Key Takeaways
- Set a Goal:
Before packing, establish a single, overarching travel goal for the entire family.
- Save Your Sanity:
A clear goal saves time, money, and emotional energy by aligning everyone’s expectations.
- Allow for Differences:
It’s okay for family members to have different ideas. Build in time for separate activities.
- Protect Relationships:
The best souvenir isn’t a thing, but a stronger relationship with the people you love.
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The destination‘s been chosen and the flights and hotel booked.
All that’s left before you travel with your family is the packing, right? Not necessarily. Not if you want to minimize regrettable squabbles and protect family relationships, whether you’re a small group or a large one with parents, kids, and grandparents.
My husband David and I have been traveling for a while now, with and without family. So I’ve learned a bit about preserving family relationships while on the road through trial and error.
Hopefully, these travel tips will ensure you have an experience you’ll remember fondly rather than one for which you want a refund. Assuming you’ve already chosen where you’re going, and logistics like where you’re going to stay and how you’re going to get there…
Protect Your Family Relationships with Clear Travel Goals
You may envision a lazy morning sipping coffee on the balcony, but others may want to rise early to seize the day. You may envision spending half the day in a museum while your kids crave time in the sun.
More Travel Tips
So how do you prevent relationship trouble with family members who have divergent interests? Establish an overarching travel goal.
People generally have a basic desire fueling their personal travel plans, whether they realize it or not. Some categories include romance, exploration, adventure, education, visiting friends and family, creating memories (pictures, video, social media, etc.), shopping, and relaxation.
Having a main goal will save a lot of time, tears, and legal tender. And it will make choosing and agreeing upon what you do after you’ve arrived a little easier.
It will inform dining decisions. If you’re in it to explore or educate yourself about the culture of your destination, you’re not going in search of a burger. But if you’re there to hike or ski, a quick burger makes perfect sense.
An overarching travel goal will also inform how and where you’ll spend your money. Are you planning an adventure in Scotland? Establish what everyone’s idea of an adventure is.
And what if your idea of the goal is different from others? Perhaps you’ve set adventure as your family’s travel goal. What if your idea of adventure is mining local shops for the perfect souvenir? But their idea of adventure is challenging their endurance. In this case, there’s nothing wrong with planning time away from the group to forage the shops for an hour or two. It’s better than gritting your teeth while climbing Arthur’s Seat.
Establishing why you’re going on your trip is key. How everyone will accomplish that goal ensures you’ll bring back the best souvenir of all–healthy relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions
A: This is a key reason for setting a travel goal. The goal informs what to prioritize. You can still plan separate activities, but they will all work toward the same destination. Source: personal experience
A: “Relaxation” is an excellent travel goal. It means prioritizing rest over a jam-packed schedule. Let everyone know that downtime is a planned part of the itinerary. Source: personal experience
A: Everyone’s voice should be heard during the planning phase. If a compromise can’t be made, consider a trip theme instead, such as “history” or “adventure.” Source: personal experience
Happy (and sane) travels!
