When my husband and I realised how burnt out we were because of work, we had to do something about it. There’s no use working 24/7 only to find life passing you by. Our whole mindset had to change, and it’s not an easy thing to do when you’re both workaholics. Our kids are young, however, they’re now at a great age to holiday more frequently. It’s not always the biggest holidays that they remember the most, either. They love chillin’ at the beach and the excitement of new places. Family holidays are so important for your entire family unit. It strengthens your bond and allows you to share real conversations. Plus, you’re creating the happiest childhood memories for your kids.
Getting started
But hey. It’s one thing talking about it, and another trying to work out where to go and how you’re going to pay for it. Let’s face it, holidays can be expensive. You might have to apply for leave, factor in school holidays pricing, luggage, transport, the list goes on. It can all get a little overwhelming. However, I assure you, it’s all worth it once you’re there.
So to get you started, we’re going to share some of our holiday planning tips to help you plan and execute the best family holidays this year.
Holiday planning calendar
This is an absolute winner! Once you go through this process and colour in the holidays, it goes straight to the fridge so everyone can look forward to it. We always start planning by adding public holidays and school holidays. I’ve included them here for you to download:
Working out the times you can take off work is extremely important. Make sure they don’t clash with big events like family birthdays, school excursions, or other state school holidays, etc. There’s nothing worse than booking a holiday to the Gold Coast during QLD school holidays….cough…not that I would know.
Involve the whole family
I like to lay a few ideas on the table for the family to pick through. I think it’s really important to get everyone’s input, and then you can all discuss which holidays to take and when. Everyone then understands and appreciates the decision-making process. I usually get the kids to help with some accommodation research. My daughter always seems to find videos to show what we can do or where we can stay. Very helpful indeed.
Our kids appreciate that big holidays cost more, so we only include one of these a year. The rest of our holidays are in cabins. We all understand that shorter breaks are sometimes better for our wellbeing. It helps break up school terms, and it’s a circuit breaker for us with work and life. So for our family, it’s important to almost force a family holiday.
Plan way in advance
Usually, by March, I’ve got everything locked away for the year ahead. There are many advantages to this process, and it’s worked like clockwork for us. These include:
- Availability. Not only where you want to be, but the room selection too.
- You only have to pay a deposit, then you can pay off the rest over time.
- It gives the whole family something to look forward to.
- You’ll save money booking ahead, and can often get a great deal.
Choosing the right accommodation
Consider the age of your kids and your budget. Research is key to getting this right, and I haven’t booked a bad one yet (touch wood). For us, we like a particular type of room and cabin, so I always look at the floor plans and the park or hotel layout. My goal is to get the best room or cabin closest to the water, and within walking distance to local places. I think you need to know what’s important for your family, and then go find it. Some things to consider include:
- Accommodation location near the beach or water
- Room location in the park/resort
- A room plan that suits your family
- Breakfast and other options, like room service
- Does it have a pool, playground, waterpark, games room, etc
I never book online. I always ring the accommodation directly and talk to someone who works there. More often than not, you find out things that aren’t on the website. The other week, I found out that the room type we wanted had 6 still available. One of them faced the garden courtyard, and the rest had a view of the ocean. I requested not to be in the garden room.
Family holiday budget
You have to be realistic about what you can afford. We always start with a wish list, then cut it back to what works for our budget. In saying that, holidays don’t have to cost the earth. Some of our best holidays are in parks. We stay in cabins, but camping is an awesome, budget-friendly choice. Some parks offer very cost-effective pricing, and if you take your own food, it’s a very affordable holiday. We live in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Our beaches are amazing, and some beachside parks also have modern splash zones and pools. Check out our local Dirt Cheap Camping Guide here. Consider our local Lake Mac Camping grounds for some good spots as well.
When we book more expensive holidays, I always plan the big expenses first. Accommodation and travel have to be paid off promptly. Then I look at activities and food. Saving for these is important, and our kids save as well. They do extra jobs around the house to earn pocket money, and they mostly ask for money as gifts for birthdays.
Final tips
- If you’re on a tight budget, start researching holiday parks first.
- Ask for deals. Stay 4 nights, pay for 3 nights.
- Read reviews. People will share honest reviews on Facebook or review sites.
- If you can’t find images of the rooms or grounds, there’s a reason for that.
- Check if the room you want has good WiFi. A lot of parks only have it close to the office.
- Book one trip for the year with friends. Kids have an awesome time with other kids.
- Not sure where to start looking. Ask other parent friends where they’d recommend, or ask in our Lake Mac Parents Facebook group.
You’ve got this family holiday thing in the bag.
