The 22 best family travel tips to know

Are you planning the perfect family getaway in the UK? Although this is exciting, it can also feel overwhelming with there being so much to consider, decide on, and get ready. However, all you need is a guide to show you the right family travel tips so you can create unforgettable memories without the stress. And that’s why we’re here!

A young family enjoying a sunny day on the beach, playing in the sand.

Whether you're planning a local staycation in the heart of nature, a getaway in the rolling countryside, or an escape to the coast, there are some great family holiday travel tips that can make your stay as special as you want. From the way you book and choose a location to the different activities you try and the way you pack, these tips can make all the difference when wanting a smooth and hassle-free trip. Read on to find out the 22 best family travel tips will help you organise a holiday that everyone will love.

Family holiday travel tips

Going on holiday with your family is one of the best things to do, no matter everyone’s age, but it requires careful planning and consideration. Here are some essential family travel tips to get you started:

1. Decide your favourite holiday style

Before diving into specific destinations, it’s good to first consider what type of holiday suits your family best. For instance, some families thrive in adventurous locations with lots of exciting activities to do and new places to explore. On the other hand, some families need the peace and quiet of a tranquil location, where they can relax and rejuvenate.

You can consider things like the number of guests, the ages of the children, energy levels, and unique interests when choosing your holiday style. And as always, whatever style you choose now, you can always choose another on your next UK break.

2. Stay in the right accommodation

Selecting suitable accommodation is also one of the most crucial family holiday travel tips. This can also contribute heavily to the style of holiday you want, and how comfortable and enjoyable your time away is.

Some of the things to look for in a place include:

Enough space for everyone to sleep comfortably
Kitchen facilities to prepare meals
A location close to your favourite attractions
Child-friendly amenities like pools or play areas
A strong sense of community at your accommodation

Picking the right accommodation can sometimes make all the difference in having an unforgettable family holiday.

3. Book things in advance

It’s true that spontaneity can be fun, but when travelling with family, it can be very wise to book things in advance. This not only ensures you secure accommodation and activities for the time you want, but also helps you plan your itinerary ahead of time.

We suggest booking things such as accommodation, popular attractions and activities, restaurant reservations for any special occasions and equipment rentals (like bike hires).

4. Choose activities for all the family

One of the most important family travel tips is to ensure everyone has something to look forward to. And that means having the ideal mix of activities and things to do in your itinerary.

When choosing the right activities, you can consider the ages and interests of your family. This way, you can ensure you have some adventurous activities to suit the thrill-seekers among you – like watersports – and some relaxing activities like spa breaks for those who want relaxation.

A family sat in the outdoor seating area at The Lakeside Bar & Eatery on a summers day at our park in the Isle of Wight, The Lakes Rookley.

5. Create a holiday itinerary

It’s good to have a basic structure to help everyone know what to expect. That’s where your itinerary comes in. This will be a handy guide leading up to, and during, your holiday, making sure you all get to see and do the things you want in the time you’re there.

Some things to include in your itinerary are:

The main activities
Schedules – such as wake-up, activities, meal, and sleep times
Plenty of rest and recharge periods
Factored in travel times
Consideration for everyone's energy levels

6. Be flexible on your trip

This follows on nicely from the family travel tip about itineraries. It’s good to have a base structure for your holiday, but even with careful planning, things don't always go as expected. Therefore, you need to be flexible, and know how to have fun no matter how things change.

For instance, be prepared to adjust plans based on the weather, and swap some outdoor activities for some indoor fun. Also, you can be ready to skip certain activities if children are tired or you take unexpected breaks.

Have a good plan for your trip, but don’t be frightened to embrace spontaneous opportunities where needed.

Family staycation travel tips

Staycations can be just as exciting as overseas trips, and you get to make the most of holidays closer to home. Here are some of our top family staycation travel tips:

An image of Church Cove, Cornwall on a summers day. There are views of the beach, blue sea and surrounding greenery.

