Guest Guru Nina Restieri from momAgenda.com
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Travel Agenda: Organizing for a Summer Vacation with the Kids
Preparing your family for a summer vacation does not have to be a chore! There are many simple, effective strategies you can employ that will make your vacation less chaotic and more enjoyable for the entire family.
The fun part is choosing your summer break spot.
For me, that means talking to friends and family with children about their experiences in various locations. Other good resources for family-friendly destinations are the family travel blogs and ezines (such as www.travelingmom.com). Nearly all of our family vacation spots have been chosen based on positive word-of-mouth from someone we know (or, in the case of online resources, someone we feel like we know). For example, my friend Heidi had a great experience on a cruise vacation with her kids. Although the idea of a cruise had never occurred to me (or my husband), we decided to explore the option. We ended up on a cruise through Alaska last July, and our whole family considers it the best vacation we’ve ever taken!
It is so important to do your homework before you go.
Go online and find out everything you can about your destination, with a particular focus on traveling to that destination with children. The internet is loaded with tips and tricks for every place you can imagine; read everything you can and take notes. Some questions you may have include: is your hotel family-friendly? Does the hotel offer babysitting services? Also, get specific information about the attractions you plan to visit. Often, the best way to avoid lines is to visit popular attractions early in the morning or in the evening when everyone else is eating dinner. So find out what attractions open early, and at what time. Which attractions stay open late?
After completing your research, read through your notes and start making lists.
What attractions are “can’t miss” for your family? Which restaurants would you like to try? How about rainy day activities? Make sure to note any important information, such as discounts or specials. Once you have made lists of everything you’d like to accomplish on your vacation, you are ready to start making your agenda. Sit down with your day planner and schedule in all your activities and meals, making sure to keep in mind travel time between various locations. Your schedule can be as structured or as flexible as you like. Just make sure you pencil in everything you and your kids really want to do or see, so it won’t be forgotten.
Once you are set with your vacation agenda, it is time to make a packing list.
I like to make one for each of my children, then send them off to their rooms to assemble their suitcases themselves. What you pack depends on your particular destination, but if you need a starting point, check out momAgenda’s printable packing list here: http://www.momagenda.com/blog/downloads.htm. One thing I never leave home without is a large zippered bag containing children’s Benadryl, children’s Motrin or Tylenol, Neosporin and band-aids. In addition, make sure to pack essential children’s items. Our family once went on a week-long ski trip, and forgot my then-2-year-old’s beloved blankie. Believe me when I say that no one slept that week. Not fun!
Have a great time wherever your travels take you this summer.
Despite the hassles and headaches of traveling with kids, keep in mind that they are only young once—someday you will look back on this vacation and wish your kids were still that little! So embrace the chaos and let the stress go. I hope that these tips help you streamline the planning process and have more fun with your family.
Nina Restieri, a former successful ad executive, and businesswoman at the helm of a family business, was attempting to organize her chaotic schedule (and those of her family of four young children) one morning when she started to think about wedding planners. Why, she wondered, are there hundreds of options for brides to choose from to plan their wedding, but not a single option for mothers to plan their everyday lives? One year of extensive research later, momAgenda was born. You can check out Nina’s website at www.momagenda.com.
You can also find momAgenda & Buttoned Up FREE printable planning sheets here www.momagenda.com/printable/index.html
6 Responses to “Guest Guru Nina Restieri from momAgenda.com”
I think this is helpful, the basics and it is all together. thanks for taking the time.
The best tips for traveling with kids:
*Pack LOTS of snacks, way more than you think you’ll need. Snacks help in almost every situation.
*Buy new toys and give them out on the trip. Novely goes a long way. One of our favorite road trip toys is a big pack of pipe cleaners…bracelets, stick figures, etc.
*Try to drive in the very early morning or late at night so hopefully your kids will sleep.
*Have fun!
I think taking a deep breath, going with the flow (as best you can) when things don’t go as planned and smiling (even if you aren’t happy at the moment) is the best way to approach family vacations. Things are bound to go wrong but those will be the funniest stories you’ll recall in years to come!!!
Thanks for the info and article.
Good tips – and well timed!
We love traveling with our daughter, so if I could add one more tip: start early. I mean start traveling with kids when they are young and accustom them to going with the flow – your flow. We’ve been doing this since day one, and we now have a kid who is flexible, and likes to see and try new places. We don’t really pander to her but do things that we all enjoy. We also try new things that we might not have otherwise tried (underground rock caverns, water slides) and expect her to try things she might pass up (art museum, sushi). We make travel an adventure we do together.
Also, to add to the kids packing their own stuff – I sent my 7 year old on a sleepover and she packed her own backpack. It was full and she assured me she had everything. Yeah, everything except her toothbrush, pajamas and clean underwear. Luckily her friend was able to provide these things. So I learned to always double check bags before leaving the house!
WOW! Great Tips and Amazing Printables! Thanks for sharing!
A little too much planning for me, I like to just pick up and go without all the planning! With 3 small boys that is getting more difficult, but we always have a great time! I do have a general list of the basics to bring and we usually forget something
but boys love adventure!
A good thing for parents of small children (under 10) to remember is that they are just as happy with a public park or campground then they would be with a huge amusement park. Relaxing outdoors for a day and seeing where that day takes you is so much more fun then running around trying to fit everything in.