Disclosure – this is a collaborative post.
Planning a family holiday of any kind will certainly present its challenges. Whether it’s long-haul or short-haul trips, they’re both difficult to plan when it’s a family and gone are the days where it was just you or as a couple. With that in mind, it’s important to know what’s needed to plan a family holiday and making sure it all goes as smoothly as possible. Here are ten tips when planning a family holiday to Australia.
Do Your Research
Australia can often be a long way away for those living the furthest away from the country itself. Like with many destinations, there are lots of different places to visit and things to do. Therefore, the first thing you want to do when it comes to your holiday planning is to do some research. There are plenty of cities that are worth travelling to and here are a few suggestions below:
Sydney – Sydney is an ideal place to visit all year round, and you have iconic spots like the Sydney Opera House to enjoy. It’s a great tourist spot and one that you’ll find plenty to do and see in.
Tasmania – Tasmania is a place that’s more preferred in the summer but is also a great place if you want to go skiing. It’s always good to know what time of year you’re looking to head out so that you can stay in an area that’s going to suit you in terms of the weather.
Queensland – Famous for the Great Barrier Reef, this is an ideal spot for anyone who is wanting to explore their more adventurous side and see the wonders of the world down under the sea.
Consider A Lengthy Stay
One thing that you might want to consider when it comes to your vacation is how long you wish to go for. When it comes to long-haul travel like Australia, it’s important to try and stay as long as you can. Not only is this going to make your trip more enjoyable in terms of getting things done but the jet lag and the amount of travel is definitely going to take it out of you. So much so that you might want to dismiss a day or so in order to recover from any jet lag that you might experience.
You also might end up saving more money if you go for a longer stay as usually, the travel companies will often put on deals to encourage you to stay for a longer period of time. Having more time on your hands will ensure you get to see all of the sights that this country has to offer and it gives you more freedom to travel to various cities, perhaps you could rent a car too.
Think About Your Interests
Everyone has different interests when it comes to vacation, and it’s important that you include everyone in your household when planning a family trip. When it comes to family trips, it’s important to get everyone’s view on what they want to do when they’re on their holiday. For younger children, it’s something that you might not have to think about as much, but as they get older, they may have some ideas of their own in terms of what they want to do or explore. It’s worth listening and adapting your holiday where you can because they might think of things that could be fun to do too.
Family holidays need to be a group venture, and if you’re doing everything that just one person wants to do, it can get boring for others.
Prepare For The Long Haul Travel
Long haul travel is definitely not the easiest thing to do when you have children to look after. For some long-haul flights, you will likely have fuel stops or flights where you change half-way. This is important because it can often give you and your family the chance to stretch your legs and to perhaps get some food or have a nap. Sleeping on a plane can be something that is very difficult for some, as it’s not usually very comfortable. With that being said, you want to be fully prepared when it comes to looking after your children on a long-haul flight. Make sure you can make them as comfortable as possible and also have plenty of entertainment ready for them in order to keep them distracted.
If this is one of your first family holidays, then there’s also going to be a lot of added pressure, especially when it comes to public environments. Do what you can and understand that not everything is going to go as planned. Try to bring as much comfort and entertainment as possible, which is all you can do when it comes to flying long-haul.
Have Different Forms Of Currency
Currency is very important when travelling abroad because you never know what is going to work and what won’t work when you’re making payments overseas. It’s good to travel traditional currency like cash, but you should also have a few options when it comes to card too. Most cards that are linked to your bank will be able to set up for overseas spending and letting your banks know in advance that you are going away, will stop it from being declined. As well as your typical debit cards, you should also have a credit card. Credit cards are good to use in an emergency but are also a helpful backup, should you need it.
Having different forms of currency is definitely going to help you but also can provide you with peace of mind.
Create An Itinerary
An itinerary is good to have when it comes to taking a trip to Australia. With so much to see and do, you want to try and cram in as much as you possibly can. It’s not always a vacation destination that you can come back to every year either because airfares and the cost of living, in general, can both be very expensive. That’s why it’s important to create an itinerary so that you can get the most out of the trip whilst you’re there. Like finding things to do in Kalbarri, for example. It doesn’t need to be structured too strictly, but it can be helpful to know what you want to get done throughout the day.
The Budget
And thus comes the cost of a family trip. The budget is something you certainly want to factor in when it comes to what you’re going to spend. A family holiday anywhere can end up costing you quite a bit of money and so it’s important to know what you can save for your holiday. You shouldn’t be going away with spending on your credit card in mind, but if it’s necessary to spread some of the cost, then you can always assign some money to spend on your credit card should it be needed. Be as strict or as free with your budget depending on your circumstances, but if you’re trying to be careful, it’s worth having a spend per head so that you at least know how much you have to save for the trip.
Think About The Visa
Visas are often needed to get into a country nowadays, and that can be so for places like Australia. You will want to check what type of visa you’ll need to get into the country, and with some country’s visas, they do charge. It’s worth noting these costs as they usually are per person, rather than being per group booking. There are different types of visas available, so make sure you do your research before you travel, so you know what you’re buying.
Pack Wisely
When it comes to packing, you want to make sure you have everything you need for the current weather conditions. However, it’s also important to figure out everything you’ll need in order to get about once you’re over there, like chargers that adapt to plug sockets over there or any type of first aid kit that you might need.
Try To Book In Advance
One of the most important things to try and do is to book in advance. There’s going to be tickets and vacations that you can get relatively last minute, but for the most part, airfares are never that cheap. Try to book in advance, especially when it comes to taking children and having to book in the holidays when your children are off school. It’s also worth looking at relevant apps or online sites that can tell you where and when to book in order to save the most money.
Planning a family holiday down under is one that you want to prepare for as it’s going to be one of the more challenging. Use these tips to help save your family money both when booking it and spending once you’re over there. Prepare for the long-haul aspects and ensure you schedule everything in so that you make the most out of it.
Disclosure – this is a collaborative post.
