There’s a lot of pressure piled on summer.  The kids are off school, and it’s our jobs as parents to occupy them and find them things to do.  Then there’s the obligatory holiday that you have been planning in advance to make sure everyone has a great time.  Although relaxing when you get there, getting everything organised in the lead up to your big trip can be stressful.  We’ve put together some tips to make sure you plan a successful family holiday. 

Think about the Weather 

If you are taking smaller children on a family holiday, the weather needs to be a major consideration.  The last thing you want is to have grumpy toddlers in tow because they are far too hot.  Look up the average temperature at your preferred destination.  If you do choose somewhere that is a little on the warm side – make sure you prepare properly.  You need to ensure that you have the appropriate sunscreens to protect the kids and prevent sun damage and heat stroke. 

You will also want to have sunglasses to shield their eyes from the sun, and sun hats wherever possible.  There are sun advisors in a lot of resorts that you may go to, make sure that you speak to them, so your kids are protected properly. 

Check out 3rd Party Review Sites 

Before you commit to booking your holiday, make sure that you check out 3rd party review sites.  That way you will get a clear idea as to what other people’s experiences have been at that venue.  As these sites are completely objective, you can get a real-life vision of what your experience will be.  You also have to accept that everyone will have a positive experience, everything is subjective after all.  However, if you see that the hotel or resort has responded in positive way – you can at least be safe in the knowledge that they value their customers and have a high level of customer service should any issues arrive during your stay.   

Create a Holiday Checklist 

The last thing you want to do is forget something when you are going on holiday.  That’s why you should prepare well in advance and create yourself a holiday checklist.  That way you won’t forget about any of the essentials and enjoy a smoother journey overall.  It will also make the whole experience more stress-free allowing you to relax a little bit more prior to the holiday itself.  A top tip with small kids is to make sure that there is a first-aid kit on your checklist.  It can be a little more daunting visiting a pharmacy in a foreign country if there isn’t the usual medication that you would recognise and it can come in handy if there are any cuts and scrapes to be taken care of.   

Prepare for In-Flight Entertainment 

If you are going on a long–haul journey – it can be a bit of a nightmare keeping kids entertained.  That’s why you need to make sure you have lots of stuff to keep them occupied so they don’t cause too much of a drama on the flight!  There are lots of great travel games that you can purchase that they will enjoy and take up a fair amount of time.  It’s always good to have snacks onboard too.  Although there is usually a good selection for kids inflight – the last thing you want is for them to be grumpy and hungry.   

Another option is of course to make sure that you have plenty of shows downloaded on an iPad or tablet that they can watch.  A little screen time won’t hurt if it calms them down during the flight.  It’s also a possibility their ears may pop during takeover and landing.  It doesn’t hurt to have some boiled sweets or lollipops to help minimise this.   

Make the Journeys to and from the Airport as Easy as Possible 

Kids come with a lot of luggage. So the last thing you want on a family holiday is to be traipsing back and forth with it when it comes to carrying heavy baggage to and from public transport and keeping the kids under control at the same time.  There are fantastic parking facilities that will allow you to arrive at the airport without any hassle at most airports these days.  By taking your own car, it means that you can pack up the boot the night before, or in planet of time – so you don’t need to worry about any last-minute arrangements.  It also means that you don’t need to concern yourself with late trains, or buses running late – and be in full control.   

There are lots of different parking options in some of the larger airports out there.  At Birmingham Airport for example, you can take advantage of lots of options.  There is Meet and Greet Parking Birmingham services, as well as NCP Valet Parking Birmingham services.  Their Birmingham Parking site makes it incredibly easy to book your slot – and it’s another thing to mark off your to-do list.   

You also need to think about what happens when you get there.  Coach transfers aren’t always the best if you have small kids.  You often need to hang about for a long time waiting for everyone to load – and if your hotel is last on the list, it can be a long and tiresome journey.  Once you arrive, you will want your kids to be happy and settled as soon as possible.  As long as you book a car well in advance – it doesn’t need to cost you too much either.   

Find out what there is to Keep them Entertained at the Hotel 

When you are researching your holiday – take a good look at the facilities that they have to offer.   It would be good if they had some kind of kid’s club – not only to give you a little bit of a break, but to keep them amused and to allow them to meet their own friends when they are there.  You will also often find that there are some luxury resorts that have pools specific to smaller kids that have chutes etc for them to play on.   Make sure you also take a look at the facilities that they offer in the hotel room.  Do you need a cot?  Do they the correct kitchen facilities needed to prepare the food? 

Make sure you do your research so that you have everything you need upon your arrival.  Also, don’t be afraid to ask them questions before you go should you need any advice.  Check out the surrounding areas close to your hotel too to see if there are things that your child would enjoy, it’s nice to get away from the pool every now and then.   

If you are travelling with small kids, there are lots of things to consider.  Hopefully we have given you some ideas as to make everything run a little smoother and for you to enjoy a fantastic family holiday.