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As parents, we often hear the phrase, “It’s not a vacation with kids, it’s just parenting somewhere else.” People say that because it can feel true.
Traveling with children often means juggling naps, tantrums, transitions between activities, strange sleeping arrangements, and snack emergencies – all while being told to “relax and enjoy your vacation.” It’s no wonder the mere thought of traveling with kids makes some parents feel stressed and overwhelmed.
But here’s the thing – it doesn’t have to be this way.
The truth is, the idea of “vacation” doesn’t have to compete with “family trip.” They can work together. The key is to create a balance that fits your family’s needs, so you don’t have to come back from your trip wishing for a break.
On some trips, you might be ready to blend more adventure and exploration with your relaxation, and those trips might not feel as restful – much the same way an epic hiking trip without kids would feel like an incredible challenge.
Other times, you might crave a trip that leans more towards relaxation. We read a blog post that said the best way to have fun on family trips is to embrace the lack of relaxation and plan a separate “relaxing” trip without the kids. That’s not our approach to family travel at Mango Tree – and it’s also not an option for all parents.
In this blog, we’re sharing family vacation tips to help you plan a trip with your kids that feels enriching and rejuvenating. We want to debunk the myth that the most relaxing holidays are the ones at the Adults-Only All-Inclusive, with the kids left at home with Grandma.
You can have fun on your vacation with kids, make those meaningful travel memories that are worth the investment, and relax. We promise.
From choosing the right hotel to slowing down your itinerary, or solving common travel headaches, you’ll discover that you can plan a family trip that leaves you excited to do it all over again. So, let’s get traveling – and bring the kids!
1.To Enjoy Your Family Vacation, Your Hotel Matters (A Lot)
After years of traveling with our own kids and planning hundreds of trips for other parents, we’ve formed one belief that shapes our approach to family travel: Your accommodations can make or break your family travel experience.
Stop thinking of your hotel as just a place to sleep—it can be the centerpiece of your family travel itinerary, setting the tone for your entire vacation. Choosing a hotel that works for both you and your kids is one of the easiest ways to have a great vacation.
Pick a Hotel That Excites You (Not Just Your Kids)
I started Mango Tree Travel in part because I was sick of being told that a “family hotel” is one that caters to the kids – with waterparks, kids menus, fifteen pools, and more.
Family-friendly hotels aren’t just places that cater to your kids. They are hotels that make travel enjoyable for all members of the families, including the kids and the grown-ups too. To plan a family trip that actually feels like a vacation, make sure to look for a space that feels exciting for you.
Maybe it’s a beachfront property where you can sip a cocktail while your kids play nearby, or a resort with an onsite spa, or something uniquely local that makes you feel immersed in the destination (but that also has a family suite).
When the hotel excites everyone, and has room arrangements that will facilitate good sleep, you’re starting the trip on the right foot. So often, parents put others before themselves, but we want you to do the opposite. Choose a hotel that you love and set yourself up for actual respite.
For me, it was my trip to Casa San Agustin in Colombia that solidified this approach to choosing family hotels. The unique features of this hotel, including the courtyard pool steps from our room that we could enjoy during naptime, along with one of the best restaurants in Cartagena, made me genuinely excited for my first trip to South America with my family.
It proved to be a place where we could all relax and truly vacation, with welcoming staff and a central location. So began my crush on small, boutique hotels.
Spend More Time Relaxing, Not Managing Logistics
A great hotel can eliminate so many travel headaches. A friendly staff that welcomes your kids like VIPs?
Priceless. On-site dining options, room service, or even a local chef to handle a meal or two? Now that’s how to relax and enjoy your vacation.
And our favorite: a concierge to help you nail down all the logistics so you can focus on winding down with your loved ones. When your accommodations are thoughtfully chosen, there’s less stress about mealtimes, downtime, activities or what happens if your little ones need a nap break.
At Mango Tree Travel, we almost always recommend boutique hotels over chains, because their smaller size, more personalized service, and attention to detail mean that kids feel right at home and mom and dad feel taken care of – and that can make all the difference.
Spend a Little More for Comfort and Convenience
Here’s a family vacation tip: sometimes, it’s worth splurging a little.
