Family vacations are a fun way to escape the daily grind and reconnect with family members in a new and exciting destination. However, planning a large family vacation is a unique challenge. Finding affordable accommodations, buying extra tickets when the so-called “family packs” admissions aren’t enough, and keeping gaggles of both toddlers and teens occupied are just the beginning.
Planning a Large Family Vacation
These vacation ideas for large families will guarantee a memorable trip that every family member loves, and can help take the pressure off planning a vacation for a large family!
Stay close to home.
Choosing a destination is the first and most difficult step of planning a large family vacation. Picking a destination that’s convenient for everyone is the best idea. If you have family coming from different directions, choose a location that is centrally located and easily accessible for everyone traveling.
Not every family vacation needs to be to a distant, exotic location. Affordable vacations for large families are just beyond your backyard. A hotel a few hours from home with a good deal is the perfect spot for a big family vacation. A hotel pool, museum, and fun restaurant are more than enough to keep all members of your big family happy.
Choose a city.
If your big family has big ideas about what they want to do on vacation, a city might be your best bet. There are plenty of activities that appeal to lots of different interests and ages. Restaurants, parks, museums, and other activities won’t be hard to find.
It’s a good idea to gauge which type of trip or activities your family wants to explore: the beach, special events, or amusement parks. From there, you’ll be able to narrow down options based on people’s budgets, schedules, and what time of year you’re planning to travel.
Depending on where you live, visiting an international destination full of possibilities might be easier than you’d think. Those living in the northeast may find themselves just a short drive or flight to international metropolitan hubs such as Toronto, Canada. For those on the southern border of the US, an all-inclusive Mexican resort may be the ultimate getaway that’s also not too far from home.
Find a vacation rental.
Once you’ve chosen a destination for your large family vacation, it’s time to find accommodations. Staying together in a single vacation residence is usually a good idea, whether its a short-term rental, a vacation rental or a multiple hotel rooms booked close together. This way, you can keep tabs on everyone, enjoy meals together, and easily plan your daily activities together for more bonding time.
Instead of booking two or more hotel rooms, look into rental homes in your destination. For the same price as a hotel, everyone will get their own bed. You’ll also have access to a full kitchen, so you can spend some nights cooking meals you already know your family likes instead of debating what’s for dinner each night. Rentals with a patio or porch might include a fully-functional grill. Your big family can cook together, play board games, or have a movie night right in your rental. It’s the perfect environment to start a new family tradition while on vacation!
Consider an all-inclusive.
Both all-inclusive resorts and cruises can make planning easy. Activities, meals, and even excursions are included, which is very convenient for a big family with lots of mouths to feed and bodies to keep busy! There are plenty of off-season savings and early booking discounts available. Ask if the all-inclusive resort you are considering has multi-room suites for more space and privacy.
Among the benefits of an all-inclusive stay are the closed, secure grounds these resorts often occupy. This can make parents a little more comfortable about letting their teen or preteen explore sans supervision.
Rent what you need.
If a big purchase is keeping you from a large family vacation, look into renting what you need. A high-end RV can make camping a comfortable option. A spacious vehicle with leg room makes road trips way more fun.
Let kids help plan the trip.
One guaranteed way to make your big family vacation a success is to let kids help create the itinerary. Let their creativity and excitement shine through by having them come up with a list of possible options for both the kids-only activities and the whole family!
Even if you don’t take your children’s suggestions, they’ll give you some great ideas. Plus, you’ll learn a lot about your kid while they’ll learn skills like planning, budgeting and compromising. Imagine their excitement on the day of their chosen activity!
Leave time for relaxation.
Activity-filled large family vacations are loads of fun, but it can get exhausting quickly jumping from place to place with so many people. After all, this is a vacation, so make sure you leave some time in your schedule for rest and relaxation.
Balance types of activities.
Vacations, especially multi-generational ones, can easily become a whirlwind with everyone wanting input on the activities. Balancing relaxing, high-energy, and even educational activities throughout your big family vacation will help avoid both boredom and exhaustion. If grandparents are joining you, you’ll want to give them ample time to rest and tend to any health needs.
Sneak in an educational activity or two to take things slow while stimulating your children’s minds. A relaxing stroll through a museum or zoo can be just the thing to bring generations together with interesting and relatable activities! Grandparents may have a connection to a historic time or place and would love to use it to share personal stories and bond with grandkids.
Plan for emergencies.
If your upcoming big family vacation involves a road trip or camping, consider buying or building a first aid kit. Hiking, fishing, and rafting trips can be an ideal vacation for the active family but safety should come first.
For longer trips far away from home, including trips overseas or domestic destinations, consider travel medical insurance in case of an accident or injury. If your family trip is multi-generational, or one of your family members suffers from a chronic health ailment, get peace of mind with evacuation insurance.
Join other groups or large families.
Great minds think alike and some destinations make attracting families their business. Vacations like dude ranches foster an environment where families spending time together is encouraged. Dude ranches often have separate activities for children and adults and can even provide childcare for those late nights!
