I don't have kids (that I know of), but many parents use their kids as an excuse for why they rarely travel. Meanwhile, I've seen families travel for years with their kids, and I've interviewed at least three on my WanderLearn Show. In this advertorial, the author offers five ways to take the headache out of traveling with kids.
Traveling with children can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it can also be a challenging one. Knowing where to begin between the packing, the planning, and the inevitable meltdowns can be difficult. Fortunately, with some preparation and careful planning, you can make your vacation with children a lot easier. This article will share seven tips to help you make the most of your family vacation.
5. Book Accommodations with Family-Friendly Amenities
When booking accommodations, look for hotels, resorts, or vacation rentals that offer family-friendly amenities. This includes a swimming pool, kids' club, or playground. Iberostar's Riviera Maya all-inclusive hotels are an excellent example of how much easier the holiday becomes once services are dedicated to entertaining children - along with all-inclusive, which means feeding many mouths much easier.
4. Choose the Right Destination
Choosing the right destination is vital to making your family vacation a success. It’s not best to head to the desert, a party place, or a retirement community for your trip.
Consider the ages and interests of your children, and look for destinations that offer a range of activities that accommodate this. But, also consider what other people will be there - be considerate. It’s, of course, essential to take the interests of your children into account, but in general, make sure there are lots of different activities to choose from and don’t go anywhere too remote or busy.
3. Plan Your Travel Time Wisely
When traveling with children, planning your travel time wisely is important. Consider if you need any naps, breaks or how late the children can stay up. It’s much more essential to have an itinerary than for solo couples, for example, who can spontaneously act with much more flexibility. Also, consider transport and travel - is there too much walking? Too much sitting around in a car? A plane is the fastest way to travel, but it can be intense for some children.
2. Use Technology to Your Advantage
Technology can be a lifesaver when traveling with children. Use tablets or phones to entertain your children during the journey, particularly for long spouts on public transport. Games, movies, and educational apps can all pass the time quickly. But beyond entertainment, they can also help find amenities, make sure you don’t get lost, and ensure that the amenities you’re heading to are open.
1. Pack Smart
Packing can be challenging when traveling with children, but you can make it easier with some planning. Pack a separate bag for each child with their clothes, toys, and other essentials, and label the bags with their names to make it easy to find what they need. The more luggage you have, the fewer hands you have for looking after the children. So, use a large backpack and limit the number of rolling suitcases. Ask the hotel if they have a laundry service ahead of time, as this can halve the number of clothes you need to take.
Final Word
Traveling with children can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it has its challenges. Ultimately, you want to ensure that it’s a fond childhood memory for when they grow up. And, on that note, it may be worth reconsidering the $5,000 vacation to Disney World if your children are 1 and 3 years old - they likely won’t remember a thing. Ultimately, pay attention to the finer details of your travels, create a realistic itinerary, and choose a hotel that makes it easy for you with many kid-friendly services.
