What Does It Really Mean to Go on a Family-Friendly Trip?

Sharing fun and memorable experiences help strengthen family bonds. The combination of good and bad experiences while on holiday provides opportunities to better understand each other’s weaknesses and strengths. 

• Visiting new places offers valuable new experiences that you and your children will cherish. Everyone will also have a better understanding of cultures and traditions outside of their own.
• There are many reasons for families to go on vacation together, but a really important one is quality time. This is where everyone focuses on the family and unplugging from everything else. 
• Going on vacation and meeting new people also helps develop your children’s social skills, giving them plenty of opportunities to interact with different kinds of people. 

Some may say that any place is family-friendly as long as it accommodates you and your children’s needs. As long as the kids can survive the flights, day trips, and such, it’s fine. But if you’re really serious about ensuring every member of your family gets to enjoy their vacation, there are certain aspects of it that should be considered. 

Shorter Travels as Much as Possible 

• The sooner you get to your destination, the fewer chances of any of your children getting bored, throwing tantrums, or asking you the endless question of, “Are we there yet?”
• Choosing travel attractions closer to your accommodation will work in everyone’s favor. This means less time spent traveling and more time enjoying the attraction. 
• Strategize on how to explore a destination with little to no time traveling required. 

Roomy Accommodation

Even when you’re traveling with young children, everyone needs to sleep comfortably.

• Decide whether to book two separate rooms or one huge hotel room with enough beds for everyone. Better yet, check if there’s a family villa available with plenty of room for everyone. 
• Make sure the property is family-friendly in the sense that the rooms are child proof, and they can offer a crib if you require it.
• If you’re not comfortable having your children sleep in another room, but you need quality sleep as well, look for adjacent rooms. This way, you can easily get to them if you want to and still enjoy your privacy. 

Outdoor Access 

So you found the perfect accommodation, but what about space for play?

• Pools, playgrounds, and other areas where children can run wild while the parents sit and enjoy are a game-changer.
• A property close to parks and playgrounds is a great alternative. These places may not be considered attractions per se, but they still offer a great spot for everyone in the family to have fun.

Food Options 

Whether going on a road trip, camping, or international travel, food safety should be a priority. If you’re meticulous when preparing food at home, you should double the effort on the road.

• It’s not enough for a restaurant to label itself as kid-friendly but to offer food items that are actually suitable for children. 
• Check if the dishes aren’t just modified from the adult version, but something made with children’s needs in mind. 
• Restaurants that go the extra mile in keeping your kids fed and entertained are a bonus. It’ll be a huge blessing if a specific restaurant comes with a kids’ playground. 

The Right Temperature 

Travel guides everywhere always tell you to consider the local weather and the season, so you know what to pack and what to expect. When traveling with children, however, too hot or too cold can be problematic.

• Children don’t do well in extreme weather conditions, especially if it’s a sudden change from what they’re used to. 
• They might find the local weather too uncomfortable, so they end up not enjoying the trip. If it’s your first family vacation or when traveling with young children, choose somewhere closer or where the temperature change isn’t too drastic.
• Adjusting to the local weather could take time. There’s also the possibility of them having a fever or a cold.

Going on a family-friendly vacation should be family-friendly in every sense of the word. You not only consider everyone’s comfort and preferences but also a destination’s family-friendly offering. When visiting the Maldives, Centara Maldives (CMLM) offers exactly what you need for accommodation that seriously means family.