I can’t even count the number of families who have told me during our initial trip brainstorming call, “with the kids, we don’t need to stay at as nice of a hotel. We’ll save that for our trip without the kids.” We challenge you to think of it the other way.
To be sure, it’s more of an investment to choose a more luxurious hotel. Recognizing that, we’ve found that interesting and meaningful properties are worth choosing – especially with littler kids – because they set your vacation up to feel relaxing. And honestly, that’s priceless.
Skip the Airbnb with a pile of dishes waiting for you at the end of the day. You do enough dishes at home at this stage of your life. Instead, choose accommodations that let you truly unwind, like a villa where you can bring in a local chef to handle a few meals.
You spend countless hours taking care of other people in daily life. Choose a boutique property that prioritizes those extra touches of comfort and care for you.
And space? Having extra space – whether it’s a second bedroom or an ocean-view patio – isn’t just a luxury; it’s a sanity saver. When naptime comes around, that balcony with a view will become your oasis.
One of the top splurges Mango Tree families love? Private pools. With a place to splash right at your accommodation, relaxing becomes effortless. Let the kids jump in while you sip coffee in your PJs. Meltdown brewing? Retreat to your private oasis so everyone can unwind. Check out the 26 Best Caribbean Resorts with Private Pools (2025) to find your perfect match.
The Right Hotel = Better Memories
At the end of the day, a thoughtfully chosen hotel gives everyone the chance to have fun on your vacation. A place where your kids feel at ease and you can actually take a break creates the kind of memories that make you wish you could stay longer.
Invest in a hotel that works for everyone, and you’ll come home relaxed, refreshed, and ready to plan the next one. Because a mom vacation doesn’t have to be separate from a family trip – you just need the right place to stay.
Need help planning a true vacation with kids?
2. Ditch the Family Travel Itinerary & Slow Down
When it comes to planning a family trip, less is more. A packed family travel itinerary might seem efficient on paper, but in practice, it often leads to tired kids, frazzled parents, and missed opportunities to actually enjoy the trip. Instead, take a minimalist approach to excursion planning.
In 2025, we are encouraging families to embrace slow travel experiences. Slowing down gives everyone – especially you – the chance to relax and enjoy your vacation.
Build in Downtime Every Day
Kids thrive on routine, even when you’re traveling. To avoid mid-trip meltdowns, think about the cadence of your trip. Instead of cramming in multiple activities, build time to take it easy into every day.
We’ve seen clients have loads of success with a half day activity in the morning, followed by a leisurely afternoon by the pool. If your family is slow to rise, maybe it’s the opposite: an afternoon adventure followed by a quiet evening. Scheduling a significant break each day can help everyone recharge, turning moments of rest into the experience.
When we plan full itineraries for Mango Tree families – we prioritize scheduling a mix of activities and time to relax. Because, after all, vacations aren’t just about seeing new places – they’re about creating memories in the quiet moments, too.
Minimize Transitions
Transitions, in general, are tough for kids. Add in a new destination, another “place to be” with shoes required, and you’ll be sounding the high-stress alarm. Slower travel helps to tackle family vacation anxiety. It starts with simplifying your family vacation itinerary.
If you’re traveling with small children, plan one or two fewer excursions than you’re tempted to cram into the itinerary. Limit yourself to 1-2 destinations in a 7-10 day trip rather than trying to fit all of Europe into your spring break. Your nervous system (and your kids) will thank you for it!
Enjoy the Hotel
We’ve already talked about picking the right hotel for convenience, mom-approved amenities, and better memories. But what we didn’t mention was making sure to leave room in your schedule to actually enjoy that perfect property.
Lounge by the pool, take a walk through the grounds, or have a long, relaxed meal at a renowned restaurant. These “quiet” hotel moments can feel like a mini mom vacation within the trip.
Pro tip: If you’re vacilating between a hotel and an AirBNB and you want a true “vacation” — go with the hotel! One of the best perks of any resort is daily cleaning services. You clean so much at home, take a break. And if housekeeping comes during naptime, don’t sacrifice your sanity by using the “do not disturb” sign. Instead, call the concierge to schedule a more convenient time for the cleaning dream team to tidy up.
