I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; I love to travel. Before kids my husband and I would jet off on some new adventure every chance we got. These days with two kiddos in tow those adventures look a little different (#thereissomuchstuff) but still just as exciting. One of our favorite ways to travel as a family is with family friends. There are so many advantages to traveling with friends, but also things that you must consider when determining if you’ll be good travel partners.
I feel like the advantages are pretty clear kids are generally happier when they have a friend to interact with and parents are not solely responsible for the entertainment. Parents get to enjoy time with friends in a situation they may not otherwise have. Picking the right family to travel with will make or break your trip so here are a few things to consider.
Children
When we travel with friends we choose to travel with families that have children of similar ages to ours. This allows for built in play buddies. Having children together for long periods of time that have a significant age difference is bound to lead to trouble. The same is true for children that have wildly different personalities or just don’t get along. Think about it would you want to spend your vacation with someone you don’t jive with? Nope and neither do your kids. A vacation is not the time to force a friendship that just isn’t there.
Budgets
When you vacation do you eat out every meal and hit up every attraction regardless of price? Cool, just make sure your travel companions have that same expectation. There is nothing wrong with vacationing on a budget, everyone does, but the important thing is to make sure that you are all on the same page about what that budget is. If you aren’t willing to pack lunches or make dinner where your staying, but that is how your family friends are going to be able to afford the trip you are planning then this isn’t the time to travel together.
Space
I love my friends and family, but I become a pretty awful person in close quarters. When vacationing with family friends space is huge. Everyone should be afforded their own personal space. Don’t think that traveling with 4 kids and 4 adults you can rent a two bedroom place and have your best experience. Children need their own space just as much as adults do, so don’t sacrifice their needs in order to save a little. Believe me you’ll be paying for it in the end.
Go with the flow
Having a plan for your day is great but loosing it because something doesn’t go as planned is not. When traveling with friends flexibility is a must. Someone is bound to nap at the wrong time, need to use the bathroom every five minutes, or have an epic meltdown. Just go with the flow. Remember to those that give grace, grace will be given.
Pre-planning
Even for the most laid back traveler some planning is necessary. Take some time to sit down with your friends in the planning stages of your trip to determine some of the logistics such as lodging, main attractions, hard no’s, and mode of travel. Determining how you are paying for various activities and aspects of your trip ahead of time can minimize awkwardness later. Clear communication about expectations can solve most problems before they occur.
The most important thing to remember is that this is a vacation for everyone. Enjoy the time with your family and friends, these are memories that you and your children will cherish forever.
