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How to Relax on Vacation For Moms
9 Ways Moms Can Turn a Family Trip Into a Family Vacation
We’ve partnered with Suiteness to help you make the most of your next vacation, whether it’s a glitzy weekend in the city or family trip to a theme park.
Picture this: you’re just steps away from a gorgeous beach with crystal-clear turquoise waters. Your kids had the times of their lives swimming with dolphins and building sandcastles today. And yet, you’re still stressing about where you're going to find a restaurant with kid-friendly food when you should be relaxing with a glass of wine.
The impulse to be a parent doesn’t stop the second you step off the plane and start your vacation. Unplugging from your work email is one thing — it’s much harder to stop worrying about messy rooms, bratty behavior, and the amount of sugar in that double-decker ice cream sundae your kid just ordered, even when you’re on vacation.
When you’re used to cramming 1 million tasks into one day, learning to relax can be difficult. It just takes a little practice. Next time your family heads off for a week of fun, follow these helpful tips to kick back and actually relax — no matter what kid-related snafus occur.
Nobu Zen Suite Ocean View, Miami, bookable on Suiteness.com
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Pack With Purpose
Start packing about a week before the trip to ensure you don’t forget anything. Make a list, set aside a dedicated time for laundry, and whatever you do, make sure your kid’s security blanket or stuffed animal makes it into the suitcase. Knowing you already have everything you could possibly need will help you relax when you arrive.
Spring For a Suite
Don’t even try to squeeze three kids and two parents into one hotel room. Rollaway cots don’t count as real beds. Instead, book a suite that’s actually large enough for the whole family with Suiteness. This handy service specializes in suites and connecting rooms that sleep four or more people — the perfect size for a family vacation. Some hotels even offer kid-friendly rooms outfitted with bunk beds and bright colors! Right now, you can enter to win booking credits toward your next vacation — Suiteness is giving away $1 million in suites as booking credits through Oct. 16.
Take Advantage of the Concierge
Everyone who books on Suiteness gets access to a complimentary personal concierge service, which makes it oh-so-easy to schedule fun activities and make restaurant reservations without any of the legwork. Need somewhere for dinner that offers both chicken nuggets and grown-up meals? Done. What about finding the best jet-ski excursion in the city? No problem. Want to make sure your suite has a crib for your youngest daughter? Easy. Almost anything you need is within reach.
The Garland Hotel Family Suite, Los Angeles, bookable on Suiteness.com
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Prepare For Downtime
Even the most action-packed trip will have some built-in downtime — think plane trips and long car rides. Avoid antsy kiddos and incessant questions of “Are we there yet?” by bringing plenty of activities along. Card games, books, and beloved toys all work wonders — you can even try wrapping them up in gift wrap so kiddos can have a fun surprise to unwrap on the plane. Running out of room in your suitcase? Think up a few road trip games (Name That Tune and I Spy, anyone?) to keep in your back pocket.
Bring Plenty of Singles For Tips
Traveling with kids isn’t the time to tough it out and carry your luggage from the car to the hotel yourself. Spring for curbside drop-off at the airport and take full advantage of the porter at the hotel to make it easier on yourself. Just don’t forget to tip them well! A good rule of thumb is $2 per bag for airport baggage handlers or hotel bellmen, $5 for hotel valets, $2 to $5 for helpful hotel doormen, and $3 to $5 daily for hotel housekeepers.
Don’t Schedule Every Moment
Tempting as it might be to plan the day from an 8 a.m. wake-up call all the way through a 6 p.m. dinner reservation, that doesn’t leave a whole lot of room for fun. Some of the most wonderful moments on vacation happen without pre-planning, and being more flexible will allow you to adjust your plans as issues crop up. And, believe us — they inevitably will.
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Make the Most of Adults-Only Time
Even on a family vacation, you should make some time for just the adults. If you’re traveling with your extended family, ask your aunt or mom to watch the kids for an hour while you grab a cocktail with your partner or get a massage. Some hotels also offer an on-site babysitting service. If all else fails, you can always use nap time to sneak in a soak in the bathtub!
Quit While You’re Ahead
Don’t expect your toddler to handle a full day of sightseeing and dinner out at a white tablecloth without so much as a nap. Sometimes, it’s better to call it a day while everyone is still in a cheerful mood, rather than squeezing in one more bit of sightseeing and risking a meltdown.
Practice Gratitude
Just like no family is perfect, no family vacation is perfect. There are bound to be some bumps along the road, but try to look at the bright side. Hey, even a less-than-ideal trip is better than no trip at all!
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