Guide to a successful family trip: advice and suitable destinations
Planning the ultimate family getaway is both the reward and the challenge it presents. Whether it’s with toddlers, teenagers, parents, or in-laws, the trick is to achieve the right balance between relaxation and entertainment and logistics and execution. The ultimate family trip doesn’t simply happen; it’s the culmination of thoughtful planning, the right destination choice, and the right expectations for each member within the traveling party.
In the following guidebook, we analyze the ingredients of a successful family vacation and provide destination suggestions for each type of visitor. From planning tips to child-friendly highlights, and with the help of flexible services like Europcar car rental, you can hit the road confidently and make memories that last a lifetime.
Set expectations early
The first step toward a successful family trip starts long before the suitcase is closed. Sit down with all the people who are traveling—yes, including the kids—and talk about what kind of experience each person wants. Some may want a beach on which to relax, while others may want cultural experiences or adventure in the great outdoors.
If you have an understanding of everyone’s priorities, then it is possible to begin searching for locations that fulfill as many requirements as possible. Having a balanced itinerary helps avoid conflicts and ensures everyone feels heard and included. It is wise to include children here in order to build interest and ownership before leaving. For young children, use visual aids like photographs or maps to pique their interest and allow them to visualize the journey to come.
Don’t forget to consider everyone’s travel pace: where some travelers like a hectic itinerary, others will be content with a relaxed pace. Coming to an agreement on this beforehand will prevent tension and make the trip easier.
Keep it simple: the art of family travel planning
One of the biggest mistakes in traveling with the family is attempting to pack too much into the day. Children rely on predictability and routine and will have meltdowns if too much is expected in a day. Keep the sightseeing to a few major sites a day and have room for surprise entertainment.
Develop a routine for travel days: sightseeing in the morning, unwinding in the afternoon, and leaving the evening for dinner and relaxation. Insert buffer times between events to allow for delays, snack stops, or just soaking up the environment.
Try to reserve room with kitchenettes or separate sleeping areas when on the road with kids. It will be simpler to coordinate meals and nap schedules in this kind of arrangement. Reserve hotels or rental homes with child-friendly amenities—children’s play areas, baby-sitting services, or even child-centered entertainment.
For bigger families, car hire is convenient and freeing—allowing you to go at your own pace and in your own time without the restrictions of public transportation or fixed tour itineraries. It is also simpler to bring strollers, toys, and any other things you might need along the way.
Good to know - Don’t underestimate drive-time fun
Don’t overlook drive-time entertainment
Even the shortest road trip will feel like forever if the children get bored. Pack a mix of audiobooks, snacks, car games, and playlists to suit all tastes. Plotting a scenic route or taking in roadside attractions along the way will make the journey an integral part of the experience. Get the children to record the trip in a travel journal or photograph along the way. You may even have a car scavenger hunt or themed music sessions around the destination. These little things create travel into quality family time.
Best destinations for a family vacation in Europe
Europe offers a varied selection of places to visit with the family with something to interest every member. Seaside resorts, mountain retreats, and historic cities are just a few examples.
The Algarve, Portugal
Known for sun-blessed beaches and calm waters, the Algarve is a paradise for families. Lagos and Albufeira have it all from dolphin cruises to castle ruins. There are numerous child-friendly resorts and with the option to hire a car, it’s simple to discover secluded coves and hillside villages off the tourist track.
Want to learn on your own terms? Europcar offers convenient car rentals in Portugal including pickup at Faro airport, perfect for starting your coastal journey.
Lake Bled, Slovenia
Want the freedom to explore Slovenia your way? There are many reliable car rental options in Slovenia, making it easier to reach the scenic spots around Bled and beyond.
Nature-seeking families will love Lake Bled, a fairy-tale setting in which they may take rowboats for hire, take a horse-drawn ride around the lake, or ascend to Bled Castle on foot. It’s tiny and easy to navigate and there’s plenty to keep young and older children occupied. Vintgar Gorge and the surrounding Triglav National Park add to the excitement and local guesthouses and restaurants provide hospitality in a tranquil setting.
Paris, France
Yes, it’s romantic—but Paris is very child-friendly too. Besides the Eiffel Tower and Louvre, there are the Luxembourg Gardens, Cité des Sciences, and boat cruises on the Seine for families to enjoy. Book just outside the city for cheaper prices on accommodations and easy day trips.
If you’re arriving in the capital, renting a car in Paris makes it easy to reach hidden gems and nearby countryside escapes.
Copenhagen, Denmark
The level terrain, wide sidewalks, and emphasis on sustainability render Copenhagen an ideal location for family cycling excursions. The world’s second-oldest amusement park, the Tivoli Gardens, offers appeal to all ages, and the city’s playgrounds and open areas are some of the best in Europe.
