Ultimate Guide for Planning a Family Trip

Travelling as a family unit can be extremely fun – if you take the time to prepare for the adventure. So, how to start planning the best family trip? Sometimes the planning stages for any trip can be extensive and time consuming, especially when the whole family gets involved! So, without further ado, let’s share our top tips to creating long-lasting memories on your next family holiday. 

Tables of Contents: 

Top 5 Steps to Planning a Family Trip 

Taking a holiday as a family can be memorable and rewarding, a great way for the whole family to bond over a wonderful, shared experience.  But let’s face it, planning a trip comes with its own set of challenges. Luckily for you, we’ve been organising small-group tours for over 30 years, and we’ve picked up some great travel tips along the way that we’d love to share with you. From the fun film locations to excite the kids to the quiet hamlets of England where you can catch your breath, we’re here to guide you to making the right decisions for your family’s holiday. 

Have an Honest Conversation 

First things first, before you book flights, transport or accommodation, the whole family needs to be on the same page about the holiday. While the parents are paying, it’s important to remember that by including your kids in the planning, you might save yourself some headaches later down the track. Getting the kids involved in the planning of the holiday is a great way of getting them excited ahead of time.  

If you know your daughter is a huge Harry Potter fan, why not include a film location as part of your trip? Maybe you’ll stop at Alnwick Castle in England or stop to see the Jacobite Steam Train pass over Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland. 

And if you’re fans of history and literature, you might include a night or two in Oxford or Bath, where history and beauty collide – making it a fascinating place for all who visit. 

Your kids’ ages should be taken into consideration as well. Their stamina to explore all day might not be as good as yours (or vice versa) and they may need shorter days or longer breaks to allow them to recharge. 

Picking the Perfect Destination 

Once you’ve had that honest chat about the kind of holiday you’re all hoping for, it’s now time to lock in the perfect destinations. This is when chatting to your kids is important but also take into consideration what you will enjoy on your holiday as well. If everyone has something to look forward to, you’re sure to avoid any disappointments.  

Our suggestion? Make a list of everybody’s favourite things when it comes to travel. If your daughter loves Harry Potter, pretty lakes, and ice cream – note those down. If your son loves old architecture, cute animals, and interactive museums – note those down. And what about you? Writing a list can help narrow down which destinations hold the most potential for your family holiday. 

When considering your destination, our top tips to think about are: 

• Your budget – Locations vary in price, even when located in the same country. Keeping to a budget can help to ensure that the whole family enjoys the trip, without the worry of dwindling funds if the kids want a special souvenir!

• Travel time – Depending on your starting location and your trip duration, ideally, you’d like to have the most time in your chosen destination. So, thinking about how long it could take you to arrive is important, especially if you have younger children. 

• Seasons – When travelling with children, you're likely going to be restricted to the school holidays when many others will also be travelling. Take this into consideration and book ahead where you can to secure accommodation and transport before it sells out or gets too expensive. 

Finding Activities the Whole Family Will Love 

You might not think it’s possible, but there will be plenty of activities the whole family will enjoy together. Maybe you’re all Harry Potter fans and would love to see the ‘Harry Potter’ steam train chug along the viaduct in the Scottish Highlands as you try to spot any blue cars flying about.  

Maybe you all love getting out on the water – in which case, Scotland is our top recommendation for iconic, striking, and sometimes eerie bodies of water waiting to be discovered. From the enigmatic Loch Ness to the beautiful Loch Lomond, there really is something for everyone in the family, from history to beauty, high-energy activities to a relaxing cruise. 

Does your family love playing hide and seek? Venice in Italy is a great spot for that. With endless winding alleyways and all those nooks and crannies? You could split up into teams and play a fun game of ‘who can find the best gelato shop’ or ‘who can buy the funniest Venetian mask’? 

Choosing Accommodation to Fit Your Family Dynamic 

Every family travels in a different way, but we’d highly expect you to rarely be in your accommodation apart from at night! But finding the right accommodation is going to be important. Consider the distance you might have to walk back to your accommodation at the end of a long (but fun) day – perhaps it’s worth considering if you can afford something a bit closer to town? And depending on the size of your family, you’ll have to see which accommodation providers will be able to accommodate the family dynamic. 

A few essentials to consider when booking accommodation: 

• Is breakfast included? 

• Can you get adjoining rooms? 

• Do the rooms have TVs? 

• How far is the accommodation from town? 

• If it’s a hotel, does it have any kid-friendly activities available? 

Keep It Fun 

Above all else, the most important consideration when planning a family trip is to remember to have fun! Travelling with your family is a wonderful way to bond and you can create long-lasting memories for everyone involved. There are bound to be a few moments when the kids are exhausted and being difficult, or you’d really like a moment to yourself, but the important thing to remember is how lucky you all are to be exploring such wonderful places together as a family. 

Laughter is the key – which means having fun is essential. Make sure, whatever the day looks like, you take some time to schedule in some fun whenever you can. Maybe that’s naming all the animals in the paintings at the museum – who can come up with the funniest name? Or maybe that’s scheduling in a beach stop so the kids can have a swim while you take a breather on the sand.  

Another thing to keep in mind? Sometimes being spontaneous is the best choice you can make. You might have a plan, but if no one is really feeling it, and someone makes a great alternative suggestion – why not give it a go?

Let Us Plan Your Trip for You 

Being an award-winning, small-group tour provider*, we can help make your dream fun family trip a reality without the fuss. Trust us to seek out the trails less trodden, the tales only told by locals, and the exciting spots to experience together as a family. And our top asset? We can make your chosen destination feel unique to you when you contact our private tours team to arrange your trip. Whether you’re travelling to celebrate a birthday or simply to spend some quality time together, our team go above and beyond to provide every aspect.

If you’re new to our tours, be sure to stay up to date with our adventures by signing up to our newsletter.   

*Please note we cannot accommodate children under five years of age on our scheduled tours. We apologise for the inconvenience. However, on our private tours, we accept any age of traveller.