Are you ready for the perfect family vacation? Whether it’s a trip to the beach, an adventure in a new city, or something else entirely—it’s time to get planning, and you’ll need more than your sunscreen and bug spray to make it something truly special. But don’t worry, however tricky and overwhelming planning can be, we’ve know exactly how to make your vacation great.
It’s no secret that everyone loves vacations. They are a great way to get out of your daily routine and take time for yourself and your family. It’s a chance to relax and come back rejuvenated with tons of great memories and laughs that you’ll look fondly over for many years to come. Lots of people want to make sure they squeeze every last drop of enjoyment from their vacation. But how do you make the most of your trip? If you follow these five tried-and-true tips, you’ll be sure to change your vacation from a good one into the best one yet.
1. Build the Anticipation
Spur of moment trips and surprises have their own special allure, but nothing beats the excitement when you know you are about to do something fun. In fact, studies show that a boost in happiness happens before the vacation even starts. When you think about the fun you’ll be having, you have the same amount of excitement as the actual act of doing it—only the excitement lasts longer.
What do we suggest? Try to pick dates further out so you can revel into the possibilities you might find in your trip. If you have kids, invite them to take part in the planning.
Another pro tip is to save the best for last. Think about the activities and meals that excite you the most and plan them towards the end of the trip. Not only will it allow you to continue to build that anticipation but it will make your trip end with a high note. Studies show that you are more likely to remember the last days of your trip so making them extra special will keep your memories sweet.
2. Choose the Little Things
It’s almost counter intuitive to choose quantity over quality—when has more ever been better than the best? In this case, it is. Big trips, like a trip to Europe, are fantastic, but research shows that we return to normal levels of happiness fairly quickly afteralls. Smaller pleasure more frequently leads to overall higher levels of happiness.
So what are these little things that will give you happiness? Well that depends entirely on you and your personalities and preferences. While it’s always great to try new things, make sure these are things you think you’ll actually enjoy. You know what you like. Don’t go skydiving if you are afraid of heights.
Schedule your days with these little activities. Again it’s going against instinct, isn’t a vacation for getting away from a schedule? But when you don’t plan time, you end up wasting it. Studies show that people who have free time management have a better quality of life. But having a schedule doesn’t mean you can’t relax, in fact you should alternate between resting and active periods to get the most out of your trip.
3. Savor
Whether it’s soaking up the sun at the beach or exploring a new city, there’s never a dull moment on a vacation. One of the best parts of any trip is savoring those good times with your family and friends. You know the ones—belly laughs over a silly dinner conversation, splashing around in the pool under your fingers prune, or taking a million ridiculously photos in front of every landmark. These are the moments that will stick with you long after you’ve returned home. So, make sure to slow down and really relish in those happy memories.
Let the flavors of a good meal sit on your tongue. Inhale the salty air or study the beautiful mountains in front of you. Just savor everything around you. Take lots of pictures but make sure to see everything first without a screen between you and your surroundings. Let the good moments unfold around you.
4. Manage the Not so Fun Things
With every vacation, there are still responsibilities that need to be done. If you are a parent you know what I mean. You have to worry about meals–whether you are cooking them in a condo or ordering in and handling childcare. It’s been said that parents never get a real vacation.
Coordinate with the other adults in your traveling group so that everyone has a chance at true relaxation. Alternate kid duty between your partner or grandparents, giving yourself a chance to read a book or take a nap by the pool.
For some people, their work feels like their kid—you don’t want to leave it unattended for too long. Some people think that work should never be opened while on vacation, but if you’re someone who likes to gravitate towards your emails, there’s another solution. Spend thirty minutes in the morning or evening doing whatever will give you peace of mind but it’s important to keep these work sessions short. You still need plenty of time to play.
Most importantly come prepared. Nobody likes being caught unprepared. Wherever you choose to go it’s always a good idea to pack some sunscreen and natural bug repellent. It’s never fun to get sunburnt the first day of your trip or have pesky flies ruin your perfect picnic. By taking the small steps such as applying sunscreen and fly repellent, you’ll spend more time on having a great trip.
5. Manage the Transition
No one ever likes the dreaded return to reality, it’s like dumping a bucket of cold water over your head (which might feel nice if you’ve got sunburns), so it’s important to make the transition as smooth as possible.
Some people prefer to use every bit of their vacation time but this can make for a brutal Monday morning. Allow for some time in between your trip and returning to work, like planning to come home on Saturday or Sunday morning instead of Sunday night. Also keep that first day back pretty low key, if you can help it.
In those first few days being home, construct a story about your trip. Remind yourself of the good times by looking back at photos or remembering funny stories. If you think about it in a positive light, and say “this was the best vacation ever”, you’ll remember it that way.
Vacations always end but those memories will stay forever. By planning ahead of time, you’ll build your excitement and by stopping and appreciating the moment, you’ll ensure that you will have great memories to look back on. These are the small things you can do to make your vacation the best it can be.