Two adults are planning a trip while leaning over a map and taking notes. - Photo credit: Unsplash+ License.
Family vacations are supposed to be a break, but for many parents, they come with a second job. So it is hardly surprising that in the latest U.S. Family Travel Survey, 43% of parents said planning and booking a trip themselves can be time-consuming or confusing, while 56% said they would value having a travel advisor handle the logistics.
The Stress Of Family Travel Is Real
Somewhere between Sri Lanka's ancient capital of Anuradhapura and the misty tea country in the central highlands, I realized I had barely looked at Google Maps or my phone in days.
That might not sound remarkable to you, but for me it was surprising since on most family road trips, I use my phone all the time. I check directions, calculate drive times, find somewhere to eat, and figure out whether we need to leave at eight or nine to get there on time.
Apparently, I am not the only parent who finds organizing a family trip exhausting.
In the latest U.S. Family Travel Survey from the Family Travel Association and New York University's Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, 43% of parents said planning and booking a trip themselves can be time-consuming or confusing.
When asked what they would value from a travel advisor helping plan a kid-friendly vacation, 56% pointed to one thing in particular: having someone handle all the logistics and make the trip hassle-free for parents.
That was essentially what Jacada Travel did for us in Sri Lanka, only on a much more comprehensive scale.
Beyond designing the itinerary and booking our hotels and activities, Jacada Travel effectively ran the whole trip behind the scenes, coordinating drivers, guides, transfers, and experiences so that once we arrived in Sri Lanka, we had nothing to do except enjoy ourselves.
The Support Didn't End Once The Trip Was Booked
We started planning with David D'Arcy, Jacada Travel's Asia Pacific Senior Travel Designer and a Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist 2026, who shaped the itinerary around what exactly our family wanted to see and do.
After we finalized the itinerary, he handed us over to Cathy Jocubeit, Senior Concierge for Asia Pacific at Jacada Travel, who handled the finer details, from dietary requirements to the packing list.
After arriving in Sri Lanka, we had our own chauffeur-guide, Janaka, who drove us between destinations and was available whenever we needed him. He knew the roads, the locations, and all the practical details that would otherwise have fallen to me.
Besides him, we also had another member of Jacada's local team, Susanna, who was available on WhatsApp throughout the trip, answering questions and adjusting arrangements when circumstances changed.
That meant the responsibility never suddenly fell back on us, not for one moment. There was always someone managing what came next.
I Wouldn't Travel This Way Everywhere
Sri Lanka looked like exactly the kind of vacation that would have required a lot of planning and management: long distances, multiple regions, various activities and sights, and a climate and cuisine we weren't used to. Having someone else handle the details put me at ease.
If I am returning to a city I know well, staying in one place for a week or taking a simple beach vacation, I am perfectly happy to organize things myself. But a two-week, multi-stop family trip in an unfamiliar country is different.
In Sri Lanka, we walked out of our hotel in the mornings and got into the car. Our driver already knew where we were going, how long it would take, and when we needed to leave. Guides were expecting us. Activities had been arranged.
Before this trip, I thought a luxury travel company only arranged nice hotels, private guides, and comfortable transportation. What I hadn't really understood was how much of the value comes from something far less glamorous: removing my stress.
Less Time Managing, More Time With My Kids
The biggest difference was how much more present I could be with my children.
On family trips, when we are on a road trip or exploring different locations within the destination, part of my attention is always somewhere else. I check the time, look up directions, confirm a reservation, or think ahead to what comes next. Even when everything seems to be going well, some small logistical detail needs my focus.
In Sri Lanka, that mental checklist largely disappeared.
At Wilpattu National Park, I could watch my children search the landscape for elephants and birds instead of thinking about whether we packed enough for lunch.
In the tea country, I could listen, ask questions, and enjoy a tea factory visit with them rather than checking what time we needed to leave.
Those moments made me realize that handing over the organization did more than make the trip easier. It gave me a chance to spend time with the people I was actually traveling with.
The author traveled as a guest of Jacada Travel, which did not review or approve this article.