HOSTING TRIPS FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Traveling with only your spouse can provide a peaceful opportunity to get away from it all and recharge. However, there’s nothing that matches the experience of traveling with beloved family and friends. Exploring the world with those closest to you not only creates a shared bond of unique experiences; it also affords others the opportunity to travel – an opportunity they might not have without your invitation.

Yes, there is more money and planning involved when you invite your loved ones to come along, but in the end, it’s the sense of adventure and camaraderie and the memories you create together that make it well worth your time and effort. Here are a few amazing benefits of hosting trips for family and friends:

EXPANDING THEIR VIEW OF THE WORLD

Kathy and I have taken our children on many family adventures, and because of this, they have developed a heart for traveling the world. The sights we’ve seen and the memories we’ve created have been absolutely incredible. I believe it’s important for a father to introduce his children to the world, and traveling is a key component of expanding their worldview.

Here are a few ways to get your family on board:

• Hang a world map on the wall and use pushpins to mark each place you’ve been. 
• Assign your children a bit of research before each trip. Ask them to research famous landmarks, history highlights, and places to see. 
• Pray, as a family, for the city or port you’ll be visiting. Ask God to bless your travels and the people you’ll meet along the way.
• Get your family’s input about the places they’d like to visit and the things they’d like to do.

We like our children’s opinions on what to do once we get there. We encourage them to weigh in on different activities offered in each city or port and let them choose what sounds most exciting to them. I believe the more ownership they feel in the decision-making process, the better the outcome. Even if things go wrong, there tends to be more patience and understanding when our loved ones have a say in what to see or do.

Watching our family and friends explore the world and enjoy more of God’s creation is, from my experience, one of the best reasons for hosting trips. Personally, I am grateful to be able to offer the opportunity for others to expand their horizons and step into a life experience they won’t soon forget. 

BUILDING FOREVER MEMORIES

It has been extremely rewarding for Kathy and I to host a significant number of trips and create amazing lifetime memories! Personally, I’ve kept travel journals for all of my trips and carefully recorded the good, the bad, and everything in between. This has been a big help in recalling the vacations we’ve loved most and bookmarking the places we’d like to visit again.

As you know, life is short. Building forever memories is a key component to living a life that is both rewarding and fulfilling. I highly encourage you to consider a trip with family or friends as a way to grow closer and create lasting memories. Here are a few memory-building tips to consider:

• Visit places off the beaten path for a richer experience.
• Collect memorable souvenirs.
• Label your photos with names, dates, times, and places. Create a memory photo book of your vacation and share copies with your children.
• Do something adventurous such as zip-lining, ice climbing, hot air ballooning, or bike riding.
• Experience cultural customs, entertainment, and cuisine.

Building forever memories isn’t difficult. In fact, it’s often the small details people remember most. Make your next trip extra special by slowing down long enough to take it all in. Enjoy every moment of your time together and be intentional about memories in the making.

THE EXTRA PLANNING IS WELL WORTH IT

Although enjoyable, traveling together does require a bit of extra planning and attention to detail. It’s important for all parties involved to be well-informed and know exactly what to expect.

When it comes to our kids, Kathy and I have found it beneficial to have some ground rules –especially as the children became teenagers and adults. A few things that have worked well for us include:

1. We always meet together for dinner and often lunch.
2. If possible, we do each major activity together – even if some are more interesting to the parents and others are more attractive to the kids.
3. We travel coach and fly together. On occasion, I have used my accumulated miles to get everybody into business class. 
4. We emphasize safety and make sure each child has a way to contact us at all times.

From my experience, the rewards of traveling with family and friends far outweighs the extra planning involved. I’m pleased to say that most of our trips have gone extremely well, and we’ve even included extended family members such as Kathy’s parents or my brothers and their spouses. 

Traveling together is one significant way we’ve kept our family close, and our friendships have flourished as well. We’ve been blessed to host cruises, island adventures, barging trips, and more, and every single trip has reaped its own rewards.

PLANNING FOR A HASSLE-FREE TRIP

I wouldn’t be doing this post justice if I neglected to include some of the key things you’ll need for hosting a trip properly. As I mentioned in a previous post entitled Travel Basics you can never over-plan for an upcoming trip. From the moment you select your travel dates to the moment you arrive safely back home, planning your itinerary is a basic necessity for getting the most out of your vacation. Here are a few important details you’ll want to include when traveling with loved ones:

• Make sure every person has a copy of the travel itinerary.
• Ensure each person has proper documentation such as passports, visas, etc.
• Give each person in your group emergency contact information, including numbers for travel agents.
• Provide a packing list. 
• Designate a time and meeting place in case you’re separated. 
• Agree on activities/outings before the trip begins.
• Create space for individual free time/relaxation.
• Discuss spending/personal costs and clarify what is/is not covered by you.

Don’t let the extra planning or expenses deter you from inviting family and friends on your travel adventures. I truly believe traveling is one of the best ways to expand your loved ones’ view of the world, build forever memories, and reap the rewards of just being together.

ACTION STEP: 

At your next family or friend gathering, discuss travel ideas and bucket-list destinations. Then, let the planning begin!

Do you have an experience related to what you have read? Please share it with us in the comments section and help others learn too.