Planning a successful family holiday is not an easy task, especially if you are planning a trip abroad to somewhere like the Algarve in Portugal. Organising a holiday for the whole family requires some careful planning and consideration of all the possible scenarios that can happen. One of the most important things to think about when planning a holiday is the budget, but there are many other factors that should be considered when planning a family trip.
The most important aspect of planning a family holiday is the budget, as well as how much time you have for your holiday. There are also other factors such as where you want to go, how long you want to stay there, and what type of activities you want to do while away. It is important to plan ahead and make sure that you are making decisions for the whole family.
Though planning a successful family holiday in the Algarve might be daunting, it doesn’t need to be the stressful and difficult task you might assume it to be. By following our top tips listed below, you will be able to plan a trip that the entire family will enjoy.
Top Tips For Planning an Algarve Family Holiday
Thanks to these top tips, planning a successful family holiday to the Algarve is simple and straightforward. Instead of being a demanding and trying task, it can be a fun and enjoyable one. After all, what’s better than getting excited about going on holiday?
- Get Everyone Involved – Include your family in the brainstorming and decision making stages of the trip, and they will likely feel more enthusiastic and connected to the holiday from the start. This is especially true of children who are old enough to have an opinion. Begin by conducting research based on your budget, and then gather feedback from your children on your accommodation or destination choices. There are a lot of places to visit in the Algarve, so involve your children and see if there is anywhere that stands out to them.
- Do Lots of Research – The secret to a successful family holiday is ensuring both the adults and children are happy. It’s a good idea to research various destinations in the Algarve that will appeal to everyone on the holiday. Find a healthy balance between children’s clubs and activities, as well as quiet days out and dinners. This will ensure there is something for everyone to enjoy. As the Algarve is a relatively large region, you won’t find yourself short of choice.
- Don’t Leave Admin Until The Last Minute – Before finalising your holiday plans and booking everything, ensure that you and your family are able to travel. For example, children of all ages will need to obtain their own passport to enter Portugal. You should apply for passports (and passport renewals if any have expired) as early as possible, to account for any delays. This is also the time to think about travel insurance and visas, should you need them.
- Be as Prepared as Possible – For a lot of parentes, the idea of taking their children on an abroad holiday is stressful, but a trip to the Algarve doesn’t need to be. As long as you are prepared as possible, you are sure to have a successful family holiday. If something goes wrong, being prepared will help you to deal with it. This includes everything from having a first aid kit to hand, to having snacks and games for the plane. You don’t want to kickstart your holiday with an unhappy child, a stressed parent and boredom.
- Set a Schedule – As most parents know, without structure or a routine children can become hard to manage. Though it’s good to be spontaneous and flexible on holiday, it’s also a good idea to have a few things scheduled. To give children an idea of what to expect, give them a rough idea of what they will be doing each day. This could be letting them know a rough itinerary for the day, informing them of the attractions you’ll be visiting during your holiday and where they will be eating. Not only does it help to keep children interested in the holiday, it allows them to get excited about upcoming plans.
- Ask for Recommendations – As the Algarve is a popular holiday destination for families, you are sure to know someone who has been before as a family. If so, ask them for recommendations and reviews. With so many areas to choose from and a whole host of accommodation options available, asking for recommendations can help you to narrow down your options. You could ask family and friends, or you could look for reviews online. There are lots of families who share their travel experiences online, many of which have visited Portugal. It’s a good way to get an insight into what worked for other families.
How Suitable is the Algarve for Families?
There are a lot of family friendly holiday destinations in Europe, but the Algarve continues to be one of the most popular. This is because it has everything a family could need on holiday, regardless of whether you are travelling with toddlers or teenagers. There are a whole host of kids clubs, attractions, outdoor spaces and safe beaches. There are also a number of restaurants that cater to children, meaning you won’t struggle to find local cuisine that picky eaters are happy with.
Whether you are going to the Algarve for one week or two weeks, you are sure to find that it’s a family friendly place to be. It’s hugely popular with families and this means that businesses, hotels, restaurants, attractions and villas have all been set up with families in mind. Of course, there are certainly some areas of the Algarve that are better suited to adults. However, the majority of what the Algarve has to offer appeals to adults and children alike.