It’s something that parents spend thousands on, but if managed badly that great family holiday can turn into something of a disaster. There can be tears, tantrums and everything else that ensures that it isn’t in anyway relaxing for you (or the kids, for that matter).
In truth, it doesn’t matter whether you are staying in a hotel in Blackpool or somewhere in the Costa del Sol, the same rules apply. This is the reason today’s guide has been put together, as we take a look at some tips which can at least help that family holiday become less stressful for all concerned.
The same routine is paramount
You might be in a completely different setting, but that doesn’t mean to say that your children’s routine should go out of the window. As we all know, in day-to-day life, routines are crucial for children. The same rules apply when you venture away; without these routines your children just don’t know what’s happening next, and this can wreak havoc with their behavior.
Sure, it’s not going to be possible to keep everything the same. But if you can at least make them stick to their sleeping patterns, you’ll make the world of difference to them.
Choose your hotel wisely
This is one area where you shouldn’t attempt to save money on. Nowadays, a lot of hotels are doing their upmost to become child-friendly, but it’s by no means going to be the same everywhere.
If your hotel in question just has a small playground, you’ll be amazed at the difference it can make to your little ones. You can whisk them off their quickly, drain some energy, and ultimately give them something on-site to look forward to. Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg, and some resorts will have far more than this.
If you can at least make sure that the restaurant on-site is suitable as well, you will make your life a whole lot easier.
Don’t try and cram in everything
We get that you are attempting to make your kids as happy as can be during this time away, but there can be cases of less is more. You might want to take them to the beach, pool, playground and their favorite restaurant all in one day, but realistically this is exhausting (even for adults!). As such, don’t be afraid to split things up and place just a few activities in the itinerary for a day.
Take some you-time
For some of you this simply won’t be possible, but if you can grab an hour of you-time per day it will make a monumental difference to you. Suddenly, you’ll be fresh to deal with those bundles of energy, and your whole outlook on the holiday will have changed.
You might be able to do this by asking your other half to take control for a short while, or even just on an evening when they have gone to bed.
