Advice from 15 Years of Traveling with Kids

When my older son was born, I knew that having a child would not mean that we would give up travel. Traveling has been my greatest passion for the past twenty years, and I knew that I wouldn’t want to give that up. Fortunately, I also found out for myself that I didn’t have to.

The need for travel has been a bit different for our family because, despite the fact that we call California home, we have family in Brazil and Indonesia, making it necessary for us to travel as a family at least once a year. So we traveled to Brazil when my older son was a baby, and then again to Brazil, Bali, and Japan when he wasn’t even two years old, and again to Brazil when he was three.

Then when my second child was born, things changed. If I’m being honest (and I will be because I can’t inspire people to travel if I don’t tell the truth), it got more complicated. It became harder to maintain sanity with two of them–they fight, they complain, and they feed off each other’s energy (although I know parents who travel with four or more kids). And it became a lot more expensive now that there were four of us.

Add to that our current reality that my older son is about to be a third-grader with friends, hobbies, and nurturing school/community routines, and the romance of traveling with my kids fades.

We still do it, though, because I firmly believe in the benefits of travel for our kids, for us as parents, and for the four of us as a family unit. Because it’s not as easy as I had once hoped it would be, we make travel decisions very carefully, don’t travel nearly as often or as far as I’d like, and continue to build on the tips we’ve learned over the years. A combination of good planning, adjusting expectations, being patient and flexible, and seeing the day through my kids’ eyes ensures happier family adventures.

Planning is key.

How to get kids involved in travel planning:

I certainly don’t leave the travel planning to the kids, but I get them involved in a piece of the planning because I’ve seen that it helps make the trip a success. I sometimes ask our kids for input about the destination, knowing that when they feel invested in the travel planning, they will be happier during the trip.

I also let my kids help pack by giving them a small bag (I use Eagle Creek packing cubes) and letting them fill it with whatever toys they want to bring. This encourages them to bring small things that they can pull out in the car and that don’t take up much space wherever we are while giving them the power to make their own decisions about what to bring.

Appropriate accommodations for families:

The options for accommodations have grown so much in the past decade. Family-friendly hotels, lodges, vacation rentals, and glamping tents have changed family travel for the better. In fact, I’m writing this from a condo near Lake Tahoe, where we sat down for an easy dinner and watched a movie from the children’s movie selection. Keep in mind that vacation rentals (e.g. Airbnb rentals) can be much more expensive than other accommodations, especially here in California, so check your options carefully. Lodges at campgrounds, for example, can be just as convenient but much less expensive.

How to pack with kids:

I aim for that happy medium between packing light and packing plenty. Kids go through clothes faster than adults; when we’re traveling and spending a lot of time outdoors or in restaurants, it’s easy for my kids to go through two outfits a day. You can see my packing list here in a post I wrote for G Adventures.

How to prepare for medical issues while traveling:

Not the most fun part of travel planning, but because things can happen while traveling (I know this first hand), it’s a good idea to be prepared with travel insurance and up-to-date vaccinations for the place you’re traveling to. I always let our pediatrician know before we travel in case we need to email him while on the road.

Having a sick baby while traveling is stressful, but we bring all medical supplies (acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, inhalers, thermometers) just in case an illness begins in the middle of the night. Of course, bandages and First Aid basics are useful, too.

We also always buy travel insurance before we travel overseas.

Tips for road trips with kids:

Pack a few favorite healthy snacks, wet wipes and sanitizer, baggies, some small surprise toys, and your kids’ favorite bedtime stories.

Being trapped in the car when you’re two years old is not fun. Know your kids’ limits and plan accordingly. Maybe they’ll surprise you! 🙂 And always keep a bag with a change of clothes and wipes in the car.

Keep it fun, be flexible, & sloooow down.

How much time to plan for a trip with kids: 

Budget twice the time! If your kids are anything like mine, they love being at the hotel! Kids need downtime to just hang out, which means that travel days are often only about half “full,” so I usually double the time needed in any one place. Today is a good example — after a morning hike and an afternoon adventure capped off by ice cream, the kids were ready to spend the rest of the day in the hotel. Although I would normally squeeze in one more activity, it worked out perfectly. We played games, watched a movie, had a leisurely dinner, and got to bed early. Perfect!

The novelty of new:

Long travel days can be made exciting by introducing something new. Of course, this can be an activity like riding horses, getting ice cream, or interacting with local kids. I also use small presents as incentives for good behavior. A new book, sticker pack, or even travel equipment like binoculars can keep my kids occupied for hours. In fact, before returning to the condo tonight, we stopped at a local toy store where I let each of my kids pick out something that would keep them busy. They played with their new gifts for a couple of hours while I relaxed, uploaded photos, made dinner, and cleaned up.

Learn to brush some things off:

If my kids get thrown off their nap routines, take on strange new habits, or don’t eat well, I try not to worry. Traveling has wonderful benefits but can throw everyone off a bit. I start each day with a reminder about behavior expectations and easily forfeit an evening out when I can see that my kids need to get to bed extra early. At the same time, I remind myself that my kids will get back into their home routines once they’re home, and that a change in their behavior or in my way of dealing with them while traveling is nothing to worry about. The more that I can be patient and go with the flow, the more my kids will relax, too.

Consider the kids’ needs.

Giving them choices & control:

Kids love being the boss, so I find that getting them interested in the day’s activities can give them a boost and set their mood straight for the day. This can mean giving them a say in some of the day’s itinerary, such as “Which one do you want to do next: hike to the waterfall or have ice cream?” I might also let them pick out a movie to watch that night, take them to a local market where they can each pick out a treat, and encourage them to take their own photos–the purpose of all these activities is to give them a sense of control in a situation where they have very little that is familiar to them.

See activities through their eyes:

Just this morning, I was reminded of the importance for kids of interacting with nature. I took my boys on a hike, but when the younger one started to ask to go back to the hotel (we had just left!), I remembered that there was a waterfall ahead. They immediately started collecting rocks to throw into the water and became eager to reach the destination. I also asked them to count the number of different wild flowers they could find. Adding an element of fun and adventure can make a huge difference in how kids see a travel activity.

Don’t forget the importance of play:

Little things like stopping at a playground, throwing rocks into a river, climbing rocks, or doing a scavenger hunt at our hotel brightened our kids’ day. I honestly don’t want to spend much time doing these things while I’m traveling, but I do them because my kids feel comfortable and happy when they can just play.

Consider the power of family.

Turning travel into family trips:

Some of my favorite trips from the past few years have been trips with family. While I’d love to be walking the streets of Prague with my husband all day, I can’t do that with my kids, and spending quality time with extended family can be the most rewarding trip with my kids. This can take many forms, from exploring the area where grandparents live to camping with family or taking a family cruise.

Take help from family:

Traveling with family? Ask them for help. We might let our family members have some quality time with the kids while we have some parents-only time. My husband and I might also trade off so that each of us can have a break. We also encourage our older child to help the younger one with basic things like getting dressed, holding hands while walking, and washing hands. Traveling with kids can be stressful enough; find ways to share the responsibilities.

Final thoughts:

Some people have commented to me that they find my blog refreshing because they can see that having kids is not the end of travel. Traveling with kids is indeed different from traveling without them, but they give me the added bonus of a new perspective. I would not care as much about the waterfall at the end of the hike if it weren’t for them. I wouldn’t slow down enough and find joy in those old traditions like making s’mores if it weren’t for them.

What advice for traveling with kids would you add? What have you found challenging about traveling with kids?

In case you’d like more:

My articles about family travel on G Adventures

The Truth about Traveling with Kids

Visiting Museums with Kids

Yes! Day Camps for Kids in Italy