AD | Going on holiday, whether with immediate family or close friends, means an opportunity to explore a new country and a new culture, make new memories and potentially new friends. However, when the holiday involves travelling with extended family members, meticulous organisation and planning is called for as everything from eating out, fun activities, and finding accommodation become more complicated.
How To Make Travelling With Extended Family Easier
Travelling in a large group is more challenging because people have different tastes and preferences. Some family members might prefer a certain type of activities or cuisines, and this could cause some friction when deciding on things to do. That’s why it’s important to plan ahead.
For example, you can save some time and create your passport or visa photos using Passport Photo Maker. You only need to load your picture and select the document type – the program will automatically center and crop the image to meet the requirements. Now let’s look at some more great tips to help you stay organised and enjoy your time together on holiday.
Make The Most Of Your Time Together
Write a list of each party member’s preferences, whether that’s dietary or preferred activities. Use Google Maps and online guides to make a note of each of the activities and restaurants you could potentially head to, and find at least 2-3 places of interest next to each main activity type (e.g. a museum or art gallery).
This way, if one particular activity type doesn’t work for some of the members, they can head to the alternative location nearby, which still allows everyone to meet up after their respective activities have finished. So, everyone can do something they enjoy, and you’ll be able to make the most of the time you have together, with fewer arguments!
Plan Your Travel Connections
Airports can be stressful places so plan your journey in detail to limit the strain and ensure your whole family group makes your travel connections on time. Nothing will ruin a holiday faster than a missed flight or coach. When travelling with extended family, ask everyone to arrive at each departure destination three hours ahead of time. That way, you can all get through security and border control with minimal fuss. Tip: don’t forget to book your airport parking* in advance, to get the best deals.
Make sure any connections have a minimum of 3-4 hours between connections if you arrive and depart from the same airport. That way, if your flight arrives late, you have a few hours leeway before you need to find the next departure gate.
Make a Packing Checklist for Everyone
Some people love packing, they revel in the organisation and the careful thought involved. Others hate packing and will put it off until the very last minute. If you or any of your extended family group members fall into this latter category, you need to make sure you all pack a few days ahead of travelling.
Make a checklist for everyone of everything they need, including passport, toiletries, clothes, and other important documents. Ask them to tick each item off as they pack it and double check everything before zipping up that suitcase. This way, if all family members follow the same system, if someone forgets something, one of you is likely to have a spare toiletry or a cable in your luggage.
Get Travel Insurance To Keep Everyone Safe
When travelling abroad with a large group, keeping track of everyone can be difficult. If you or a member of your family were to get injured, or have their possessions stolen, this could instantly derail your holiday and cost you even more money. This is why it’s well worth getting some travel insurance prior to departure, whether you get insured as individuals or as a group. You could check travel insurance options from Staysure, who offer a number of different insurance packages to keep you or your family safe while abroad.
Remember To Have Fun
Holidays should be fun, but if you don’t plan things properly, you won’t be able to make the most out of your trip. So, whether you’re going solo, with friends, or travelling with extended family, follow these tips to stay organised, enjoy your holiday, and make some memories to last you all a lifetime. Happy travelling!
* This is a collaborative post and contains affiliate links – see my Disclaimer.
I haven’t really traveled with extended family, but I can see how planning and being organized are important! It’s good to be prepared and have several options for activities to keep everyone happy.
Oh yes, organisation is key – especially when it comes to mealtimes!