating your family travel itinerary.
Travel dates
When planning your holiday you will most likely have to try to select travel dates that fit within the school holidays. That’s the drawback to some family holidays. What you can do though is consider the weather. For example, if you are wanting to try Turkey for a family holiday and are travelling with younger children, it may be better to look at going in April – May or October rather than in July – August. It is a lot cooler and better for the little ones.
It may seem obvious but try and avoid the peak seasons if at all possible. You will save a fair bit of money and avoid a lot of the crowds. We have found that travelling during the shoulder season (the period between peak and off-peak seasons) can offer a good balance of both favourable weather and also fewer tourists. Plus it can save a few hundred £££’s!
Daily Schedule
But just how much you should fit in to your daily schedule?
This is a really tricky one to answer and depends completely on the individuals within your family. But as a general rule, try to balance your daily itinerary with a mix of both activities and relaxation time to avoid any boredom or burnout. Make sure to include some much needed downtime to allow the children to have a rest and leave time free for those unplanned activities that will inevitably find their way on to your radar. Overloading your schedule can lead to exhaustion, especially for young children, and really isn’t what you want from your family holiday.
Flexibility
Where possible we would suggest trying to leave some room in your schedule for spontaneity and any unexpected changes. Flexibility can lead to unexpected adventures and finding those hidden gems on your holiday. Is there anything better than wandering off on a coastal hike and stumbling across a tiny, deserted cove with white sand and clear water that you have all to yourself? Having a flexible itinerary allows you to take advantage of these opportunities and create memories that a schedule or itinerary can’t.
The Do’s and Don’ts of creating a family travel itinerary
Do’s
Don’ts
Do involve the whole family
Including all members of the family in the planning process helps to ensure everyone’s interests and preferences are considered. This can make the trip more enjoyable for everyone and means that every family member has something to look forward to.
Do prioritise must-see attractions
Make a list of the top attractions and experiences that you don’t want to miss and plan your itinerary around these highlights. Prioritising these means that you don’t leave your destination without experiencing the things that matter most to you and the reason for your trip.
Do plan for downtime
Trying to include breaks and leisure time in your itinerary where possible will help to prevent exhaustion and allow for spontaneous fun. Whether it’s a quiet afternoon at the hotel pool or an unplanned visit to a local café some downtime is an essential part of a good family holiday.
Do consider travel times
Factor in the travel time between destinations to avoid any needless rushing around. One great tip we use is to make the most of tools like Google Maps to estimate travel times and consider adding a bit of buffer time for those inevitable delays when travelling abroad.
Do make reservations in advance
Where possible try to book any accommodation, tours and activities in advance to secure the best options and avoid any last-minute stress. Popular attractions and accommodation can fill up quickly, especially during peak seasons, so early booking is essential!
Don’t overpack the schedule
Avoid the temptation to fill every moment with activities. Overpacking the schedule can lead to exhaustion, especially for the little one, and can quite quickly lead to an end to any fun for the rest of the holiday. Aim for a good balance of both planned activities and free time to explore at your own pace.
Don’t forget to check weather conditions
Research the weather forecast for your destination to plan those weather-appropriate activities and make sure to pack accordingly. Weather can greatly affect your holiday so being prepared helps you avoid any unpleasant surprises.
Don’t ignore health and safety
Ensure everyone has their vaccinations up-to-date. Make sure to purchase travel insurance and familiarize yourself with local health and safety guidelines. Being prepared for health and safety issues can prevent major disruptions during your trip.
Don’t underestimate travel time
Make an allowance for potential delays and transit times to avoid rushed transitions and missed connections. This is especially important when travelling with children as they may need a little more time for transitions.
Don’t forget to double-check
Make sure you verify all of your bookings, addresses and contact information before you travel so that everything for your holiday is in order.
Have you sorted all your travel accessories that the kids will need?
Some final tips and advice
Pack Smart
Pack essentials for both kids and adults, including medications, entertainment and comfort items. Overpacking can be cumbersome, so try to pack only what you need for your trip or holiday. No one wants to pay for that extra baggage allowance if you don’t need it!
Stay connected
If you are going on a particularly long trip try to keep in touch with your family and friends and make sure you have all of your emergency contact details available. Make sure you have some international phone plans or local SIM cards for communication.
Enjoy the journey
Travelling is supposed to be a fun and enjoyable experience so make sure to embrace the flexibility of it and focus on enjoying some quality time with your family. Remember that the journey itself is just as important as the destination so take some time to enjoy each moment.
Do you need some helping packing for your Summer holiday?
Creating a well-planned family travel itinerary can make your holiday a lot more enjoyable. By following these tips and the dos and don’ts you can start planning your next adventure today.
Don’t forget to follow our blog for more travel tips and destination guides!
Like this post? Share now
Spotlight on the Spring Hotel Bitacora
Spotlight on the HD Parque Cristobal Tenerife
Spotlight on the Iberostar Alcudia Park
Spotlight on the TUI Blue Flamingo Beach in Lanzarote
Spotlight on the Rixos Premium Belek
The Best All Inclusive Hotels In Antalya For Families
7 Of The Best All Inclusive Hotels In Lanzarote For Families
The Ultimate Family Summer Holiday Packing List
