We're renting a beach house with two other couples and their kids (7 kids under 7....yikes). This our first time on a "friend" vacation with kids. Anyone have any tips, suggestions, funs things to do, or stuff to keep in mind? We're rotating dinners/signature drinks between the couples and created a google doc of things to bring/sign up for. I feel like there's more I should plan....I just don't know what it is! We're staying in a pretty isolated area and won't be doing anything other than going to the beach or hanging out at the pool at the house (not that we want to take that many little kids out in public anyway....HA).
-
We’re going on a trip with friends this summer and are bringing along tie dying supplies. The youngest is 18 months and won’t really participate, but the older ones will (the oldest is 7).
I would also bring along art supplies (chalk for outside, and inside art supplies for if it rains).
-
@LadyDi: A few things that come to mind... beach towels (at least 2 per person), life jackets/floaties, beach toys, pool toys, kids snacks, arts and crafts or other activities (i.e. puzzles, games) to do if there is a day where you have to stay inside, movies. When we go up to the cottage with friends I always bring a couple activities for the kids (i.e. paint a garden rock kit, etc.) because we as much as they are happy to play outside a lot everyone needs a break from the heat and the sun at some point!
-
One quick recommendation - I now travel with a fire stick (+remote) for TV, easy log in for Netflix etc.
We have done many friend trips with kids. The last one was just before Covid; went to Palm Springs with 3 families and 8 kids under 6
It’s most important to stock the house with kid friendly foods and snacks. So so many of them. Or just be prepared to order instacart daily.
We normally just travel with a few smallish games and toys. Cards, zingo, duplos, whatever is age appropriate. One year we taught all of the 3 year olds how to play crazy 8s.
If the house you are renting has a pool, it should have tons of towels and then a dryer to make it easy to reuse. Random but we brought a Barbie boat to the Palm Springs pool and it was a big hit. And of course the local target/Walmart will have tons of pool or beach toys if the house isn’t stocked.
Friend vacas like this are the best! Everyone understands kid schedules, early bedtimes, etc. It so nice to chill as adults after kid bedtime.Though warning that we’ve either gotten a cold or norovirus like every year
-
@LemonJack: Tie dying sounds so fun! Good call on chalk and art supplies.
@mrswin: Thank you! I am picking up a rock painting kit from target today. That was on my summer bucket list anyway.
@ChitownRo: Good suggestion re: the fire stick! We have a roku so I'll pack that. We are so excited to go! We haven't seen our friends in nearly two years and I will probably cry when we get there, haha.
-
All the above suggestions are great. When we’ve done family trips like this where there are lots of little kids, the best thing we’ve done is do kid dinner first and adult dinner later while kids watch a movie or even after bedtime. It’s just too hectic and stressful to do anything else. So with that, I’d be trying to also make sure our kid meals are all things all kids will be happy with to further reduce stress.
-
@JennyPenny: Great idea! Committing this one to memory for later when I'm brave enough to do one of these trips.
Reply
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
6 comments