Travel advice from Family Trails and Tales
Before I get into the nitty gritty, please note that this is just the way I tend to plan travel and not the best or only way to do it. I love to do online research, so this method works well for me.
You can also contact a travel agent that will do all this work for you for FREE. I like to keep control of all the details and dig deep into the options for each location, so a travel agent isn't the best choice for my own planning. By investigating options on my own, I feel like I know the place and chose the best itinerary for our family.
STEP #1 - Choosing a trip
This is probably the hardest part of the entire planning process. Narrowing choices down based on travel dates, time of year, budget and top choices on our bucket list all play a role in this crucial first step.
Sometimes we are being spontaneous and only have time a long weekend excursion, and sometimes I plan a full year or more in advance with a nice fat holiday budget to make the most out of. Either way, it helps to have an ongoing list of places you want to go to, especially when making travel a priority for your family. Every once in a while, Dave and I will sit the boys down and ask them where they want to go to, or what types of adventures they would like to do more of.
Right now, David wants us to go snowboarding and camping in a cabin, and Lincoln dreams of tropical beaches. Grab a few travel magazines, google "Best places to travel with kids...", or start with your experience requirements to narrow down locations. Having a variety of locations and experiences written down, helps you match the destination to your preferences a lot easier.
Start with Money and Time
Figure out your budget and length of trip. If you don't have any restrictions, then you can travel to any of the spots on your list. But choosing a budget and timeline will begin to narrow your choices.
Shorter trip = Shorter travel time
On shorter trips I try to look at shorter flight times or car rides. I don't want to drive 9 hours for a long weekend! But flying 1 to 2 hours (add in a few hours of time for getting to and from the airport) might still be in the cards if the budget allows. Take a look at a map and start exploring the area around you to get ideas of what is in your range.
Tighter budget = More flexible on location
When budget is important, I tend to start with looking for deals on places like Skyscanner.com or the Hopper Travel App (save $10 on the app by clicking on our link).
Budget is always top of mind for our family and when money is tight we try to be more flexible in our choice of where to go. Dave and I work, and need to keep spending limits in mind before booking anything so we're always looking for a deal. That also helps when we have a list of options to choose from on our wishlist. Plug in your dates and see what's available for deals.
The three main things you need to price for are:
travel (plane, train or automobile)
place to stay (hotel, rental or camping)
food/activities
I always start with pricing the first two because you can always be creative with the last category!
Time of year is important
Family vacations typically take place over the summer or winter break, and that will also dictate some of the location requirements for your trip. I tend to look for locations in the South during winter months and North in the summer. That helps keep us comfortable in more moderate temperatures. But you can save money by doing the opposite!
Once I have a few options in mind, I typically start a Google Doc and start collecting all the information in one spot. You can choose to debate your options with the rest of the family or just tell them where you are going...it's up to you!
Learn more in our upcoming blogs:
Ways to save on travel costs
Ways to save on your stay
The best way to plan your meals while traveling
How to find travel activities that fit every age and preference
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