There are few things in life that are more exciting and stressful than a long-awaited family vacation. Vacations are meant to be an opportunity for people to break away from the stress of the daily grind and reconnect with family and friends. However, even the most seasoned vacation planner can become overwhelmed and stressed from time to time. No one wants to spend their holiday rushing around from place to place trying to cross every item off of an unrealistic itinerary.
A vacation shouldn’t leave a person more exhausted when they return home. Fortunately, there are a number of ways in which one can plan ahead so that they are able to sit back, relax, and make fantastic memories on their next holiday. Following are several tips on how one can stress less and enjoy their next family vacation.
Make Sure to Book a Vacation Rental With Adequate Space
Vacations can be quite costly, so it’s only natural that one would attempt to save money wherever they can. Cutting vacation costs often comes at the expense of one’s accommodation. Although it may be tempting to see how many people can fit into a single hotel room, it is ultimately a terrible idea.
One may think that little time will be spent in the hotel room anyway, so it makes sense to book as small of a room as possible. However, cramped quarters will quickly lead to quarrels over beds, counter space, and bathroom access. If a larger room or vacation rental is not in the budget, consider booking a room or accommodation which features sliding barn doors. This will offer some privacy in a smaller rental and can provide much-needed “alone time” towards the end of the vacation when people may be craving a little time and space from others in the group.
Be Realistic About Expectations
It can be tempting to cram every single experience and activity into a vacation. After all, no one wants to come home from a trip feeling as though they didn’t take full advantage of the opportunity that they had to see everything they could, especially if it’s a trip abroad. This is precisely the wrong way to approach any vacation.
Attempting to do and see everything possible will inevitably lead to burnout for even the most seasoned traveler. Waking everyone up at the crack of dawn and micromanaging every second of a vacation is a sure way to breed resentment among fellow travelers and will cause unnecessary tension for the duration of the trip.
It’s important to schedule some downtime throughout the course of the trip in order to prevent burnout. It is also important to be realistic about what can be comfortably accomplished on the trip. A great tip would be to find out what everyone’s top three “must-see” items are on their lists, and then come up with an itinerary that everyone can agree upon. This way, everyone will get to experience their top attractions, and wonderful memories can be made.
Tune Out From Work
There is nothing more annoying than going on a long-awaited trip, only to find out that one or several members of the group are taking work calls and emails when they should be enjoying their vacation. Studies have shown that over eighty percent of people admit to working while on vacation. Not only is it a nuisance for others when one or several vacationers out of the group are constantly ducking out to respond to a work-related email, but it can also be detrimental to one’s health.
Not shutting off from work every once in a while has been associated with high blood pressure and other health-related indicators of stress. It may be difficult, but it is important to attempt to break away from the office every once in a while. Don’t be afraid to send those work-related calls to voicemail. A vacation is meant to be enjoyed and experienced fully. Tuning out from work every once in a while is a great way to restore one’s spirit and return back to the office with a renewed sense of purpose.
Although family vacations can be inherently stressful, it doesn’t have to be this way. By following the aforementioned tips, and carefully planning and considering all the details ahead of time, one can ensure that their vacation will be relaxing and rejuvenating.
