If your family is 5 or more people, you already know the hiccups that arise when trying to plan a fun and meaningful vacation for the family. From organizing every detail and double checking room capacities to making sure your youngest is entertained and your oldest is engaged, planning a vacation for a family of 5 can be quite the ordeal. Fortunately there’s a simple solution you may not have considered yet: group travel. Group travel is an organized, fun, and efficient way to travel, taking all of the headaches away that come with a family of 5 vacation.
They Can Better Cover Age Gaps in Kids
Running out of ideas that will have your 8 year old and 14 year old begging to go back next year? How about giving an elephant a bath in Thailand or playing games at a primary school in Tanzania? Each Discover Corps trip, for example, includes a healthy balance of educational information from our local guides, once-in-a-lifetime adventure activities, and meaningful experiences with local community members and NGOs. No matter what age, kids can get in touch with nature and experience new things that just wouldn’t be an option at home. It helps everyone get out of their comfort zones, so it makes it easier to make decisions about what sounds new and exciting.
Built-in Travel Friends
On a group travel trip, your family of 5 isn’t alone. At first this may sound like a negative because it could be chaotic, but you’ll find that group travel designed for families actually gives your kids the opportunity to interact with others their age in the group. After all, aren’t sibling arguments usually the core of all family of 5 vacation problems? Trust us, while your kids are meeting new friends, you will be too, so it’s a win-win all around.
Another bonus to group travel is being able to meet children of different cultures. Not only can your kids get to know the other kids in the group, but meeting someone their own age in a new culture exposes them to incredibly meaningful experiences that they’ll look back on in the future. Again, it’s the variety that really works.
Easier Accommodations
With two adults and three kids, booking hotels can turn into a bit of a nightmare because you usually have to get some sort of cot or couch (and who wants to sleep on that?!). In many cases, this can also get unnecessarily expensive. The right group travel trip can offer a convenient alternative in that department.
For example, Discover Corps doesn’t stay in huge franchise hotels because families of 5 are specifically taken into account, so the rooming arrangements are much more flexible. Stay with Mama Simba in Tanzania and leave feeling like family or enjoy your morning coffee from a luxury safari tent in Kenya; regardless of where you choose, you can rest assured the accommodations will be unforgettable for you and your family.
Stress-Free
Arguably the best part of group travel is not having to worry. From the minute you get through the airport, you don’t have to worry about a thing: getting from point A to point B; arranging accommodations; paying for meals and activities; or organizing educational and adventurous activities throughout the trip. It’s all prepared so that you and your family can enjoy your time with each other and be present for the memories that will last a lifetime. A huge benefit here is also planned meals – no more complaining about where to go or not to go!
Note to Remember: Be Sure to Travel with a Small Group!
Perhaps you’ve been hesitant to try group travel because you don’t want to be one of those people in a huge group following around a guid holding a tall flag and a megaphone. Fair. It’s incredibly important you find a small group travel trip so that you can still have flexibility, spontaneity, and be able to really connect to the place you’re visiting (Discover Corps group sizes are usually around 8-12 people). With a mix of families, couples, and solo travelers, there’s always an opportunity to get to know an interesting group of people.
Discover Corps Trips Great for Family of 5 Vacations
- Costa Rica: Family Volunteer Vacation
- Costa Rica: The Sea Turtle Initiative
- Thailand: Elephants & Islands
- Belize: Wildlife Volunteer Adventure
- Galápagos Islands: Family Volunteer Adventure
- Peru: Children of the Andes
- South Africa: Wildlife Conservation Experience
Have you ever gone on a group travel trip with your family of 5? Let us know about your experiences in the comment section below!
Informative tips…! Thanks for sharing this great post with us…!