You should definitely read them!
1. Avoid the queues
This tip is my favorite. There is nothing as frustrating as wasting your precious time standing in the queue to see this or that place. You can always avoid the lines if you purchase tickets in advance. Buy museum passes, bus or train tickets beforehand. There are even multi-passes available. It means that you will be allowed to enter a few museums without standing in the lines. You can do this either when you arrive at your destination or, which is even smarter, do it online from your own home! You will save a lot of time and spend it on sightseeing rather than on boring queuing.
This tip is my favorite. There is nothing as frustrating as wasting your precious time standing in the queue to see this or that place. You can always avoid the lines if you purchase tickets in advance. Buy museum passes, bus or train tickets beforehand. There are even multi-passes available. It means that you will be allowed to enter a few museums without standing in the lines. You can do this either when you arrive at your destination or, which is even smarter, do it online from your own home! You will save a lot of time and spend it on sightseeing rather than on boring queuing.
2. Games and play
It does not matter where you are, your children need to play their usual games even when they are on a trip. For kids it is very important to stay active and fool around with you or their peers. Adults can spend their whole day sightseeing, visiting museums and galleries. But remember that your kid’s attention span is shorter and after quite a short period of time you will notice that the child does not pay his/her attention to the things you admire and take pictures of. Plan your holidays beforehand and include both indoor and outdoor activities in your schedule. It is great if you travel around visiting the nature and not just cities and town. Let your children enjoy the nature around. Active play can be practiced even if the weather outside is bad. Almost most hotels have indoor swimming pools. Some have gyms. This is where you can work out together and spend an hour or two doing what most kids like doing – playing, running, jumping…
It does not matter where you are, your children need to play their usual games even when they are on a trip. For kids it is very important to stay active and fool around with you or their peers. Adults can spend their whole day sightseeing, visiting museums and galleries. But remember that your kid’s attention span is shorter and after quite a short period of time you will notice that the child does not pay his/her attention to the things you admire and take pictures of. Plan your holidays beforehand and include both indoor and outdoor activities in your schedule. It is great if you travel around visiting the nature and not just cities and town. Let your children enjoy the nature around. Active play can be practiced even if the weather outside is bad. Almost most hotels have indoor swimming pools. Some have gyms. This is where you can work out together and spend an hour or two doing what most kids like doing – playing, running, jumping…
3. Spend more time outdoors
It is natural that people travelling abroad should visit historic buildings. However, do not spend more than an hour inside, no matter how exciting or interesting the place might seem to you. It is too tiresome even for a grown up person, let alone your children! Before visiting a museum, gallery or any other place, have a list of the most interesting and important destinations and let your kids choose where they would like to go. If you make your children go somewhere they do not want to, be sure that they will spoil the rest of your day anyways. So let the trip be as exciting for you as it is for them. Finding a compromise is always possible. Take into account the age of your kids. If they are mature enough to understand the importance of the place you are going to, then show them around. However, if your kids are too young, do not try to force museums and other historic buildings on them. Let them relax and do not overload them with information – they get plenty of that at schools.
It is natural that people travelling abroad should visit historic buildings. However, do not spend more than an hour inside, no matter how exciting or interesting the place might seem to you. It is too tiresome even for a grown up person, let alone your children! Before visiting a museum, gallery or any other place, have a list of the most interesting and important destinations and let your kids choose where they would like to go. If you make your children go somewhere they do not want to, be sure that they will spoil the rest of your day anyways. So let the trip be as exciting for you as it is for them. Finding a compromise is always possible. Take into account the age of your kids. If they are mature enough to understand the importance of the place you are going to, then show them around. However, if your kids are too young, do not try to force museums and other historic buildings on them. Let them relax and do not overload them with information – they get plenty of that at schools.
4. Hunt for fun
This tip is great if your kids are adventurous and like to compete with their sisters, brothers or even you. The game we are going to describe is fun and very involving. It does not require any special toys or equipment. All you need is your own creativity. So, every morning, before leaving your hotel, make a list of things you are determined to find. Your list may include some of the most unusual objects and their combinations. For instance, let your tomorrow’s mission be to find a painting with a ship in it, or a woman riding a bike, some item resembling a human face and so on. The list should consist of no more than 5 objects that you are planning to find. In the evening talk about your results. And do not forget to take pictures of your finds. If you are not very creative, then you can always ask for a guidebook offering more games for you and your family.
This tip is great if your kids are adventurous and like to compete with their sisters, brothers or even you. The game we are going to describe is fun and very involving. It does not require any special toys or equipment. All you need is your own creativity. So, every morning, before leaving your hotel, make a list of things you are determined to find. Your list may include some of the most unusual objects and their combinations. For instance, let your tomorrow’s mission be to find a painting with a ship in it, or a woman riding a bike, some item resembling a human face and so on. The list should consist of no more than 5 objects that you are planning to find. In the evening talk about your results. And do not forget to take pictures of your finds. If you are not very creative, then you can always ask for a guidebook offering more games for you and your family.
5. Allow some extra time in the morning
One of the best tips that might help you be always on time is to get up half an hour earlier. As a rule, most of us are not as quick and punctual as we think. Set your alarm clock 30 minutes earlier than needed. This simple hint can solve a lot of problems and will make your morning much more positive. It is especially useful if you have a big family. Usually it is not easy to wake the kids up, it takes longer for them to have breakfast, pack their stuff and dress. Plan sightseeing when you know your kids are most active and curious. Let them see the most attractive destinations when they feel energetic. The same rule applies to adults as well. And do not forget that if you are planning to use public transport, it might also take longer to get from point A to point B. Have the timetable and a list of places to visit.
One of the best tips that might help you be always on time is to get up half an hour earlier. As a rule, most of us are not as quick and punctual as we think. Set your alarm clock 30 minutes earlier than needed. This simple hint can solve a lot of problems and will make your morning much more positive. It is especially useful if you have a big family. Usually it is not easy to wake the kids up, it takes longer for them to have breakfast, pack their stuff and dress. Plan sightseeing when you know your kids are most active and curious. Let them see the most attractive destinations when they feel energetic. The same rule applies to adults as well. And do not forget that if you are planning to use public transport, it might also take longer to get from point A to point B. Have the timetable and a list of places to visit.
