Split up responsibilities before and during the trip

No matter how responsibilities are divvied up at home, no one parent should be in charge of everything on vacation. Divide the mental and logistical load equally. Maybe one parent takes care of packing and activity planning while the other handles flights and hotels. Once you’re on vacation, alternate who’s “on duty” each day or part of the day, so one parent takes mornings and the other handles evenings, for example. If you plan to cook or pack lunches on your vacation, split those duties, too. The more evenly the work is shared, the more everyone can relax.

Build in downtime and consider easing up on some of the family rules

Not every minute of vacation needs to be filled with activities. In fact, sometimes the best family moments are the unscheduled ones, so leave space in your itinerary for unstructured play, quiet time, or simply zoning out with a TV show or movie. Loosening up on screen time or bedtime rules can go a long way in keeping the peace and making the experience feel more like a treat, too. A few late bedtimes or extra sweets won’t undo your usual household routines, and they might just make the trip more fun for everyone.

Choose a hotel with a kids' club, babysitting, or concierge

Look for resorts and hotels that offer kids’ clubs, babysitting services, or activities that don’t require parental involvement. A few hours in a kids’ club can mean a quiet poolside drink or a nice dinner out for parents. Don’t overlook the hotel concierge, either. He or she can suggest kid-pleasing restaurants and local activities for when you’re spending time together as a family. My kids were always skeptical (some might even say suspicious of) structured children’s activities, but once we found a few programs that fit their personalities, it became something they’d come to look forward to on our vacations.

Share driving duties (or consider staying somewhere you'll never want to leave)

This is a sneaky one, because driving isn’t necessarily hard work, but long drives can leave one parent exhausted before the vacation even gets going. When my family visited the Grand Canyon, we arrived in Arizona late at night, exhausted and cranky after a 10-hour airport delay, and I then had to drive another five hours while everyone else in the car caught up on sleep. Never again, I decided, would mine be the only name on the rental car contract.

If you’re hitting the road on your trip, plan to switch drivers regularly, even if one of you is the usual driver at home. Alternatively, consider a resort where you can park once and not worry about driving again: Think hotels with on-site dining, pools, activities, and nearby (or built-in) attractions.

Prep for a triumphant return

Nothing spoils the end of a vacation like coming home to chaos and chores. Before you leave, put clean sheets on the beds, stock the freezer with a couple of easy meals, and consider setting up a grocery delivery for the day you return. If you're staying at a hotel or resort with laundry services, take advantage and go home with clean clothes—it’s one less thing to face when you walk in the door. Because honestly, the very last thing anyone wants to do on the first day back from vacation is deal with piles of dirty laundry.

Explore family-friendly destinations across the Benchmark Resorts & Hotels portfolio, a collection of more than 50 distinct, independent properties by Pyramid Global Hospitality. Located in diverse destinations across the globe, Benchmark’s resorts and hotels reimagine immersive travel, inspiring guests to create memories born from meaningful exploration, authentic moments, and innovative experiences – no matter the occasion. Benchmark guests can earn complimentary gift cards, on-property perks, and destination experiences through the collection’s signature Mosaic Rewards program.