Planning a Family Vacation: Factors to Consider

This millennium, more than ever, has witnessed a surge in career-centered yet family-disoriented professionals. It is fast becoming a norm to have one’s career almost always demanding a chunk of his time and energy at the expense of other crucial aspects of life like family. This is the reason it is not quite difficult to see  successful professionals with dysfunctional families. If care is not taken, this reality will continue to linger.

It takes conscious effort to manage a career and a family at a time. And what other best way to rekindle the bond within the home, foster family togetherness and create memories than embarking on family vacations periodically?
According to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, the outbound family travel market is set to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) OF 4.6% which is from 300million in 2017 to 376million in 2022 (Global Data, 2018).
Have you been toying with the idea of going on a vacation with your family but don’t know how to go about it? Then this article is for you. The following are great ideas to consider when planning a perfect vacation with the family.
 
Having researched on best practices while planning a family holiday, here are our top factors to consider:

1. Do you want a Local or International Vacation?
   A local vacation happens within your current country while an International vacation involves travelling to another country entirely. For obvious reasons, local vacations are  easier to pull in relation to  international family trips both financially and otherwise. Oftentimes, a local family trip  does not  involve the processes of obtaining an International Passport, a Visa (which depends on your current country and your destinated country), ticket bookings and liaison with the bureau de change of your destinated country. So, depending on your budget, it is essential to decide from the word go which of these trips you can comfortably afford for your family.
    
2. What is your Family Size?
   Another important factor to consider is the size of the family – whether nuclear or extended, as well as the individual ages of the family members. A vacation destination for a family with grown ups will almost always be different from that of a family with preteens. If you are planning a family tourism for your little kids, you have to think destinations like Orlando, Florida where they can enjoy Disney world or Dinosaur ValleyState Park in Texas. However, these vacation spots may not really be ideal for a family with adults. In the same vein, destinations that work for smaller families may not always work for larger families. These questions will help you determine where to go to as a family.
    
3. What says the Weather?
   The weather condition of the the country of choice is very important to note just so you do not end up in Russia during the winter with an intention of surfing in the beach. The weather and climate of your destination are bound to dictate the course of activities you can embark on. If you’re looking at a beach vacation on a lovely summer weather then you could be looking at a destination like Florida at a window of late June to late September. Your family health is also one to consider in relation to weather and climate. Is anyone bound to fall ill as a result of the weather condition in your intended destination?  Cold regions of the world are associated with health challenges such as Hypothermia, Flu and Pneumonia while hot regions are associated with heat stress. Ensure that the weather of your country of choice does not pose a health risk to your family.
    
4. How Health Friendly is the Destination?
   You would want to keep in mind that if everyone catches the flu during a family vacation, then you might have to kiss the whole point of the vacation goodbye. For a country like the United States of America that has had her fair share of influenza, commonly known as the flu, the Centre of Disease and Prevention has taken time to map out the Flu window, the peak being December and February. A healthy trip is a fun filled one, therefore, keep your eyes out for those country related illnesses and their peaks as you make arrangements for that family travel.
    
5. Air, Sea, Road or Rail?
   The medium of transportation is another  good consideration before embarking on a family trip. You will likely have more  options to choose from if it is a local vacation. For most international vacations, your options will most likely be limited to air travel. The mode of transportation is important because your vacation begins right from that point. Picking out a fun and safe mode for the whole family will therefore go a long way to championing the recreational part of it all. For instance, are your kids interested in seeing it all during a trip? Then a road trip or even a rail trip would be the best for them.
    
6. Check the Checklist
   A check list is a list of tasks to be carried out or a list of things to take along. This is important if you don’t want to forget anything on the D-day. You would be surprised how your mind could stray away from taking the first aid kit or bringing along an extra blanket. It wouldn’t be cool if you leave the garage door unlocked either. A check list will help you to keep tab of everything. In all, every detail is meant to be tailored towards the word, Vacation.
   
   The processes involved in family vacations are often overwhelming, and people tend to shy away from it after taking a peek at the resources involved. We hope these tips have helped to streamline the top considerations.
   
   Do not forget to use KompleteCare™ to connect with your local doctor on your trip anywhere you are. And if  you have pending doctor appointments, your physician can continue to provide care to you and your family while you are away on vacation through Online Doctor Consultation.
    
    
   
   About the Author
   Oghenero Estella Godwin is a Content Writer Intern at KompleteCare. Get in touch with Estella at estella.godwin@kompletecare.com
    
    
    
   Medical Disclaimer: KompleteCare™ aims to improve the quality of life for everyone with fact-based content about the nature of diseases, preventive care, behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.