Written by Stephanie Eige, January 2025
Traveling with family can be one of the most rewarding experiences, creating shared memories you
can cherish for years. However, without preparation, family travel can also be stressful. My family
has been to 48 states and a dozen or so countries over the years – road trips, cruises, air travel –
and we have learned some important things along the way. Here are my tips for ensuring your
family travel creates more good memories than bad ones.
- Start Small
If you’re going on a road trip, don’t set out on a month-long trip when your only other trips have been
long weekends or 4 to 5 days. It can be tempting when you see others out on extended trips, and
they are having so much fun and look carefree. Our family has tested lots of different road trip
scenarios. Ideally, on any given travel day, you should be able to stop and have fun experiences,
while working on making it to your next location. The maximum amount of time you want to be
traveling each day in the car is 5 to 6 hours. This gives you time to make stops and see local sites
along the way, as well as make progress on your itinerary. Don’t start your road trip experience with
something that is weeks long. Start out with a maximum of 7 days. See how it goes. Make
adjustments based on your experience.
Travel fatigue is real, and it can hit hard if you haven’t been building the travel muscle. Our first road
trip was one week. As the kids got older and we gained more experience, our longest road trip was
three weeks. It was a lot of fun, but we were all ready to get home at the end of the trip. We traveled
in our family car and stayed at hotels and Airbnb’s along the way. Every family is diAerent—for
instance, traveling in an RV or 5th wheel might make extended trips more feasible.
If you’ve never been on a cruise, don’t book a long one. Start out with a 3-4 day sailing to see how it
goes. Make sure you like the cruising experience before you spend a lot of money on a longer trip.
Maybe it’s just not your vibe. And, if you have a longer sailing, you are stuck on the ship. We called
our first cruise “a practice cruise” because it was really a test to see what cruising was all about.
We happen to love cruises and usually take one or two 7-8 day cruises per year.
Similarly, if flying, choose a nearby destination to keep the flight short. Whenever possible always
try to book direct flights. These have less chance for interruption and will help reduce any stress.
Build gradually until everyone feels more comfortable with extended travel. - Get the Kids Involved
When you are traveling with family, it’s important that everyone is excited about the trip, or at least
some part of the trip. This is easier when the kids are a little older, but it can even be done with
young kids. If they are young, find two or three options of places to visit in a destination, and give
them a choice. If they are a little older, ask them to do some research about the area you are visiting
and pick a few places they might like to see. Then, as a family, review the options presented and
discuss and make a final decision. Other things the kids can do to be involved include tracking
expenses on their phones by managing receipts from gas, food, activities, etc. You’ll likely find they
had no idea how much some of these things cost. You can also get them involved by having them
oversee taking photos and videos for family memories and social media. - Get Memberships with Reciprocals
Memberships to local museums, science centers, or zoos often include reciprocal benefits at
similar institutions nationwide. These perks—such as discounted or free entry—can save time and
money. Start by joining a favorite local institution, then take advantage of its reciprocity program
during your travels. - Look for Unique Experiences Off the Beaten Path
While popular attractions are often worthwhile, seek out lesser-known sites and activities to make
your trip truly unique. Apps like Roadside America can help uncover hidden gems. Some of our best
family memories have come from exploring oA-the-beaten-path destinations. Also, try to avoid
chain restaurants and prioritize the local cuisine to really get a feel for the area and make your
experience unique. - Think Fun First
Fun should always take precedence when traveling. While educational experiences can be
valuable, they’ll resonate more if everyone enjoys them. Tailor activities to your family’s interests
and ages. This will vary by the ages of your children and the individual personalities of your children – and the adults too! If you, as an adult, have a genuine love for something, share it with your
children. Even if you aren’t sure they will like it, they will get something out of it just by you sharing
your interest. Even if they’re initially hesitant, they’ll appreciate your enthusiasm and gain a deeper
understanding of you. If the kids (and you) aren’t having fun, learning is going to be diminished
anyway. So, just have fun! - Keep Expectations in Check
If you expect everyone to love everything all the time, you will be disappointed. Not everyone will
like everything and that’s ok. Avoid taking it personally if one child dislikes the museum you chose.
Not everyone loves museums. It’s ok if one child hates the restaurant you chose for dinner. Not
everyone is excited about new food choices. Be flexible. It’s okay to bring another food option to the
restaurant if you looked at the menu and you know one child won’t find anything they like. It’s okay
to let a child that is not interested in the museum play a video game or play on their phone. Don’t
force it. It might be annoying, but it’s ok. Adapting to individual preferences helps maintain
harmony. - Have a Plan but Stay Flexible
Planning is essential, especially for road trips, but leave room for spontaneity. You might want to
linger in a location you love or leave early from one that doesn’t meet your expectations. Avoid
overbooking accommodations in advance to maintain flexibility. Build extra time into your schedule
to prevent feeling rushed, and remember that it’s okay to finish your trip early if needed.
Family travel rarely has significant downsides. So, when in doubt, pack your bags and go. With
preparation and flexibility, you’re bound to create unforgettable memories.