Travelling with teenagers can sometimes feel like navigating a minefield, even more so when you are a single parent. You want to create lasting memories, but the challenges are never ending. From mood swings to differing interests, your holiday adventure can quickly turn into a stressful experience for everyone. So, how do you survive family holidays with teenagers? Our guide offers some practical strategies and tips to help make your make your trip smoother and more enjoyable.
Before You Go: Laying the Groundwork for Smooth Family Holidays with Teenagers
1. Planning Your Holiday Together
Involving your teenagers in the trip planning can lead to a more satisfying experience for everyone. Agreeing where to go and what to do, means expectations are managed and no one will feel disappointed or frustrated with any aspect of the holiday. Parenting experts suggests that collaboration fosters a sense of ownership in your teens. If your teen spends a lot of their time holed up in the bedroom, use tools like shared folders to brainstorm destinations, accommodation, and activities to improve communication.
2. Finding Common Interests
Start by discussing the type of holiday you and your teen would fancy, before deciding where to go. There is no point in booking an expensive beach holiday if your youngster will spend every minute of it on their tablet or in the games room inside the hotel. Instead, find ways to entice your teen to join in with family activities. Try to think of some cool stuff that your youngster might enjoy. Is your teenager a thrill seeker, a music lover, a golfer, windsurfer, or maybe a history buff? Activity holidays for teenage families are a great way for kids and parents to have fun and bond. City trips are also an excellent choice, especially if your teen has an interest in history, art, movies, music, or shopping – there is something here for everyone. But even beach holidays can combine everyone’s interest if you choose the right destination. So, do a little brainstorming together before you look at destinations.
3. Setting Expectations and Ground Rules
Clear communication is vital for a successful trip. Establishing ground rules before you leave can prevent misunderstandings. Some examples include:
- Local customs: Make sure your teen knows about cultural differences: from how to dress appropriately to local laws and regulations, especially if you are travelling further afield. In many countries, affection in public, drug use, same sex relations, and sex with a minor are criminal offences and can carry long prison sentences.
- Curfew: Set a time for returning to the room or hotel if you decide your teenager is responsible enough to go out by themselves.
- Phone usage: Discuss when and how often phones can be used and make sure your teen knows how to monitor their roaming data limit.
- Social media etiquette: Agree on what can be posted about your family holiday, also with a view to what might be considered an offence in the country you are staying in.
Exciting Itineraries: Holiday Activities Teenage Families
1. Choosing Activities That Appeal to Teens
Finding activities everyone will enjoy during your family holidays is key. That does not mean you all have to be sporty or thrill seekers. Here are some boredom-busters that will make for fun activity holidays for teenage families:
- Adventurous activities: Consider tree top adventures, zip-lining, or kayaking.
- Water sports: Book your teen a surfing, water skiing, or windsurfing lesson. Rent a kayak or SUP and explore the coastline together. Or simply book a flying sofa or banana boat for a quick adrenaline rush.
- Desert fun: Dune buggy safaris, sand surfing, quad biking, camel riding, and stargazing in the desert – there is something for every interest if you are travelling to Morocco or Dubai, for example.
- Cultural experiences: Art museums, was work museums like Madame Tussauds, music festivals, book signings, famous landmarks, themed tours (think Harry Potter, foodie tours, etc.) – the choice is endless in many cities.
- Girly treats: Schedule a shopping break or a spa session with your teenage daughter (dads can do this too!).
2. Balancing Teen Independence with Parental Supervision
It’s important to give your teens a bit of freedom while ensuring they stay safe. Depending on their maturity level, you can allow them to explore on their own or even better with a friend or sibling while checking in regularly or agreeing a meeting point later in the day.
On the Road: Managing the Teen Travel Experience
1. Navigating Different Modes of Transport
Travelling can be stressful, so here are some tips to prevent avoid frustration:
- flying: Arrive early to allow plenty of time for check-in, security, buying of drinks and snacks, etc. to avoid airport meltdowns.
- driving: Plan for breaks every couple of hours to manage boredom, tiredness, car sickness, toilet breaks, etc.
- public transport: Be prepared for possible delays: A good book or a portable charger can save the day.
2. Dealing with Boredom and Cabin Fever
Long journeys can leave teenagers restless. To keep them engaged, equip yourself with:
- audiobooks & podcasts: Download before you leave to have some entertainment on hand when needed.
- travel games: Classic games like ‘I Spy’ or ‘20 Questions’ can be fun at any age.
- downloadable movies: Create a travel movie playlist in advance and download at least a few films before you leave.
3. Dealing with Conflict Resolution
Disagreements can arise. Common sources include:
- activity choices: Use a voting system to decide on activities, so that parents and siblings all get their say.
- screen time: Discuss usage before the holiday and agree a limit to avoid tension during the trip.
- social dynamics: Encourage open conversations to resolve tension.
4. Capturing Memories and Sharing Experiences
There are many ways to share your travel adventures with family and friends. Documenting and sharing your adventures can also be great fun. Some creative ways to do so include:
- family travel journal: Encourage everyone to write down their thoughts and experiences.
- photo collection: Create a shared photo album to reminisce.
- video memories: Consider making a short trip highlight reel or even better ask your teen. They are probably more tech savvy and will enjoy being in charge.
5. Handling Technology Issues
Tech troubles can surface unexpectedly and considering how important gadgets are for teenage families, it’s best to try and minimise issues:
- Device charging: Bring extra chargers and adapters and a portable power bank.
- Internet access: Find out about Wi-Fi access in your accommodation and check which if any family members need to buy add-ons or roaming packages before you set off. Download important info or large data items (movies, apps) before your family holiday with teenagers.
- Protect your data: Teach your youngsters how to stay secure online when travelling.
- Set screen time limits: Balance tech use with family interaction. If you have plenty of activities planned, your teen will not only be worn out but also less likely to want to spend time on their gadgets.
Money Matters: Budgeting and Financial Responsibility
1. Creating a Realistic Travel Budget
Having a clear family budget can help manage expenses during your trip. Consider:
- Spending money: Account for snacks, activities, and souvenirs.
- Unexpected expenses: Set aside extra funds for surprises.
- Budgeting tools: Apps like TravelSpend can help track spending.
2. Teaching Teens Financial Responsibility
Involve your teens in budgeting discussions. Some strategies include:
- Daily budget: Give them a set amount to spend each day.
- Expense tracking: Encourage them to note down their purchases, so they learn to budget.
- Financial discussions: Use real-life examples from your trip.
3. Dealing with Lost or Stolen Items
To prevent theft and protect valuables, consider:
- Travel insurance: Make sure policy covers lost or stolen items.
- Secure storage: Use hotel safes when possible
- Anti theft travel bags: Consider purchasing locks for your suitcases and anti-theft bags with locking zippers, a clip to stop the bag from being opened, and a chair loop lock system, to name but a few.
- Stay vigilant: Remind teens to keep an eye on their belongings, whether that’s leaving expensive items in the hotel safe to avoid them being stolen or damaged at the beach or being vigilant in cities to avoid pickpockets.
Conclusion
Successful family holidays with teenagers require careful planning, clear communication, and a dash of flexibility. If you keep your teenagers engaged with lots of cool activities, they will spend less time online, in turn, causing less friction and a happier vacation for everyone. Just don’t forget that teens need more privacy and a degree of independence. Finding the balance can be tricky, but hopefully with this survival guide to family holidays with teenagers, you can enjoy an adventure together!
