You’ve arrived! You’re feeling hot and stuffy after the 4-hour flight, dragging behind you an assortment of cases, hand baggage, squealing kids, drinks, snacks and electronic games.

Aim – reach the bar, grab a well-deserved cocktail and sink into a sunbed with a sigh of relief, while the kids play in the pool.

The kids chirrup excitedly while dad blows up the humongous rainbow unicorn you just HAD to cart all the way from home. 

Youngest, Jack, refuses to put sun cream on and runs off to hide in the mini dino play park. Livvy is whining that she has lost her tablet between changing into her cozzy and making her way to the pool. 

That unicorn WON’T blow up … and what’s that? You’ve just missed happy hour – oh great!

Wouldn’t it be great if minor stresses didn’t add up to tired, hot and irritated parents? This isn’t how it’s supposed to be!

Want help in achieving your holiday heaven? Here are 5 tips to ensure when holiday stress strikes you’re more than ready to deal with it and make the most of your summer break.

1. Has to be to take care of yourself. Packing, flights and multiple activities can soon wear out the staunchest parent. It’s your holiday too. So take time out to relax and do things that you want to do. Treat yourself to a massage treatment, a new read, whatever makes you feel like YOU again.

2. Is to work as a team. Ask everyone what they want to get out of the holiday. Little ones may be pleased with days on the beach and play parks. Take advantage of any kids clubs – many offer fun learning and socialising experiences.  Older kids may have their own ideas, and they will appreciate having a say in what happens — balance activities and exploring with relaxation.

3. Plan for contingencies. There’s often a moment when things don’t go right.  Someone forgets their swim trunks at the water park, there’s a torrential storm and the restaurant only takes cash. The more hazards you can predict, the more you can put in place, just in case. If things go very wrong, there’s always help at hand from your tour company or the British Consulate.

4. Stick to a budget. Costs can spiral on excursions out, restaurants and bars. Booking in advance may save money as can taking advantage of local offers. Keeping in mind an overall spend and breaking it down to a daily amount can enable you to feel free from counting the pennies or paying the cost later.

5. Set realistic expectations. Often hopes are high for the perfect holiday. It can be a balancing act of working to each person’s needs and wants. Set objectives and be prepared to compromise. Whether you wish to relax and recuperate, reconnect with your nearest and dearest, have fun with the kids or give them learning experiences, having a plan in place can make a big difference.

Most importantly, relax and have fun. 

Make memories. Happy holidays!

So, while Livvy runs off to retreive Jack from the park, you discover her tablet in the main holdall under the towels. A sticking plaster sorts out the shrivelled unicorn from the handy mini first-aid kit you randomly purchased. 

At last, you sigh and sink into that sunbed with a Tequila sunrise…. Heaven!