5 Quick Tips for Planning Your Family Spring Break Vacation

​After a dreary and cold winter season, you will be more than ready to get away for a relaxing tropical  vacation. But planning a stress-free trip during this time of year often comes with its challenges. These are my top quick tips that I recommend when planning a family spring break vacation. 

Planning A Spring Break Family Vacation

1. Book Early

Everyone loves getting away during spring break. Between families wanting to escape their busy schedules and college students looking to indulge in full days of partying, popular destinations will be busy. Airlines start selling out of the lowest price tickets early and hotels quickly fill up. I can't stress this enough. As soon as you decide where you want to go, secure your reservations! 

We often travel on Southwest Airlines since there is no change fee if you decide that you want to reroute your dates or plans. Plus, they often have numerous nonstop flights and are now heading to many fantastic tropical destinations, including Hawaii and the Caribbean. 

2. Change Your Destination

If you want to enjoy a quieter vacation with your family, avoid popular areas where college crowds are heading. Find a hotel off the beaten path or upscale your original plans. A pricier resort or luxury cruise ship may not be booked by younger clientele and they will also have more spacious rooms for families in ideal locations. 

Beautiful Lago Mar Resort in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in the spring.

3. Timing is Everything

Plan your travel at off times. The lowest cost days to travel are typically Tuesdays and Wednesdays. These are usually the least busy for airlines, as well as hotels. Also, true for any busy season, make sure to leave plenty of time between flights if you have a connection when traveling to your final destination. Not only will terminals be more crowded, but you may have weather disturbances that could impact your travel. 

Likewise, if you are planning a road trip, there are more cars on the road this time of year. Leave a day early and discover a new town along the route to stay an extra night. ​​

4. Pack Wisely

I actually don't recommend packing everything in one carry-on suitcase. Overhead compartments can fill up quickly on busy flights and you'll spend needless time finding an additional bin or may have to unexpectedly check your suitcase anyway. Bring a smaller carry-on that will fit under the seat in front of you and baggage check your main luggage. Keep in mind, bulkhead seats have valuable extra legroom but with no seat in front of you, carry-ons will still have to go in a bin. Plus, don’t forget to bring extras of the items you'll want in your carry-on for the flight and airport. Traveling during spring break means you may have delays or extra crowds. Depending on your family, bring additional baby supplies, activities for the kids, and snacks for everyone in your carry-on. ​

Interior of a Southwest Airlines 737-800 with spacious bins for overhead storage.

5. Take Care of Yourself

Unfortunately, spring break is often at the height of flu season. Increase your vitamin C, get more sleep, and drink lots of water the week before traveling. 

And stock up on sunscreen. If you are traveling to a sunny tropical destination and have been bundled up in heavy sweaters all winter long, the last thing you'll want is to spend your family vacation with a painful sunburn. ​

The spring season is my favorite time to travel! The weather is ideal and my family is ready to be more active. Keep these top 5 tips in mind and you can help decrease your travel stress and increase the excitement of getting to your final destination.