As a travel advisor I talk to many, many, MANY people about travel and there have been more than a few negative comments made in regards to traveling with family. When I first started off, these comments were a little shocking but as time has gone by I found that these feeling are wide spread and the cause of many families choosing not to travel. So, I wanted to give some of my thoughts on the comments I've heard.
S: I don't want to travel with my family because my kids are too little and won't remember
A: While I completely understand wanting your kids to have the memories of traveling, I must remind you that you matter as well. Your toddler may not remember that trip to Disney World when they're 10, but YOU will. Just a few weeks ago our 3 year old was telling us all about seeing "Minnie Mouse at the Princess Castle". She was only 15 months old during that trip and almost 2 years later she is talking about it. We heard the comments "it's a waste of money because they won't remember". I have ZERO regrets on taking her that young, and I will argue that it was the best trip to Disney World we've ever had. Traveling with our kids is not just about our kids. It's about us, and enjoying ourselves with our kids. Living in the moments, making the memories, getting a break from home (especially if you're a stay at home parent), and building stronger bonds.
S: I don't want to travel with my family because it's too expensive.
A: As a family of four, and a military family, I feel this comment in my soul. Vacations cost money. That's a fact, and not all of us can afford to take extravagant trips every year. If you want to vacation with your family, and not put yourself in the poor house, there are ways to save. Now the most obvious way is just setting aside money every month for that next vacation. You can accompany that with various cash back apps. Swagbucks, Fetch, Pampers, and Uplift are a few of my favorites. When it comes time to actually planning, try to monitor for deals, and plan during the off season to save money up front. Choose a destination within your budget. Maybe those overwater bungalows in Bali are well out of range, but the overwater bungalows at Sandals Royal Caribbean in Jamaica are within your budget. You also don't have to travel far from home to have an amazing and affordable vacation. Within a six hour drive of our home we can be in: Washington DC, New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Ocean City, Myrtle Beach, and so many more highly desirable tourist destinations. Planning closer to home means we save money on airfare, and that money could go to activities or a room upgrade!
S: I don't want to travel with my family because we like different things.
A: This just kind of comes with the territory doesn't it? Especially if you're planning a multi-generational trip! If we all liked the same things life would be a little bland. I think your likes in different things can actually enhance a vacation. Think about it this way. You book a trip at a beach side resort in the Caribbean. You would be more than happy to spend the entire time sitting on the beach drinking and reading a book. However, some members of the family want to take a cultural tour of a local village. So you agree to go, and end up learning something new and actually enjoy it. Another day some members want to go zip lining through the jungle. Zip Lining is definitely not your thing but you agree to go anyways to watch. Your spouse ends up screaming the entire time, which makes you laugh so hard you cry. You still enjoy your time on the beach, and leave the destination fulfilled in knowing that everyone got to do at least one thing they enjoy. Now, there's not a set rule saying you have to participate in every activity. Maybe one day half the group goes to one excursion and the other half goes to another. There's nothing wrong with splitting up, or sitting activities out. It's all about the mindset and the approach you take.
S: I don't want to travel with my family because of horror stories I've heard
A: There are always going to be stories of vacations gone bad. Just because someone had a bad experience does not mean it's going to be your experience. In most cases people have bad experiences because they either didn't do enough research, or they were underprepared and didn't have a plan going into the trip. Whatever the case may be, don't let someone's bad experience deter you from living your life.
S: I don't want to travel with my family because I have anxiety around traveling
A: Travel anxiety is a real thing. Anxiety can be absolutely crippling and is something I take very seriously. Having multiple family members with anxiety disorders, I've learned that it's best to meet you where you're comfortable first. If you have anxiety around flying but are ok with driving, then start off with booking trips within driving distance. If you have anxiety around crowds, pick a destination that is smaller or not as crowded. For example, instead of booking a stay at a mega resort, pick a resort that is smaller and more spread out. Want to avoid crowds on a cruise? Go with a smaller ship or smaller cruise line.
S: I don't want to travel with my family because it's too much work
A: PREACH! If you are the default planner for your family, the LAST THING you want to do is be responsible for planning a vacation. Delegate! Vacation planning does not and SHOULD NOT fall on just one person. Have your family help you find activities, put someone in charge of researching accommodations, another could be in charge of researching the destination. Have your family help in some capacity, OR HIRE A TRAVEL AGENT!!!! It's our job to do the hard work for you. We do the research, we put together the itinerary, we take care of filing your payments. We can be your best friend in this travel adventure.
S: I don't want to travel with my family because we don't get along (personality differences, arguing, moods)
A: We can't always choose our family, and that can be a difficult pill to swallow sometimes. There are definitely some valid reasons for leaving some members off of a trip. If you want to have a family vacation and attempt to include the members you don't jive with, there are some ways to avoid issues. Make them feel included in the planning. Simply asking them what they would like to do during the trip and then trying to incorporate some of those wants, can actually deter a lot of those angry moods and attitudes. Have a conversation with them upfront and agree to get along for this one trip. Agree to set the drama aside, stay out of each others way if possible, and have a plan in place if you just can't get along. If you aren't in charge of planning the trip, and aren't comfortable talking with the trip organizer, then try having a plan in place if things go south.
