Planning the trip of a lifetime can be hard. Planning the trip of a lifetime for you AND your family? Phew! I need to sit down already.
That’s what we are here for. We are proud to say that we are family holiday experts here at Experience Travel, with our Managing Director Sam as our mentor, having travelled extensively with his own young family. We ask the right questions, we listen to you and we know what it takes to make a fabulous family holiday run smoothly. Here are our top tips:
1. Get the rooms right
No matter how many people are travelling and no matter what the age of your family, rooms are important. You want space, some peace and quiet, something a little bit special, but feeling safe is also paramount. We know which hotels can add two extra beds to a suite, we know which hotels have inter-connecting rooms and we know the best two bedroom pool villas in all of Asia! Whether you want to all be together in one room, exclusive use of a villa or just to be in the next room down, we will find you the right set-up.
2 Bedroom Pool villa at the Vijitt, Phuket
2. Rain gear
Us Brits are obsessed with weather, and when it comes to weather in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, we know what we’re talking about. However, as much as we wish we could guarantee sunshine for every trip we create, Mother Nature will occasionally decide to throw in the odd shower here and there, so it pays to make sure that everyone has a good waterproof jacket – just in case!
3. Down time
This is, after all, a holiday! Whilst maximising your time and seeing some incredible cultural sites is important, we know that your holiday is a chance for you to unwind and relax. We will make sure to plan your itinerary right so that you have exciting experiences interspersed with enough time to re-charge your batteries (preferably on a beautiful sandy beach).
The stunning beach front and infinity pools at the Nam Hai Hotel, Hoi An, Vietnam.
4. Snacks
Orson Welles once famously said: “Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what’s for lunch.” I wonder how Mr Welles would have reacted if he had taken a family trip to Vietnam and tried to persuade his children to eat the pungent-smelling durian fruit, or slurp rice porridge for breakfast? Don’t get me wrong, the food in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka is distinctively delicious, but sometimes local fare puts off younger and slightly fussier diners. Make sure to take with you a few granola bars, fruit chips and other handy snacks that you know your family like so you will always have reliable treats to hand should hunger strike.
Sample some delectable local dishes, although we understand they may not be to all young diners’ taste!
5. Prepare properly for your flight
Ask us to pre-book your seats on the plane for you. Buy plenty of bottled water after passing through security, take puzzle books and headphones to keep littluns entertained, sweets to suck to stop ears popping and warm socks to wear when it gets a little chilly at altitude. Flying can be fun, as long as you are prepared.
If you want to speak to one of our family holiday experts, simply call us on 0207 924 7133 and we will help you put together the perfect itinerary.