It’s fair to say that 2020 has been a trying year for families. The COVID-19 lockdown has seen families being forced to spend more time together than ever before.
That being said, with the perils of homeschooling, parents trying to cram in work, and children losing the structure and routine their school provides - it’s difficult to call this quality time. It’s safe to say, families are in need of a summer vacation.
But how can your family plan a summer vacation in ‘the new normal’? These outside-of-the-box ideas will help you when being creative when planning your family summer vacation during COVID.
Instead of overseas travel, think domestic or even local
Although it may be tempting to take advantage of the super-low price of international flights, is it really a risk you and your family want to take? And in many cases, is it even possible?A lot of international borders throughout the world are still closed for the foreseeable future. Moreover, a lot of countries are implementing mandatory quarantine periods for overseas visitors. Therefore, it could be a good idea to skip international travel this summer. Instead, this is the year to explore your own country or even your local area.
After all, there are probably many great places close to your front doorstep that you’ve always wanted to visit but never took the time. This summer, why not incorporate some local gems into your summer vacation plans?
Get out into nature and go camping
If you’re looking to adhere to social distancing while also disconnecting yourself from the pitfalls of 2020, why not take a family camping trip?
There’s a high chance that in a normal year your child would now be planning what to take to scout camp or summer camp. However, a lot of these trips have been postponed or canceled. Although they won’t get their camping badge this year, planning a family camping trip is a great way to make sure your kids still get a taste of the great outdoors.
How about renting a camper?
You and your family can make the journey itself the vacation. A camper allows the whole family to experience the open road while being in the safety and hygiene of your own space.
This is perfect if you want to visit multiple locations on your summer vacation but are trying to avoid domestic flights for safety concerns. Similar to your camping trip, sit down with your family - and a map - and plan your route together. Try to incorporate one attraction, town, or activity per person. That way your trip will have a bit of something for everyone!
Visit attractions in the week, not the weekend
As attractions open up worldwide, families are going to be eager to visit them or, frankly, visit anywhere. As a result, large parks, attractions, or towns where you’d usually be able to social distance easily will be busier than usual. And, as I’m sure you know, trying to get young children to socially distance is difficult.There are a couple of ways around this:
Visit places that are off the beaten track - Instead of navigating towards the top 10 attractions on Trip Advisor, think about slightly quirkier destinations that will attract fewer families e.g. ranches, ghost towns, niche museums - whatever your family is into!
Visit attractions in the week - This is always an easy hack to avoid crowds. Avoid weekends or peak times at major attractions. Not only is this a good way to social distance but you will probably be able to save some money in doing so.
Get the help of a travel professional to plan your trip
There’s no doubt that you’re more than capable of planning a family summer vacation. However, in these uncharted times, it’s slightly more difficult to do so. Therefore, it may be worth bringing in a travel expert to help you plan your family vacation.They will be able to plan a detailed itinerary, help you save money before and during your trip, and also keep you safe from potential difficulties you might encounter traveling during a global pandemic.
2020 has been stressful enough. Why not take something off your plate and hire a travel professional?
And remember
2020 has been tough so far. Back at the start of the year, the idea of taking a family vacation seemed completely unattainable.However, with a few creative solutions and by taking a slightly different vacation than you may be used to, it’s still possible to have a great family summer vacation in 2020.
We hope this article helps you make the most of the summer during these trying times. If you have any wacky COVID vacation ideas, feel free to share them in the comments below!
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