Traveling with your whole family can be overwhelming, even for the most experienced travelers. We’ve traveled together quite frequently but each time we travel during the holidays, it comes with its own set of challenges. Just last month we traveled to my sister’s house for Christmas. On my way home I thought it might be a good idea to compile a list of my tips for traveling with family for the holidays or otherwise.
**Full Disclosure: I test-drove the 2019 Chevrolet Colorado for review purposes. No compensation was received & all opinions are my own.
Tips for Traveling with Family
- Plan for Extra Time – Restroom and fuel stops add up. If you think the trip will take you 4 hours, it’ll probably be more like 5. This applies to attractions, too. Let’s say your family wants to visit two attractions in just one day. It’ll likely take you longer than you’d planned for at the first which doesn’t leave enough time for the second.
- Be Realistic – Not everything will go exactly as you’d planned. Traffic is unpredictable, the weather does what it wants and illnesses can happen at any time. Don’t try to over extend yourself or your plans.
- Don’t Overpack – The less you bring, the easier it is to pack your vehicle. You also have less you have to carry into hotels, and the more room you have for consumables & souvenirs.
- Pack the Snacks – Hangry kids (or adults!) can turn a fun family trip upside-down in a matter of minutes. You never know when the time between meals could go longer than expected – be it unexpected traffic or more time at an attraction than was planned for.
- Have Entertainment Ready – When you’re traveling with family, keeping everyone entertained is crucial. If they aren’t occupied, they start bickering and that leads to annoyances all around. Pack electronics, books, coloring supplies, family travel games, etc.
- Enjoy Every Minute – The moments we spend with our families are fleeting. Find the joy in the silliness, laugh with your family, try not to sweat the small stuff. ENJOY your family vacation!
At the start, I told you that my family and I traveled to my sister’s house for Christmas. We piled our small bags, Christmas gifts, snacks and ourselves into the Chevy Colorado ZR2. I liked the truck but it was probably a little small for this kind of trip. I think if there had been a cover on the bed and we had put our things back there, it would have been a much more spacious ride.
We made the most of it, though. And no stop to Dallas is complete without a pit-stop in Temple at Buc-ee’s. We fueled up, bought snacks & drinks and hit the road. The boys were quiet and happy with their devices so Larry and I had a pleasant conversation about the kids, work, life and whatever else came to mind. The older the boys get, the easier it is to travel with them but I’m keenly aware that these family trips won’t last forever.
The trip home from my sister’s house was a little roomier since we didn’t have the large gifts we started with. (As you can see, my guys were pretty tired but I was ready to get home!) We had a family conversation about their favorite parts of Christmas for roughly 20 minutes before the boys had their devices out. Family travel is the way to go for us, though. I cherish the quality time that it brings.
Scout out the weather for the route – we ran into tornado weather one year on a road trip. We hadn’t looked at every state! So scary!
Oh goodness! I hadn’t even thought about that!