"Traveling in the company of those we love is home in motion." - Leigh Hunt
As a mother and daughter travel duo, we may be a tad bias when it comes to family travel, but we wholeheartedly believe that there are many benefits that come from traveling with your family! Throughout the years, we have taken trips with large groups and trips with just the two of us, and we narrowed it down to these top 5 reasons why we think you should travel with your family more often.
Let us know if you agree or have additional reasons that come to mind in the comments!
1. Traveling as a family reduces stress
When you step away from the day-to-day grind of jobs and other obligations it is simply much easier to relax together. Since we are both adults, taking that time to “unplug” every once in a while is crucial. Starting to take family trips when children are young also demonstrates to them that family trips should be a valuable priority in their lives. We find that it is less stressful to travel with family because you can be 100% yourself. Your family has seen the good, the bad, and the ugly, and they still love you. So, go ahead and ask them to take that 100th Colosseum photo!
2. Bonding time
Starting as early as the planning stage, family trips are full of opportunities to collaborate and grow closer. Consider family tips an investment in your relationships! We always share ideas for activities, restaurants, and anything else that comes to mind before and during trips. We definitely believe that our travel experiences together have brought us closer over the years.
3. Education for everyone
Nothing is better than real-world, hands-on experience when it comes to education! International travel is the best way to learn just how big this world is and how different cultures can be. However, even domestic travel has it’s benefits by introducing new, unique places and pushing people out of their comfort zones. We can say first-hand that these experiences are helpful for developing empathy, compassion, interpersonal skills, and much more.
4. Short-term squabbles
With family travel, you learn to expect the unexpected. No matter your ages, there will be moments of frustration, annoyance, and even some disagreements, but you are family no matter what. When you travel with friends or people you don’t know very well, it can be more complicated to resolve problems. On a family trip, squabbles are likely going to be short-term, and you can move along to happier things. Luckily, all of those moments lead to #5...
5. Long-lasting memories
Family trips are valued and remembered long after you return home. If you are able to choose between giving each other gifts or taking a trip together, the trip will always be more fulfilling. According to research conducted by the Family Holiday Association and cited in HuffPost U.K., 49% of survey respondents said their happiest memory was of a family vacation.
With all of this said, go ahead and plan that family trip! Lately, many people are feeling cooped-up at home and a little break can make a big difference. It doesn’t matter where you go as long as you go together and make the most out of it.
Thank you for reading!
-Nikki + Pam