7. Pick the best UK location

Once you know what style of holiday you’re looking for, you can then start choosing the best location for your UK staycation. The UK offers countless fantastic destinations for families, no matter what you’re looking for.

For instance, you could head off on a beach escape in the beautiful region of Cornwall, or explore the scenic mountains and highlands of Scotland. If you want a nature escape, you could escape to the New Forest in Hampshire, and if you want to explore vibrant towns and maritime culture, why not try the Isle of Wight?

There are plenty of places in the UK to visit, so make sure you choose one that best suits your family.

8. Research your chosen area

Knowledge is power when it comes to family travel tips, which means you should definitely do some research to find out everything you need to know about your upcoming family getaway.

The research you do should be focused on some key things, such as:

The local attractions and their operating hours
The upcoming weather patterns for your trip
What public transport is like in the area
How far away things are from your accommodation
Any family-friendly restaurants nearby
Indoor backup activities for bad weather periods
Local events and festivals taking place when you visit

9. Choose some games for car journeys

Another one of the best family staycation travel tips is knowing how to make long car journeys fun. These trips don’t need to be boring, since you can pack and plan some great games for car journeys – as well as snacks, of course!

You could plan to play simple games like Eye-spy, or The Memory Game. And, if you plan ahead enough, you can always bring along travel-sized board games or notepads to play certain types of games in the car.

10. Create imaginative experiences

When it comes to family holidays, imaginative experiences are essential. Knowing how to transform ordinary moments into adventures can make your getaways the most memorable times for your children, and even the adults too.

Let’s say you’re on a family camping trip, you can create scavenger hunts and make-believe outdoor games. Also, you can plan themed days, such as having a spooky night during Halloween season, or a festive night for Christmas.

11. Get involved in holiday park events

If you’re staying at a UK holiday park, you can also make the most of organised activities and get involved in the community spirit. The best parks across the UK will have a range of activities and events going on.

You can bring the children along to a kids' club or shows, view some evening entertainment, or get involved in some new sports and activities for the whole park.

12. Remember, there's always next time

This is one of the best family travel tips to remember, especially if you’re on a UK staycation. Don't try to do everything in one trip, because there’s always next time.

You might be panicking trying to cram as many things to do as possible into your time away, but this is unrealistic and can make your stay feel chaotic and rushed. Instead, pick your favourite activities, focus on quality experiences and family bonding time, and know that there’s always many more places and times to explore the UK on another staycation.

Family travel packing tips

A huge part of travelling with your family is packing. Smart packing can make or break a family holiday, so here are some great family travel packing tips you need to know:

13. Don't overpack

One of the most practical family travel tips is to pack light, and not stuff your case full of unnecessary things.

For example, rather than packing different types of outfits, choose versatile clothing that can cover all bases. Also, plan to do laundry, so you can pack fewer clothes and simply wash them. And as always, you can consider buying some items at your destination, instead of taking up valuable space in your bags.

14. Follow a packing checklist

If you’re worried about forgetting something for the family trip, we suggest creating a comprehensive packing list. This way, you can follow an order and check things off as you pack them in the weeks or days leading up to your holiday.

However, this isn’t just for the days before your trip, but it can also be used when you’re leaving. This way, you can make sure anything you took out of your case is back in it before you leave your accommodation to head back home.

15. Bring basic medicine and first aid

Always pack a basic medical kit. You never know when you might need anything from a simple plaster to a wrap-around bandage. Your accommodation will likely have supplies too, but it’s good to bring your own – especially for the car journey or days out.

Some things to bring include:

Pain relievers for both adults and children
Plasters and bandages
Antiseptic wipes
Any prescription medications
Common remedies for travel sickness

16. Journals and diaries are a great idea

One great thing about a family holiday is the memories that each person makes. These can even be slightly different, or from different perspectives too. For example, everyone will have their favourite moment from the trip, or a unique thing they saw that stuck with them.

