There can never be enough said about the power of travel. For adults and young people alike, the benefits are enormous. But for children and teenagers who are of an impressionable age, travel may be at its greatest level of significance during these years.
Travel doesn't have to mean going abroad. You can have quite a revelatory experience right in your own country. The essential goal of travel is to experience new things and be exposed to diversity: in cultures, landscapes, and ways of living. There are also other elements to travel that can broaden your horizons such as language, cuisine, history, architecture, and wildlife. Trips can be short or long---the benefits are still tremendous.
And yet, some parents might brush aside the idea of travelling with their children or teenagers merely because of the potential for chaos, stress, or plain old inconvenience. Don’t. While there are undoubtedly some additional challenges for holidays with teens, they absolutely don’t have to be deal breakers. With a little planning, preparation, and the right approach, travelling with teens is sure to bring about genuine rewards. And of course, there is also likely to be some of that chaos you envisioned. Embrace it, and realise that travelling with teens is a unique adventure all its own.
Planning for Travel With Teens
If your holiday is coming up, it’s time to get planning.
First of all, let your teens take an active role in planning your holiday. Grant them a degree of ownership over the trip planning process, and watch as they grow excited about the upcoming journey. Your holiday may take a different shape than you had originally envisioned, but chances are it will be for the best.
Teens will respond far better to a trip they’ve had a hand in creating. Particularly on school holidays, teens are in need of a well-deserved getaway, and they feel entitled to it. Naturally, they are excited to be away from the pressures of school and chores and the like. If a trip feels too much like it’s their parents trip it's not going to have the same positive impact. So get your kids onboard ASAP and begin the enjoyable process of planning a family holiday.
This begs the question: where will you go?
A trip overseas is definitely exciting, but financial and time constraints may make it much more sensible to travel somewhere closer to home. Luckily Australia, our home, is one of the most exciting and scenically beautiful countries on Earth. Plus, Australia is vast, boasting a strong diversity of landscapes and even cultures. And we definitely have plenty in the way of adventure.
World-famous destinations are in your own backyard... or at least a few backyards away.
The key is to take your teens somewhere that is someone new to them. This creates novelty for the holiday and also presents a lot more opportunity for getting outside one's comfort zone and experiencing something fresh and unique. Why not tailor the holiday to your teens’ interests? Certain areas of Australia are exceptional for water sports, for instance, while others are bursting with wildlife. Head to one of these places for an action-packed stay that is bound to tickle your teens’ fancy.
But a family holiday often needs to be a well-balanced trip. This means that everyone’s interests and preferences are taken into consideration. In that case, choose a destination with a variety of activities so that there will be something for everyone to enjoy.
Once your destination is sorted, it’s time to put together an itinerary. You should let your teen pick out a few things that interest them, even if the ideas are offbeat. Those unusual sorts of activities might be most appealing to your teen, and while you wouldn't perhaps choose them yourself, the addition of them to your family holiday could make all the difference for your teenager. (This also empowers your teen to learn that travel is a personal affair and can involve discovering all sorts of places ---not just those on the tourist map. Getting off the beaten path is one of the ultimate goals of the seasoned traveller).
After identifying some chosen attractions and activities, let them take responsibility for at least some organisation. This task will likely be enjoyable for your teenagers, and it will also help them to learn more about the art of organising travel and organising in general. Ask them to do some basic research, using their favourite tool: the Internet. They can map out the route to a certain site, find out how much tickets are, where to buy tickets, when to buy tickets, etc. These to-dos teach your teen responsible preparation, and also helps to ensure a smoother trip for all. And, as they successfully plan an outing, your teenager will likely experience an increased sense of confidence in his or her own abilities.
Tips on Activities
In the teenage years, it often seems that the parents are no longer cool. Your teen may even be unafraid to let you know just how “un-hip” you are. Bearing that in mind, plan your activities in such a way that allows your children the sort of space they desire away from the nonstop nerdiness of Mum and Dad. For example, when visiting a museum together, opt for audio guides with headphones, if available. These personal devices will allow your teen to wander the museum at their own pace and potentially give them a more personalized and meaningful experience. Conversely, if you try to tour the exhibits as a family, reading aloud each placard, they will most likely shrink away in embarrassment.
Incorporate Adventure Travel
Teens are likely to search for that adrenaline rush. Knowing this, why not include some activities that will get their excitement revved? Depending on your destination there are likely to be plenty of adventure travel options. These don't necessarily need to be wild, over-the-top activities such as bungee jumping or skydiving (although the thrill-seeking family may be keen on such exciting ventures), but they can be active experiences such as caving, stand up paddle boarding, or scuba diving. These will be memorable and unique adventures, things that are associated with a happy, fun holiday. And above all, they get one's heart racing and that adrenaline zooming through the veins. Definitely a great time for everyone.
