Taking a vacation as a family is a great way to bond. Every trip your children take helps them to develop a keener sense of the world, open their eyes and minds to new cultures, sights, sounds and flavours, and grow to be global insiders.
It takes a lot of effort to prepare for a family holiday. At InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, we know that the journey begins from the decision to take a holiday, through planning, all the way until you arrive back home.
Follow our Insider Guide for your flawless, stress-free family holiday! #travelwithkids
INSIDER TIP:
Ask your children! Include them in the decision making process over a meal and get everyone excited about the destination together. This provides the whole family with a sense of ownership and encourages a shared vacation agenda that both adults and children can look forward to.
WHEN TO GO?
What types of climate are your children accustomed to? Are they quick to adapt to environmental changes, or have they grown up all their lives in tropical weather? Save potential vacation disasters from happening by knowing when the best times to visit a location is so you can be ready for any weather.
PACKING THE SUITCASE
Over-packing is the most common mistake. To make sure you don’t forget any essentials, it is best to write individual lists for each family member. This way you can spread out the communal essentials and ensure that no one forgets their sun-cream or swim suits. Having your young ones help with the packing and contribute to the process not only creates excitement about the trip, but also helps them develop organizational skills in the process.
To get your children more involved on the holiday, you can also pack a durable camera that they can use on the trip. It can be a fun project and get them excited about all the new things they are going to see. It is also a great way to recycle old cameras and soon to-be-vintage camera phones. A child’s eye view of the trip can be quite an eye opener!
GETTING AROUND
When travelling with children, the mode of transportation you use is an important consideration before the trip begins. Find out prior to departure whether the best way to get around is via a driver, taxi or by renting a car.
Bus or metro systems are also a good way to get around in most cities if your children are older. Be sure to check out if they offer multiple day passes for the entire family for additional savings. Travelling by taxi is definitely more convenient for guests travelling with children or with a large family.
“Australia has strict laws with the safety of children travelling in vehicles. To provide you with the ultimate flexibility for the ever changing needs of children during your family holiday, it is advisable to have the Concierge organize a rental car for you with safely installed child seats”, advises Gary Lee, Chief Concierge, InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort.
FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD
Regardless of whether you’re an adult or a child, a common aspect everyone looks forward to when visiting a new place is food. Getting your children as excited as you are about new eating experience could help even with fussy eaters.
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts’ new children’s menu, which launches this year, offers the perfect way to fulfill the youth culinary explorer.
“Children are naturally inquisitive, and grown-ups are often surprised by the flavours they enjoy. Sometimes it takes a little encouragement, and a holiday with the family can be a great opportunity to explore new and exciting foods,” said leading children’s food expert and best-selling international author, Annabel Karmel MBE.
SEE AND EXPERIENCE IT ALL
Planning a shopping trip to a crowded city may not be the best idea when travelling with children. Having an idea of the available activities at your travel destination will help you plan your days with ease and could be the deciding factor on where to go. Most key cities in the region have it all, from adrenaline pumping theme parks to picturesque beaches to numerous shopping streets that will fill your itinerary.
#travelwithkids tip: Heat & sweat irritates delicate skin, choose clothes made of natural fibres for your children
#travelwithkids tip: If your kids have allergies, write this on a card with a local translation to show at restaurants or wear an allergy bracelet
ACTIVITIES JUST FOR CHILDREN
InterContinental hotels offer some incredible supervised activities, and little explorers can look forward to enjoying the Planet Trekkers Kids Club program for children aged 4 to 12. Your children can meet new friends and get involved in a host of creative and immerse activities while you enjoy some time alone or with your significant other.
BE A GLOBAL CITIZEN
Also, look out for activities that tie in to the local culture as much as possible, your little ones will be learning beyond the classroom, making them true global citizens. The InterContinental Bali Resort offers authentic local activities for young guests.
With the professional Planet Trekkers Managers at InterContinental hotels supervising your children, you can relax and indulge in some much-needed me-time, safe in the knowledge that the rest of the family are having the time of their lives. Enjoy the much deserved signature treatments at the hotel’s spa, a cup of coffee with a book in hand, or simply take a leisurely stroll along the beach.
AFTER THE TRIP
Your incredible family trip has come to an end and to sustain the excitement, you can consider dedicating a shelf at home for the souvenirs and keepsakes your children collected during the holiday.
Zoo and park tickets, as well as pop-out maps, postcards and the photos the children took can make nice additions to travel scrap books and albums that can then be annotated with your own family top tips, like a fun mini-guide that can be shared with friends or used the next time you go back to that destination.
A simple and fun way to remember your trip is to buy a large map of the country and when back home, hang the map on your wall using a pin-board and stick photos from your holiday on the places you have visited.
Create a ‘memory jar’ by filling an empty glass jar with trinkets collected from your trip to
create a fun, one-of-a-kind ornament for your home.
