As the holidays approach and you are preparing for Christmas, many are also preparing to go away with the family or dreaming of next year’s trip. Family holidays can be the best times; free from the routines and constraints of day to day life, you get to hang out with the people that you love most, laugh, relax and learn together.
But it’s not all sunshine, laughter and perfection 24/7. No matter how hard us parents try, there are inevitable tears, tantrum and rainclouds, too. And that can be hard to handle; as parents we want our hard-earned and long-awaited holiday to be the perfect idyll that we have been dreaming of, it can be frustrating when everything isn’t perfect. Know the feeling? You’re not alone.
Most of us have spent sad, frustrated, angry moments on holiday hissing through gritted teeth “it’s supposed to be fun. You WILL enjoy it.”
Getting There - The Dream
After months of prep, saving and dreaming, and a few frantic days of packing you are finally on your way! We dream of a jolly family arriving at the airport in plenty of time to enjoy a relaxing Bloody Mary in the airport, followed by a chilled few hours watching a film on the plane.
The Reality
You can’t find the passports.
The Tip
The perfect Christmas gift for family travellers is a travel organiser. Tickets, itinerary, insurance details, visas, passports – the lot can be kept in one safe place, avoiding unnecessary stress and delays
The Reality
You arrive at the airport just in time, having failed to find somewhere to park.
The Tip
You have two choices. Find an off-site parking and pick up service; there are plenty around and they save all hassle of trying to park and can be cheaper, too. Or you can opt for the frankly genius holiday hack of hiring a car to get to the airport and hiring another to get home. It works out cheaper than parking, pick up and drop off to your terminal are usually included in the day hire rate, and you don’t have to worry about parking. Simple.
The Reality
You finally make it through security and the kids are hassling you for everything they see. Because nobody can leave any airport without spending £6.99 on one Toblerone.
The Tip
Make sure that you sort through everyone’s luggage and separate liquids and other limited items to streamline security. Give the kids holiday money – you decide. When they ask for the Toblerone or giant m & m filled with m & ms, let them, provided they use their own money. It is truly shocking how much more discerning children are when it’s their cash they are spending.
The Reality
You board the plane stressed and frazzled, spend the ensuing hours mediating and giving your nice plane food to the kids, before arriving exhausted and more than a little stressed.
The Tip
This is all about planning and managing expectations. Decide before you board – in fact, before you even leave home – who will be sitting next to whom, to avoid window seat/ “I want to sit next to Mum” arguments. Then talk food. If food is included on the flight, take the time to look at the reviews of food for adults and children, and order specific meals for the kids if you can. If your kids don’t like plane food or food isn’t served, pack sandwiches and snacks. Also bring an empty water bottle to fill up on the plane or when you get through security.
The Holiday – The Dream
Endless, lazy mornings waking late and enjoying a delicious breakfast before heading out to explore and check out markets. An indulgent siesta before changing for dinner, where, sunkissed and relaxed, you dine on seafood and sip sangria as the sun sets
The Reality
You got over excited on the wine last night and the kids are awake at 6. They won’t. Leave you. Alone.
The Tip
Pack holiday activities; board games, books, colouring or doodle books and pens. Leave appropriately inappropriate holiday snacks for them to gorge on while you sleep – it’s not forever, it’s for one week (or maybe two) – let them eat sugar for breakfast, tell them that under no circumstances are they to wake you before 8, and enjoy the well-earned lie in.
The Reality
As you drag the family around the market you are greeted with sighs and demands for holiday tat.
The Tip
Tell them to buy it with their holiday money (unless they already blew it on the giant m & m, in which case, remind them that they have already had their money – tough).
The Reality
You have to go to the English bar for dinner. Again. Because all your children will eat is pasta pesto or chips.
The Tip
If your child is prone to fussy eating and there is something that is always a winner (pesto or any other type of pasta sauce, for example), bring some with you. Bring ten jars. Stash it in your handbag and when you go to that lovely seafood restaurant, ask for plain pasta to which you can add the sauce. It’s cheap, they eat it, you get to eat where you want.
The key thing to remember is that life isn’t perfect. Your holiday won’t be perfect for every single moment, but hopefully there will be more good moments than not-so-good ones, and the best way to achieve that is by relaxing and going with the flow. Bon voyage!