The capital city is also filled with interactive museums, a cutting-edge aquarium, and multiple cafés with play spaces and children’s menus. Alternatively, take a boat tour along the city’s canals or head to the lively Nyhavn district on a less busy day. If you would rather explore the Danish countryside or take spontaneous day trips from the capital, consider a car rental in Denmark.
Family adventures beyond Europe
Orlando, Florida
The gold standard for theme parks is Orlando with Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and LEGOLAND just around the corner. It’s a child’s paradise. Beyond the theme parks, the city offers wetlands, wildlife preserves, and beach trips to punctuate the action: a day in the pool, a boat ride through the Everglades, or a picnic in the great outdoors in Lake Eola Park. Children’s entertainment on-site is found in many resorts as well.
Queenstown, New Zealand
Queenstown is a fun-filled vacation destination for active families. There’s no room for boredom with jet boating, luge rides, and walks in the scenic countryside. It’s also a great place to bring children to learn about winter sports in a safe and breathtaking environment. Nearby is the historic town of Arrowtown—a charming place for a day outing. Drive a little longer and take in Fiordland National Park or take a scenic boat tour around Milford Sound.
Driving through New Zealand is the best way to see it all.
Vancouver Island, Canada
This west coast gem offers wildlife watching, forest walks, and charming coastal villages. Families will have whale-watching tours, First Nations cultural sites, and sea kayaking to enjoy together. Base Victoria or Tofino and take short trips from there. Don’t miss the Butchart Gardens, the Royal BC Museum, or the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.
Renting a vehicle lets you pack in as many nature excursions as possible—and gives you the flexibility to pivot plans based on weather or energy levels.
How to travel well as a family
Flexibility is your best friend
Despite a carefully planned schedule, be ready to be adaptable. Perhaps it rains during the beach day or someone requires a nap in the middle of the museum. Be positive and allow for the surprise discoveries along the way.
Keep a “plan B” list for each location—indoor play areas, museums, or restaurants with covered terraces. This way, you’re never stuck trying to figure out what to do when plans get altered.
Keep kids involved
Children like to have a say in the outing. Letting them choose between two options to do or vote on the place for lunch makes them feel in charge and reduces complaining and increases enthusiasm. Even minor tasks—like helping with directions or packing the day pack—can make the children feel in charge and build confidence levels.
Plan downtime
A hectic schedule is possibly effective but is always stressful. Kids (and parents) need to have downtime. It could be a day spent lounging in the pool, movie night in the hotel room, or a lazy afternoon in the park; these downtime moments are the ones most recalled with fondness.
Try to plan rest periods according to local culture—for example, most Mediterranean countries have long afternoon breaks. Take the pace and have your family replenish themselves.
Stay organized
Use travel checklists and digital folders for reservations, passports, and emergency information. Packing cubes, reusable snack bags, and water bottles with labels will preserve sanity and time. Rent a vehicle with a good trunk to keep things in view and easily accessible throughout the journey.
Keep the essentials in a day pack: sunscreen, wipes, snacks, spare clothing, and a mini first-aid kit. Being prepared relaxes you and enables you to enjoy the trip.
Good to know - Take advantage of local knowledge
The very best places are often not found in guidebooks. Ask the locals in the cafés, get recommendations from hosts, or stop in on a tourist information office. These sources will lead you to off-the-tourist-path beaches, home-style restaurants, and lesser-visited sites tourists miss. On the road, such local tips are even more valuable and enable the possibility for last-minute detours enhancing the experience.
Ask about local markets, festivities, or child-friendly events not generally advertised. These events are true glimpses into the culture and often become the highlights of the trip
Extra tip: Use technology to your advantage
Technology in today’s digital age is the ultimate travel companion for a traveling family. Download apps in advance for the trip like offline maps, translation apps, and child-friendly entertainment apps. Mobile apps or augmented reality aspects are available in some museums and places to make the visit interactive for children. Apps like TripIt or Google Travel enable travel planning and have all the bookings in one place and easily accessible.
Let older kids take responsibility for capturing photos using a particular camera or phone. Creating a quick daily video diary or digital scrapbook together at the end of the day is a great way to look back at the journey, connect with one another, and remember the experience.
In summary
The most important ingredient for a successful family outing is to begin with empathy, planning, and a thirst for adventure. Select destinations with a mix of relaxation and thrill-seeking, engage the children in the planning process, and simplify logistics with smart choices—like car rental on a need basis.
First and foremost, remember the destination is not perfection but connection. The most memorable moments with the family are not made in famous locations but in roadside diners, in the car during surprise dance parties, and in quiet moments watching the sunsets together.
