Back from your summer vacation feeling like it wasn’t that much of a vacation? Missing out on the rest and relaxation aspect of a ‘holiday’? Everyone’s searching for the ultimate vacation hack – whether that’s an all-inclusive hotel or a self-catering villa – to match the needs of their family.
As we grow, families change year after year, so what works for some ages won’t work for others. We often find that we need to alternate between all-inclusive hotels and self-catering vacation rentals, seeing the pros and cons of both between each visit. Sometimes you need a little service and luxury, other years you need to get away from the crowds and get some peace and quiet.
While we don’t have all the answers to suit everyone, we’ve certainly discovered a few holiday hacks to help family vacations run a little more smoothly. Here are our ultimate family vacation hacks so you can start planning ahead for summer 2026.
Family Vacation Hacks and Tips
Hire a Housekeeper
One of our favorite ultimate family vacation hacks: if you’re staying in a vacation rental home, enquire about hiring a cleaner or housekeeper to visit during your stay. A couple of hours each day, after breakfast, when you’re out exploring the area or down at the beach, means you’ll return home to a clean and tidy space. It’s an added expense, but that extra fee will make you feel like you’ve added a little hotel-style luxury to a self-catering option – AND give you more time back so you don’t have to waste your mornings tidying up.
Book a Private Chef
Another great option for families staying vacation homes is to book catering, especially if you’re traveling with another family or staying with an extended family group. A private chef could arrange group dinners, meals for fussy little ones, or food for special occasions, which will save you time in the grocery store (and save arguments when there’s too many cooks in the kitchen). Most hosts can suggest a local catering service they’d recommend too.
Make use of Taxis
How many times have you spent hours queueing at the car rental desk after arriving at an airport? Even if you book ahead, with 2 or more kids, this process always seems super long and the last thing you want to do when you get to your destination. Jump in an air-conditioned cab and trust your local driver to get you where you need to be, fast. If your location is walkable, you might be better off booking a few taxi journeys when you need it, rather than paying out for a full week of car rental.
If you need a car rental during your stay, you can always book it for day 2 or 3 of your stay, once you’ve settled in and have a little more patience.
Book Valet Airport Parking
If the airport has this option, we always book valet airport parking for departure day. If you book in advance, this service is usually not that much more expensive than a regular long-stay parking option. What you get in return is a quicker, more seamless arrival to the airport, with no waiting around for shuttle buses, and a shorter run into departures with your luggage. Totally worth the extra 20 minutes you’ll get in bed.
Rent Baby Equipment
If you’re traveling with kids you’ll probably find you have heaps more stuff to pack for your family trip. One thing you can outsource and hire on arrival is baby equipment. Check with your hotel or vacation home host if they have cribs, highchairs or strollers you can borrow. If not, you can hire extra gear from services such as BabyQuip.
Most taxi services don’t require you to use a baby car seat for short journeys, and if you’re renting a car, they’ll usually provide them for an extra fee.
Don’t Scrimp on Flight Times
Those super-cheap flights seem like a great idea right? Remember the extra costs that surround that tricky flight time, if it means you’re traveling very early or very late. Public transport won’t always start early enough to get you to that 5am flight, so you’ll need to drive and pay for airport parking or book a peak-rate taxi service.
Plus, a very early start means everyone is hungry and cranky for most of the day, so you’ll be spending more on snacks to keep the kids going. Sometimes it can ruin the whole first day, so is it really worth it?
Get a Vacation Planner
The best family vacations hacks are all about saving time, so you can spend more time with the kids enjoying your holiday. If this is all too much to think about, you can even outsource the entire vacation planning experience to someone else.
Our new vacation planning service, Kid & Coe Premier, is designed to give you a custom concierge experience, from booking ideas and itineraries, logistics and travel times. Get in touch with our team to discuss what you need from your next trip.
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