Top 10 Tips for an Unforgettable Family Adventure

Trust me on this one. A great way to ensure your family adventure is memorable (for all the right reasons) is to make sure everyone enjoys it and gets the most out of it. Let the kids help choose an activity or even the destination. It gives everyone a sense of ownership and builds excitement.

If you’re letting everyone pick an activity – or perhaps each of you has chosen a different island to hop across – and the planning feels a bit daunting, why not let Flight Centre streamline the process and ease the stress of booking a big trip? They can organise and book everything, and if any issues crop up during your travels, they’ll be there to help.

I get it – when travelling with kids, especially as a mum, we like to have things organised. But holidays should be different. They’re a time when life doesn’t have to stick to routine.

My best advice, after travelling to over 20 countries: don’t over-schedule. The unplanned moments – ice cream stops, beach detours – are often the best bits. And they’re usually the parts our kids remember most.

Screens are inevitable these days, but holidays are a great opportunity to reconnect as a family. If you’re keen to do this, try setting boundaries around screen time so you can be fully present with each other.

Maybe a “tech-free morning” rule, or only allowing screens during the afternoon lull – aka “downtime before dinner”. We do this with our kids: only our eldest has an iPad, and it’s strictly for travel days or the occasional “downtime before dinner” hour.

You might think you’ll remember the trip forever, but memories fade. A travel journal lets each family member jot down a highlight from the day.

It’s a way to capture instant memories – not just of the trip, but of your children and the ages they were. Because who they are and what they’re into might have changed completely by the time you next go away.

It’s surprising what happens when you give the power to your kids – they become interested. Try giving them control over one day’s plan or let them be the “tour guide”. You’ll be amazed at how fun it can be.

We always keep in mind that the holiday should be fun for everyone. We research places of interest, sights and trips that each of us would like to do, and balance that with age-appropriate activities for the kids. That way, everyone’s happy – and understands that the trip doesn’t revolve around just one person, or just the adults or the kids. It’s a family adventure, and everyone should take something away from each experience.

Take photos – it might sound obvious in this day and age, but it’s surprisingly easy to forget, especially when travelling with kids. We often get caught up in the moment or feel too hassled to reach for the camera, and before you know it, the opportunity to capture a lasting memory has passed.

Top tip: Keep a waterproof pouch or crossbody pocket with your phone inside so it’s always within reach – no matter the activity. Snap the messy, the silly, and the sweet in-between moments, not just the posed ones. They’re the best kind.

It doesn’t matter if the plan goes sideways – best advice: laugh through it. Those “disaster” moments often become the best stories. They also help build your child’s confidence and resilience.

If things go wrong, they’re watching and learning from us. It’s not the mishap itself but how we, as parents, respond that sticks with them. So, let it go – and embrace the imperfect moments.

This can be a challenge with fussy eaters – we get it. Some days and cuisines are easier than others, but we always encourage everyone to try, even if we expect a hard no. More often than not, we’re surprised when they end up liking something unexpected.

We make it fun – a challenge to try something new, even if it seems strange. It’s a great way to open their minds to new cultures and flavours, and it becomes a brilliant bonding experience and memory-maker.

Balance sightseeing with chill time. Everyone – especially kids – needs space to relax and reset. We’ve learnt this the hard way. After a few full-on days, our kids will actually request a “chill day”.

Now we plan better. We research activities and excursions, map out how long they take, and build in rest days. You might fit two short activities into one day and leave the next for swimming, reading, or simply unwinding in a hammock.

Something simple – like a silly photo pose, a pancake breakfast on the last morning, or a sunset walk – adds magic and continuity to your travels. We make a point of catching as many sunsets as we can on every trip (with young kids, it’s often sunrises too!).

We’ve talked about sunsets so much that our eldest now asks to watch them and appreciates the colours and the transition from day to night. It’s a tradition we hope to carry with us on every trip – and into everyday life.

From island-hopping in Thailand to wildlife spotting in South Africa, or beach days in Bali to road trips across New Zealand – don't forget to check out some incredible family holidays here.

If you’re inspired to plan your own unforgettable family adventure, get in touch with an expert at Flight Centre to tailor-make a trip that suits your family’s style, pace and interests – so you can focus on making memories.