5 Effective Tips to Enjoying a Safe and Healthy Summer Vacation

Well, it's coming. No, I don't mean the inevitable feud between Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift. I mean Memorial Day weekend. If you're traveling with kids this weekend, you may remember my post on how not to lose your mind. Well, Kendra Thornton is here with some tips as well. If there's anyone who would know how to travel, it's her. She was the former Director of Communications for Orbitz and has been to 28 countries, so, yeah. She's legit. Be sure to follow her on twitter (@KendraThornton) and check her out at http://www.thorntonpr.com/ Thanks, Kendra!

5 Effective Tips to Enjoying a Safe and Healthy Summer Vacation

Every time I have gone on summer vacation with my family, I have ended up returning from the vacation learning a new lesson.  With each new lesson I have learned, I have been able to incorporate this new knowledge into future trips to make them go much more smoothly!  

It can be a big deal to make sure all the T’s are crossed and all the I’s are dotted when a family vacation rolls around.  Following a few tips can help children transition into healthy behaviors to make the trip more pleasant.  

1. Tip: Do a thorough check of the hotel you will be staying in. If you are getting a really low rate, it is okay to be suspicious.  Many low-rate hotels cater to college crowds that stay up late at night and party.  This can make it difficult for your family to get a good night’s rest before going to a theme park.  Walt Disney World resorts and Orlando hotels are well-known for offering peaceful rooms with security that enforces reasonable curfews.

2. Tip: Because it is important for children to get a good night sleep, be sure to pack along a child’s favorite sleeping stuffed animal or blanket.  These familiar surroundings may be the very thing that lures a child into a peaceful sleep during vacation time.

3. Tip: If you will be driving extensively, packing healthy snacks can keep your family filled with good nutrition.  This can reduce hunger cravings and also reduce sugar rushes that encourage hyper behavior – which can be very difficult in a car!  An article on Reader’s Digest suggests dried fruit, oatmeal cookies and fruit as healthy travel snacks.

4. Tip: Keep a close eye on children when you go to a theme park or water park.  Children can easily get separated from their parents in large crowds.  Go over rules with your kids and make sure they stay within eyesight of you.

5. Tip: Encourage your children to draw on sketchpads while they are relaxing in a hotel or when they are at an airport.  This is a great way to keep them occupied and stimulated to give you some refreshing downtime! I love having my children pack their own little canvas of toys for the car or a backpack of a few items they personally wanted to pack to keep them happy on the road or in the air!

Try not to overthink planning your vacation to the point where you no longer are having fun!  Taking time to prepare for the vacation in advance will help to relieve stress and give you confidence.