Recently, I went on a 10-day family vacation to Alaska with two of my sisters and my parents. While I had a lot of fun on this trip and got to bond with my younger sisters that I don't usually see, there were a lot of frustrating, stressful moments too. So here are 11 tips to help you prepare for your next family vacation.
1. Bring anything that will keep you busy (and to avoid conversations you really don't want to have)
GiphyJust like any other trip, books, magazines , etc. will come in handy for times of boredom. Also, it's really nice to be able to stick your nose in a book to avoid the millionth question about what you're going to do when you graduate and go out into the "real word".
2. Everyone else says it looks like you're having so much fun! (Even when you definitely aren't.)
"Oh my gosh, you're going where?! That sounds like SO much fun!" Yeah, okay Jessica, but I am stuck in closed spaces with my family for days on end. This is a disaster waiting to happen.
3. If you have younger siblings and they fight, sit between them
Rather than screaming and yelling at everyone and making your road trip miserable, I suggest making yourelf the middle man to reduce fight time between family members.
4. Do NOT forget your headphones
GiphyForgetting a pair of headphones is guaranteed to make your family vacation 100% worse. If you don't want to end up listening to the Disney channel, religious podcasts, or obscure rock from the 70s, remember your ear buds.
5. Be prepared to stop and visit every family member that lives in the area
So maybe you haven't seen great grandma Jill since you were three months old. And you thought uncle Sam was that guy from the military posters. It doesn't matter, because if they are in a 10-day radius of where you're traveling, you will probably stop to see them.
6. You may be used as a human Google
As a young adult, you are thought to know the most about phones and how technology works. So yes, you may have to navigate to every place you go, look up places to eat, where to stay, and whether or not you can keep a puffin for a pet (and no, it's illegal).
7. Get ready to roll with the punches
If mom forgot to book the hotel room or dad decides to cancel the day trip to the national park you were dying to see, just go with it. You're along for the ride, don't let little things ruin your whole trip.
8. Whatever you do, try to hold in the expletives or ranting that you'd like to scream at everyone
Mom and Dad probably won't be too happy if you screech out the F bomb in front of your ten year old sister, so just save your rants for your private instagram account.
9. If you need to cry, do it silently where no one can see you
It's easy to get frustrated, upset, stressed, or just kind of tired of your relatives on a family vacation. Sometimes you just feel like crying. Just remeber to do it in the back of the car so dad doesn't make fun of you for being sensitive.
10. This will all be over soon
Breathe, okay? No matter how awful or miserable you might be in the moment, it will pass. And so will your family vacation (eventually).
11. Remember to have fun
While a family vacation may not be a trip to Mexico with your friends or a fun backpacking trip with your S.O., it can still be a really fun time. And if you have a good attitude, you can bond and make a lot of great memories with your family!
