How to Plan an Epic Family Travel Adventure: Ten Simple Steps Plus a Free Planning a Vacation Checklist [Updated 5/10/2020]

Creating and personalizing your planning a vacation checklist takes time and can be a bit overwhelming, I agree. But, it should be exciting and fun.

Planning a vacation can cause information overload for sure. Researching attractions, deciding which are a must, and which you can skip. Checking on flight times and prices, whether you need a rental car, or if you can use public transport or Uber, plus planning where to stay and what to eat.

Enter your Planning a Vacation Checklist.

Affiliate Disclosure: There are affiliate links throughout this post. This means if you click on a link and purchase a product through that link, then I will receive a small commission for the referral. And that is kinda cool.

Here are ten simple steps to add to your planning an epic vacation checklist.

Step 1 ~ It all starts out with a dream and a bit of inspiration.

Sit down with your favorite travel journal or planner, the internet, and dream a little dream.

Dream about where you may want to go. Browse Pinterest, Google, and Trip Advisor to try to narrow down your destination.

What type of vacation do you want?

• The beach or the mountains?
• Snow or sun?
• Europe, the United States, or Asia?
• On safari?
• A wine tour? A craft beer tour?
• Weekender? Road trip? or Long Haul Flight?

Why?

• Is it simply to get away from it all for a while, relax and recharge? 
• Or are you wanting to show your family the world? 
• To get out of your comfort zone.
• Immerse yourself into another culture.
• Learn the history of a destination.
• To eat (some people do).
• Or to just travel.

And how many vacation days do you have to spend?

Is this for a long weekend, five days, two weeks, or a month? Or better yet, the entire summer?

Those of you who know me well know how much I love the Erin Condren Life Planner. She also has a journal dedicated to travel planning. Check it out here.

Or even better, enter your email address below, and I will send you the massively upgraded 50-page epic travel planning guide hot off the press. It includes lots of tips on travel planning, packing checklists, resources with links, travel journal prompts, and some fill-in-the-blank brainstorming fun.

One more important travel tip is to get the kids excited during the planning process.

Purchase a kid’s travel journal as well as travel guides. Show them movies filmed in a particular destination you are traveling to. Suggest that they create an Instagram Picture Challenge to get them interested in photographing different sites.

Step 2 ~ Logistics are paramount to your planning a vacation checklist.

Decide where will you go? How you will get there, where you will stay, how you will get around town, and what activities you don’t want to miss.

Book ahead of time if you can. Know where you are going when you get to your destination. And know how you are going to get there.

Use Booking.com where you will find amazing inspiration, and you can book everything in one place; flight, car rental, lodging, tours, and activities, all over the world.

Step 3 ~ Gather all of your documents.

Gather up your reservations and travel documents and put them all in one place, either in the folder in your travel journal or a ready-made travel planning folder.

Step 4 ~ Don't forget the essentials, include a thorough packing list with your vacation planning checklist.

Create a packing list for you and your family members. I know this sounds time-consuming, but it is always worth it in the end. Plus, it teaches your kids to be responsible for their belongings.

There are lots of packing lists found in the travel resource library here. And I am adding new goodies all the time.

Step 5 ~ Plan your itinerary.

Sculpting an exquisite itinerary, a travel planning task that has evolved for me over the years; I learned the hard way that not everyone needs to go, go, go, like me. Many travelers need downtime, relaxation time, especially teens.

When planning your days, keep in mind everyone's needs, or you will have complaints, and that's annoying. Our plans usually involve sleeping in, eating a good breakfast, exploring late mornings, and throughout the afternoon, dinner, and downtime.

Step 6 ~ Notify the credit card or debit card companies of your travel plans.

Let your credit card/debit card companies know your travel plans. They don't like to see unusual purchases, especially when they are out of the country where you live. They will decline purchases using your credit cards until they confirm that it is actually you.

Travel credit cards are reward cards that you can use to build points toward travel, enhance your status as many hotels and airlines, plus a few additional perks.  With COVID majorly hindering our adventure plans, now is the time to build up your points for the future when we are safe to travel again. 

Ninja Tip: Read the US News and World Report's comprehensive list of the best travel perk credit cards and the best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees.

Step 7 ~ Check purchasing travel insurance off of your planning a vacation checklist.

No one wants to obsess over things that can go wrong while traveling. But, stuff happens. Purchasing travel insurance will provide peace of mind that you will be taken care of in the event of an unplanned, unfortunate circumstance.

