Tips and Tricks for a Relaxing Family Holiday

[Velimira Velikova]

Think of a long awaited, and well-deserved holiday, and images of cultural attractions, sandy beaches, azure waters, new flavors and romantic sunsets, crop up our minds. Now think of a holiday with children...ah, well, as much as we love our kids, not exactly the same images come to mind. Nevertheless, a relaxing and enjoyable holiday for the whole family, away from the stress of our usual everyday race with work, school and other duties, is possible with a few insiders' tips.

1. Don't break the bank

It is certainly possible to go on holiday abroad without breaking the family budget or subside on take away pizzas. It is a little planning in advance that is needed and careful selection of your accommodation.

Tip 1: Arrange your flights in advance, to avoid the high peak season charges of air carriers. Last minute bookings are to be avoided whenever possible, when traveling with children.

Tip 2: Accommodation usually has a great share of the holiday budget and booking rooms in a hotel with good location (no matter what you have planned for the day, you have to be close to the base for short naps), can be very expensive. And privacy and space is something you just have to compromise when traveling. Or maybe not? Renting a holiday home is a great alternative to the squat and shoe-box-sized hotel accommodation. Staying in a rental apartment or holiday villa saves vacationers up to 50% on rental fees and the benefits are simply staggering, especially for a family with small children. The holiday homes are usually centrally located, with easy and convenient access to the city centre, and they are far more spacious and they give you the opportunity to relax and enjoy the privacy of a home. Furthermore, the fully-equipped kitchen of every holiday home on SunnyRentals.com allows the family to enjoy home cooked dinners and the children doesn't have to change their their diet.

Most holiday home owners have put a special thought about families with children in their decor and amenities, and as a mother or father, you probably know that it makes the holidays much easier when, there are, for example, good changing facilities, a cot and toys, available for your baby.

Tip 3: Many home owners have special off--season rates and you can always find a lot of bargains on SunnyRentals.com

If you are not flexible with the travel dates, a lot of holiday home owners offer early booking s discount and you can keep an eye on our special promotions here. There is a wealth of opportunities for you and your family to enjoy a lovely and inexpensive holiday. Just plan in advance.

2. 'Getting there' is often the harder part of the trip, over 'being there', but it could be done.

Every child is different, depending on the age and the temper of the kid, and it is difficult to give an universal advice. But one thing is certain - you must expect the unexpected.

A key to a good holiday is to spend some time to prepare for you trip. Of course you can not anticipate everything before leaving, but good planning is crucial when traveling with children. Here are our 5 golden tips:

Tip 1: Talk to children about what will happen both at the airport and during the journey. It's a great experience and there are many new impressions to be processed by the child.

Tip 2: Always take food for the children. Although there is food on board, it is not sure they like it. Pack a bag with vegetable sticks and biscuits; buy a water at the airport, so there is always liquid at hand. When children want something, they want it now or 5 minutes ago. Avoid too much candy and sweets. Instead take a bag of nuts and raisins with - you know from experience that when children are "sugar high", it can be hard to sit still.

Tip 3: Remember to pack change of clothes for the children and yourself, too. Many parents remember only the children, which is natural, but it's no fun to be for hours on a plane, covered in your child's daily menu.

Tip 4: Pack a travel bag with toys - favorite old things, but new toys also, so there are little surprises: Painting Books, colors, puzzles, games and more. Pocket video games are a great time waster for the older children.

Tip 5: Dress your child in layers - it's easier to take a jersey than the whole dress, if it gets hot. The temperature is often slightly changing aboard an airplane.

3. Where is 'There'?

There are family friendly resorts in every country, but when we start planning a holiday with our children, we can't help but wonder: Is there enough to keep them occupied? Are the beaches child-friendly? Are they grown up enough for a city break? Are there enough interesting museums and attractions?

Here is a list of Top 5 destinations for family holidays:

France offers so many holiday possibilities - from city breaks in Paris to a beach holiday on the French Riviera, to a countryside getaway in Provence. If your children have French in school, a holiday in France could also be an excellent opportunity to put the language skills into practice! Find a holiday home for autumn holidays in France.

The Canaries are a popular destination because of the warm climate, even during the Autumn, and the number of entertainment opportunities for the whole family. Find an apartment or a house in the Canary Islands.

United Kingdom is a great destination in the autumn holiday, whether you go to London for a city break or on holiday in the countryside in England. Find a city apartment in London or a holiday cottage in England.

There is plenty of sun, and a lot to see and do in Portugal if you do not just want to keep a clean beach vacation. Find a holiday villa or apartment in Portugal.

Whether you choose to take the children on a holiday in the Tuscan countryside or a city break in Rome, you can be sure that there's plenty of things for the whole family to enjoy in Italy. Find a holiday villa in Italy.