Don’t forget the kids
Follow our guide to planning fun family holidays on your computer
By Ilona Biro
Have you ever returned from a family vacation and needed another one, just to recover?
It helps to plan, but the sheer number of things to remember can make a shuttle launch look like child’s play. “Planning ahead is essential, and believe me, you’ll be glad you did,” says family travel expert Kate Pocock, who’s logged thousands of miles with her three kids in tow. To help you with a smooth takeoff, here are a few parent-tested tips.
Mission control: Your PC
Start by heading to trusted web sites, preferably official ones, for a look at the following:
- destinations
- popular hotels
- local attractions
Once you have an idea of where you’d like to stay, compare reviews from travellers with kids who’ve already been there. Check out Tripadvisor or visit bulletin boards, such as Family Travel Boards, and post a question about properties you’re considering.
Since toddlers can find a change in routine unsettling, Pocock suggests parents consider a home exchange. In a home exchange, you temporarily swap your home for another family’s apartment, house or cottage in another city or country. Exchanging homes is a popular alternative to staying at hotels and resorts.
To explore the idea, register with one of the leading agencies for a small annual fee, and get access to other exchange partners around the world. Pocock recommends HomeLink International and Intervac in Canada and Home Exchange in the United States, which have proven popular with families.
Create excitement
Since the kids are coming along for the ride, they should help plan the itinerary, says Kyle McCarthy, editor of Family Travel Forum, a family travel web site that provides vacation planning services for members.
Printable brochures and web site videos (such as those on Disney.com) can build excitement, says McCarthy. But if your kids are too small to do any research, she suggests introducing them to the destination in other ways. You can do this through books, music and food.
“One of our favourite sites is the movie site IMDB. If you search for movies about Madrid, for instance, you’ll get a list of great films that will immerse kids in the culture before they even get there,” she says.
If your travel plans include a foreign destination, kids can psyche up for it by learning a few basic phrases, so they can speak to kids they meet along the way. Berlitz Kids Language Packs help kids four and older learn a little French, Spanish, German or Italian. Each pack includes a CD with songs, vocabulary and stories, as well as flash cards, picture dictionary and storybook.
Finalize your flight plan
As your travel arrangements are being made, create an itinerary to organize all your details using Microsoft Word or Excel. Use our table as a model. Making your own can be as simple as creating three rows marked morning, afternoon and night, and columns for the following:
- Date
- Location
- Hotel
- Attractions
And don’t forget to print maps and driving directions from Bing Maps or MapQuest. Put them in a travel folder with the itinerary for safekeeping. Get maps and listings of more than 1.6 million points of interest with Microsoft Streets & Trips 2009 (no Internet connection is required).
Start the countdown
Baby wipes? Check. Plane tickets? Check. Passports? Check.
When it’s time to pack, print a packing checklist or create your own in Microsoft Word to ensure no essentials get left behind. Some lists are ideal for car trips, others for air travel, but none are foolproof.
Make sure you add your necessities to the list, such as your kids’ precious toys and books. Leave nothing to chance. The last thing you need on holiday is an inconsolable child unable to fall asleep without a favourite teddy bear.
If you’ve planned well, you won’t be travelling on a wing and a prayer. Once you’re airborne, you can sit back and enjoy the flight.
