{"id":12311,"date":"2021-03-03T09:18:54","date_gmt":"2021-03-02T23:18:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/?p=12311"},"modified":"2021-03-03T09:18:54","modified_gmt":"2021-03-02T23:18:54","slug":"8-sanity-saving-hacks-for-holidaying-with-your-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/family-holiday-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"8 sanity-saving hacks for holidaying with your family"},"content":{"rendered":"

A family trip doesn\u2019t have to be all \u2018are we there yet?\u2019 and \u2018stop annoying your brother!\u2019 Follow these eight sanity-saving holiday hacks and you\u2019ll have a restful and fun (no, seriously!) getaway, no matter which generation is in tow.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hack #1: Plan the trip as a family<\/b><\/h2>\n

A little mutual back-scratching is a timeless parenting hack\u2026 and holidays are no exception! Give the kids a reason to be invested in the drive, the flight or that Sunday stopover by letting them in on the planning process to help choose activities, things to see and food to try. A little incentive never hurt anyone \ud83d\ude09<\/span><\/p>\n

Hack #2: Snacks, snacks and more snacks<\/b><\/h2>\n

Snacks aren\u2019t just a great reward for good behaviour, they\u2019re also a pretty great distraction. Pack the whole family (yourself included!) a little lunch box of goodies to keep boredom and hunger at bay when a journey or long day out is on the agenda. Separately packaged treats work well for little ones so everyone can keep track of portions, and anything low in sugar is a winner (think carrot sticks, trail mixes and crackers). Sugar, small people and small spaces aren\u2019t always a great mix <\/span>\ud83d\ude48<\/span><\/p>\n

Hack #3: Match your accommodation to your needs<\/b><\/h2>\n

Could your teens be dragged away from social media if your hotel had a tennis court or pool? Would sibling fights decrease if there were two bathrooms? Would everyone get on better if your parents-in-law had their own lounge room or living area? \ud83d\ude2c Have a think about what features could make your holiday truly awesome, whether it be a kitchenette for easy meal prep or a sneaky games room for rainy afternoons.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Hack #4: Pack a fun bag<\/b><\/h2>\n

The book you\u2019ve been dying to read or that face mask you finally have time to enjoy has a special spot in your suitcase – why not try a similar approach with the kids? Secretly pack each child a backpack full of new surprises and let them explore it during in-transit moments for maximum distraction. You could pack a bunch of removable stickers they can plaster on a car or plane window (and then easily remove when you exit), a colouring book with clear markers for zero upholstery damage or a tablet pre-loaded with a game they\u2019ve been begging you to play.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hack #5: Consider longer stretches<\/b><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s tempting to jam your travel schedule tight with cool stuff but for kids and older family members, it can be tiring to do too much. For your own sanity\u2019s sake, consider staying put for longer stretches to avoid ratty kids and tired grandparents. A good rule could be staying two nights or more in a destination before you move on – it\u2019ll give you a chance to sightsee properly and avoid feeling like you\u2019re spending more time in transit than on holiday.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hack #6: Find a way to savour stopovers<\/b><\/h2>\n

What\u2019s that saying about the journey being the real destination? Stopovers at a roadside fast-food place can be annoying but they\u2019re pretty much a necessary part of the travel experience. Why not make them fun? Research which highway rest stops have great views, short family-friendly bush walks or climbing equipment for kids, or which towns have great cafes to stop into. If you can\u2019t beat \u2018em, join \u2018em, eh?<\/span><\/p>\n

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Hack #7: Make takeaway your friend<\/b><\/h2>\n

Sampling something new and tasty is pretty much the only reason I set foot outside my door on any given day but trying out new restaurants when travelling can feel daunting when a very vocal, very picky eater is in tow. That\u2019s why takeaway is a traveller\u2019s best friend, especially when you can\u2019t bear the thought of herding the whole group into a cafe. Order all that great local produce to go – whether it\u2019s back to your accommodation or to a local park for lunch – and you can taste the best the area has to offer without worrying about keeping an eye on everyone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hack #8: Schedule solo time\u2026 for all of you<\/b><\/h2>\n

Don\u2019t get me wrong – family\u2019s fab, but we all have our limits \ud83d\ude11 Scheduling time every afternoon or every few days where everyone on the trip knows it\u2019s keep-to-yourself-hour can be a lifesaver. If you\u2019ve got small kids, you could alternate care with another adult during these times. For older, more independent kids, introducing screen time might be a worthy reward for good behaviour at other times. Nothing beats an afternoon snooze or a bit of screen time of your own on hols \ud83d\ude09<\/span><\/p>\n

When you take the stress out of travel, all that\u2019s left is the fun. So, wot are you waiting for?! Time to get planning your next family getaway!<\/span><\/p>\n

Heads up! Due to COVID-19, government restrictions are in constant review and travel guidelines may change. We strongly recommend that all travellers seek further information about destinations and attractions before scheduling trips or making bookings, take extra care and follow all rules.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/i> PLAN YOUR NEXT FAMILY GETAWAY <\/a>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A family trip doesn\u2019t have to be all \u2018are we there yet?\u2019 and \u2018stop annoying your brother!\u2019 Follow these eight sanity-saving holiday hacks and you\u2019ll have a restful and fun (no, seriously!) getaway, no matter which generation is in tow. Hack #1: Plan the trip as a family A little mutual back-scratching is a timeless …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":12343,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,80],"tags":[32,400],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12311"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/68"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12311"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12311\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12344,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12311\/revisions\/12344"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12343"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12311"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12311"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12311"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}