Having a big family doesn’t mean you can’t travel. It can be a blast to take your small army to places you want them to see. To pull it all off, you’ll need to plan. Here are just a few things to consider before you head out with a large crew.

Costs

Traveling with big families is more expensive. From lodging to food, everything costs a bit more when you are trying to accommodate more people. Even fees to enter parks or other events will require saving since you will have to pay for each person in your group.

Fortunately, there are group discounts and lower rates for younger family members that you can take advantage of at times. Plan ahead to see which places offer group rates or allow younger kids to enter for free. Plan to eat in when possible to save money on food. When you can’t, research which restaurants have “kids eat free” nights. You can even get creative when it comes to lodging if you want to spend some of your time camping instead of finding a house or hotel.

Transportation Troubles

Whether you decide to fly or drive, travel with a large family takes planning. Airline prices can become exorbitant as you add on more people. You will also have to rent a vehicle to carry everyone when you arrive.

Many of the common seven-passenger SUV models might be a good fit, though there is the gas to be concerned about. Driving can still save you money over flying. Driving also allows you to carry what you need with you and not worry about checking luggage. Just make sure the vehicle you have will hold everyone comfortably, especially if the trip is going to be extended.

Plan Downtime

It’s normal to want to experience everything you can while on vacation. However, traveling with a large family means planning downtime into each day. The more people you have, the more you have to consider each person’s needs and desires on the trip. Children often need more time to recharge or nap, and they will have a hard time if the entire trip is non-stop.

Plan a big event each day, but make sure there is time for decompressing and relaxing. This will give everyone time to recharge for the next day. It will also help you avoid having little ones who are cranky.

Traveling with a big family is possible. It can even be fun! Just make sure to consider all the different factors before you leave. If you plan well, this trip can become the vacation you’ve dreamed of!

A large family can make sleeping difficult, but don’t neglect yourself! Click here to learn more about the importance of sleep!