Traveling with kids can be a challenge. It can also be one of the most rewarding things you do in life, if you do it right. In order to avoid the fate of Chevy Chase in National Lampoon’s Vacation, with his broken car and broken dreams, there are things you should do to ensure that your family vacation is a success.
It might seem overwhelming to have to work out all your potential problems in advance. But it doesn’t have to be. If you think about certain critical aspects of your trip before you leave, it could put you in a much better position. Let’s take a look at things to keep in mind on your next vacation so that you can be prepared and don’t find yourself stuck in a bad situation.
Seasons
This one might sound obvious, but it pays to think about. Some places can be ridiculously overcrowded during the summer. You might find yourself sitting in your car for hours, waiting to get into your favorite theme park. Or waiting forever to get your kids on the right ride. And this won’t go over well with the family.
Obviously, it’s difficult to maneuver your schedule when you have a school calendar to deal with, but there are certain things you can do. For one thing, you can try to plan your trips at the very beginning or end of a season when some of the school calendars might still be in session. In this case, there might be less traffic to sit in and you will have freedom on the road with your auto rental.
You might also consider a winter trip. You could either grab a 4X4 and go for a ride up in the mountains, perhaps en route to a fabulous ski trip. Or perhaps you could forget about the snow altogether and head over to the Emirates where it will still feel like summer. Imagine being able to grab a PPF car in Dubai and ride through the sand while your neighbors are all still stuck in the snow.
Restaurants
Everyone wants to go to the most popular restaurants; this is what makes them popular. But you should always have a contingency plan when traveling. If there’s an amazing adventure-themed restaurant that your kids are dying to go to, be sure to make reservations (if the place takes them), or plan an alternative nearby if there’s no space available. Also make sure that the area is not so crowded that you won’t be able to park your rental car for miles on end.
The last thing you want is to go halfway across the country and find yourself sitting in the drive thru at McDonald’s. Remember, there might be lots of good options available; you just have to look for them. Check out local review sites for the places you’re going in advance of your trip. Make a list of restaurants that have gotten good reviews, and keep it on hand when you’re traveling.
Transportation
The same principle applies to transportation. If you’re planning on getting a car rental wherever you’re heading, be sure to determine both the quality of the place you want to use, and also their availability. With rental agencies, you don’t want to get stuck with bad customer service, because if you have a problem you might have nowhere to turn. You can find car repairing in Dubai, but is this the way you want to spend your vacation?
The worst situation would be to end up empty and be forced to take public transportation or taxis. The former could leave you and the kids stuck on the side of the road for untold amounts of time, and the latter could blow your budget entirely. So pin down that auto rental agency first and foremost. And you should be careful when purchasing airline tickets, too.
Be sure to make the final purchase only when you have the rest of your trip details worked out. If you buy tickets and then find that your chosen theme park is closed for repairs, your kids might never forgive you.
Be prepared, and you can relax
If you take the time to prepare well in advance and make contingency plans, you and your family should be able to have the vacation you always dreamed about. Don’t let yourself become a victim of unexpected problems – work it all out now, including your hotel, auto rental agency, etc, and you’ll be able to relax and have fun when you get to your destination.
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