Consider these things when choosing your next family vacation

Planning a family vacation can be exciting, and there are so many destinations and resorts all over social media these days. There are some things you should consider before deciding to book a vacation based on photos or videos of it.

What's the weather like that time of year when you want to travel?

Seeing beautiful pictures and videos of a destination can be misleading if you don't know what time of year they were taken. Most places advertise the best weather seasons. Unfortunately a lot of destinations have poor weather seasons too. Think rainy season, hurricane. season, fog (when you want to see landscapes), and colder weather. You need to double check before booking if you aren't sure.

What activities do they have that everyone will enjoy? Are you looking for a more adventurous or relaxed vacation?

Knowing what kind of experience you want for your trip - go go go or more down time and relaxation? Or a combo of both? Will help you decide what kind of vacation you should plan. From there you want to make sure wherever you decide to go that there are activities for all ages going on the trip. Don't get stuck with bored kids because the resort only has a pool and beach with no water sports.

Do they offer babysitting or what ages is the kids club for?

Not all places offer babysitting or a kids club. Many resorts don't start kids club until age 5 (with a couple exceptions). Cruises generally start at 3 and must be potty trained (Carnival is the exception, where they start at 2 and don't have to be potty trained). If your kids are older, is the teen club look like a place they'd like hanging out at?

How long is travel time to get there? (Driving + flights)

You could be so excited for a trip to a Caribbean island only to find out flying there will take over 24 hours because of flight options from your home airport. Be sure to look up transportation before booking a trip to know roughly how long it will take and what flight prices look like.

What extra costs might come up once you're there?

When working with a budget there can be many costs that aren't included when doing research. Uber/cab from airport to destination, eating out or specialty dining, drinks if it's not an all inclusive, water sports or excursions, souvenirs, photo packages, etc. Think of what things you might want to do once you're there.

Will you have a kid who naps still?

Will you have them nap in the stroller on the go? Or do you want them to nap in the room? If napping in the room, we always recommend a room with a balcony that the parent can sit out on and still enjoy the views while having to stay at the room during nap time.

Are there food options that everyone will like?

Most places are pretty accommodating for picky eaters, but it's always good to double check especially if you are wanting to eat at specialty restaurants. The opposite goes too where if someone is more adventurous with their eating, are there opportunities at the resort or on the cruise to do that?

Does the destination provide baby equipment/crib or will you need to bring all of that?

Trust me when I say that traveling with a baby and having to pack all of their things is so much work. If you choose a resort that provides things for you, it can make traveling a lot less stressful. While most resorts provide cribs, some even provide high chairs, swings, strollers and toys.

Now that you know more of the things you need to consider when choosing where to go on your next family vacation - let us help with it all! We can answer these questions for you and narrow down the best places for your family vacation saving you hours of research time. All of our clients get a detailed pre-departure checklist and packing list based on ages of kids and destination. Fill out our inquiry form to get started.