Traveling with a teenager can feel like nothing but earbuds and eye rolls. Your child’s teenage years can be some of the most difficult, and it can be even more difficult if they want to do anything besides spend time as a family. But I think that if you can get your teens away from some of those things that distract them {friends, phones, and social media}, then you can set yourself up for some really great family memories through shared experiences. If you are looking for ways to make family travel more fun for teenagers, here are some of my best tips.
How to Make Family Travel Fun for Teens
Do Something They Are Interested In
One of the best ways to ensure that your teenager has fun on your next family trip is to try doing something they are interested in. If your teen doesn’t really care for museums, then don’t make them the focus for your next trip. Instead, look for ways to get them involved with the planning and even let them pick a few activities.
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Know When to Get Up Early and When It’s Worth Sleeping In
Unless you have a rare teen who enjoys getting up at dawn, most teenagers like their sleep. In fact, they would prefer to sleep in and stay up late given the chance. Sometimes an early morning scuba dive is worth getting up at the crack of dawn, but it can’t be an everyday occurrence. Give your teen time to sleep in and know when it’s worth the extra hassle to get everyone up early.
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Set Expectations Ahead of Time
Please talk with your teenager ahead of time and let them know what your needs are for this trip. Do you want some mother-daughter time? Do you want a chance to do something with your son? Let them know before you even leave! This can give everyone a chance to plan around those needs so you both can have a great trip together.
Give Them Some Space
When traveling with your teen, give them a chance to have some space. Let them have their own room if possible {we often rent HomeAway rentals so we can have more space} or some downtime to do the things they want to do. If you can, let them have a space where they can escape to when the family time gets to be too much. This could be a different room, or just let them sit on the balcony for a while.
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Give your Teen Some Freedom
If you can give your teenager the ability to have some time without mom and dad. Let them go for a walk around the hotel or head to the pool while you stay at the beach. This is also an excellent chance for them to bond with their younger siblings and enjoy some time without mom and dad while you enjoy some couple time! It’s a win for everyone and will show your teenager that you trust them to behave while you’re not keeping an eye on them. This goes hand in hand with giving them space as well.
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You don’t have to let them call all the shots to have a great vacation! These tips will not only limit the eye-rolling but even give you a chance to connect with your teen while you travel.
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