Holidays are family affairs – unless members of the household have moved out for studies or career or have outgrown the familial bonds that knit a holiday together. In most homes they are planned affairs that, often, call for prolonged discussions and dissections to arrive at a destination that fits everyone’s bill of a good holiday. Yes, family travel does have a personality. There is, of course, a need to arrive at a consensus to make it a memorable affair for all.
How you go about choosing your destination might be dictated by the trends you see on social media, word of mouth reference from friends/family who have been there or simply the tastes of the members who have honed their travel preferences to reflect the family’s shared traits. While a beach family would ensure that the holiday destination revolves around beaches or at least has a beach stopover listed in the itinerary, an adventure family might look for hiking and camping or some adventure toned destination to whet their holiday appetites. Then there are those who prefer only to take package tours that involve sightseeing of popular touristy spots and a whole lot of shopping.
What about your family?
How would you classify your family’s travel personality? Are they adventure seekers or city slickers? Perhaps foodies who seek out destinations that promise exotic cuisines?
But then, it doesn’t always work that way, does it? You want a quiet holiday, your spouse wants a road trip, and the kids…one wants to go to a destination that has rides and games and another wants to go camping.
Sound familiar?
Not everyone is lucky to get all members of the family agree on one destination. Some are able to turn the decisions around by adding in detours and stopovers that meet the demands of the members, but there are several who wish they knew how to go about finalising the family’s trip. For all those who have doubts, here is a little guideline…
To begin, assess your travel personality and then involve the others in the business of deciding the destination. Ask yourself (and then your family) a few questions to understand your (and your family’s) expectations and preferences.
What Are Your Reasons For Travelling?
Summer vacation is as good a reason for travelling as any other; but purely on a personality count, do you and your family see travel as a reason for some shared achievement? It could be to unwind in the lap of nature, seek new experience or simply to connect with each other on another level. When you have an answer to the why question, you will know which destination will help you achieve it. Get an understanding of your family’s reasons for travel and you will have a holiday to remember.
How Do You Plan Your Holiday?
Studies have shown that spontaneous travellers are more adventurous and are less inclined to plan every step of the trip. On the other hand, if you are a planner, you might seek a holiday that leaves no room for uncertainties or vagueness. Of course, you too might want to go on an adventure trip, but the chances of taking a road for a whim is not your style. And with the family in tow, you would have a vacation planner in hand with a checklist of things to follow and do.
Are You An Introvert Or An Extrovert?
Would you classify yourself as an introvert who is filled with a sense of exhaustion when you are around other people or are you an extrovert who feels energised in a group? Understanding where you stand will help in deciding which destination would suit you. Similarly, identify your family’s orientation to situations where there are other people involved. If the family prefers to relax and rejuvenate during the holiday, your best bet would be to plan a holiday that is not one of those package tours where you are in a group, in the bus as well as at the sight-seeing destinations. Introverts are best placed in environments that are relaxing; avoiding crowds, noisy destinations and crammed schedules is advisable for an enjoyable holiday. And, if any family member is highly sensitive, find destinations that are soothing or equip yourself with coping mechanisms to calm his/her senses.
Can You Handle New Experiences?
As much as you and your family are looking forward to the holiday that promises to introduce new experiences in your lives, not everyone is equally equipped to handle stress that comes along with certain new experiences. If you and your family consciously seek out adventure, then you are, perhaps, better placed to revel in the new experiences; if not, you could choose a destination that has no hidden stress factors or be mentally prepared on how you will handle, say, a long road trip with no fuel station in sight or some such stressful situation.
Have an enjoyable family holiday!
