Family travel is one of life’s most rewarding experiences – exploring another part of the world, making memories, and watching your kids step outside their comfort zone – but it can also feel like the perfect storm for stress. Between the packing, the routines, the constant “Are we there yets?” family holidays sometimes feel like too much effort. But not this time! It’s easy to organize a stress-free family adventure that doesn’t leave you counting down the days until you return home.
Whether you’re traveling by road or air to a nearby state or a distant country, our tips for traveling with kids will ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey. With these tips, you’ll feel in control, prepared for any situation, and ready to make the most of your family adventure.
Pre-Trip Planning for Success
With kids in tow, travel inevitably requires more preplanning than the girls’ weekend-at-the-spa sort of outing does. The more planning you can do in advance, the less likely your trip is to descend into frantic, hair-pulling circumstances that can drain the fun out of your trip. Here’s how to get ahead of the game.
1. Research Your Destination
Before you book anything, research your destination thoroughly. Look for:
Kid-friendly attractions: Museums, parks, aquariums, or any spots designed for children’s entertainment.
Family-friendly lodgings: If your five-year-old generally expects a bed and private bathroom, seek out vacation rentals that include everything you have at home.
Transport: Do you need car seats for taxis or rideshares? Is public transportation family-friendly?
2. Choose the Best Travel Times
Routines make children more manageable, and flights or road trips will go more smoothly if they’re during or after naps or bedtimes. Those early morning flights are usually quieter, and red-eyes will often have your kids sleep all the way to your destination.
3. Create a Packing Checklist
A packing checklist should be your best friend when you have kids. Pack:
Essentials: Diapers, wipes, snacks, and medications.
Entertainment: Toys, books, and games to keep them occupied.
Comfort items: Remember their favorite blanket or stuffed animal.
Clothing: Extra clothes, including layers, in case of spills or weather changes.
Packing Like a Pro
Preparing to pack for kids is an art form. How do you bring just enough without packing too much and be prepared for everything? Here are my best tips for packing smartly.
1. Use Packing Cubes or Ziplock Bags The easiest way is to use packing cubes (which work exceptionally well) or clear ziplock bags. Separate clothes by day or type so you’re not digging through suitcases and pulling everything out to find what you want. For the really organized, you can label suitcases and color-code the packing cubes for each child or for each type of clothing item.
2. Pack Snacks Like a Pro Healthy, non-perishable snacks are essential. Some ideas include:
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Dried fruits, crackers, cereal bars, and trail mix.
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Pre-cut fruits in small containers.
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Mini sandwiches or cheese sticks for more substantial snacks.
Make a note of what you can take on a plane, especially if you’re flying abroad.
3. Create a Busy Bag Get a small bag with toys, coloring books, and puzzles. Innovation is the key. Give something new at least every hour, and have space for one or two completely new things so that they become interested again. Card games are great space-saving innovators and stickers and magnetic travel games also work well.
Keeping Kids Entertained on Long Journeys
Finding things for the kids to do while traveling is often the biggest challenge. The trick is variety and preparation.
1. Plan Screen Time Wisely Download the app with the kids’ movies and games beforehand. It’ll help if your device is charged, and take some extra kid headphones; they might come in handy.
2. Interactive Games for Road Trips If you’re driving, use the environment to keep them entertained. Some ideas include:
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I Spy: Children increase the volume of the chatter in their heads, which increases their perception and memory.
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Travel Bingo: Buy some simple bingo cards (with things like cows, stop signs, or red cars).
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Counting Games: Have them count how many blue cars, trucks, or bicycles they see.
3. Non-Digital Entertainment If screen time is not an option, or the best, at times in the airport or road trip. Where possible, non-digital play ideas could include:
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Sticker books: Easy to carry and great for young kids.
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Coloring books: A compact and creative way to pass the time.
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Books: Pack picture books and/or travel-themed stories. A variety of these will inspire their imaginations.
Managing Mealtime on the Go
Eating while traveling could be one of the most challenging things related to a family vacation, especially when faced with picky eaters. Here are some ways to make meal times easier:
1. Pack Familiar Snacks
When you’re not the one cooking, there’s always the chance your kid won’t like what’s served. Take-along snacks for kids are very handy, particularly when you’re in a place they are less familiar with. Here are some of our favorites:
Crackers or pretzels
Applesauce pouches
Granola bars
2. Plan Restaurant Stops
Before heading out, research kid-friendly restaurants at your destination. Look for:
High chairs or booster seats (if needed): Restaurants that cater to families tend to offer these.
Kids’ menus: Portions that fit little bellies or easy-to-eat foods such as pasta, chicken tenders, or grilled cheese.
3. Stay Flexible
Remember, flexibility is key. Be prepared to adjust feeding schedules and meal plans as needed. Sometimes, a cluster of small bites can be more manageable for kids than set mealtimes, especially when dealing with different time zones or a packed travel day. Stay flexible, and you’ll navigate your travel day like a pro.
Navigating Travel Day Like a Pro
The day of travel is often the most stressful of the entire trip. Remember these tips to manage the mayhem.
1. Give Yourself Extra Time Give yourself a lot more time than you think you’ll need. If you’re traveling with little kids, you have to give yourself so much more time than you do just with your own time. For my family, we leave three hours before we need to. We always calculate for security checks and for last-minute things like, right before we leave the house: “Oh, I need my phone charger.” “Oh, I forgot my medications.” “Oh, I forgot the snacks in the fridge.” or the famous, “I have to go to the bathroom”! When you’re traveling with kids, leave way earlier than you think you need to.
2. Invest in Kid-Friendly Gear Having the right gear can make all the difference. Some essentials include:
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Lightweight strollers: you want a travel-friendly stroller that’s small, easy to fold, and maneuverable in tight spaces.
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Baby carriers: great for babies or toddlers, especially for the airport, exploring your destination, or hiking.
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Backpacks for older kids: Fill a lightweight backpack with snacks, drinks, and toys for kids ages five and up to carry.
3. Be Prepared for Delays Delays are inevitable, especially with air travel. Pack extra food, clothes, and activities for kids in a carry-on so everyone can be kept comfortable and entertained if you’re stuck in an airport. And don’t underestimate the power of the moving walkways… tire those babies out!
Dealing with Jet Lag and Routine Disruptions
1. Adjust Sleep Schedules Gradually If you’re traveling to a different time zone, gradually adjust your child’s sleep schedule a few days before your trip by moving bedtime earlier or later based on your destination. This will make the time shift more manageable.
2. Keep Bedtime Routines Consistent Keep bedtime the same as at home and bring familiar pajamas, a favorite bedtime story, and a night light to help them feel more comfortable and fall asleep more easily.
3. Plan for Downtime Once you arrive, try to let your children get used to their new environment before plunging headfirst into activities. Schedule some downtime (say, an afternoon nap or an early morning) so everyone can get used to the new time zone and avoid meltdowns.
It’s easy to make traveling with children stress-free. Small changes to your strategy, such as what you pack and how you pack, can make your family trip comfortable for everyone. That’s why preparation and patience are the keys to planning family travel. Embrace the unknown, revel in the journey, and you and your kids will have incredible adventures and make unforgettable memories together. Bon voyage!
If you have an awesome family travel tip, please share in the comments, I would love to hear from you!
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