How we plan our big family holidays – a practical checklist
Planning a long holiday with kids can feel overwhelming, but breaking it down into stages makes it much easier. Here’s our step-by-step checklist for a stress-free trip.
6 months before departure
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Decide on your destination and season – check for rainy or hurricane seasons.
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Check passports, visas, and any required apps (e.g., ArriveCAN for Canada).
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Book flights – use comparison sites, stick to airlines you trust, and aim for at most one layover.
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Start looking at hotels – consider splitting stays across multiple locations.
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Check vaccination requirements and book appointments if needed.
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Arrange pet or house sitters if applicable.
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Book airport parking.
2 months before departure
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Book hotels with free cancellation for flexibility.
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Pre-book key attractions or tours if you are travelling in high season.
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Arrange car rental or airport transfer with your first hotel.
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Buy travel insurance – make sure it covers planned activities like hiking or water sports.
1–2 weeks before departure
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Check weather forecasts for your destination.
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Start packing – make a checklist.
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Exchange currency if needed.
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Pre-download travel apps, maps, and entertainment for the plane.
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Check mobile data plans or buy an eSIM card if convenient.
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Make sure you have all booking confirmations for flights, hotels, and transfers on your phone – or printed out.
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Make notes of must-see sights and activities if you want.
- Check if you need a power adapter or plug converter for your destination.
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Buy over-the-counter medicine – Pick up basic medications such as remedies for upset stomach, allergies, headaches, or motion sickness.
- For sunny holidays, bring plenty of sunscreen – fragrance-free or sensitive-skin versions can be hard to find in some countries
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Check luggage rules – Make sure your luggage meets your airline’s size and weight limits. Do you need to buy/borrow suitcases?
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Check in for your flight – Complete online check-in if possible or at the airport.
Want to read more in-depth? Check out our post on how we plan our trips
– You’re all set! Have a great trip.