There are lots of blogs on making travel easier. I’m coming at this from the perspective of making the trip with young kids easier on parents. I wrote one on my travel blog forever ago if you want to see tips on making travel with a toddler easier.
I would add two things to that blog. #1 Take disposable placemats. They stick to pretty much anything and allow you to spread things out without having to worry about how clean something is and how dirty you’re making the area. They are one-use, so use and toss. You don’t have to worry about cleaning them off or transporting dirty stuff in your bag. Yay! And #2 I also recommend carrying disposable plastic bags. They come in a tight little roll, so they’re compact – think plastic bags you’d use for doggy poop. Who wants to handle stinky diapers on the go, in a plane or hotel room? Yuck for all involved. And, I feel like there is always extra trash when we travel with the boys.
Getting around with kids
We love our Sit & Stand stroller. It’s got a spot to put an infant carrier if you still have an infant or a place for a young child to sit in front where he or she can be strapped in. There is also a place without a back for an older child to sit. Our tall 5-year old can still fit sitting in this spot or he can stand up while I push. It also helps with carrying your carry-ons until you gate check your stroller. I can manage the bags while my husband lets the kids burn off some energy before a flight.
Keeping kids happy en-route
During the travel part of the trip, you need unique items or activities for your kids, regardless of your mode of transportation. In my family’s case, my husband and I are OK with our boys watching movies on our long flights, but that generally only entertains them for a while before they get antsy.
We look throughout the year for things on sale like Lego kits (e.g., build a zippy car) that take time to build, fun activity books, games, dollar store random finds, and items related to where we’re traveling to. We usually have one new item per child for each hour of a trip. It can get really expensive to buy all the stuff last minute, so I pick up things throughout the year and keep them hidden. We also have the tablet batteries charged, so that we don’t have to worry about that mid-flight or upon arrival. And make sure headphones are working. Our boys are not always gentle with their electronics and we’ve had to replace headphones and keep the new ones out of reach.
Snacks, snacks and more snacks
Food is another thing we plan for ahead of time. We always carry snacks, some of which are usually a treat and not a usual snack at home for the boys. It’s all about building up excitement for us with our boys. I’ve had moms ask why not buy the stuff at our destination.
First, what happens if food on the plane sucks? Second, the snacks are something from home that can be a bit of comfort and a treat at the same time. Our boys are good travelers, but they still can get a bit homesick. The snacks help with that. And, finally, time you’re looking for snacks when you arrive somewhere is time spent doing something other than exploring the new city. I’m not so excited about that. And who knows how close the nearest corner store or grocery store is? We always do end up grabbing a few things locally, but it’s not our first stop.
What are your tips to making family travel easier?
