What does your holiday itinerary look like? For many busy families, it’s little more than a booked flight and accommodation reservations at this point. You know where you’re going and when, but you still haven’t ironed out what you’ll do when you get there.

So how do you go from just having a few tickets bought to knowing what you’ll do every day? With summer just around the corner, these tips should help you establish a much clearer plan.

1. Check tour operators

A formal tour may not suit your budget, but that doesn’t mean you can’t check how tour operators have structured their trips to wherever you’re headed. This can provide you with valuable insight into how many activities you can realistically fit into a day and which ones can be grouped together. If you’re really stuck on logistics, there’s nothing wrong with getting a little inspiration!

2. Look at Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor can be really helpful if you know how to use it. It can be incredibly useful for identifying places to go and activities to do. Look at their top lists and read some reviews to find out if the things that appeal to you are worth the expense. I always like to check for reviews from families or those that mention kids to make sure it will be fun for everyone! You can even check out a few restaurants you’d like to visit, and search by type, cuisine, budget…and a whole lot of other filters.

3. Search for festivals

Another tip for longer trips is to search for some type of festival or events going on wherever you’re headed. This is a great way to give your family a taste of the area’s culture and spend time around locals. It can also be a very affordable way to spend an afternoon at your destination!

4. Don’t forget about relaxation

Sometimes we get so carried away trying to plan the perfect trip and fit in as many sights and activities as possible that we lose sight of the point of going on holiday! I’m not saying you should spend a lot of time in an exotic locale lying around your hotel room. However, you should make sure to balance more rigorous days with easier ones so no one feels exhausted and frustrated.

5. Variety is the spice of life

No matter where you’re going, it’s important to include some variety in your holiday itinerary. If you’re headed for a city, there’s a good chance your kids will get bored quickly if you’ve planned museum tour after museum tour. Try to change things up from day to day and vary the activities and pace to keep things exciting.

6. End it on a high note

I like to end our holidays on a high note, saving something everyone’s been looking forward to for the last day. If you can’t work it out this way, at least consider planning a fun farewell dinner. This could be dinner at a fancy restaurant, a dinner show, or some other memorable meal that is unique to your destination.

7. Use a planner

There is so much to keep track of when you’re planning a holiday, and using a planner can really help you stay organised and get a nice overview of your plans. There are dedicated holiday planner apps, or you can use a spreadsheet, a travel itinerary template, or even a notebook. Digital options are easier to share with others, so they’re perfect if you’re holidaying with another family.

8. Map everything

Once you have a better idea of what you plan to do, be sure to map it all out with Google or another map service. This will show you where everything is in relation to one another. That way, you don’t waste precious holiday time running around from one side of town to another only to do it all again the next day. Make use of features such as driving, walking and biking times as needed to calculate your travel times.

With these tips, your holiday itinerary should start shaping up in no time! 

Happy travels!

Love,

Nakita xxx