It's official: 'Schoolcations' have become the newest family travel trend

In the spring, the abrupt shift from everyday life to staying home while managing online schooling was chaotic for almost everyone involved. (You haven't truly experienced it until you've sat through a Zoom class with preschoolers who have no idea how to use the mute button.)

Now that we've had time to refine our skills in remote learning and working, we're better prepared for the future. While the pandemic still poses significant risks, the country is far more accessible for exploration compared to March, when schools closed and we all remained indoors.

It's hardly surprising that as businesses and destinations reopen and online education becomes more structured, a new travel trend has emerged: the schoolcation.

We've experienced it, enjoyed it, and picked up a few tips to enhance our next schoolcation even further.

Repeat after me: This is not a holiday

The first — and arguably the most crucial — step in planning a schoolcation is understanding that it’s not a holiday. Make no mistake, you will have fun, but if you still have school (and work) responsibilities during your trip, those need to take priority.

If your kids aren't familiar with learning while traveling, make sure to clearly communicate what this arrangement will involve to them frequently and in advance.

For us, this meant that once breakfast was done, the school day had to begin. Activities like swimming, building sandcastles, or visiting the ice cream shop could only happen in the afternoon after school hours were over.

It also meant we couldn't stay up as late as we might during a regular vacation. Bedtime during the week remained important during schoolcation, just like it does at home. Luckily, several other families with kids were following the same schoolcation schedule, providing some positive peer pressure to keep us on track.

Seek out resorts that offer educational facilities

Remember when I mentioned that schoolcations are a real trend? Well, hotel resorts have taken notice. Many properties are now making it easier to blend education and leisure with their five-star amenities and services.

Kimpton has introduced a new role, a chief virtual learning officer, available at the Kimpton Van Zandt in Austin and the Kimpton Hotel Monaco in Salt Lake City, among others. This person can assist with technical issues, deliver essential school supplies to your room, help convert a hotel desk into a kid-friendly workspace, and provide complimentary "snack packs" with juice, fruit snacks, and Oreos, among other services.

Hyatt has launched its Work From Hyatt program, offering private workspace options (including a suite, connecting room, or private meeting room), complimentary food and beverage credits, parking, high-speed Wi-Fi, and waived resort fees, along with other benefits.

Some hotels, like the Four Seasons Orlando at Disney World, have truly elevated the experience. At this Disney-adjacent property, children can enroll in full- or half-day supervised study sessions in small classrooms with no more than six kids per class. The full-day option includes lunch and costs $100 (half days are $50).

The classes are conducted by trained Kids For All Seasons staff members, who typically managed the kids' clubs and children's programs during traditional vacation stays.

While these might seem like luxury amenities rather than essentials, if you're juggling work while your kids are learning, there will be moments when you could use an extra hand (or two). It can be quite challenging to assist a child struggling with connectivity issues during their Zoom class while you're in the middle of an online presentation or meeting. Managing all of this in a shared or unfamiliar environment, having on-site study sessions or a chief virtual learning officer sounds incredibly helpful.

It's all about the internet connection

Your ambitious plans for schooling and working on the go will come to a frustrating stop if the internet service isn't reliable.

While resorts may offer reliable high-speed internet, if you’re opting for a DIY setup in an RV or home rental, it’s wise to have a backup plan in case the Wi-Fi is subpar.

At the last location we booked for our school-and-work retreat, the Wi-Fi barely worked upstairs, which made it challenging for us to spread out and find quiet spots for Zoom calls, studying, and more.

A Wi-Fi booster can be very useful if the wireless signal is weak in certain areas of the property, like when we were working from downstairs in a recent home rental.

In a pinch, you can also set up a hot spot using your smartphone. (For instance, if you have an iPhone, you can enable your personal hot spot in the settings.) The downside is that you might quickly use up your monthly data allowance. Even if you have unlimited data, it often slows down after reaching a certain limit. Therefore, consider this a backup option rather than your main connectivity solution.

In summary

There isn’t much to praise about 2020, but the ability to learn and work remotely has been a silver lining in an otherwise difficult year.

We’ve completed one successful week of schoolcationing and are considering a much longer stay this winter if everything goes smoothly.

If you choose to give it a shot, be prepared for moments of frustration (just like at home). Avoid going somewhere that strains your budget so much that you feel you must make the most of every minute, as you’ll likely need to dedicate several hours each day to schooling (and possibly working).

That’s why I suggest sticking to one location for at least a week, giving you a weekend and several afternoons to explore and unwind.

Consider booking more than just a single standard hotel room. If you’re staying in a hotel, seek out a property that provides designated spaces for learning or working. If that’s not possible, be sure to pack quality headphones since overlapping Zoom calls can lead to chaos for everyone involved.

And keep in mind that for "recess" or after a long day, you have the chance to dive into the pool, go for a hike, float down the river, order room service, or enjoy some theme park rides... which is a pretty great reward for some good old-fashioned hard work, whether you're 7 or 77.