Summertime is just around the corner! The weather’s about to get warmer, flowers will be in full bloom, and your kids will be out of school and enjoying summer break.
Now, if there’s one thing we know to be certain, it’s that the last few years have been tough on all of us. Many of us have thrown ourselves into work to find a semblance of normalcy in our lives. However, the pandemic has thankfully settled, and it’s time to get back to having fun with the family and truly recharging.
Here are some of our biggest tips to planning the family vacation you and your family deserve.
Plan Out Your Trip
While it may take some time, planning out your trip beforehand is a great way to avoid unnecessary stress when you’re actually on the trip! Now, it can be difficult to plan a family vacation, especially if you have kids of different ages with different interests. We recommend getting the family together to discuss what your goals for this vacation are—are you wanting to explore a new city, visit museums, and eat cool new foods? Are you looking to go on a family road trip to explore the American Southwest, hike, and camp? Or are you looking for a relaxing, beachside vacation filled with fruity beverages, beach days, and sunscreen? At the end of the day, there will probably be some differing opinions after this discussion, but we encourage you to think about a destination that has opportunities for everyone in the family to have a good time.
After you have your destination selected, we recommend compiling a “to do” list. List out all of your “Must Go To” spots here, and then take this time to plan out lodging, transportation, and dates of travel.
Get Your Finances in Order
Now that you have your trip mapped out, it’s time to focus on your finances to see if you have enough funds for the trip you have in mind. Especially if you’re looking to go on a trip that requires air travel and lodging, it’s important to ensure that you have enough saved to not only cover that, but also for your vacation budget. Getting all of this done right out of the gate will go a long way towards giving you the ability to focus on spending quality time with your family instead of anxiously poring over your checkbook.
If you’ve discovered that you’re a little short on cash but you and the family are itching to get some much needed relaxation time this summer, we’ve got just the thing for you— an RMLEFCU Vacation Loan! With this members-only personal loan, you’ll be able to enjoy rates as low as 9.00% APR*, flexible repayment terms, and an easy application process. If you’re interested, feel free to apply here!
Book It!
Once you have everything planned—from finances to what places and activities you’ll be going to and partaking in—it’s time to pull the trigger and get everything you can booked in advance. Especially when it comes to flights, we recommend purchasing your tickets sooner rather than later; prices have been soaring due to inflation and fuel prices, so the sooner you book, the better.
If you are traveling internationally, don’t forget to ensure that your children (and yourself!) have valid passports and have gotten all necessary vaccinations before travel. Remember, children’s passports expire every 5 years.
Prepare and Pack
Fast forward to a week before your trip! Especially if you’re flying to a destination, we think it’s worthwhile to sit down and speak with your children about what the airport experience will be like, and how you expect them to behave. From the little details like removing shoes and jackets to get through security to driving home the importance of them staying close to you in order to avoid getting lost, there’s a bit of ground to cover, but you’ll be glad you did it when the time comes!
When it comes to packing, we know it can be a little bit of an overwhelming task, especially if you’re bringing children on the trip. No parent wants to arrive at a foreign destination to find that their kid has forgotten a favorite toy, their bathing suit, a snack they can’t live without, or worse—not having enough clothing for them to make it through your time there. We strongly encourage parents to do a once over after all the packing is supposedly “done” in order to ensure that your children have everything they need to have a good time. In addition to getting all of your clothing packed and ready to go, you can’t forget about all of the little logistics! Get your passports, tickets, emergency credit card, and other travel documents ready for the trip, too. Pro tip: If you’re traveling internationally, don’t forget to get the right chargers and currency.
Relax and Enjoy
Now, this is the most important step—have FUN! No matter how much you plan things out, something is bound to happen that is off schedule. But, we like to think that some of the best times on vacations aren’t planned!
Plus, with our Vacation Loan there for a little extra security, you can truly relax and have the stress-free vacation you deserve.
If you have any further questions about our vacation loan or our other personal loans we have available for our members, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at (303) 458-6660 or stop by one of our branches to chat with one of our incredible representatives!
*Annual Percentage Rate. With approved credit. Some restrictions may apply. Rate subject to change.