Tips for Picking Your Next Family Travel Destination

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Planning a family vacation is always an exciting challenge, and I’ve learned that choosing the right destination involves much more than just finding a place on the map—it’s about creating experiences that everyone in the family will enjoy and remember.

Over the years, I’ve developed a go-to process for picking the perfect spot, whether we’re planning a big adventure or a quiet getaway.

Whether we’re heading to a new adventure or enjoying a relaxing getaway, here are the steps and thought processes I go through to find the perfect vacation spot for our family.

1. Decide If You Want To Drive Or Fly

The first decision you’ll need to make when planning a family vacation is whether to drive or fly. This choice impacts everything from travel time to budget, so here are a few things to consider:

• How much time do you have? ⏰
• How much of your vacation time do you want to spend driving? Are you open to overnight stops? 🚗 🧳
• What does your budget look like? 💰
  ➡️ Flying is generally more expensive, especially if you have a larger family (like ours, which includes six people!). Plus, depending on your destination, you may need to rent a car, which adds to your overall costs.

Often, flying to a destination and then renting a minivan or large SUV can get very pricey, especially when traveling during peak times like holidays, spring break, or summer vacation.

🌟 Because of this, we’ve been opting to drive to our vacation destinations more often lately.

It’s not only more cost-effective but also gives us the flexibility to pack everything we need without worrying about extra baggage fees or rental car costs.

💡 Packing Tip: Whether you’re driving or flying, a packing list can streamline the process and help ensure you don’t forget any family travel essentials.

2. Determine How Much Time You Want to Spend Traveling to Your Destination

Once you’ve decided whether you want to drive or fly, the next step is figuring out how much time you’re willing to spend getting to your destination.

If you’re planning for a long travel day, consider how frequent breaks or layovers may affect your schedule and energy levels.

If you’re driving, ask yourself:

• How long can we comfortably drive each day? 🚗
• How many days do we want to spend traveling versus being at our destination?

If you’re flying, consider:

• Are you looking for nonstop flights? ✈️
• How many stops or layovers are you willing to endure?
• How does the price of flights compare to your budget?

🌟 For our family, with four young and energetic boys, we’ve found that 10 to 15 hours is about our maximum drive time. Typically, we can manage around 6 hours of driving per day, with breaks along the way, so our trips usually take about two days of travel.

Now, it’s time to find a destination that’s within that 10-15 hour range from home.

💡 Travel Planning Tip: I love using Google Explore to find flight options and prices—it’s simple, straightforward, and user-friendly! Plus, it helps you discover the best flight deals all in one place.

3. Make a List of Potential Destinations Within Your Desired Travel Time Frame

Since 10-15 hours one way is our driving limit, I started by looking at destinations that fit within that window. For us, the top contenders were Gatlinburg, Vail, and Dallas.

If you’re flying, look for destinations with nonstop flights or, if necessary, those with just one stop that align with your budget and preferred travel times.

4. Decide on a Destination

At this point, after narrowing down my list of destinations, I consider what each place has to offer for our family. Here’s what I look at:

• Family-friendly activities: What attractions will keep everyone entertained?
• Lodging options: Where will we stay, and what will be most comfortable for our family?

When traveling with kids of different ages, it’s especially important to consider activities and accommodations that work for everyone in the group.

Here’s what I consider when choosing lodging:

• Are there enough beds for everyone?
• How much space do we need? Do we want a studio, a one-bedroom suite, or even a two-bedroom suite?
• What is the cost per night?
• Does the hotel have a pool or other amenities?
• Would a vacation rental be a better fit? Does it offer extra perks like a full kitchen, outdoor space, or laundry facilities?

After creating a list of potential lodging options, I also research attractions at each destination. I use both lists to make my final decision.

🌟 For our trip, I chose the Residence Inn in Pigeon Forge. The hotel was reasonably priced, and I was able to use rewards points for a discount. We booked a one-bedroom suite with a living area and kitchen, providing plenty of space for all six of us. Plus, there’s a nice outdoor pool (hoping for some good weather!).

With so many incredible attractions and activities in the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, this destination truly checked all the boxes for our family—and it’s one we keep coming back to again and again!

💡 Travel Budgeting Tip: To save money, I like to use credit card points to book our hotel stays. You can also cut costs on meals by choosing a hotel with complimentary breakfast or a vacation rental with a kitchen.

➡️ Looking for more family travel tips? Don’t miss my 10 Game Changing Tips for Traveling with Kids to help you travel like a pro!

5. Book Your Family Vacation!

Once you’ve made your decision, it’s time to book everything!

• If you’re flying: Book your flights. ✈️

• If you’re driving: Plan your route, and don’t forget to consider any stops along the way. If you’re booking a hotel for the trip, be sure to review cancellation policies. 🛣

• Book your lodging: When booking your accommodations at your destination, take a look at the cancellation policies in case of unexpected changes (illness, delays, etc.). 🧳

• Make a list of attractions to visit: Consider booking tickets or making a list of things to do ahead of time. 🎟

There you have it–the five main steps you need to take for planning your family vacation! 🖐

To Review:

1. Decide whether to drive or fly.

2. Consider how much time you want to spend traveling to your destination.

3. Choose destinations within your travel time frame and budget.

4. Research lodging options and attractions at each destination.

5. Make your final choice and book your trip!

Ready to start planning your family adventure? Download our free checklist below! ⬇️

May you love your adventure. KW