Three Essentials of Family Travel

Written by Shirley Anderson

Summer is here and with that comes a host of fun trips and vacations with the people we love most- family! These travel plans while providing a break from the mundane, can also play a central role in increasing long term familial quality of life and relationship satisfaction.

Experiencing events together as a family facilitates collective memory creation, familial bonding and creates ‘we-relationships’ which form the basis of family identity and culture (Jepson, 2019). Family travel has been found to improve communications, reduce the possibility of divorce, strengthen family bonds, and increase a sense of well-being in persons of all ages (Durko & Petrick, 2013). However, to enjoy these many benefits, a certain degree of preparation is required. Here are three essentials of family travel to help you get the most out of your next trip.

If You Fail to Plan, You Plan to Fail

The success of your trip is largely determined by your preparation. Planning ahead is crucial and helps avoid unnecessary stress. Whether you are a self-proclaimed “planner” or a “wing-it” kind of person, it’s important to know the basic outline of your travel itinerary and goals. Often one person is left to do most of the planning but this responsibility can and should be shared with other family members to ensure everyone is on the same page and individual needs and expectations are met. Planning together can be a fun way to bond as you create opportunities to make collective memories.

You’re Still You When You Travel

As comically said in a recent SNL skit, “you’re still you when you travel.”  I think we often forget that when we travel, we are still the same people, just in a different place. So if you don’t enjoy hiking at home, you likely won’t enjoy it abroad. Similarly, If your family dynamics are strained at home, you can expect them to be strained while you travel as well. Time away from our day to day lives can be rejuvenating and serve as a needed ‘reset’ but unfortunately our problems and worries may very well accompany us on our adventures. Understanding this will help you tailor your travels to your family’s specific situation.

Disconnect to Connect

My little family and I lived in Europe the last few years and found time and time again that the most meaningful experiences we shared were the ones we never took a picture of or even had our phones with us. We’ve been shocked to visit some of the world’s most beautiful sights and cities only to find a lot of people staring at a screen or seeing life through a lens rather than connecting with those around them. We often spend so much time trying to capture the perfect photo for our instagram feeds that we completely miss out on the lasting benefits of family travel. Of course, taking occasional photos can be a fun way to capture moments to look back on, but if there are no family memories to accompany them, the photos are ultimately worthless. Frequently disconnecting from technology will open the door to family connection and improved communications.

Putting these three family travel essentials in practice will prepare you for a summer filled with family fun and most importantly, strengthen your most valued relationships.

Sit down with your family and review your summer calendar with these essentials in mind!

References

Agate, J. R., Zabriskie, R. B., Agate, S. T., & Poff, R. (2009). Family leisure satisfaction and satisfaction with family life. Journal of Leisure Research, 41(2), 205–223.

Dolnicar, S., Yanamandram, V., & Cliff, K. (2012). The contribution of vacations to quality of life. Annals of Tourism Research, 39(1), 59–83. https://doi-org.erl.lib.byu.edu/10.1016/j.annals.2011.04.015

Durko, A. M., & Petrick, J. F. (2013). Family and Relationship Benefits of Travel Experiences: A Literature Review. Journal of Travel Research, 52(6), 720–730. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287513496478

Jepson, A., Stadler, R., & Spencer, N. (2019). Making positive family memories together and improving quality-of-life through thick sociality and bonding at local community festivals and events. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2019.05.001

Shirley Anderson is a Utah native and the youngest of five children. She has been married to her sweetheart for three years, and together they have recently begun the journey of parenthood to a darling little girl and are currently living in Stuttgart, Germany. Shirley graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Science in Family Life and Human Development.