11 MISTAKES TO AVOID WHEN TRAVELING WITH KIDS
Whether you're embarking on a beach getaway or a European escape, avoiding these common mistakes can make your family trip less stressful for everyone involved.
Exploring the world with your kids can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Travel can create lifelong memories, foster curious minds, and give your family new perspectives. It has also been linked to increased happiness and creativity.
Despite the benefits, however, family travel also has its fair share of downsides. First, there's the issue of budget; it's no secret that flights, accommodations, and experiences can rack up your credit card statement.
Then there's the logistical concerns of going anywhere with young children: How will they behave on the flight? What if you pack the wrong gear? Will you be able to stick to any semblance of a schedule?
Thankfully, we're here to help. Keep reading to learn about 11 common family travel mistakes and how to avoid them. Whether you're embarking on a beach getaway or a European escape, these tips will make the experience smoother for everyone involved.
Related: Why I Pull My Kid Out of School to Travel the World
1. Booking Separate Seats for Travel
When it comes to family travel, the journey sets the stage for the trip itself, says Henley Vazquez, the co-founder of Fora Travel and mom to three kids. If you're flying, you can avoid potential disaster by splurging for a ticket that lets you choose your seats in advance. It's the only way to make 100% certain you're seated next to your kids.
Some airlines have fee-free family seating policies in place, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, but many don’t guarantee it. So make sure to do your research. "Don't hope the airline is going to seat you together as a family; they may not,” says Vazquez. “If it's an additional charge... do it, it's going to be worth it.”
2. Not Packing Enough Food
When you're traveling, there's almost nothing worse than a cranky—and hangry—child. Put together with the fact that airplane food is often just plain gross, it’s a recipe for potential disaster. To stave off the meltdown, come prepared with their favorite snacks, and pull them out whenever the hunger pangs set in.
If your child is a more adventurous eater, some airlines allow you to pre-order child-friendly meals, like Air France, which serves organic (and pre-cut) dishes, or British Airways, which follows a ‘Feed Kids First’ policy.
3. Bringing the Wrong Equipment
A trip—and especially one where flights are involved—isn't the time to bring your largest full-size stroller. Instead, consider a travel stroller that can fit in the airplane's overhead bin or the trunk of your rental car. “To have that stroller right away is key,” says Vazquez.
Parents can sometimes find other necessary but bulky items, like cribs or pack ‘n plays, in hotels and vacation rentals, making it easier to travel light. Ask your accommodation about available baby gear in advance.
4. Traveling Without a Change of Clothes
Kids inevitably get dirty, and when you're traveling, even a small mess can end up ruining your day. To save yourself the heartache—and the laundry bills—Vazquez recommends traveling with an extra set of clothes. To take things one step further, travel in something you could throw away if you had to because "if something is really nasty, you don't want to pay the extra cost for laundry," she says.
Related: 16 Tips for Flying With Toddlers and Young Kids
5. Ignoring Jet Lag
Jet lag in adults is no joke, and that's even more true with kids. That's why Vazquez doesn't advise powering through upon arrival at your destination. Instead, she recommends taking a short nap before continuing with the day's plans (depending on timing, you might need to book your hotel room for the night before your arrival).
"A day of exhausted kids combined with exhausted parents is not really successful," says Vazquez. "Two hours of nap and then we can power through the rest of the day, but we always have a plan for the day, not winging it."
6. Forgetting Passport Rules If Traveling Internationally
One of the biggest travel "don'ts" is getting to the airport for an international trip and realizing your passport isn't valid. And while that particular problem could affect anyone, it's especially important to remember that child and baby passports expire faster than adult ones.
Adult passports are valid for 10 years, but according to the U.S. Department of State, but passports for children under 16 are only valid for five years.
And while we're on the subject of official documents, it's also smart for parents to travel with a copy of a child's birth certificate, especially if a parent has a different last name than the child. This could help sidestep any border snafus.
7. Not Bringing Enough Medicine
Kids get sick—a lot. When you're not close to home, hunting down a pharmacy is the last thing you want to do. It's even more cumbersome if you're out of the country and suddenly need to be concerned about things like dosage conversion rates. Instead, make your life easier by traveling with common over-the-counter medicines like Tylenol or Benadryl.
Related: 10 Family Travel Destinations That Should Be on Your Radar for 2024
8. Ignoring Your Kids’ Interests
When planning your trip, you probably asked yourself “Is it kid-friendly?” over and over again. Of course, certain activities are better suited for families than others, but children can enjoy almost anything you plan. Consider a cruise. While it's not the most "kid-friendly" vacation on paper, your child might enjoy attending a kids' club, playing bingo with the adults, or exploring the nooks and crannies of the ship.
That said, it's also important to incorporate a child's interests into an itinerary. If they're into space, for example, a trip to Florida's Kennedy Space Center to see real-life rockets (and let loose in the space-themed multi-story playground) may be a hit. If they're very interested in fashion, consider touring the famous Galeries Lafayette in Paris as part of your sightseeing plans.
9. Discounting Early Dinner
Early bird specials aren't just for senior citizens. Late afternoon is one of the best dining times while vacationing with younger children. The benefits are twofold: It's easier to get a reservation at hard-to-book restaurants, and it's usually less crowded, so you won't have to worry if your kids are a bit loud. As a bonus, early dinners mean earlier bedtimes!
10. Failing To Do Your Research
It's important to know what you're getting into before you travel. For example, you don't want to show up at a relaxing all-inclusive resort with plans to enroll your little ones in a kids' club so you can veg out on the beach for a few hours, only to find out they're too young. Vazquez recommends checking details like the age limit or cost ahead of time—or reaching out to a seasoned travel planner to do it for you.
Related: They Said Travel With Kids Would Never Be Relaxing. They Lied.
11. Not Planning Stops for Road Trips
Kids of all ages tend to get antsy. To ward off the annoying "are we there yet?" questions on a family road trip, it's important to plan stops along the way. Find local parks for little ones to get the wiggles out, or look up interesting road trip stops like museums or aquariums.
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Read the original article on Parents.
2024-01-29T18:46:58Z dg43tfdfdgfd
