Mini Momcations to Book on a Family Trip
I see you Momma! I see you spending hours planning what you hope to be an incredible trip that your kids will love and hopefully remember forever. But when was the last time you had a vacation? Because I know family vacations aren’t often the vacation you need. You are worrying about all of the details, whether everyone is having a good time and if someone needs more sunscreen or a snack. You feel guilty about going away without the kids or spending money on yourself. But remember taking care of yourself is taking care of your kids. You can’t fill their cup if yours is empty. But if you and your family aren’t quite ready to travel yet and you are still looking for a break, check out my blog post on 6 Ways to Take a Break from the Busy this Weekend.
One of the things I insist my travelers do is to consider themselves. I know you are excited to share the world with your children but it is really important to me to remind you that it is your vacation too! I want to encourage you to plan a little something for yourself. Here are some ideas for building a mini momcation into your family trip.
Book a Suite
There are some great properties out there that offer family suites at a reasonable cost. It can really help to have two separate areas, a master bedroom and a living area with a pull out bed. Having the two distinct spaces allows you to have your own oasis. You don’t have to sit in your bed in the dark trying to be as quiet as possible when the kids go to bed. You can enjoy your room, watch tv or enjoy a glass of wine to unwind after a long park day.
Book a Restaurant YOU want to try
How many times do you book a restaurant because you know your kids will love it? Don’t lie to me, I know you don’t want to eat the overpriced food at the Rainforest Cafe. Plan at least one restaurant that YOU want to try. If the kids don’t like it, too bad. They can have snacks at the hotel later. Let them know in advance that this meal is for you and if they complain or give you a hard time they won’t get to do something they want to do later. When I am planning European trips I like to help families plan a day for each person. Your children are usually much more likely to go along with something someone else has planned if they know they had their day or it is coming up. This is a similar theory, have each member pick a place they want to eat without worrying about everyone else then each person will have a meal that they know they are going to enjoy and most likely will find something they love at the other places as well.
Book a Massage
This is my favorite on this list. You deserve to indulge yourself!! I usually like to do this in the middle of a trip to soothe those aching muscles and get you ready for more adventures to come.
Book a Hotel with Child Care Amenities
One of the easiest ways to ensure you have child care — especially internationally — is to book a hotel that touts its baby-sitting services. Family-friendly Martinhal Family Hotel & Resorts in Portugal, for example, provides help for children as young as six months. The Four Seasons, for example, has a Kids For All Seasons program at certain properties that allows parents to drop their children off for the day; the Ritz Carlton offers Ritz Kids, a program tailored to educating kids about the local region; and Wyndham Hotels offer childcare options, as well as summer camps at some of their locations.
Simply look at the website of the hotel you’re considering and check under amenities. Properties with a history of offering such services will have them listed. Also, researching family-friendly hotels is an excellent place to start if you’re not sure where you want to stay.
Bring a Family Member
I am extremely fortunate to have a mother-in-law who is up for anything! She appreciates that sometimes we need to enjoy a vacation as a family, but she is ALWAYS up for joining us. When she comes with us we always plan a date night. She stays in the hotel with the baby when my husband and I go out to enjoy an evening together. We also plan a night where she and I have a girls night and go out to dinner without my husband and kids. I find this much more refreshing than date night!! If you are looking for vacation spots that the whole family will enjoy, check out my blog post for the Best Places for Multigenerational Vacations.
Hire a babysitter for a date night
I know from experience that not all mothers-in-law are as amazing as mine is. If you don’t have someone who is willing to travel with you or that you don’t enjoy traveling with, you can find a babysitter for hire. The hotel concierge can easily set you up with someone they have used and vetted. You can contact a childcare agency in your destination and see if they have anyone interested in a few hour job. I like to use an agency in a destination I am not familiar with because they usually have background checks and other screening. Of course, ask “tons of questions” and do your own due diligence to verify the agency’s reputation. A good resource is the International Nanny Association, —nanny agencies listed will be qualified and accredited. Use it for a date night and enjoy time reconnecting with your partner OR hire a babysitter to watch your kids while you hit the spa and your spouse hits the links for your own mini-vacations.
If you want to take the planning off of your plate schedule a call.
Need a vacation but the idea of planning-it-all is overwhelming?
If you are ready to have the family vacation you’ve been dreaming of, without spending time researching, planning and making it happen, schedule a call today. I’m here to help busy working Moms plan, organize and book the perfect family vacation. With me, all you have to worry about is enjoying your well-earned time away with your family. If you are ready to stop trying to do everything on your own and see how I can help you schedule a complimentary trip planning session now.
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