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 be
soon be planning to do it all again next year.
Jenny Brewer
