Family Travel Hacks & Tips: Bahamas Vacation Edition
Family Cruises to the Bahamas Make for a Perfect Getaway
By Sherri Eisenberg | Published on May 30, 2023
If you're taking your whole family on a Bahamas vacation, you're probably looking for some family travel hacks to make your kid-friendly trip easier — both on the kids, and on you. While you dream of visiting the Bahamas, remember the reality of family travel also includes a lot of logistics. Lucky for you, these family travel hacks and tips will make your next Bahamas trip an island breeze.
Plan Like A Parent Tips
My number one tip for parents planning a Bahamas cruise vacation with children is to make life as easy as possible for the parents. Trust me, you'll thank me later. Booking a cruise is step one, as cruising is essentially an all-inclusive vacation, at often a more affordable price. The best part? Cruising couldn't be easier. You only have to unpack once, and all of your transportation, lodging and dining are wrapped into one. If you live near a port city that cruises to the Bahamas like one of the many Florida ports; even better. Driving instead of flying to a port can save families thousands of dollars — not to mention the headache associated with flight delays and cancellations. It's both a wise financial choice and one that can eliminate serious travel friction, which is even more important when you have kids along for the ride.
Ideas For Making Free Time On Vacation
Taking your kids on vacation is always exciting, and I always get a thrill from seeing my child discover new things. That said, children tire easily, so you should be careful not to overload the itinerary with too many planned excursions. One of my travel hacks for families is to maintain a balance between things to do and free time where anything goes. This can help ensure everyone stays happy throughout the trip.
One thing you should make time for on a Bahamas vacation is a day trip to Exuma to see the island's famous swimming pigs — you read that right. No one is sure whether the pigs washed onshore from a shipwreck or in a storm or whether they were pirate booty that was stashed away on the islands. Today, they swim in the ocean and they're a sight to see when you're visiting the Bahamas. Not only will they amuse the kids and delight you, but it's a video that will live on forever — or maybe even an opportunity for your best family Christmas card photo ever.
If your kids are younger than middle school age, try to stick to the schedule you keep at home while you're on vacation. This includes both eating and sleeping schedules. That may mean parents have to take turns napping with little ones in the stateroom, so pack a good book and be sure to get a room with a balcony so you can soak up the sun during that time. In addition, if your child uses a noise machine with a time-to-wake function, you'll want to pack that, too. You can also ask for a room in a quiet location away from service stations or other loud areas.
Whether you're a single parent or have a partner, one of my favorite travel tips for parents is to make sure you get a little alone time, away from the kids. How can that be possible, you ask? If you travel with friends or grandparents, they can babysit while you take an hour to treat yourself to a spa service or enjoy a romantic dinner. One of my top travel tips for women is to take advantage of the spa services! If you don't have travel companions with you to babysit, don't worry! Adventure Ocean is a great option to keep kids occupied and engaged. The club separates kids into age-appropriate groups for fun activities like arts and crafts and more. Drop kids off at the club for an hour and enjoy some time alone, guilt-free! If your kids really love the club, block out an hour a day when at sea for them to go there while dad grabs a pint at the sports bar or mom reads a book by the pool. This is your vacation, so anything goes!
Enjoy The Amenities Travel Hack