3. Plan For Your Relaxing Holiday (But Not Too Much)
If you want to have a great vacation with your kids, a little prep goes a long way – but overplanning can ruin the fun. So how do we strike the perfect balance?
To have a great vacation with your kids, get organized enough to feel confident, but then leave space to actually enjoy your trip. This is our approach:
Book Early, Stress Less
Last minute trips might sound fun, but they can be stressful. Booking ahead means better options and less scrambling before you leave, which helps you feel relaxed going in and optimistic that this might actually feel like a holiday. Plus, booking early usually means the best hotels for family travel aren’t yet sold out.
Involve Your Kids
If you’ve got older kids, let them help plan! Ask them for input on activities or meals. Not only will they get excited, but it also means fewer “this is boring” complaints mid-trip. Plus, it’s a great way to get them engaged in the destination. Not only will they take some of the planning off your plate, but you can breathe a big sigh of relief that if the kids are having fun, you will too.
Think Through the Flow
Take some time at the start to think about the flow of your trip. Are there too many stops? Not enough downtime? Packing your days with back-to-back activities is a fast track to exhaustion – for you and your kids.
When we pull together the ultimate family itineraries, we like to slow it down, leave wiggle room, and bake in time to relax at your hotel (you booked a great one for a reason!). Give it some thought, but just not too much.
I’m not knocking anyone who has a complete, to the minute, vacation play-by-play scattered across their desk right now. All I’m saying is that sometimes overpreparation can result in burnout before you even leave, disappointment if something changes, or if it doesn’t, sheer exhaustion mid-trip and when you return.
4. Solve For Your Biggest Headaches
Let’s face it: every parent has that one thing (or a few!) that keeps them up at night before a trip. What’s your biggest worry? Food? Sleep? Keeping your kids entertained? Whatever it is, you can have a great vacation if you take a little bit of time before you jet set to solve for your biggest headaches.
Think Through Your Pain Points
Are you worried your child won’t sleep on the plane? Check out our jet lag tips to prepare for smoother flights and time zone transitions.
Stressed out about mealtimes? Don’t assume all-inclusive resorts are your only answer. There’s nothing that feels less like a vacation than living at a buffet. Instead, look up restaurants with great menus for everyone and have a general plan for each day so you don’t spend your time at the pool googling the next restaurant.
If naptime logistics are stressing you out, book a room with a separate sleeping space and a gorgeous balcony for you to enjoy during naptime. Having a place for your kids to crash, while you get a little break, will make a huge difference in how relaxed you feel. Check out 11 Life Saving Tips for a Hotel Stay With Your Toddler for my suggestions to make the sleeping situation lower stress.
As a working parent who travels a lot with my kids, for example, I can’t always fully unplug on every trip we take. So one of my biggest stressors is keeping my kids entertained while I knock out some emails. That’s why I prioritize hotel rooms with a good work-play setup, whether that’s a view of the pool from our balcony. I also look for hotels with some kids programming and babysitting options so I can calmly find a few hours for work while the kids are having fun.
If entertainment for the kids is on your mind, consider traveling with friends – it’s a win-win. Your kids get instant playmates and you get bonus adult company. With built-in entertainment for the little ones, there’s less pressure on you to keep them occupied.
5. Family Vacation Tip: Be Flexible
Attention, Type A Mamas: it’s time to loosen your grip on that color-coded Google Sheets itinerary. Vacations never go exactly as planned – and that’s okay. And sometimes, those snafus can actually make the best memories.
Just ask Jaimie, our Mango Tree Team Member, who had to learn that the hard way. Despite looking forward to visiting Sintra, Portugal for months, and Lisbon being known for its good weather, the day her family visited, it POURED. Like flipped their umbrellas upside down, soaked through their rain jackets and all their clothes kind of poured.
Rather than let it rain on their parade (pun intended), they veered to the town and took themselves on a little food tour – a slow lunch (and one of the best meals of their trip), some delicious Portuguese pastries at a bakery, and a little ginjinha tasting for the adults. To this day, that drizzly unplanned afternoon was one of their favorite memories.
