Life seems better on holiday. The sun is brighter, the days are longer, and there’s always a new adventure to be had. However, despite this, planning a holiday, especially with children in tow, can be stress-inducing. After all, between finding suitable accommodation and sticking to a specific budget, there’s a lot that can go wrong!

In fact, a recent study found that 78% of parents find holiday booking and planning to be incredibly stressful, with the biggest stressors being:

• Airport procedures

• Delays/cancellations 

• Costs 

Fortunately, there are many steps that you can take to reduce the stress of planning and prepping for a holiday so that you can focus on making lasting memories with those you love!

Plan far in advance. Planning far in advance is one of the easiest ways to reduce your stress when travelling with kids. After all, this gives you time to ensure that you’ve ticked all the boxes and have everything you need in order. Furthermore, if you’re working within a tight budget, this gives you plenty of time to save up! 

Purchase travel insurance. According to a recent study, one in four UK adults do not book travel insurance before heading out on vacation. However, this is something that you simply cannot go without. After all, travel insurance can help with everything from last-minute cancellations to ensuring you aren’t forking out thousands on healthcare should the worst happen while abroad. If you are worried about the costs of insurance, use price comparison websites to ensure you are getting the best deal for the best price.

Work with a holiday planner. Working with a holiday planner or travel agent is another great way to take the stress out of planning a family holiday, as they’ll do the majority of the hard work on your behalf. This means that you can sit back and relax before your holiday even begins!

Leave your home looking its best. As your holiday draws nearer, you may begin to feel anxious about everything you have to do before travelling, including getting your home in good order. However, you could remedy this stress by taking some of the work off your shoulders. For example, you could hire a professional cleaner to spruce up your home while you focus on packing those suitcases. 

Focus on living in the moment. Once you’ve set out on your vacation, it is time to leave the stress at home! Instead of focusing on what could go wrong during your trip, try to focus on living in the moment instead. After all, this is your opportunity to spend quality time with your family, free from the distractions of everyday life - meaning that you should not let stress stand in the way of this. As such, instead of thinking about everything that could go wrong, focus instead on all of the fun that you’re about to have (or are already having). Know that should a problem arise, you’ll find a solution and spend your energy on making memories, not worrying!

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.