Planning your Family’s Travel Itinerary

One of my favorite parts of a vacation is planning it out. I can sit for hours with travel guides, brochures, and my trusty pen and paper. I like to write out the days and dates and work (and rework) out the fun details. Will we visit the beach on Tuesday or Wednesday? Would it be better to shop before or after the aquarium? When should we slip in our visit to Aunt Maggie? What about squeezing in our favorite restaurant? Getting to the final product may mean going through an entire ream of paper searching for the perfect combination.

Waiting for the train

To plan your family’s trip itinerary you will need a little patience and a lot of input from your fellow travelers.  Planning a thorough itinerary will require you to include a list of possible activities and amusements in each location you plan to visit. Some things to consider and make note of are directions, hours of operation, admission costs, and possibly clothing restrictions or requirements.It will also be useful to have some suggestions for dining and meal options including kid-friendly menus. When deciding on sleeping arrangements for each night, a few things to keep in mind are the number of beds you will need, possible entertainment options, and proximity to restaurants or grocery stores. Finally, don’t forget to leave a little room for spontaneous fun or relaxation.

An itinerary can be as comprehensive or as vague as your personality tends to be. Being away from home and out of your comfort zone can be adventuresome but can turn quickly into confusion and chaos when you have left the details to chance. Do yourself a favor. Plot as many of the details of your trip as you can. Use the Internet, make phone calls, and do the legwork now. While you are relaxing with your family and enjoying the very best your destination has to offer, you will be glad for the effort you took at home.

Jennifer Tankersley is the creator of ListPlanIt.com where you can find hundreds of lists and planning pages including your own Travel Fund and travel budgets, plus packing lists and itineraries, all geared toward helping you get more organized.