Organising Your Dream Family Holiday

A family holiday is a great idea…on paper. If you end up being the person or people who have to organise the said holiday, the gleam in your eyes may quickly fade as the volume of the task becomes apparent. Since a family holiday should be a thing of fun, wonder, and core memories, we’ve got the ultimate organising checklist that’ll keep you sane through the whole process and ensure that it's a holiday experience you’ll want to repeat every year.

1. Choose Your Holiday Goals

Obviously, you’re looking forward to spending time with your family, extended or immediate, and maybe even getting a little relaxation in around all the activities the younger family members will no doubt want to do. So, pick a goal that’s fun, achievable, and affordable, like:

Teach mom how to do her own manicure
Cook with the kids
Do one thing a day as a family

This will help you keep in mind that you’re there to enjoy each other's company and enjoy experiences together as a unit.

2. Pick Your Destination and Mode of Travel

Your destination is going to determine so much about your holiday and the experiences that are available to you, so choose it with care and choose it earlier than you think you need to. Expect back and forth, especially if your family group is an extended one, as people will have many different ideas. Democracy is the best way to go – just have the whole group vote to choose a winner.

The way you get to where you’re going sets the tone for the entire holiday, so put a lot of thought and planning into making sure it's as smooth and seamless an experience as possible. An aircraft charter is a great idea in terms of price and practicality. It may be surprising that chartering a plane could come in at close to the cost of tickets for everyone in your party, but it could. A private plane offers a level of comfort and camaraderie that you just won't have on a commercial flight, as well as the benefits of:

Taking off on your own schedule.
Moving through the airport process far more quickly and easily.
Sharing the cabin only with your nearest and dearest.
Arriving fresh and rested rather than frazzled.

3. Create A Budget

If you’re travelling with an extended family group, this will be slightly more complicated, as each family unit may have its own financial boundaries and allowances. Our advice on budgeting as a cohesive family group is the following:

Choose one adult from each family unit to manage a budget and all meet together to set up guidelines.
Allocate an amount per family member per day for food, outings, and incidentals. This way people can choose what they want to eat and what they want to do themselves, allowing for autonomy, as long as it falls within their budget.
Handle your accommodation and travel budgets ahead of time, between the elected family members, as one group.

4. Learn About Your Destination

Before you leave for your trip, learn as much as you can about where you’re going. This is especially important if you’re travelling to another country or to somewhere where religious conventions or language differ from what you’re used to. Especially important things to note are:

Learning helpful phrases in the local language.
Understanding any cultural or religious beliefs that might dictate how to dress, speak, or behave.
Find out about any unsafe areas and avoid them.

The learning should continue on the trip because no one likes tourists who don't embrace the culture of the place they’re visiting. Get in at least a few museum, gallery, or cultural location visits so that you leave knowing more than you did when you arrived.

5. Pack Light

This suggestion may be met with resistance if you are travelling with teenagers, but we advise that you maintain a strong, united front on this issue. Advise those under the age of 18 (everyone else can fend for themselves within a packing allowance that the charter company or airline will confirm) to use the following guidelines:

One pair of undies and socks daily, with half the amount of spares (just in case)
One outfit per day, with a third the amount of spares
One pair of comfortable walking shoes, one pair of sandals, one pair of “going out” shoes, and one pair of boots (if it is a winter holiday)
Two swimming costumes if it's a summer holiday
One warm coat if it's a winter holiday
One sun hat or beanie, depending on the weather
Any prescription skincare or medication – buy toiletries for the family to share when you arrive because it's so much simpler.
A holiday book or colouring book/activity

You could really challenge your family and try to get everyone packed into one carry-on each. It's less stuff to keep track of, and you know that things always go missing on holiday.

6. Have an Adventurous Mindset

Try an exciting activity you've never tried before. Maybe it's swimming with dolphins, maybe it's climbing a mountain, maybe it's cooking a meal from scratch for everyone to enjoy. Go with the flow and get out of your comfort zone a little bit.

Last, But Not Least

Relax and enjoy yourselves – that's what holidays are for. Make the most of your time by enjoying family time, meals, activities, and adventures. But don't forget to just let yourself be and enjoy the moment too. Bon voyage!