Staying sane on vacation can be a challenge for any parent, but it’s even more difficult when traveling with kids.
If you want to travel and enjoy yourself without feeling like you’re babysitting 24/7, then this article is for you! Here are the best tips we’ve found for travel with children.
Pack your kids’ favorite snacks, games, and activities before you leave for your trip.
This way, they’ll be happy and content when you get on the plane or go out to eat at restaurants while you’re traveling.
This is super helpful when they might not be interested in the local cuisine or just want something familiar that tastes like home.
You can also pack travel games, books, and activities for kids to keep them busy. This can come in handy if you’re on a long plane ride or during downtime in the hotel.
There are also a lot of children’s apps out there that can keep them busy when you just need a break.
Make sure to plan all these before you get there!
Bring an extra outfit for each kid in case of spills or accidents.
We know it’s inevitable that an accident or two may happen. That’s why it’s a great idea to bring an extra outfit for each kid in case they get something spilled or dirty on them.
It can really save the day when you’re out sightseeing and don’t have time to run back to your hotel room.
This includes packing in those extra wipes, towels, and travel-sized hand sanitizer for good measure.
Include the whole family in the planning process, not just parents
Help your kids feel excited about your upcoming trip by letting them in on some of the decision-making! They’ll enjoy this because it makes them feel like they’re a part of the process.
It’s always fun when you all can agree on travel plans and then get excited about that destination together.
They can also surprise you by choosing fun activities that adults can enjoy too. It’s not a requirement to only choose activities that are geared towards kids.
They might like following you to a cool museum or two if you ask them about it!
This will help everyone stay happy throughout the whole trip.
Arrive at your destination early to allow time to get situated
You’ll want to arrive at your destination early so you can get checked into the hotel or travel to wherever it is that you’re staying.
Not only will this give you time to settle in, but it also gives everyone a chance to “decompress” after traveling before they start exploring!
This means taking some downtime and relaxing at the hotel before you go exploring. It’s also nice to have some time to unwind so everyone can be energized for travel plans later in the day! This way, no one will fight over who gets a nap or how long it lasts.
You’ll all feel refreshed and ready to explore your new destination. Hopefully, this will avoid tantrums later on in the day.
Keep a journal with photos of all your vacation memories
Ok, so this one is a little more sentimental than the other travel tips we’ve listed. It’s also something you can do with your kids before and after your trip!
Many years later, you’ll look back on these pictures and be glad you took the time to do them.
Before you travel:
They’ll be so happy and excited, which means the picture will capture their true feelings. It’s also a great way to get them thinking about what they’re looking forward to during your trip!
This can definitely help keep everyone calm if there are some travel delays or other obstacles along the way.
fter you travel:
They’ll be glad to have all the travel memories documented in a journal. You can also make it into a scrapbook and add other memorabilia like tickets, maps, and travel brochures from your trip!
This is a perfect way to remember everything about your vacation for years down the road.
Be flexible about plans
This is probably the most important tip of all. Sometimes things don’t go as planned, but these unexpected events might lead to something even better!
if something doesn’t work out as planned, change gears and try something else!
There may be travel delays, bad weather (rain or too hot), or other unexpected obstacles. It’s best to go with the flow and not stress out about it. Remember that travel is supposed to be fun – if you want an easy way to make your trip more stressful than it needs to be, then try over-planning.
Try to see the positive side of any situation and you’ll be able to turn it into a positive travel memory.
You may not always get what you want, but if everyone’s travel plans are flexible and adaptable, then your whole family will stay happy! This is definitely the most important travel tip of them all.
Traveling with kids can be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be! If everyone’s travel plans are flexible and adaptable, then you’ll all stay happy throughout the whole trip. And who knows – if an obstacle pops up along the way, you might find something even better than what your original travel plans were supposed to be.
Keep these travel tips in mind and have a stress-free vacation with kids this year!
