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Can you smell that? It’s the smell of freedom! Yes, it won’t be long before Covid-19 is something we learn to live with and life returns to normal. It won’t happen overnight, and everyone will need to be careful because safety is a number one priority. But, if it means finally going on a vacation again, then we’re game!
Of course, not everyone will have the freedom to book exotic destinations with their partners. Many of us will need to consider the children. You love your kids, but family vacations are stressful at the best of times, so you don’t get many chances to relax. Being a parent is a full-time job.
However, you don’t have to accept that you’re going to expend more energy overseas than you are at home. In reality, families that do that tend not to be prepared. They assume boarding a plane and staying in a hotel will cure their ills, when in fact, it can make life difficult. The trick is to search for the features that will take the pressure off.
What are the pillars of a relaxing and enjoyable family holiday? It varies depending on the individuals, yet the following are fantastic places to begin.
A Kids’ Pool
Once you see a pool detailed in the description, your eyes will light up. Yep, you can get a couple of loungers and let the kids splash around while you and the ball and chain soak up the rays. It sounds delightful until you realize that the pool is Olympic sized and you can’t let your bundles of joy anywhere near it without parental supervision.
Suddenly, you’re back to square one because someone has to be with them at all times, which isn’t very relaxing considering the amount of energy they have. A pool for kids, on the other hand, is a different matter as it’s the ideal size. That means there is enough water for them to have fun, but not enough that it’s dangerous.
Moms and Dads can happily let their children entertain themselves in a kiddy pool without needing to check on them constantly. As a result, there won’t be any tantrums or scenes, just children that are entirely content poolside for two weeks, especially if there is a slide.
Anyone who is safety-conscious should ensure there are lifeguards by the pool twenty-four-hours-a-day as an extra precaution, as well as lifejackets.
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Babysitting Services
You might have no intention of leaving your children with other people for half a day while you go and explore the resort. Most parents think that until they recognize the need for some “me” time. After all, that’s what a vacation is about – getting away from the things that usually increase your stress levels.
It’s not nice to admit, but kids can get your blood pumping, and not in a healthy way, which is why babysitting services are popular in hotel complexes. A daycare feature isn’t only good for you – the children will love it, too.
They might not enjoy the idea at first, but they’ll warm to it once they get to know the other kids. Plus, the activities are often a lot more fun than parents can muster. They might demand to go back for the rest of the trip!
It’s worth noting that you don’t have to start a routine. You can use the service once or twice during a fortnight if all you want is a mini-break. Some parents feel guilty, which is why they don’t do it all the time. A tip – go with what makes your children comfortable. It’s their holiday, too.
Free Transport
As a parent, you’ll understand the stress involved in going anywhere that involves transport. It doesn’t matter whether it’s Cadiz or California because keeping a watchful eye on the kids is almost impossible. It’s worse when you’re abroad as you fear for the worst if anything bad happens.
To combat this, lots of people hire cars. However, car hire isn’t as affordable outside of the US. Seen as a vacation isn’t cheap to begin with, you might not have the budget to afford this luxury. Should that stop you from leaving the complex and sitting by the pool all day? No, it shouldn’t, not when there is organized transport.
Shuttle buses are ideal since they are private and often free. Not only does this mean you can get from the airport to your accommodation without any hassle, but it means you should be able to travel to the tourist attractions. There are no busy bus or train hubs with thousands of people, just a pick-up point right outside of the hotel.
Even better, you can teach your children where to go and what to do if they do get lost. Then, they can make it back to the hotel and stay safe until you’re informed.
A Kitchen
Self-contained apartments and rooms have a lot to offer families. The first thing to think about is your budget. A feature you’ll search for when planning a vacation is the price. Otherwise, you won’t be going! Therefore, elements that cut the costs are potentially essential as they let you stretch your money further.
A kitchen falls into this category because you can supplement your resources by cooking meals instead of eating out. Going to a restaurant is nice, but the fees build up when you do it three times a day. Having breakfast included and making lunch in the room leaves you with extra to spend at dinner.
Another thing to keep in mind is your kid’s eating habits. Children are notoriously picky, especially when they’re abroad, which means the food might not be suitable. If it isn’t, you can always pick up some groceries and make sure they get plenty to eat back at the apartment. When their stomachs aren’t full, it won’t feel like a vacation – it will feel like a prison sentence!
Every family is different because our needs aren’t the same. However, the features above should relieve some of the tension. Which ones will you look out for the next time you go away?