Holidaying with your parents and kids is a dream, which you may want to fulfill. Going on a vacation with your whole family serves two purposes. First, it creates beautiful memories for you to cherish for a long time. Second, the bonds between the family members are strengthened as you plunge into the fun quotient of vacation as a unified group.
However, planning a vacation to a mega city like London with your whole family is a slightly difficult task. You need to plan by keeping in mind the requirements of not only your kids but also your parents. Broadly, take care of the following things before planning your trip with your family.
Choosing the Best Accommodation Option for the Family
While you are zeroing in on the ‘booking the hotel part’, make sure that you are considering the needs of both your kids and parents. Make a booking at that hotel which has family rooms coupled with cot facilities (in case your kid is a baby). Additionally, make sure that the hotel is not hidden behind the alleys of the city.
Booking a room at London family hotels would be a good option as you would be travelling to London with your family. These hotels are not only well equipped with all the facilities which your family might need, but most of them are centrally located too.
Including the Whole Family in Planning Part
Try to involve every member of your family while you are planning the trip to London. Do not plan itinerary according to what you think would be suitable. Your parents may come up with some good ideas regarding the places to visit in London. Consulting every member of your family before planning also has another advantage. It makes sure that the demands and needs of every member have been heard and a sound decision has been made according to the consensus.
Framing the Final Itinerary
Your itinerary to London should have all the attractions that might gather the interest of your whole family alike. If your kids are teens, then include places like the Shard, Jack the Ripper walking tour, as teens love mystery and excitement. And, if they are small, then places like London Zoo, Sea Life London Aquarium will greatly enthral them. Whereas for your parents, include London museums and art galleries in the itinerary. Literary tours of the London city is also a great option.
In addition to the ideas above, book an open bus tour in London. Charting through the major landmarks of the London city, the open bus tour will not only be an exciting excursion but also a unique family get together.
Be Insured
If you are booking with a tour operator, then see to it that the operator has a family insurance in place. Getting insurance will provide you with the cushion at the times of emergency. Along with this, if your parents have an ailment and it gets aggravated while you are in London, then the insurance policy will help you significantly at that time.
Checking with the Facilities
If you have booked with a tour operator, then inform the operator about the specific needs of your family members, if any. As you would be travelling with your kids and parents, do make sure that the operator is providing convenient transportation facilities to you.
In addition to this, if your kid is less than six, then do confirm that the touring vehicle will have baby seats for your child. Crosscheck the claims made by the operator and if possible, have a proof of the claims made by him/her.
Know More about London
Collect as much information about London as possible, especially the weather part. The weather in London can be extremely unpredictable. Keeping all types of clothing (woollens, shorts or layers of clothing) will be wise. Your day in London Summers can be akin to either a hot Indian summer afternoon or a total washout. Therefore, prepare your backpack (especially for kids and your parents, as they are the most vulnerable) according to this.
It would be a better idea if you have the information about the London pass and the Oyster Card for tourists in advance. Oyster cards are practically smart cards used as an economical substitute for paper tickets. The price range is dependent upon the age of the person and discount too varies according to the age. Gathering knowledge beforehand will help you in ascertaining your estimated travel expenses in London.
The tips above provide you with the basic guidelines for planning a family excursion in London. Take a cue from these tips and gift your family an outstanding London trip.
by: Abhinav Jain
(First-time Travels note: I look forward to someday visiting London. When this opportunity comes, I’d gladly share my travel experiences with you.)
Author’s Bio: Arun is an associate writer working with londonhotels4u.com that provides an excellent range of accommodation options for you as a traveller.
All photos in this post are courtesy of the guest writer.