If you’re a parent or student in the U.S. then Spring Break has already happened or is happening soon. I think a lot of us parents have a little bit of PTSD about it. After all, remember what happened when our kids came home for last Spring Break? It lasted over a year!! I think things are finally starting to turn around though… but I digress. Spring Break is often the start of the travel season that runs through Labor Day and after the last year I am ready to travel! Okay, let’s be honest, our family had plenty of travel opportunities last year. But still, we’re all pretty excited about the trips we have scheduled so far this year! I know lots of people aren’t fans of traveling with little ones. Today I want to share my thoughts on why you should travel with kids while they’re still young.
why you shouldn’t plan family trips
First of all, let’s talk about why you shouldn’t book a family trip quite yet. Don’t travel with kids if you’re doing it because everyone else is. Don’t travel with kids because you think they’re missing out and you feel guilty. If you have to go into debt for to travel with your family then don’t. Save. Plan. Your kids would rather have financial stability than an expensive trip to Disney World. They might not realize it quite yet but someday they will.
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All that being said, don’t put off the family vacation because you think your kids are too young. Don’t put off the family vacation because you think they won’t remember it. Over the years I’ve been amazed at some of the things my kids remember from trips. My three year old still remembers when we “saw the dinosaurs” on our family roadtrip back from Arizona a year ago.
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Yes, traveling with kids is more work. Sometimes it doesn’t even feel like a vacation. But there are also wonderful moments where we all get to experience something together for the first time. There are often times when my kids get along even better when we’re traveling. When you travel with kids it’s definitely a difference experience, but still a great one!
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why you should travel with kids
So, why should you book that trip now when your kids are little? Why should you travel with kids before they’re grown up?
- Sometimes it’s cheaper. A lot of times you can find travel discounts for kids. For example, cruise lines will often run promotions where kids can sail free. All inclusive resorts may offer discounts on kids staying with their parents. Some restaurants will have promotions for kids to eat free with a paying adult. Look for good deals when booking your trip or ask a travel agent about special discounts for kids.
- Time goes by too quickly. You only have about 18 summers with your kids before they go off to college or get married and start families of their own. In the grand scheme of things, 18 years is not very many! Our family has a goal to visit every National Park before our oldest leaves the house–that’s only about 8 more years! These years while kids are young can be so hard but are so fleeting, let’s make them count.
- Some things are more fun. I’m not going to lie–there are plenty of perks to traveling with just your spouse and I highly recommend doing that once a year if you can. But honestly, some trips are just more fun when you get to experience them with your kids! Seeing how excited my kids get to arrive at a theme park or run around a National Forest gives me so much joy as a parent!
Do you often travel with kids? Never? Always?
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