Travelling with kids to any destination by any mode of transportation is not an easy feat, but with preparation, a sense of humour, and plenty of bribe material, it can be done. A driving holiday is as ideal a choice as any when you have children to entertain. They have easy access to all their stuff, you can have as many loos stops as you please, and you can choose when and where to travel.

Every parent is looking for optimum flexibility, which is guaranteed with a hire car. You can travel in safety and in style, with pick up and drop off points in central and convenient locations. The goal is to spend time together, travel to amazing places and have fun at the same time, which is possible even with a lot of kids.

There are a number of points that will help you maximize your family campervan holiday:

1) Firstly, keep it simple. Factor in enough time each day to ensure that children have ample rest and relaxation. If your itinerary is so jam packed with trips here there and everywhere you won’t enjoy yourselves. There will be plenty of great photos but you will all be exhausted and cranky. It’s better not to visit as many attractions and save some time for relaxation and chilling out with the kids. Children do not have as much patience as most adults, and trudging from one place to another every hour of the day can stretch the family to breaking point.

2) Pack well. If you are prepared, you will enjoy yourself more on your holiday. Plan, write lists, stock up and always pack an extra amount of clothes and food supplies in case of emergencies. Its great to travel light, but another bag does not take up a lot of room, and that spare tracksuit or muesli bar may come in handy.

All children get the munchies, so a few extra treats for those long drives will instantly help the trip become more enjoyable. Don’t pack them in the middle of your largest suitcase furthest away from you, rather have them easily accessible at the front. Your handy bag should always include sunscreen, hats, insect repellent, small first aid kit, bottle of water and a washcloth. And of course the treats.

Don’t forget the favourite travel games, perfect for children who are bored and have had enough of endless scenery. The old fashioned notepaper and pencils will always come in handy, and for teenagers you may have to give in and allow some extra technology. Another great idea is for the older kids to have their own camera and travel diary to record their own holiday moments.

Your children may never fight for their space in the back seat, but for most of us who endure this generational curse, some simple masking tape will ensure that boundaries have been set in place. Simply stick in a straight line to mark out each child’s ‘territory’ and they should keep their fingers and toes to themselves.

3) Remember who’s in charge. This point seems obvious enough, but it’s amazing how the rules can bend when one small child is screaming loudly in the back seat sending another into a small frenzy resulting in instant travelling chaos. The solution would seem to be to pull over (again) and sort the kids out, but if you are only half and hour from your destination, you have tried everything and their needs have been met, sometimes it is better to just keep pressing on and put up with the high noise levels. The good news is that it will soon be over.

You will also be requested time and again (from the back seat) to stop at a lookout or pull over at another service station. It’s ok to stop for a stretch and a run, but if you stop every time they get bored you will never get to where you are going. They will have a great holiday, but you will be frustrated and behind schedule. The simplest rule is, stick to your schedule with adequate stops, and remember that you don’t have to see everything that everyone in the family wants to see. Your kids will soon realise that it’s as much your holiday as it is there’s, and will sit back to enjoy the rest of the trip.

The aim of a family holiday is to create lasting memories and relax at the same time. To do this well you need to plan a simple itinerary that includes all the main attractions and places you want to see, pack carefully and stay in control. You will find with some strategic planning that your holiday will be all you could imagine. You will have time to enjoy adventures together in plenty of fantastic places, and have such a great time you will soon be planning to do it all again next year.

Jenny Brewer