Your family vacation is something you should be able to look forward to and feel excited about. That means getting prepared and ensuring everything is ready and in place before you go. That might not seem like the most stimulating of ideas, but it is entirely necessary – the more you can prepare in advance and think about beforehand, the smoother and more enjoyable your vacation will be. Read on to discover some of the ways you can prepare for your family vacation. 

Zazil Kin Beach Tulum Mexico

Get Your Home Ready 

You might automatically think of your vacation itself when it comes time to prepare, but you shouldn’t forget to get your home ready as well. If you are leaving it unattended for a week or two, there are some security measures you should think about to make sure that your belongings and your property are safe and secure. These include:

  • Calling your security company (if you have one) to let them know you are going on vacation and for how long
  • Diverting your mail so it doesn’t build up and alert people you are away
  • Letting your neighbors know you are going out of town
  • Checking to see what needs to be unplugged (your fridge, freezer, and DVR should be kept running, of course)

Book What You Can 

To make your vacation an easy one, you should book what you can in advance so that you know it is done and you don’t have to concern yourself with it when you are trying to organize the family getting from home to the airport and then onto the plane. 

One thing to book in advance is your airport parking with Parkon.com. Booking your parking in advance means you don’t have to worry about leaving home extra early to give yourself time to find space in the parking lot, and you don’t have to concern yourself that your car will be unsecured and unsafe. You can drop the vehicle off and forget about it until you return. 

Avant Rent A Car Cancun Mexico

Packing 

Don’t leave your packing until the very last minute; this will cause you stress and you are much more likely to forget something if you do this. Try to pack a week or so in advance of your trip. You’ll know then that you have everything, and anything you still need to purchase can be bought with plenty of time to spare. 

Consider your destination and the activities you are doing on your trip, and plan accordingly, especially when it comes to the kids. For warm locations like Mexico, pack plenty of beachwear and sun protection, including reef-safe sunscreen. Reef-safe sunscreen is not a danger to marine life, and is safer for your children. For colder locations, make sure you have plenty of layers packed. And always have comfortable footwear!

The Journey 

Finally, you need to think about the journey itself. Whether you are flying or driving, you need to consider how long that journey is going to be and how you are going to keep yourself and your family occupied. You might need something to pass the time, and again, this can be dealt with in advance if you have already thought about the journey time. 

Taking a bag of books, puzzles, games, and small toys can be a good idea. You can pass them out as rewards for every hour or half an hour of the journey, and it is something to look forward to. Don’t forget charging cables and backup battery chargers for devices!