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“PACK YOUR PATIENCE AND BE PREPARED!”
This Travelling Kid Motto almost says it all and tops the list of these 10 travel tips.
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Articles you might enjoy about the joys of family travel:
The Gift Of Travel: A Little Bit Of Pixie Dust
The Travel Bug: Why Do We Travel?
2. BE PREPARED:
Being prepared will help you skillfully avoid and ride out many little travel tornadoes. Things like: knowing the TSA regulations; having an extra change of clothes; bringing a med kit with Band-Aids for boo-boos and aspirin for mom and dad; knowing you’ve got enough diapers and feeling secure about what to expect at the airport and on the plane can help make your trip a bit smoother.
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Articles to help you prepare:
What To Take: Carry On Musts And Beyond
New TSA Regulations: Packing Tips
The Essential Airport Walk-Thru
3. DO YOUR HOMEWORK:
Knowledge is power and the more you know what to expect the better. Do a little reconnaissance about the airport you are leaving from, headed to or having a layover in (most have websites). Research a little about the towns you may be driving through. Do you know how you are getting from the airport to your hotel? Do you know how to get a taxi? (in some countries it’s a little more complex than others) If you are driving…are there towns along the way that are not only good ‘pit stops’ but might be of interest to the kids too? For example Pacheco Pass on the way from LA to San Francisco sports a mini theme park type place with a miniature train for kids and fun things to buy for mom and dad.
What wonderful things are there to do where you are going? Is there a special exhibit at the Natural History Museum in NYC? A full moon fest at the Parthenon in Athens? Sometimes a quick peek at the tourist authority website for your destination an be a treasure trove of great things to see and do. While you’re at it see if there are cool toy stores, fun markets or special types of things to buy. Some of our faves are Hamley’s Toystore in London; Chinatown in San Francisco; The Daiso 100 yen store and Kiddyland Toystore in Tokyo and (for Mommy) Monoprix in Paris where I buy groovy kitchen ‘toys’ and fun costume jewelry.
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For Articles on what to do and see in various DESTINATIONS: click here
You also may want to read:
Souvenirs: Cool Ideas for ‘what to bring’ Home!
The Essential Airport Walk-Thru
4. BRING THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT:
Babies seem to require a steamer’s trunk worth of ‘equipment’. Older kids have their own posse of ‘stuff’ that must accompany them. Let’s not forget the stuff that will make travel easier (such as portable DVD Players and ‘new’ toys). BUT make sure you are toting or shipping just enough stuff for your trip. Don’t get bogged down by too much, but don’t cut back too severely. For example, even a kid who is already walking might still benefit from a stroller in a big city like Tokyo. Being perfectly ‘equipped’ for your trip is a fine art.
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For tips and links see:
What To Take: Carry On Musts and Beyond
New TSA Regulations: Packing Tips
5. DIVIDE AND CONQUER:
If you are lucky enough to be travelling with another adult figure out the ‘who, what, where, when’ of how you can split the responsibilities and create a plan for how everyone can get their needs met. For example: on the fun side…the middle kid gets time alone with Daddy; mommy gets a spa treatment. On the practical side…at the airport one person watches the kids while the other checks in.
For details see “CHECK IN” in The Essential Airport Walk Through
6. MAKE YOUR LIST AND CHECK IT TWICE :
ALL travel requires prep (see tip #2). Once you’ve prepped it all - just take a moment to make sure ALL is in order before you leave. It never hurts. Doing a little double check before you go can save mountains of headaches.
For details read: BEFORE YOU GO
7. BE SAFE!:
Take this tip to heart (even you seasoned travellers!). Family travel is not the same as a solo business trip. Remember the old adage for pregnant women “you are eating for 2 now”? Well, you are travelling for 2 or 3 or more. You and the kids will be in unfamiliar surroundings and situations. Have conversations with older kids including a designated meeting point. Make hotel rooms safe for younger ones and consider having ID for your kids (in a pocket or in a neck pouch). In Tokyo I make sure my son has info on him (in Japanese) with our hotel information.
For more info see: SAFETY ON THE ROAD
8. SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE:
I can’t stress HOW IMPORTANT it is to PLAN TO COVER LESS GROUND with your wee ones (or teenagers for that matter!) Remember less is more in crafting a stress-free trip. Allow for foul weather and know that kids need to rest. I learned the hard way on our first trip to Tokyo. Can you spell meltdown? I should have listened to him when he said: “Mommy I want to go back to the hotel.” In fact, I shouldn’t even have let it get to that point in the first place. Also (word to the wise) teens can become lethargic and surly if you try to push them. Once again I learned the hard way when I took a trip to Paris with my 13 year old stepson.
9. PLAN AND CREATE COMFORT ZONES:
We all know that kids poop out often and need to be fed and watered regularly. So PLAN ON IT. This is FAMILY TRAVEL. You are not a bunch of 19 year olds backpacking from hostel to hostel or a group of camera toting ‘gotta see 10 monuments before breakfast’ tourists.
a.IN TRANSIT: throw money at the problem if need be. Join an airport lounge for a day. Long layover? Maybe check into an airport hotel with pool for the kids and spa for mom and dad. Many have day rates. Also key into your kids on the plane, in the car, etc. Become a ‘comfort zone’ for them. Ignoring them will make them cranky.
b.AT YOUR DESTINATION: Do a little research about places to eat and relax. Do as the locals do and chill in a park or get some ice cream and sit on a bench. Don’t go-go-go until you drop.
10. ENJOY THE MAGIC:
Travel as a family is transformational in many ways. It is one of the best gifts you can give to your kids and to yourself. Look at the time spent…including 12 hour flights; the meltdowns; travel delays and even the mashed banana in your hair as great times and opportunities for many, many memories.
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YOU MAY WANT TO READ:
The Travel Bug: Why Do We Travel?
We May Never Pass This Way Again
The Gift Of Travel: A Little Bit Of Pixie Dust
TOP TEN TRAVEL TIPS