Include thrills in your holiday. Adventure travel is great for teenagers.
Packing
In virtually every aspect of the trip allow your teens to take responsibility for themselves and their own belongings---at least to an extent. This includes packing their own suitcases, duffel bags, or backpacks. Learning to pack well will teach them a lot about preparation for a trip, especially if you’re headed to a destination with a different climate.
Accommodation
Consider your accommodation carefully. A Wi-Fi connection in your hotel/motel will probably be a MUST for your teens, but there are other elements to be aware of. If you have several teens, prepare for a bit of noise in the hotel. You might want to book separate rooms for adults and kids. This will spare you the headache of being in the midst of the chaos---and give you a much-needed break from endless teen energy and hormones. It’s also a blast for the kids, as they love their space. Being in their own hotel or motel room makes them feel very ‘adult’ indeed.
Smartphones are Coming
You should probably accept right now that your teens will want to take their mobile devices along for the holiday. This is important for them because they will want to keep in touch with their friends back home and will want to keep on top of what's happening on social, be aware of the latest memes, etc. So you'll have a happier teen if you allow them to bring along their smartphone. And if the trip is built to be fantastic and fun, you shouldn't have to worry too much about your kids being stuck to their phones all day long. On a well planned holiday mobile devices will act mostly as cameras to capture great moments, rather than distractions.
Be sure, however, to plan ahead with regards to your mobile devices. Prepare for roaming charges or other fees, particularly if travelling abroad, and adjust your plan accordingly. It’s also a smart idea to look into various ways to keep in touch while travelling. If you have a Wi-Fi connection, these options are usually free.
Itinerary
As you set your itinerary for each day, allow for some flexibility. A later start in the morning will be most welcomed by teens, who seem to be big fans of sleeping late! It will also feel more like a holiday to them if they aren’t forced to rise too early. And, they’ll be less moody, so it will feel more like a holiday to you, too!
It’s a wise idea to schedule in some downtime on your trip. While you want to make the most of a holiday and experience and see as much as possible, it’s vital not to pre-plan every moment. First of all, remaining flexible with your time acts as a buffer for any obstacles you might encounter (emergency toilet stops, forgotten wallets, poor weather, transport delays, etc.). But it also provides some much-needed pure relaxation for everyone. Your teens will appreciate having a day or afternoon with nothing to do, and it’s likely you will, too.
Pencil in scheduled ‘downtime’ so you can get some true relaxation.
Food
Food will likely play a large role in your holiday with teenagers. These growing kids generally have healthy appetites and they may be keen to try new foods or to dine out while on holiday. You may experience a challenge if you have a picky eater, but luckily teen-friendly grub is usually found in most areas, especially in Australia. There’s nearly always a pizza place nearby. Travelling abroad will be more difficult for the picky eater, so plan ahead to find possible dining options. You can also bring along familiar snacks. In your luggage. Ensuring your teen is well-fed will be paramount for the holiday. As you likely know, hunger quite often leads to irritation!
Should you travel to Asia or Europe, your teens will especially enjoy the possibility of eating street food. This is prevalent in many Asian or European destinations, and is usually incredibly delicious and rich in flavour, not to mention shockingly affordable. Plus, there's something undeniably fun about walking with your food in hand and touring the streets of a new city.
Pro Tips for Travelling with Teens
Here are a few other things to bear in mind when going on holiday with your teenagers.
- Let them bring a friend
Teens and kids LOVE being able to bring a mate along on a fun holiday! It makes every destination that much more exciting. You might consider allowing your teen to invite a close friend on your family trip. Not only will your teen have more fun, you’ll be introducing another teen to adventurous travel experiences. - Make sure they share their opinion
Your teen might be noncommittal when it comes to planning a holiday. But don’t let them shrug and say ‘I don’t care.’ Let them know that their opinion is essential. Sharing their opinions and preferences is the only way to be certain the trip will be enjoyable for them….and it helps you avoid possible complaints about the itinerary down the line. - Splurge, if you can
Many families are on a budget, but if you can swing it, allow for an experience on your holiday that you might consider a splurge. This could be a once-in-a-lifetime activity or a luxurious meal. For best results, let your kids have input on how you splurge as a family.
Have you gone on holiday with teens? What’s your best tip?