On today’s show we give you some examples of how much a family vacation is costing these days and offer some ideas how to stretch your budget.
Hawaii is one of the most loved destinations in the country for a family vacation. Not only is it a beautiful place to relax and unwind, but it also offers a wide array of activities and accommodations for family members of any age. From shallow hotel pools for toddlers to daycare services at resorts, under 18 clubs, kids meals and group surf lessons, Hawaii has adapted to be a family-friendly environment. The great thing about traveling in groups too is that you can often times find better deals and rates on things like hotel, airfare, and daytime activities. I love booking family vacations because it’s as rewarding to me as it is for them. Family satisfaction makes it all worth it!
Part of the reason why so many families choose Hawaii as their yearly getaway is because it cultivates a sense of togetherness. Whether it’s hanging out by the pool, exploring a hiking trail or enjoying an evening dinner, family members set aside their day-to-day things in order to spend time together in a beautiful place. And it’s enjoyable. Even if a sixteen year-old isn’t enjoying her parent’s company over breakfast, she’s probably looking forward to that beach day later on and the stroll down Waikiki in the evening time. There’s a little something for everyone in the islands.
In recent years, we’ve noticed a trend of rising costs for Hawaii family vacations. People are either spending less money during their vacation than they were before, or are simply cutting out the family vacation altogether. With flights being the most expensive aspect of family travel, it’s a good idea to plan ahead, book in advance, and work with someone who knows what they’re doing. Family vacations to Hawaii don’t have to break the bank, you can still plan them affordable if you know where to look and how to cut costs. Don’t nix the summer getaway to the islands just yet!
Planning ahead is the number one way to save during your family trip. If you can book flights at least 6 months in advance, you’re sure to get the best deals possible. The earlier the better! By planning ahead you can also prepare for things like meals “at home” (cooking in the condo or hotel kitchen), packed lunches for long days out and about, and a list of must-do activities that everyone agrees on. If your budget is tight, you can also just take advantage of the free things to do in Hawaii (swim, hike, bonfires, town strolls, window shopping, etc.) and splurge on one big activity like a catamaran cruise. This will most likely make everyone happy.
It’s not hard to make sure everyone is satisfied when you’re in Hawaii. You might even want to have each family member write a list of the things they’d like to do during the vacation, so you get a clear idea of what will make each individual happy in Hawaii. You can make compromises by giving everyone one day where they get to pick the activity. Another idea is to schedule time where different family members are enjoying different things together, like a father/daughter golf game or a girls shopping day. These activities help with family bonding and also allow family members to do the things they want to do without hearing complaints.
A few daytime activity ideas for families with younger kids is the Honolulu Zoo, the Aquarium, Dole Plantation, Ko Olina beaches, and easy hikes like Manoa Falls or the Makapu’u Lighthouse. Fun, easy, yet still enjoyable for mom and dad, these activities are great for ages 2-12 and are inexpensive (if not free!) activity options. Hotel pools also seem to have a kid allure to them, so it’s a great idea to plan a day hanging around the resort and enjoying the hotel amenities. You can also ramp up the fun by purchasing some cheap pool toys, like floaty noodles, squirt guns or pool games.
Ages 12-18 can enjoy things like long beach days highlighted by water activities. Spend a couple of hours snorkeling the reefs and exploring the underwater world, buy a floating lounge chair and soak in some sun on the water, or plan a beach volleyball game. Some hotels also offer group activities for kids and teens including things like ukulele lessons, hula lessons and surf lessons. Another great way to travel to Hawaii with kids with via cruise ship. The list of things to do on these giant floating parties is endless, and for any age! From teen-only clubs to mini water parks to live entertainment, arcades, game rooms and more, a cruise ship is guaranteed to keep everyone in the whole family pleased.
A vacation in Hawaii is a great way to bring the family closer. It opens up bonding opportunities that you couldn’t do elsewhere and that are unique to the islands, like tandem parasailing, cultural activities at luaus or family meals outdoors along the beach. It is absolutely a special treat when parents can give their children a vacation to Hawaii, so if this is something you’ve been thinking of for a while now, we can help! We can make it affordable too, without skipping on the quality. Now is a great time to begin planning for a Hawaii holiday with the family, so please check us out online and see how we can help.