Tips for Planning Your Dream Family Vacation

Have you longed for a vacation with your kids but simply don't have the time to plan it? Or put it off because of job obligations, financial responsibilities, or you think your kids are just too small to travel. Traveling together is one of the best gifts you can give to your kids, for it creates multitudinous learning opportunities, life-long memories and a stronger bond. So don't wait till it's too late. It is time to take it seriously and start planning. Below I'll share some tips on how to plan a trip with your children so that it can be as enjoyable and rewarding as possible.

Family Trip in Li River , Guilin

Pick a Family-Friendly Destination

This is important whether you are thinking of having a getaway in your home country or abroad. It's best to take your kids' interests into account to make sure the trip is fun for them. You can ask your kids where they like to go and what activities they want to do there. Three-year-olds may not have much to say about the itinerary, but children that are five years or over may do something to help.

It can be a nice idea to have a destination-related map or books put in easily visible places of your house such as in the kitchen. This is to let your kids look at the map constantly and think of things they might like to do during the vacation. In addition, don't forget to consider your own interests so that you will enjoy the trip too.

When choosing where to go, there are some places you may want to avoid, such as places that are too remote, rainy, hot or cold, as they are likely to cause a lot of hassle. Yet you would still have plenty of options even in the most distant places in Asia. We believe Asia is an excellent place to travel with children because it has everything: welcoming people, modern cities, world-class hotels, well-developed travel infrastructure, stunning beaches, intriguing history and culture, fabulous food, easily accessible national parks and natural reserves with amazing wildlife, etc. These can ensure you an exciting and memorable trip.

Happy Family Boat Ride in the Mekong

Stay Healthy and Safe

The health and safety of your family is, without a doubt, your top priority during travel.

• Get insurance. To guarantee financial coverage for any accident that might happen during the trip, we recommend you buy travel insurance.
• Get vaccinated. Vaccinations help you and your family stay healthy and safe while traveling to certain parts of the world. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccinations for every country you visit. Depending on where you are planning to go, you may be required to have different vaccines. For example, you'll need to be vaccinated against malaria, hepatitis A, and typhoid if you travel to Southeast Asia. Make sure you get vaccinated 4 to 6 weeks before travel to give vaccines time to start working.
• Keep your children close. During the vacation, don't in any circumstances let your children wander around by themselves and keep an eye on them and scan around for any potential danger, especially when in crowded places as anything can occur in the blink of an eye.
• Keep your smartphone working at all times. It's important that every responsible family member has a cell phone so that you can contact each other in case you split up. If international roaming is too expensive, consider getting a local SIM card once you arrive.

A Young Girl in Cu Chi Tunnels in Vietnam

Get Advice From a Specialist

Planning a perfect family trip requires a lot of research which seems like a daunting task to many people. It saves much hassle to seek assistance from family travel specialists of trustworthy tour operators. For a family vacation, I think a private tour is a better option than a group tour since the specific needs of the family may not be met when traveling with a group. With over 10 years experience of operating private trips, travel specialists at Odynovo are happy to tailor-make your picture-perfect vacation based on the ages of your kids and your unique tastes.

What We Can Provide for Families

Custom itinerary. Your family trip plan will be 100% tailor-made around the specific needs, interests, and budget of your family. So you'll have a family getaway like no other.

Licensed driver and private safe transfer. We take the safety and comfort of your trip seriously. Thus we can arrange a professional and responsive driver for you at each destination. The private vehicle is well-equipped with air conditioning, seatbelts, refreshments, and a baby seat if required.

Hand-picked kid-friendly hotels. It can be a time-consuming job finding out which hotels offer meals catering to kids, or facilities such as splash pools, modern cribs, and games rooms. With first-hand knowledge of every destination we operate, our travel experts can easily get the information for you.

Fun activities for children of various ages. It's clear that the interests of 5-year-olds can be very different from those of 10 or 12-year-olds. Our specialists can incorporate different activities into your itinerary to fit your kids' ages and interests. For instance, during a China family trip, kids will have the opportunity to paint a facial mask in Beijing, learn Chinese calligraphy in Xi'an, take a cooking class in Chengdu, visit the home of some locals, and take cycling trips in the picturesque town of Yangshuo.

Refreshments for a Family Trip

What to Pack for Your Family Trip

Once you decide where to go and book that trip, it's time to think about what to bring. Many travel experts advise you to pack light; just as many encourage you to pack light; just as many encourage you to pack everything so that you're ready for every scenario. But only you know what is going to work for you and your family.

Below are things you might consider packing:

Entertainment

Tablet (with apps for all ages)
Coloring/sticker books
Kindle
Crayons/pencils/markers
Playing cards
Travel games
Kid-friendly camera

First-Aid kit

Thermometer
Motion sickness remedies
Tummy ache medicine
Band-aids
Anti-itch lotion
Bug spray

Medications

Malaria tablets
Allergy pills
Nausea and diarrhea remedies
Pain relievers
Vitamins
Sleep medications

Outdoors

Sunscreen
Hats
Umbrellas
Insect repellent
Snacks

Don't forget these necessities (kept close at hand)

Passport, visa, and photocopies
Birth certificates
Credit cards
Traveler's checks
Tickets
Driver's license
Insurance information
Some local currency

Home visit in Guilin, China

Have you traveled with your kids? Feel free to share your travel tips with us. If you have any questions regarding family trip planning, contact our family travel specialist for a custom itinerary.