Family Holiday Survival Guide

This guest post is written by Paige Green
For many parents, the family getaway is anything but a holiday. Unless your kids are absolute angels, travelling with your brood can feel like preparing for battle - or launching an all out war. By the time you return, you'll need a holiday from your holiday!
Don't despair, planning a family trip doesn't have to be a nightmare. We've got your family holiday survival guide to help you plan and enjoy your time together.

Family Holiday Travel Tips
Plan ahead - travelling during school holidays is always always going to be challenging. The important thing for parents is to expect these conditions and prepare for them in advance. Lock in your accommodation early as many areas will sell out fast and you'll need to start researching airline prices early rather than banking on last minute deals.

Don't overbook - new and young parents should avoid being too ambitious with their itineraries - you'll be surprised at how much longer getting ready and getting around takes with kids in tow. Staying at a family friendly resort or renting a holiday home will make it easy as most of your activities will be based nearby.

Have a backup plan - have a plan B in case of rainy days, upset tummies or other unforeseen incidents. Pack your own family holiday survival kit with games, new toys and ideas for when you're on the road, stuck in traffic or waiting in a long queue. Plan each of your days to include some quiet downtime - it'll give you that much needed break through the day.

Do something for yourself - don't plan your holidays just around your kids - they'll always want to go to Movie World. There's no reason why you can't book great Phuket holidays or take that trip to Bangkok with the kids as well - just plan your activities appropriately.

Pack smart - with baby formula, nappies, swimming cossies and prams - once you're finally done loading up the car, does it seem like there's no more room for the kids themselves? Plan how you pack for your holidays and think about ways you can minimise on what you have to bring. One idea is to make a list of some the essentials you don't already own and then order them online and have them delivered to your destination.

Let someone else do some of the work - many packages for family vacations are specifically tailored to save you time on planning. These will often include accommodation and admission fees to popular attractions, sparing you the time and hassle of making the arrangements yourself. All you have to do is get everyone there!

Keep in mind that you're not alone. Taking family trips with other families means more hands on deck to help with the kid-sitting responsibilities. Enlist the assistance of grandparents, nannies or hire help - anything you can do to make your holiday as stress-free as possible.

What are your family holiday tips? Do share in the comments!