{"id":11454,"date":"2016-10-26T04:52:31","date_gmt":"2016-10-26T10:52:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sixsuitcasetravel.com\/blog\/?p=11454"},"modified":"2018-01-29T13:03:52","modified_gmt":"2018-01-29T20:03:52","slug":"12-sanity-saving-tips-for-traveling-large","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sixsuitcasetravel.com\/blog\/12-sanity-saving-tips-for-traveling-large\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Sanity-Saving Tips for Traveling Large"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The afternoon sun cast <\/span>it\u2019s golden warmth through a field of wildflowers to my right.\u00a0 Ahead of me, I counted 14 horses, my youngest, age 6, in lead along with our trail guide.\u00a0 I smiled from atop my own mount on this, the last day of our vacation with my own family of six, and our close friends, a family of 8.\u00a0 Yes, we traveled to Tennessee for 9 days with 4 adults and 10 children and had a wonderful, refreshing time!<\/span><\/p>\n

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Traveling with a large family, or two large families in our case, takes planning but it can be done without losing your sanity or breaking the bank.\u00a0 These 12 tips helped us to relax and enjoy our time together.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Lodging<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u00a01. Plan for Space<\/em>.<\/strong> Allowing for personal space goes a long way toward maintaining good relationships. A rental cabin<\/a> offered enough room for us all and was more economical than a moderately priced hotel. A basement game room and spacious deck made sure we weren\u2019t tripping over one another and ensured a quiet retreat for the introverts in our group.<\/span><\/p>\n

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2. Large Family Necessities<\/em>.<\/strong> Laundry is a big part of large family life! An on-site washer and dryer were a must for this trip. If you are traveling for longer than a weekend, plan to pack light and do laundry while away.\u00a0 Running a load of laundry at least every other day made packing easier while keeping everyone in clean undies!\u00a0 We also arrived back home with minimal dirty laundry.<\/span><\/p>\n

A good kitchen and enough seating for meals is another priority when traveling large. Look for rentals that advertise a well-equipped kitchen and enough chairs for your family at mealtime.\u00a0 Our cabin had seating for 10 in the dining area with additional seating on the deck.<\/span><\/p>\n

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3. Don\u2019t Take a Vacation From Essential Chores! <\/em><\/strong>Vacations are for relaxing, but make sure mom and dad don\u2019t get burdened with the kids\u2019 usual chores. We divvied up chores among everyone with the teens helping with meal prep and clean up and the youngest travelers straightening common areas each evening. A clean space is so much more relaxing than clutter!<\/span><\/p>\n

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4. Defending Your Damage Deposit<\/em>.<\/strong> Most vacation rentals require a damage deposit which may be refundable after your trip. Accidental damage sometimes does occur. However, you can protect yourself from paying for a previous renter\u2019s mistakes by photographing any damage present upon your arrival and letting the owner or management company know right away. When we arrived at our cabin, the screen door was damaged.\u00a0 A quick photo and email ensured we wouldn\u2019t be held accountable for it.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Meals<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u00a05.\u00a0Freeze Ahead Meals.<\/em><\/strong> Making and freezing meals ahead of time is my favorite time and money-saving tip for traveling large. We planned to dine out at least one evening but knew it would be easier and more cost effective to feast on homemade meals most nights.\u00a0 In the weeks before vacation, we prepared plenty of freezer meals. Once frozen solid, they kept easily in a cooler during our 12-hour drive.<\/span><\/p>\n

Favorite freezer meals included:<\/span><\/p>\n