Tips for Enjoying a Kid-Free Vacation

This is a sponsored post written for ZzzQuil. I was compensated for this post as part of the Vicks Ambassador Network but all opinions are my own.

You may have heard parents say it before – they need a vacation after the family vacation. There isn’t anything more true for me when it comes to my family and our trips. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t trade the time and memories with my family for anything, but it is a lot of work. Much of it – the packing, the prep, the schedule adjustments and planning – falls on my shoulders. Some days, the vacation is FAR from relaxing.

So, this summer, I did what I said I would always do. I scheduled that vacation after the vacation. Just a weekend away for my husband and I. No kids and no stressful packing or planning. Just a long weekend away in our favorite place: Newport, Rhode Island. We enjoy Newport every summer with our kids, so I’m excited to finally spend some kid-free time in this beloved place.

Consider your destination for a kid-free vacation.

So no matter which direction you are headed, remember these important things when you take a vacation without your kids:

Location

While our destination is family and kid-friendly, it’s not crawling with kids. Select a destination that is more ‘mature’ or doesn’t have as many kid-friendly activities, restaurants or stores. I love the option of visiting all the stores in Newport, RI thatI wouldn’t normally dare to enter with my grabby 4-year old twins. The idea of dining in expensive restaurants that don’t have ‘chicken nuggets’ and ‘grilled cheese’ available on the menu seems thrilling. It’s the small things.

We’re ditching the stroller on our next visit to this quaint New England seaside town.

Prepare the Kids.

So I lied. There is a little prep work, but it is worth it! If you take the time to get everything in order for your kids, it will make things run smoothly. Prepare everything for the sitter(s) with attention to detail! Talk to the kids about where you’re going and when you’ll be back, reassuring them it’s just for a short while. If you leave things in order, you’ll be more likely to be able to relax.

Have No Plans

When you have kids on vacation, you have to plan everything! Take the opportunity to wake up when you want (although resist the urge to sleep in too late!) and let your plans come to you as you move through your day. Take a walk, window shop, sit on the beach as long as YOU want.

Take the time to enjoy a sunset.

Visit the beach in the early morning or dusk. Sit and be still. Breathe deeply and allow yourself to be rejuvenated.

Get Good Sleep

When I think about vacationing without my kids, my thoughts go to uninterrupted sleep and waking when I want to! Sometimes, it can be hard to suddenly turn that “mom-brain” off, so I always pack ZzzQuil.

When you pack for kid-free vacation, don’t forget all your essentials.

ZzzQuil is a non-habit forming sleep aid that’s not for pain, just for sleep. ZzzQuil helps you get the sleep you need to truly enjoy your travel experience. Maybe you’re worried if the kids are listening to Grandma and Grandpa. Or perhaps your thoughts are on work you’re missing at home or at the office. Sometimes a goodnight call to the kids can tug at your heartstrings making it hard to fall asleep. For those occasional times when I’m lying awake in bed, and know I have 7-8 hours of sleep, I take ZzzQuil. It helps me fall asleep easily and sleep soundly.

Add in my lavender scented sleep mask and I wake feeling refreshed ready to maximize my kid-free vacation time.

The Little Things

Enjoy the little things that you don’t get to enjoy during the year with the kids: quiet, leisurely walks, dinners at small, romantic restaurants and not having to share your dessert, tantrum free trips to stores and sitting on the beach with a book and drink in hand. Splurge a little on yourself, whether it’s a spa visit, piece of jewelry or memento to remember your trip by, it’s important to put yourself first!