Is the perfect family vacation even possible? Of course not! But that doesn’t mean we can’t try! The key to a successful family trip lies in planning. What you research beforehand can pay off big time once you’re at your destination. Here are our ultimate spring break family travel tips (that can be used any time of year, natch!).
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Spring Break Family Travel
The most important thing to know about planning spring break family travel (or any other family trip) is your goal. Do you want to engage in meaningful activities that serve as character-building exercises? If so, consider volunteering, marine and wildlife tours, or visiting historic and cultural sites. Or, are you in need of a rest? If that’s the case, your research will be easier.
Essentially, you need to figure out if your goal is to explore or to escape. Knowing this will help determine your destination, activities and accommodation.
Family Travel on a Budget
Certain destinations are cheaper than others. Maui, for example, has one of the world’s highest average daily rates. Still, you can find budget accommodation anywhere (how comfortable and safe it is is another matter). My top tips for family travel on a budget include…
Scoring Amenities and Discounted meals
Many hotels offer complimentary breakfasts, saving you close to $100 for a family of 4. If your hotel doesn’t come with breakfast, try to get a room with a mini fridge and microwave. Bring your own utensils and picnic in your hotel room.
From home, I pack instant oatmeal packets and a ziplock filled with chia seeds to make my own pudding. I also bring a Swiss army knife (to cut veg) and a bowl. Then, I hit a grocery store on the first day of my travels and grab milk (plant-based for me), fresh fruit and vegetables.
Kids seem to be hungry all the time, which makes happy hours your best friends. Most cities in North America offer robust happy hours with discounted prices on appetizers (perfect for tiny tummies) and even a few main courses. Get in the habit of hitting happy hour for an early dinner. As a bonus, many restaurants now offer a late-night happy hour, so if you’ve still got the munchies, you can circle back after 8 or 9 pm.
Other Budget Considerations
If you’re not staying at an all-inclusive resort, you’ll want to find a spot that offers lots of little extras. If your hotel doesn’t already offer free parking or wifi, call the hotel directly and see if you can negotiate that. You may be able to get it for free if you join their loyalty program. And if you have more than 4 people in a room, make sure you flag that in advance so won’t be charged extra for putting a third child in a cot or on a pull out couch.
Inclusive Collection
To make it even easier, go the all-inclusive route. Just know that not all-inclusive resorts are the same. One new trend is the rise of the luxury all-inclusive. Brands like Hyatt Ziva are good examples of this. This brand has a way of balancing relaxation with adventure, suitable for all ages.
You’ll find 6 Hyatt Ziva resorts peppered throughout Mexico and the Caribbean. Several Hyatt Ziva resorts offer water parks on-site, notably Hyatt Riviera Cancun, Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana, and even water parks ideal for smaller guests, including Hyatt Ziva Cancun and Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos.
I’m keen to try Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun for a few reasons. This resort boasts 9 outdoor swimming pools (yes, you read that right!), including one for children and one with sweeping views of the Caribbean Sea. And if you’re looking for pampering and well-being services, Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun’s brand-new two-story Zen Spa is where you’ll find it.
Best Places to Travel for Spring Break with Family
Many spots worldwide cater to families, but some do it better than others. Florida is an easy spot to make memories and connect with loved ones.
Florida Family Holidays
When I think of Florida, I think of its sugar sand beaches, but there’s so much more to The Sunshine State. Florida family holidays can include outdoor adventures, art, history and culinary experiences, not to mention all those theme parks.
And because of Florida’s beaches, it’s an excellent spot for families to create, connect and share memorable moments year-round – not just during school vacations.
Accessibility is another critical factor with family travel – ideally, you want direct flights. Florida is well-serviced by most North American cities. From Calgary (where I live), you can fly directly to Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa.
Anyone who’s ever travelled with someone in a wheelchair knows it’s next to impossible to wheel it across the sand. Several Florida beaches offer special motorized wheelchairs equipped to go over the sand. And they’re provided complimentary to visitors at beaches like Daytona. Rentals can be scored over Florida by a company called Beach Mobility Rentals. They also offer non-electric chairs that go in the water, and one even floats!
For more info on family vacation ideas in Florida, check out their planning tools on VISITFLORIDA.com.
Things To Do in Jasper with Kids
If you’re looking for a fun, frosty family adventure, there’s plenty of things to do in Jasper with kids. March is many skier’s secret season. Alberta typically gets heaps and heaps of snow this month. You won’t find the frigid temperatures of January and February, but you will find mounds of soft, fluffy powder perfect for skiing, sledding and all kinds of wintery pursuits.
Jasper’s ski resort, Marmot Basin offers an incredible pass for a family of four for only $298 Canadian. You can score half-price lift tickets for those without a family of four. But more winter deals are available in Jasper and are regularly updated on their website.
Jasper is touted to be the cabin capital of Canada, which is pretty convenient for families – especially if you want to go the self-catering route. If not, there are tons of family-friendly restaurants that don’t mind boisterous families. Jasper Pizza Place and Maligne Canyon Wilderness Kitchen are two of our favourites.
As for adventures, you’ll want to do the Maligne Canyon ice walk – especially if you have a Frozen fan in your household or just fancy walking underneath frozen waterfalls. It’s suitable for all ages, and you don’t need a tour – but you should have some ice spikes or traction cleats on the bottom of your winter boots. Tour companies offer these. More activities available for all adventure levels can be found here.
Do you have any tried and true family travel hacks? (I used to travel with blackout material to tape over the window if the hotel’s curtains weren’t dark enough. Very thankful those days are over!)