Therefore, make sure you bring journals and diaries for everyone to document your adventures in. These can be good to write in during rest or quiet periods in the day, in-between activities.

17. Bring a good camera

One of the best family holiday trips is to make sure you capture memories in the right way with a camera. You can either bring your own dedicated camera, or use the advanced cameras from your phone. However, you can always opt for disposable cameras or even unique Polaroids.

Also, depending on your style of holiday, you might want to consider something more durable or waterproof.

Family travel budget tips

Making your family holiday unforgettable doesn’t mean it has to be expensive. There are plenty of family travel budget tips that can help you have a more affordable, but still exciting, trip:

18. Look for affordable accommodation

A great way to save money on stays is to look for affordable accommodation. Whilst you’re bound to have a great time in more luxury options, that doesn’t mean you won’t be more than satisfied with some great value options.

For instance, you can stay in a value caravan with your family. This provides all the space and comfort you need, but also has the kitchen facilities to cook your own meals instead of spending out on restaurants each day.

19. Embrace the great outdoors

Nature-based activities are not only great fun for the kids, but they often cost less. You can do loads of great things such as:

Visiting national parks and beautiful gardens
Hiring some bikes to go riding
Bring some food on a picnic
Explore pristine beaches
Go on nature walks

This will help you soak up the beauty of the UK’s many landscapes, all without breaking the bank.

20. Find free or cheap activities

Cheap attractions and activities are great, but what can be even better is the many destinations that offer free things to do. You can find plenty of options, including:

Free museums and galleries
Local festivals and events that are free to enter
City walking tours
Park activities
Rock pooling
Public attractions and landmarks that are free to view

These activities will help you enjoy your time away without overspending, and they provide a great balance when there are other expensive things you want to do on the trip.

21. Time your trip right

Another one of the best family travel budget tips is to choose the best time to travel. This can not only impact the type of things you do and the theme of your getaway, but it can also significantly impact prices.

For instance, off-peak seasons are always cheaper for everyone. The only obstacle is if you have children in school who can only travel outside of term time. That being said, there are still certain times that are cheaper than others, such as February half term instead of summer holidays.

22. Take advantage of holiday offers

The last family travel tip, and one that’s important for budgeting, is to look for the best holiday offers and discounts available.

This can ensure you take advantage of any savings that can lower the price of your trip, so you can have the same amazing time, but at a much cheaper cost.

For instance, you can find a range of offers that include things like cheap accommodation deals and last-minute holiday discounts. As well as this, you can find seasonal deals that align with certain periods of the year, like Christmas, Easter, and even half terms.

H2 Family travel tips – FAQs

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about family travel tips:

How do I prepare for a family trip?

There are many ways you can prepare for a family trip. To start preparation early, you can consider:

Creating a detailed packing list
Booking essential elements in advance
Researching your destination
Planning activities for all family members
Setting a realistic budget

How can I enjoy traveling with my family?

There are many ways you can enjoy travelling with your family. Some great tips to make the most of family travel are:

Including everyone in the planning process
Being flexible with expectations and itinerary
Creating a balanced list of activities
Taking lots of photos
Making time for relaxation and recharging

How do I make a travel plan for my family?

You can develop an effective travel plan for your family by:

Discussing preferences with family members
Researching destination options in advance
Creating a realistic budget
Planning activities for everyone
Building in flexibility to the trip.

Make treasured memories on your next break with our family travel tips

Following these family holiday travel tips can help you create the perfect experiences for everyone, and ensure you have a trip that’s smooth, hassle-free, and most importantly, unforgettable.

Remember that each family is unique, so adapt these family travel tips to suit your specific needs, and make sure everyone is satisfied with the plan, holiday style, location, and more. The key to successful family holidays is finding the right balance between planning and spontaneity, activity and relaxation, and structure and flexibility.

With these guidelines in mind, you're well-equipped to plan your next fantastic family adventure. Have the best time on your next UK break!