After several months of travel restrictions, self-isolation regulations, and pandemic fears, your family needs to book safe and active family holidays as soon as it is possible. Indeed, too many people want to go back to an unrestricted lifestyle, which is why being active matters. However, it can be challenging to book pre-organized family holidays that will keep everyone happy. That’s why a lot of parents need to get creative and hit the right balance of adventure and relaxation.
For a lot of families, the pandemic situation has put all projects on hold until it is safe to travel again. We can expect to be able to book and plan trips safely in the foreseeable future. But for parents, this could be the first holiday together after a long pause. How can you best arrange family holidays for your whole family? Here are some tips to consider for your first post-pandemic trip together.
7 Considerations To Plan Active Post-Pandemic Family Holidays
#1. Opt for family-friendly resorts for their age groups
There’s a reason why resort destinations are popular. They take care of everything. You only have to worry about booking your holiday, and you can relax in the hands of experienced hospitality experts. However, the resort sector can fail to take kids into consideration, which can lead to stressful experiences for parents. It’s a good idea to research solutions that provide family-friendly services for people of all ages. Young children will need childcare services throughout the day so that you don’t miss out on activities. Bear in mind that teenagers and older children will have little interest in kid-friendly food and specially tailored activities. On the other hand, toddlers will enjoy the vacation a lot more if they can join in a variety of games and interactions, from buffet to play area.
#2. Avoid endurance-based activities
When you see them play all day long in the garden, it’s hard to imagine that children can ever get tired. However, young children lack the physical endurance to follow you on long trekking adventures. It’s best to keep long-distance projects for teenagers. Toddlers and children who have just reached primary school years will not enjoy a hiking or trekking trip. Ultimately, their short legs will get tired rapidly. For parents, it can become frustrating. Kids are also more likely to get grumpy and irritated when they are exhausted. We get that a trekking holiday could avoid the crowds; yet, it’s best to consider a range of short activities for children.
#3. Plan camping with a large camper
Camping vacations are ideal for families. You can book your spot at a camping park in advance. Why not book a few slots so you can visit new areas during your vacation? It keeps the holiday entertaining and ensures that you can always find something to do. When you’re traveling with young children, you want to invest in large outback campers or similar solutions, so there is plenty of room for toys. You also want to plan alternative activities for rainy days. Therefore, it’s best to invest in a campervan that allows you to bring a few board games comfortably or let everyone pick a quiet spot to read and relax when they’re not outside.
#4. Encourage them to learn something new
Ski vacations are a fantastic choice for families. A lot of ski schools accept young children in their classes, so kindergarten kids can learn to get confident on the snow. You can plan a few hours every day to play outside together. Most ski stations provide visitors with a clear map of their slopes, so you know where accessible paths are. It can be a lot of fun to learn to ski together and explore safely as a family. As a lot of ski station accommodations are small, it’s great to use all the extra energy on the slopes so there’s no risk of cabin fever syndrome!
In summer, you can consider snorkel classes for children and teenagers. For young children, it’s safe to stick to sandcastle or swimming lessons!
#5. Pack some active toys
One of the most common mistakes when packing your bags is to bring the wrong toys. Of course, you don’t want to forget the teddy bear they bring everywhere or their favorite storybook. But, most parents tend to bring passive toys, such as coloring books, dolls, or even a tablet with kid-friendly games. While these can be a great help during the trip, you also want to think of active hobbies. Packing a ball or a skipping rope can make sure your kid has an output for their extra energy.
#6. Don’t have a strict schedule
There is so much to do, and so little time!
Unfortunately, most holidaymakers run out of time when they want to tackle every hobby or activity during their vacation. In truth, you should only focus on a handful of things that you want to do with your family. You have to leave plenty of room for spontaneity, as young children don’t respond well to strict schedules. Many can find it stressful and get frustrated if they feel too rushed. Ideally, you want to leave plenty of time during the day for naps, relaxing, or playing together. Young children, especially, are likely to feel disorientated by long-distance trips. So giving them enough time to adjust can ensure a peaceful vacation for everyone.
#7. Check that everyone is happy
Parents plan holidays and children come along. But, it is unfair to leave kids out of the planning phase. Once you’ve decided on a destination, you can let them know about the local specialties activities, and landscapes. Discuss what is available with them. What’s the right age to involve children? As soon as they are old enough to express an opinion, which means that even toddlers can have a say. This will allow kids to ask about things they want to do or see, so you can make time for their activities too.
If you haven’t been planning a vacation in almost a year or longer, it can be odd to get back to organizing holidays for the family. After pandemic restrictions, it’s important to make physical activities a priority, from going out to visit the local area to learning a new sport. Therefore, you need to think of how your accommodation will keep the kids safe and entertained, how your plan can leave room for games and relaxing, and finally how active your kids are.