4 minute read
Split Decision
by Ensemble
Why less together time could be the key to a successful family vacation.
By Andrea Karr
When Claire Zlobin started planning her family’s trip to Banff National Park, she knew her challenge was to balance the wants and needs of all: an adrenalinejunkie husband who craves adventure, and two kids, ages eight and four, who thrive on slow days with plenty of breaks. The family had taken vacations where they’d imposed a “one-size-fits-all” itinerary, spending every minute together as a unit, which limited their activities. For their trip to Banff, Claire decided they would divide and conquer, splitting up for hours at a time to accommodate everyone’s interests.
Calgary-based travel advisor Shannon Olson is a fan of this approach. “My husband and I recognize that time alone helps us recharge,” she says. “Then when we’re together as a family, we’re more present for our kids.” When her two children were young, the family would often stay in resorts where her husband could book a 6 a.m. tee time while everyone else slept in. When the kids napped in the afternoon, Shannon would head out for a solo spa treatment.
This method works well when only one person in your clan loves a specific activity. For their Banff trip, Claire and her husband Denys chose to split parenting responsibilities on some days, whereby one parent spent the morning on a scenic Rocky Mountain hike or at a mountaintop yoga class, while the other stayed with the kids to explore the Banff townsite or play in their hotel’s pool. They reunited for dinner and swapped bedtime duties.
Sometimes, it can work to split up the kids, too. “My older child enjoys sports,” Shannon says. “When we visited Madrid, my husband took her to a soccer game while my younger one and I went to markets and had gelato.” This type of day may involve negotiation, but it’s often better than forcing the kids to sit through experiences they won’t appreciate.
That said, kids also need to learn to go with the flow, Shannon says, and a family trip should involve some shared events that everyone will enjoy. In the Rockies, Claire’s family took a Mount Assiniboine helicopter tour, went for high tea at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and soaked in the Banff Upper Hot Springs together. Shannon recommends planning no more than one excursion per day and arranging tickets and bookings in advance for a time slot when your kids are generally in a good mood, like right after breakfast.
For Claire’s family, splitting up for certain activities was the answer to keeping everyone energized and receptive. Her kids weren’t forced to hike for hours, Claire and her husband were able to indulge their outdoorsy sides and both got to see a breathtaking piece of the world through their children’s eyes. Each day culminated in the sharing of their stories and perspectives, she says. Thanks to hours apart, they were able to cherish the moments when they were together.
Three Tips for Traveling with Kids
Ask an expert
Your hotel concierge will know the ins and outs of local kidfriendly hot spots, says Calgarybased travel advisor Shannon Olson. Call them in advance for recommendations.
Keep it short
When enjoying activities all together, don’t stay too long at one attraction, such as an art gallery. Instead, aim for an hour, pick just one zone to explore and consider visiting twice if you need more time.
Plan a date night
Bring along the grandparents, book a hotel with a babysitting service (Fairmont Banff Springs’ “Kids @ The Castle” allows little ones to enjoy the resort sans parents) or order room service and dine on the balcony once the kids are asleep.
