Photo by Tatiana Syrikova from Pexels
Regardless of how many trips you’ve taken with your kids, traveling with youngsters in tow will always be daunting.
Some say it gets easier over time. Yet, you’ll always run into a few challenges. Everything, from knowing what to pack through to arriving at your destination, is full of potential complications. Understanding what you’re getting into and being prepared are the two primary points you need to focus on to ensure your family trips go smoothly.
So, whip out a blender, such as this one from Bill Lentis, make yourself a smoothie, and plan every aspect of your family holiday, keeping the tips discussed in this article in mind.
Work Extra Time Into Your Planning
Traveling with kids always takes longer than one imagines. Things like checking in at the airport and boarding the plane never go as planned. The last thing you want to do, especially with children around, is to reschedule your flight because it took 10 minutes longer to get through security.
Yet, flying is only one aspect of your trip. So, be sure to leave your itinerary loose and leave more than enough space for adjustment. Having a flexible schedule will reduce stress and ensure a happier trip overall.
Don’t Leave Home Without a First Aid Kit
Kids will be kids, making potential injuries, and getting sick possibilities you can’t afford to overlook. Thus, packing a well-stocked first aid kit is essential in avoiding a pharmacist’s conversation via Google translate. Important items to include in your media-kit are:
- Bandaids
- Bandages
- Antiseptic cream
- Paracetamol and Ibuprofen
- Nasal drops
- Sudocrem
- Antihistamine
- Aspirin
Avoid Overpacking
People tend to keep their home routines intact when on holiday, which often leads to overpacking. The fact is that the act of taking a trip in itself will disrupt your habits. So, pack as little as possible.
Remember, most places you travel to will have everything you need to care for your kids. Should you find yourself missing something essential, you’ll be able to buy it at your destination. It might not be what you’re used to, but who cares; you’re on holiday.
Pre-Book Whatever You Can
Pre-booking is a vital aspect of traveling with kids, and it shouldn’t be limited to reserving your flights either. When you get to your destination, you need to be able to go straight to your lodgings, drop off the luggage, and give the kids and yourself some time to rest. However, flexibility is still within reach.
If you don’t like being confined to one place, only book two or three nights in advance. After you’re settled, you can decide whether you want to continue staying where you are or start looking for new accommodations.
Photo by Victoria Borodinova from Pexels
Accept That Things Seldom Goes as Planned
When traveling with kids, the saying, “Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong,” holds true. Things like missing a bus because one of the kids had to go to the bathroom or your son leaving his iPad in a taxi in Paris is unavoidable. Accepting that there’s nothing you can do about these situations will make life a lot less stressful and much easier.
Inform Your Kids About the Details of Your Trip
Ensuring that your kids are informed about the trip’s details is vital, especially for first-time travelers. Children tend to become uncomfortable with too many things happening around them that they don’t understand, effectively making them unhappy.
Explaining the holiday outline and what will happen during each point of the excursion will help them understand their situation. As a result, kids will know what happens at the airport, while flying, and when you arrive at your destination.
It also provides you with a golden opportunity to clarify your expectations of them throughout the trip. Carefully explain how they should behave during the flight, on tours, and in hotels. With your little ones understanding what’s going on, you’re less likely to be bothered with questions while taking care of the travel logistics.
The Bottom Line
Even with its flaws, traveling is an adventure. It provides your kids with an irreplaceable experience and memories that’ll last a lifetime. So stop putting it off and start planning your trip. However, remember to pack well, leave room for potential mishaps, and pre-book whatever you can. Most importantly, use the opportunity to relax and enjoy yourself.
