How to Get Travel Ready with Your Family
There’s something magical about the weeks leading up to a big trip. The anticipation builds, the countdown begins, and the energy in the house shifts—especially when we’re heading off on a family adventure. We’ve learned that how you prepare for a vacation can be just as fun as the trip itself.
For big trips, we don’t just pack our bags—we dive headfirst into the culture, language, food, and landscape of the destination before we even leave our driveway. Whether it’s a summer road trip or a month-long getaway, we lean into pre-trip rituals that get the whole family travel-ready.
Here’s how we get into travel mode—and how you can too.
1. Learn the Language (Or at Least a Few Phrases!)
Learning a few key phrases in the local language has become a family tradition in our house. It’s a fun and interactive way for everyone to feel more confident and respectful when we arrive somewhere new.
We usually focus on greetings, thank yous, directions, I’m sorry (because we’re Canadian) and of course, how to order ice cream (essential travel vocabulary!).
With plans for Italy on the horizon, we’ve taken things up a notch—Robin and I’ve decided to learn Italian and thus, our Duolingo showdown has commenced. We’ve committed to 10-15 minutes a day, and so far, so good.
Tips for all ages:
- For little kids: Use flashcards or songs.
- For tweens/teens: Try apps like Duolingo with a friendly competition.
- For families: Post sticky notes around the house with common words in your destination’s language.
2. Read Books Set in Your Destination
Books are a great way to introduce your family to a new place—even before you step foot there. Whether it’s travel memoirs, kid-friendly cultural stories, or novels set in your destination, reading together brings that place to life. Before my Haida Gwaii trip, I read The Golden Spruce and Embers.
Ideas for all ages:
- Young kids: Choose picture books or simple stories that highlight the country’s food, animals, or landmarks.
- Tweens/teens: Try novels or historical fiction set in your destination—or books about teen travelers.
- Whole family: Create a reading challenge with prizes for finishing your “travel book list” before departure or download a family audiobook to listen to in the car.
3. Watch TV Shows and Movies That Inspire Travel
When wanderlust kicks in, we lean into it with a travel-themed movie night. TV shows and movies not only help set the tone—they also spark curiosity.
I’ll admit to watching Emily in Paris, before heading to France and we all had a good dose of Mamma Mia before Greece. For Italy, we’ve watched Luca (great for all ages), and Chef’s Table: Pizza for our food-loving teens.
Family favourites by destination:
- Moana – Hawaii
- Coco – Mexico
- Paddington – London
- Luca – Italy
- The Amazing Race (family editions!) – Global
Create a weekly movie night countdown and let each family member pick one show or film leading up to the trip!
4. Cook a Meal from the Country You’re Visiting
One of our favourite ways to bring a destination into our home before we get there is by eating a traditional meal together. It’s fun and a delicious way to introduce your family to new foods and cultures. Whether it is learning a new recipe or trying a new restaurant we are always up for some trip prep that includes eating.
For Greece, we built our own souvlaki wraps. With Italy on the horizon, we’re diving into pasta-making, pizza and gelato.
Ideas for all ages:
- Whole family: Set up a themed dinner night with music. This is a great way to celebrate and share a trip once you have returned as well.
5. Create a Travel Playlist
Music is one of the best mood-setters, especially on long car rides, planes, or trains. Create a custom travel playlist before each trip.
Add:
- Songs from the country or region you’re visiting
- Your family’s favourite “road trip” classics
- Each person’s current top song pick
Later, it becomes a fun memory cue—one song can bring you back to a special moment from the trip.
6. Explore Cultural Fun Facts
Sprinkle in some fun facts and trivia about where you’re going—it’s a great way to get everyone interested in the place you’re visiting.
Did you know…
- There are more bikes than people in the Netherlands?
- Italy has more UNESCO World Heritage sites than any other country?
- In Japan, slurping your noodles is considered polite?
Turn it into a family challenge: Who can find the weirdest or most surprising fact about the destination?
7. Plan the Trip Together
Letting everyone have a say in the itinerary is one of the best ways to avoid complaints and keep the excitement high—especially with older kids and teens.
We start by doing some research together—scrolling through photos, reading travel blogs, and watching YouTube videos. Each family member gets to choose one thing they want to do or see. This helps everyone be part of the planning process and makes for fewer disagreements when we are away.
8. Get the Gear Out Early
About two weeks before we travel, we start pulling out the travel bins: backpacks, packing cubes, chargers, reusable water bottles, and everyone’s favourite travel items.
Letting kids and teens prep their bags (with a little guidance) gets them thinking about the trip and builds independence.
When our kids were younger, we would always pack a few small “surprises” to get them through the long travel—like a new book, a snack, or a game to play en route. These gave them something special to look forward to on long travel days.
Final Thoughts: Anticipating the Adventure Is Half the Fun
The truth is, anticipating a trip is part of the journey. The food, the music, the packing, the excitement—it’s all part of building beautiful memories before your plane even takes off. So whether you’re travelling with toddlers, teens, or a mix of both, consider weaving in a few of these pre-trip rituals. We also love a good countdown calendar as we await our next big adventure.
What do you do to get into travel mode before a family vacation?
We’d love to hear your ideas—drop them in the comments or tag us on Instagram @planitadventures!