World Nomads, created by travelers for travelers, is one of the best choices for travel insurance, available to people in over 130 countries. Check out the World Nomads Website here. It doesn't look at all like an insurance website. It is more like a travel blog, full of video and written content about traveling safely, responsibly, and ethically.

Step 8 ~ Travel tips for safety.

Safety is crucial to enjoying a rewarding family travel experience. Keep safety measures in mind as you plan your next adventure. It all starts before you even leave your home.

Admittedly, I choose our family travel destinations based on how safe a place is said to be. However, stuff can happen wherever you go. So it is vital to plan ahead of time how to keep yourself and your family safe.

There are precautions you can take, but the best way to stay safe is to do your research, be smart, and be aware. Here are a few quick tips. If you want more, read this post.

• Research your destination. Family travel safety starts with the initial planning process.
• Notify someone of where you will be going.
• Take a picture of your passport to keep on your smartphone. AND email that picture to yourself and your travel companion if not traveling solo.
• Don't look flashy.
• Use the hotel safe.
• Be aware of your surroundings at all times.
• Stay sober.
• Know emergency numbers may be different where you are traveling.

Step 9 ~ Stay Healthy.

Traveling sick is no fun for anyone in the party and it can ruin a dream holiday. There are many different ways to prevent illness from happening and ensure healthy travel.

Stay healthy on vacation with these smart and practical tips.

And for more, read this post.

• Wash your hands and use hand sanitizer.
• Eat a healthy breakfast every morning and pack healthy snacks when you are on the go.
• Stay hydrated.
• Don't drink too much alcohol.
• Get a workout in daily. This does not have to be super strenuous, but move your body for at least 30 minutes every morning.
• Walk everywhere when possible.
• Wear sunscreen and bug spray.
• Get your sleep.

Step 10 ~ And most importantly, check off "have fun" from your planning a vacation checklist.

**One more tidbit of advice.**

Arrive at the airport early.

Avoid starting your holiday in a panic because you are running late. Getting through an airport can be quick or it can be a long, drawn-out, painful TSA experience. You never know. Just arrive early. If you get checked in quickly, more time to relax, read, listen to a podcast, or do some more research about where you are going.

Bonus: My Favorite Travel Planning Apps

Lonely Planet

The Lonely Planet App has more than 8000 guides to choose from, and it is packed with tips and advice from the experts; a must-have app that is an essential resource before and during your trip. And their travel books are stocked with helpful information and resources, digital or paperback.

Trip Advisor

Founded almost twenty years ago, Trip Advisor has to be one of the largest travel planning sites in the world. Trip Advisor provides user reviews, pictures of restaurants, attractions, and bookings across the globe. If you have a question about a certain destination, you can find your answers in an interactive forum from travelers who have been there. Just ask.

Trip It

Trip It is a 4.8-star app with 157,000 ratings that has a ton of features to help you keep your travel plans all in one place. Forward your travel confirmation emails to Trip It and your travel schedule is created for you. Flights, car rental, hotel bookings, and restaurant reservations, all tidied up in one app.

Viator

I have booked multiple tours and activities with Viator. You can check out over 200,000 things to do on Viator. Super easy to book, and the rest is done for you.

Road Trippers

• Plans your driving route.
• Books your hotels on your route.
• Suggests off the beaten path attractions.
• Plans and saves your trip itineraries.
• Shares your trip with friends.

Open Table

Research the best restaurants, read the menu, check out reviews, and even pictures at over 52,000 restaurants worldwide on the Open Table App. Reserve a table online and earn points towards free meals. You can make a reservation in minutes.

Simple Airline Apps with Loyalty Rewards

• Jetblue TrueBlue
• Delta Skymiles
• American Airlines
• Alaska Airlines Mileage Plus
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Program

Favorite Hotel Booking Apps

• Marriott Bonvoy ~ Keep track of your Marriott Rewards account from the app.
• Hilton Honors Booking App ~ Use the app to keep up with rewards, check in to your hotel, select your room, unlock your door, and even make requests such as extra feather pillows and an extra blanket.
• Travelocity ~ With access to over 300,000 hotels, book with Travelocity all over the world. Plus, you can book flights and car rental.
• Expedia ~ Thousands to choose from, as well as the bundle option that saves money when you book flight and room on the app.

Are you ready to plan that vacation yet?

Now it's your turn.

Send me your tips on planning an epic adventure for your family. I could use a few more steps.