Hi Reader!

Summer break always sneaks up fast—and if you're a busy mom like me, juggling schedules, sports, and snack duty—it can feel overwhelming to plan a vacation on top of everything else.

But here’s the good news: a few small steps right now can save you major stress later. Whether you’re road-tripping or flying, these early prep tips will make summer travel feel like a breeze.

Here’s a peek at some of our past summer vacations to inspire you as you plan your own!

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🏖 5 Things You Should Do Now to Get Ahead on Summer Vacation Plans:

1. Book Accommodations Early​
   Popular spots fill up fast—and prices only go up as summer gets closer.
   ✅ Action step: Pick your destination and book your stay by the end of the week—even if it’s just locking in a refundable option.
2. Research Your Destination​
   Find family-friendly activities, hidden gems, and must-see attractions. Get the kids involved so everyone has something to look forward to!
   ✅ Action step: Start a simple list of 5–10 things you want to do or see. Bonus: copy/paste links into a doc or save them to a Pinterest board.
3. Plan Your Route + Road Trip Stops​
   If you're driving, map out where you’re going and look for kid-friendly stops along the way—playgrounds, splash pads, local restaurants, etc.
   ✅ Action step: Plug your route into Google Maps and make note of any cities or towns you’ll pass through. Then check out my post on Family Road Trip Tips: Essential Advice for Traveling with Kids for help planning kid-friendly stops and overnight stays.
4. Start Budgeting + Looking for Deals​
   Even small savings add up when you're feeding, housing, and entertaining a whole crew.
   ✅ Action step: Set a rough budget for your trip and sign up for alerts on flights, hotels, or rental deals using apps like Hopper or Google Flights.
5. Get the Family On Board​
   When the kids help plan, they’re way more excited (and cooperative!) on the trip.
   ✅ Action step: Have a quick family meeting and ask everyone to share one thing they’d love to do or see this summer.

💡 Busy mom tip: You don’t have to do it all at once. Just set aside 15 minutes this week to take action on one or two of these steps.

✨ Want to make planning even easier?

Grab our complimentary travel itinerary planner and start mapping out your next adventure.

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You’ve got this! Summer memories are made from the plans you start now. I’ll be cheering you on the whole way! 🙌

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May you LOVE your adventure!

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