Wondering how to have fun on a vacation with kids in tow? Join the club.

Parents love to complain about vacationing with their kids. I admit, I do this too sometimes.

“It’s not a vacation, it’s a trip!”

“It’s not a trip, it’s a chore!”

“It’s like being at home but paying more to live in an even smaller space with no outside help!”

Vacationing with kids can be exhausting. And this is coming from someone who is going on a vacation to Disney TWICE this year.  

And while it is easy to complain about the stress and the price and the complete lack of relaxing, it is also a privilege to be able to travel with kids. One day your kids probably won’t want to travel with you! One day you will WISH they would travel with you.

So rather than complaining nonstop about our vacations, let’s try to enjoy them.

To do that, we must recognize the inherent challenges that come with vacation.

Challenges of Vacationing With Kids:

• First of all, it is a LOT of time with the kids. As a working mom who does not typically spend all day with my kids, I find I have less bandwidth for kids all-day-every-day. My kids and I inevitably all throw tantrums on vacation (of our own kind!) due to this togetherness.
• Second, kids get out of their routines. If nap time or bedtime is pushed back (or eliminated), it can definitely have an effect on behavior. Some kids might miss being home. My oldest complains when he misses school, for example.
• Third, we are out of our routines. For those of us who are a bit neurotic about work (raises hand) this can cause anxiety, even when our away messages are up and we are not missing anything “important.”  
• We don’t have the comforts of home. I miss my coffee maker, my pillow, and the books I need to leave behind. The kids miss their own “comforts” as well.

How to Have Fun On A Vacation With Kids

So how do you have fun on a vacation with kids? Here are some things that have helped me.

Find alone time.

I require a lot of alone time. That characteristic often clashes with a family vacation. But even if you typically don’t, you may find you need some extra time to yourself on vacation. Here is how I find pockets of alone time in the trip:

• I get up before the kids. Since I am used to getting up so early, I do not set an alarm but naturally wake up first so I can have a few cups of coffee before I have to deal with the chaos.
• If you are traveling with your significant other, volunteer to get the groceries, take out the trash in the Airbnb, or go to the front desk at the hotel. I find even just a few minutes of being by myself makes a difference.
• Keep bedtime reasonable and hang out with your significant other after the kids go to bed.

Plan downtime.

Everyone has their own style of vacationing. Figure this out ahead of time as you plan your itinerary.

For example, my husband likes to have every day planned with activities. I like to have downtime.

So that we are both more likely to enjoy vacation, we try to schedule “busy days” followed by days with no or fewer activities. This works well for the rhythm of our family.

Communicating with your significant other ahead of time and planning for the trip ahead will make a big difference.

No naps or yes naps?

Most parents say yes.

Mine, unfortunately, have hardly ever napped.

If your kids need a nap, put it right in the schedule. It may even serve as some more alone time for you.

Yes, pack the iPads!

Controversial, but important.

My oldest son tends to get up early, while I am out exercising. Having his iPad nearby allows him to play with that (educational games too, sometimes!) without waking up his siblings or dad.

I will often also have a little bag of things just for my kids to play with. Right now it includes things like puzzles, markers/drawing pads, Legos, and a few toys for the baby. They can grab these whenever they want a break and their own time.

Exercise.

This is controversial. I get the reasons people take a break from exercise routines when they are on vacation. But I also think exercise can be more important than ever.

I typically have lighter exercise days when I go on vacation. I step away for 30 minutes to an hour and run 4-8 miles most days. This is really not that burdensome and I typically do it before the kids get up so it does not interfere with other planned activities.

Exercise has so many mood-boosting benefits that it can help counter the chaotic feeling of being with kids all day. I also love trying out new equipment or, better yet, going on running trails and getting away from my cement jungle that I normally run in. Being in nature can be extremely restorative.

Vacation can be more than enough exercise without dedicating time to it solo. Maybe you are swimming with the kids, or hiking, or walking around Epcot three times on a hot day. That is fine too. But the bonus of exercising solo is you are…solo.

Plan something you enjoy.  

Many of our vacations are around the kids. We recently went on a trip that involved an alpaca farm, a waterpark, a pool, rock climbing (not my thing), playgrounds, and beach days. 

The joy of vacation is seeing kids find so much joy and wonder in new experiences! 

But in between all of their new experiences, they can also look at their iPads and take a break!

That is why my husband and I plan some things we want to do. On our last vacation, after a fun family activity, we went wine tasting (with the kids, iPads fully charged and headphones in tow!). The kids complained for a minute. I felt guilty for a minute. But then they got absorbed in their shows and all was well. 

Get some help!

If you want a full-on break from your kids, you could consider bringing a nanny or sitter. (This is expensive but also it is wonderful to leave kids in trusted hands.) Or bring a relative, like a parent, if they are able and willing to help. This is a luxury not everyone has. Or you can consider hiring a sitter. Some hotel chains have recommended sitters or “kids club” type experiences. I have personally not tried this but it is an option many moms have found successful and is much cheaper than paying your nanny’s expenses!

We plan a lot of vacations as our family of six. In fact, in the next four months, we are going on four vacations! Each one has its moments of challenge but we also learn more about what works for the rhythm of our family.  Vacations with kids may never be perfectly relaxing, but with a little planning and a lot of flexibility, they can be full of joy, growth, and memories you’ll be grateful for later.