Traveling with kids doesn’t have to be hard. There are lots of fun places for kids to travel to so let these tips help you get them there. Remember these 3 things for the best vacations with kids.
1. Never Forget the Necessities
When family vacation ideas begin spinning in your head so you start writing your packing list, be sure to prioritize packing the necessities. By necessities, we don’t mean toothpaste and soap. While these are important, if you forget them, you can pick them up almost anywhere you travel to. Real necessities for the best family vacations are the stuffed animal your child can’t sleep without at the hotel, the snacks you know they’ll eat on a long day walking around a theme park, and anything that’s a part of their routine. If you forget your bottle of Crest, you can pick that up at the airport, but Mr. Stuffy can’t be shipped to Disneyworld!
2. Be Prepared for Snack Attacks
Most trips you’ll take to fun places for kids are going to be exhausting for all, especially little ones. To keep energy up and meltdowns down, pack all the snacks they’ll need. We mentioned bringing your child’s go-to snacks above, but here are some other tips for packing the right travel snacks on your kid-friendly vacations. Treats like string cheese and nuts are easy to pack and snack on because they are small and not very messy. Plus, they pack a punch of protein for energy! Preparing personalized snack bags or boxes for each family member can be the ultimate solution for road trip hunger pains or in-flight food cravings. As you travel, keep in mind the last time kids ate so you can plan your next snack break. On long car rides where you may not pass any healthy places to eat, pack some sandwiches to picnic with at a rest stop along the way. They may say, “Traveling is food for the soul,” but we don’t recommend trying to tell that to a hangry toddler on a long trip!
3. Share Expectations Ahead of Time
When planning your trip, let kids in on the details. If possible, give them the opportunity to share input on what the details will be. Plan a loose itinerary (as flexibility is important on family trips) and set a schedule. This way, you can tell children what to expect each day and how long they will have in between activities. Make sure you think about time to eat, play, and settle down all vacation long. And most importantly, set realistic expectations in order to plan the best vacations for kids. Whether you’re flying, driving, or will have lots of downtime on your vacation, remember that little minds are eager to play and learn and may struggle to relax in a new place. Know their limits and your own. If you know you’ll need a rest while the kids may be feeling high-energy, try to pack or plan extra entertainment for them.
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