I’m not going to even pretend otherwise: I am a PLANNER. Yes I am! When I plan a vacation, I plan weeks and even months ahead. I enjoy the process of planning things almost as much as I enjoy the thing that I am planning.
Planning our vacations as much as is practical makes everything smooth and stress-free for me. Today I want to share my top tips for planning a stress-free vacation, even if you’re not a planner!
Know the WHY
What is the purpose of this vacation? Relaxation? Attending a specific event? Business trip? Indulgence?
Knowing what your purpose and goals are can help you prioritize what you spend your time and money on (and you can have more than one purpose).
For example, this summer my family and I will be enjoying a road trip out west. Mainly we want to visit several National Parks and enjoy the outdoors. We have our trip mapped out, including places to stay and activities to do each day. This creates less stress because we won’t need to figure out what we're going to do or where we're going to stay while on our trip. Sure, there will be plenty of time for spontaneous things, but the general route and plan has been established.
Keep Your Child’s Routine
Change is one of the best parts about vacation, but it can also have some devastating effects on your child’s behavior. Try to keep the main elements of your family’s routine in place so that your child is set up for success.
Know beforehand where you will be having meals, and how long it will take you to get there. If eating at a restaurant, get there 20-30 minutes before you would usually eat just in case there are delays.
If your child still naps, create a realistic plan around that. Can they sleep in a stroller or Ergo carrier? Can you easily return to the hotel and have them lie down? I wouldn’t hesitate to bring a light blanket and lay it down in a clean park for a nap on a warm day.
Call Before Making Plans
I often find that museums and restaurants have up-to-date websites, but every once in a while, something falls through the cracks. Call the location to confirm that there will not be any closures or that the event you are coming to see is still happening. Book tickets and make reservations whenever possible.
Look at the Map… or use Google Maps
Know where things are in relation to each other. Depending on your personality, that either sounds obvious or over-the-top, but knowing where things that you want to visit are located can help you create some loose plans for your vacation.
Outline Your Days
I like to have complete “days” planned, even if I’m not always set on which dates certain activities will fall on. I don’t decide in advance which date that will be unless there is a specific reason, like a special event or reservation.
Plan a Rainy Day
Okay, maybe planning out a rough itinerary is not for you – but planning for at least one rainy day will stop you from feeling like it’s raining on your parade.
Pack Your Bags… A Week Before
Ok, another weird tip but here’s the thing: aim to pack your bags a week before you leave so that you’re not scrambling and forgetting important things. Believe me, you will think that you are done packing and then two days later you’ll remember something vital that would have put a little kink in your vacation… you’re welcome.
If there are any items that can’t be packed yet because you’ll be using them (cell phone chargers, running shoes), make a list of those items to check the night before.
Another tip is creating a check list and saving that file on your computer. Then when it’s time to pack, print out that list and cross out each item after it’s packed. I do this every time - it saves me time and stress because I don’t have to reinvent my list for each trip.
Plan the Home Stuff
If you have pets or gardens that will need attention, arrange that well in advance.
Also, plan to prep the house for your return. Give away groceries that will go bad by the time you return, and maybe even make your meal plan and grocery list in advance so you’re not scrambling when you come back from vacation. Make your return home smooth.
Pack the Essentials, Lightly
If you’ll be doing a lot of walking, you’ll want to pack light, but being on vacation can also be disorienting and things that you’d easily locate in your hometown might take a bit longer. Plan to carry snacks, water, and a change of clothes for kids, but try to figure out how to do that so you don’t feel like a pack mule (and give yourself away as a tourist). Older children can carry their own items in a small backpack.
Be Flexible
If you’re traveling with kids, there will be hiccups along the way. But – YOU’RE ON VACATION! Laugh off the inconveniences and try your best to roll with the punches. Accept beforehand that some of the things you are most looking forward to might not happen. Give your children grace to have their worst behaviors on vacation, and hopefully you’ll be pleasantly surprised most of the time!
I hope you enjoyed these tips for planning a stress-free vacation. I want to hear from you – what are your top tips for vacation planning? Also, this week I am sharing about “Fun in the Sun” on my Freedom-n-Joy Essentials page. It's all about setting you up for success during the hot summer days and on your journeys with essential oils.
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