Embrace Flexibility
All that to say, embrace flexibility. When plans go sideways (and they will), take a deep breath, recalibrate, and focus on the personal touch of your trip: the local flavors, the spontaneous time spent together, and the memories you’re creating. Flexibility teaches you and your kids how to handle surprises, and those lessons can turn into some of the best stories.
Forget the Checklist
Yes, it’s great to plan a family trip with ideas in mind, but don’t turn them into a rigid checklist. If you miss a specific excursion or skip that must-visit restaurant, your vacation won’t be ruined. The magic of family travel lies in the moments you don’t see coming.
Have Fun on Your Vacation
A relax holiday doesn’t mean skipping the fun – it’s about finding the right balance of exploration and relaxation for everyone. Instead of feeling tied to your itinerary, think of it as a guide. It’s there to inspire, not dictate. Use it to shape your holiday and create space and opportunity for meaningful experiences. When you let go of perfect and embrace the unexpected, you’ll find joy in the little things, and that is key to having a great vacation with kids.
A Vacation With Kids Isn’t a Vacation: Myth-Busted
We’ve all heard it before: A vacation with kids isn’t really a vacation.” But here’s the truth: A vacation with kids can absolutely be a vacation for parents, too. In fact, it should be a time to recharge, explore, and make memories – not just for your kids, but for you too.
You don’t have to run yourself ragged making sure every moment is packed with activity to make it work. And, you don’t have to feel guilty about wanting some time on this vacation for yourself. This is your vacation, too.
The idea that parents can’t enjoy vacations with kids? It’s outdated. The myth of the “mom vacation” is just that – a myth. You can relax, have fun on your vacation, and soak up those moments of joy and adventure alongside your family – and come home feeling refreshed.
At Mango Tree Travel, we believe that family vacations should be a break for everyone. Let us help you plan a trip that balances your kids’ needs with your own, so that you can actually relax and enjoy the journey – because you deserve that, too.
RELATED POST: Family Travel: Our Best Tips and Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Start with the essentials: pick a destination and accommodation that excites both you and your kids. Start with the 21 Best Caribbean Islands With Kids for 2025 list and see which destination/s you gravitate toward. Once you have 1-3 destinations, scope family hotels. Create an itinerary that includes downtime and address your biggest worries in advance. And if “how to plan a family trip” it seems overwhelming (it can be), take it off your plate, and let a travel advisor help you.
The key is to keep things simple and flexible. Choose baby and toddler-friendly hotels, stick to destinations with shorter travel times, and prioritize ways to relax during naptimes. For more advice, read our blog: Top Toddler Travel tips (Say it 4x Fast).
Destinations like the Caribbean, Costa Rica, and Portugal are ideal for families. Shorter travel time means less opportunity for jet lag, and these destinations are perfect for slow travel.
On the other hand, some mountainous destinations like the Dolomites in Italy and in the Swiss and Austrian Alps have incredible family friendly properties. The journey there may be a bit more challenging, but the hotels will make it so easy for you once you arrive.
One of our best family vacation tips? If it excites you and is family-friendly, it’s going to be the best kid-friendly destination for your family. Go where you want to go, approach it with an open mind, and don’t settle.
For kids, pack the essentials: snacks, favorite toys, books, and comfort items. For yourself, don’t forget items that help you unwind like a great book, a face mask, and that swimsuit that makes you feel confident.
Safety starts with preparation. It’s common to worry about your children’s safety, but researching your destination ahead of time can help ease your worries. Locate medical facilities and emergency numbers. Pack a basic first aid kid and any medications you’ll need, and keep important documents handy. Purchase travel insurance before you leave, and consider anything you might need to keep even the littlest ones safe (like a roll of duct tape to babyproof sharp corners). For more information, check out the CDC travel tips for traveling with children.
Use Us to Help You Plan
Still nervous? You’re not alone and Mango Tree exists to relieve your travel planning worries. We plan hundreds of trips per year for families, and so we’re already thinking about the challenges you’re facing: the best hotels with separate sleeping spaces, restaurants that love kids, and destinations with fantastic activities for the whole family – that means you, too!
Let us help you create a trip so you can relax and actually enjoy vacations with your family.
