5 Things Every Family Needs To Do To Make The Most Of Their Summer Holiday

Like most parents living in the UK, family summer holidays are my most favourite time of year. I relish bidding Seasonal Affective Disorder goodbye and welcoming in the longer daylight hours, warmer temperatures and time off from school-runs! Summer is always a slower way of life and it’s the only time I truly love living in England!

We love getting away in the summer for a few weeks holiday too as it’s the perfect time to bond with one another without the pressures of every day life. Holidays provide the best of memories whether that’s one night away in the UK or longer holidays overseas. My kids still talk about trips we went on years ago.

Holidays are not without stress of course, and making sure things go off without a hitch isn’t always easy.

There’s always the risk of something going wrong (yes I forgot my child’s passport was about to expire one year) or tempers fraying (especially when you have teens and toddlers like I do). That’s why I have put together a list of 5 things every family should do to make sure their upcoming summer holidays in the UK or abroad, go as smoothly as possible.

I hope they’re helpful tips!

 

1. Plan ahead

Possibly the biggest key to a successful family holiday lies in the planning. While it’s not the most enjoyable part of holiday prep (hello mani and pedi time), it is essential to sit down ahead of time and plan your itinary- and don’t forget to check everyone’s passports whiles you’re at it!

It’s a chance to take into account your family’s preferences and interests and adding something in the itinerary that will appeal to each of your family members.  You can’t please everyone all of the time but a good balance of activities should keep everyone happy at least, some of the time! Crucially, if you know what you’re planning to do ahead of time then you can check for opening times and any potential closures before you turn up on the day. This should reduce the chance of any disappointments and gives you the time to create a contigency plan in case the weather doesn’t play ball for example! Do check out the local area you’re visiting to see what’s on offer and scour the restaurant reviews online so you get an idea of what to do and where to eat!

 

2. Unplug

Most of us are guilty of too much screen time but holidays provide a chance to limit online activity so you can unplug for a while. It’s important not to share content whilst you’re away making you vulnerable to others knowing your location but also that your home might be empty whilst you’re away. Why not encourage everyone in the family to put their devices away during the day and focus on enjoying their time in the present. It probably won’t go down well if you try to impose a blanket ban but why not use your holiday as a chance to tone down on the screen time and up the quality family time?

 

3. Try something new

I love stepping out of my comfort zone and holidays are the perfect time to give new things a try. When in Rome, after all!

Take the opportunity to try something that none of you have ever done before whether that’s learning to surf as a family or ordering local cuisine you’ve never tasted before. Even if you don’t like it, it’s all part of the joy of discovery and you can look back on it as a fun memory down the line. See if there’s anything your kids have always wanted to try that you could do on this holiday as it will give them even more to look forward to. My older kids want to jet ski this summer so they’re going to give that a go! The easiest way to try new things would be on a cruise! Cruise ships offer amazing experiences onboard, as well as stopping at new locations every day. What a great way to make new and exciting memories with the kids! Family cruise deals are the best way to experience new adventures on a budget.

 

4. Embrace the outdoors

Since summer usually means warmer weather, there’s no excuse not to add some outdoor activities to your itinerary. Get outdoors and spend some time really exploring the place that you’re visiting. Make it your mission to hunt for breathtaking views, scenic trails and eating al fresco. I love to run in the morning on the beach before the sun hits its midday peak and equalling going for an apres dinner stroll so we can watch the sun go down as a family! Holidays are the ideal way to get your step count and heart rate up!

 

5. Remember to relax

It’s easy to fall into the trap of stressing out on holiday, especially when you’re trying to wrangle everyone into the car to get to the day’s planned activity (even if that’s a ‘relaxing’ day at the beach) but try not to forget that this is your holiday too and you deserve to a relax because parenting is stressful most of the time! While it’s good to create a plan for your time away, don’t feel the need to stick to it, to the detriment of everyone’s good time. Leave plenty of space in the schedule for downtime and rest since relaxation is really what a holiday is about. It’s not the end of the world if things don’t go to plan so go with the flow and stay flexible.
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By following these 5 tips your family’s chances of having an enjoyable family summer holiday should improve.

So, get ahead of the curve and start planning your next family summer holiday, today!