We are an international family with two kids. Travel with kids is a part of our life. Since our kids were born, we always took them on trips. There is no doubt that travel with kids can be stressful. At the same time, it is an extremely fun and bonding experience for the family.
Here are a few dos and don’ts on how to make your travel with kids an enjoyable experience.
Set an adventure mindset
- Look at every family trip as an adventure, embrace the spirit of exploration, discovery and learning
- Look ahead and plan activities that would be fun for the whole family, not just adults
- Expect the unexpected. Be prepared that things will not always go as planned
- Stay flexible. Adjust your travel plans as needed. Remember it is an adventure!
- Pack a lot of patience and your sense of humor – this really helps!
Pack smart, pack light
- Taking several suitcases in addition to pushing a stroller or dragging a stubborn toddler through the airport can be a torture. Bring the minimum you need and buy the rest.
- Opt for backpacks – you will need free hands!
- Save room for souvenirs and toys you’ll buy during the trip
- Bring personal devices – they can be a life saver during long trips
- Take a few favorite comfort toys and activity books
Simplify logistics
- Select reasonable departure/arrival times – 6 am flights are often cheaper, but getting the whole family out of bed and to the airport at 4 am will cause unnecessary stress. Aim for a reasonable departure and return times
- Rest well before the trip to avoid sudden meltdowns
- Aim for direct flights. If you must connect, allow ample time for connections
- For long trips consider adding a stopover at the hotel between the flights
- Opt for business class if you can – see tips in this article
Have fun at the airports
- Being at the airport is an experience in itself for the kids. Many airports have great entertainment options for children like activity rooms and playgrounds. Business lounges offer kids rooms with toys and computer games. Many airports have built in game screens (e.g. crossyroad is our favorite). In addition, all the popular food options are there. Check the airport maps to enjoy your time at the airport.
- Keep in mind that you will need more time at the airports when you travel with kids. Everything will take a bit or a lot longer – check-ins, bathrooms, eating, toy shops, unexpected tantrums. Build this into your schedule.
Choose comfortable accommodations
When we started travelling as a family of four, we had to revise our approach to accommodations. Staying a week in a standard hotel room does not work for us any longer. Consider alternative accommodations that allow more space and offer family amenities. Here are a few options:
- Extended stay hotels is a good solution for family travel. They typically offer an apartment-like living with separate bedrooms, a kitchenette and some kid services included. These are usually mid-tier hotels, but many offer good quality, comfortable family accommodations. Examples include – Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Hampton Inn by Hilton. Check reviews before you book as properties vary.
- Consider short term and vacation rentals – Airbnb, Home Away, VRBO to name just a few. This is our favorite option for any stay longer than a week.
- Request a room upgrade. If you are a frequent traveler, this is an easy option. Ask for an upgrade either ahead of time or at check in. Upgrades are not guaranteed, but if you have a status with a hotel chain, you’ll likely get one.
- Consider bringing an inflatable mattress or bed. Especially when you have older kids, sharing a twin or queen size bed is not going to work well. These days you can buy an inflatable bed on Amazon for less than $50. This is totally worth a good night sleep.
Relax the rules around technology
- During long flights, road trips and while waiting at the airports, consider relaxing the rules around screen time. It will you give you peace of mind and allow to relax. Download kids’ favorite movies, videos and games ahead of time.
- Consider bringing a mifi device for situations where public wifi is not available
Stock up on food and snacks
Kids get hungry at odd times when travelling. Plan ahead for that.
- Eat before getting on the plane. Airports generally have many great food options, while food on the planes is getting increasingly worse. Consider arriving to the airport early and have a bite to eat there. Get some food to go if the flight is longer than three hours
- Pack favorite snacks and drinks. My son is a picky eater and he won’t touch any food on the plane. I always have a few of his favorite snacks with me in the case of “Mommy, I’m so hungry emergency”.
Find family-friendly activities
- Less is more when you travel with kids. Forget about all-day sightseeing marathons. Plan one-two activities per day that the whole family would enjoy.
- Pick family-friendly restaurants. Save fine dining experience for when you are alone – see the next tip below.
- Have older kids take ownership of planning the trip – you will feel less resistance along the way.
Plan for adult-only time
Family vacation does not need to be 100% family time. Parents need time and space to enjoy vacation without the kids. This requires some creative thinking and forward planning.
- Chose vacations that offer well-organized programs for kids. Cruises are a great example. All cruise companies offer amazing kids clubs where you can leave your child for hours in a raw. Another good option we found is skiing. Most ski resorts have ski schools where kids can go for half and full days. Kids have a ton of fun learning how to ski, while you enjoy your time doing whatever you like.
- Look for hotels and resorts with organized programs for kids. Most resorts do offer some kids activities, but not all allow you to “board” the child somewhere for a few hours. One option that we really like is Club Med, but there are many others.
- Find a babysitter. This is a great option whether you want a short break for dinner or a longer afternoon to yourself. Most hotels offers babysitting services. You can book a babysitter directly through credible agencies like care.com or sittercity.com. You can also find a sitter through a referral. Whichever channel you use, I advise to interview the sitter ahead of time preferably on video if in person not possible.
Over-index on health and safety
Travel with kids can be stressful as it is, so you want to make sure you are staying safe and healthy. Here are a few tips that I always follow:
- Eat at trusted venues. Avoid street food, especially in places where food poisoning is common (e.g. India)
- Always carry hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and make kids wash hands often
- Take with you the basic medicines (Tylenol, Band-Aids, anti-inflammatory and anti-itch creams)
- Find local hospitals and check the quality of medical care in the area and at the specific facility
- Bring or buy health insurance. Be sure to know what your plan covers
- Check if you need car seats – rules vary by country. In some places taxi won’t take you if you did not request a car seat. Renting a car seats typically run at $13/day, which is pricey. Consider bringing your own or buy an inflatable booster seat that work well for kids 5-7.
- Consider packing baby monitors if kids will be sleeping in a separate room
- Write down your phone number, hotel name and street address and give it to the kids. Ask them to memorize the information
- Stay alert at all times – children can wander off in a second. Keep an eye on them at all times, especially in crowded airports, hotel lobbies, and busy streets
And here are a few things to avoid
- If you can avoid it, do not travel long distance with kids between 1 and 2 years old – they are extremely active and hard to control. We did it and, in the hindsight, it would have been easier to wait a year until they start listening.
- Do not let children to pack their bags. They will not make smart choices and you will end up carrying those heavy backpacks full of toys!
- Do not plan too many activities in advance – the best-laid plans will go off track. Best to keep your options open and make plans as you go.
- Avoid countries and places with limited access to quality healthcare. We had a scare while travelling to Mexico with a two-year old. I would just stay clear of places where you can’t get high-quality medical care.
Enjoy your next family trip and good luck!
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