25 Tips for Travel with Kids
Travel with kids needn’t be a hassle and it can be one of the best experiences you have as a family.
The key ingredients to a smooth trip when traveling with kids are to pay attention to their needs, and finding the right balance between plenty of rest time whilst also having lots of activities for them to do along the way.
Bored and overtired children become cranky and frustrated kids in a hurry.
Whilst our style of travel has evolved throughout the years from being solo travelers, to a couple, and now a family of four, there are some core travel habits that have served us well, and we continue to follow them to this day.
Our list of 25 tips
1. Slow Down
Plan for a slower pace than you might usually attempt if solo or as a couple. Be realistic about what you can see and do with kids in tow. Don’t try to cram too much into your itinerary. The less you feel you have to see, the more enjoyable and stress-free for everyone.
Getting around can be challenging
For the most part, the pace of the trip should be set to what your youngest child can handle. Build into your agenda time for stops along the way for bathroom breaks, snack breaks, and nap time. If you can avoid cranky children it will make for a much more pleasant experience.
Hiking can be SLOWER
2. Determine Your Preferences
Sit down with your whole family and discuss your ideas and interests. Memorable trips are those where each member of the family gets to experience something they love. Talk about budgets, expectations, and how you can work with the dollars available to plan an exciting family trip.
Family trip to Rotorua, NZ
Travel experts have found that the most successful family vacations are those that involve both parents and children in choosing destinations and planning for their trip. Through these conversations, you will learn more about each others needs and find destinations and activities to suit the whole family.
Kalyra studying the options
3. Be Flexible
Avoiding holiday periods and traveling off-season can yield big savings on flights and accommodation. Even if your kids are in school, consider traveling just outside of major school holiday periods.
Give yourself the best chance to capture a cheap flight. Leaving a few days or even weeks before or after your ideal date could mean the difference of hundreds of dollars. Think about using airfare sales to help determine your family’s vacation destination and time of departure rather than the other way around.
Sites like Airfarewatchdog and Kayak can help. Just plug in your departure city and check out the list of available deals.
4. Pack Smart
Pack the bare minimum because you can always buy it there. Roll clothes and stuff socks and underwear inside shoes. Wear your heaviest clothes on the flight. Encourage kids to choose and pack their own clothes to minimize complaints and to teach travel skills.
Select versatile and comfortable clothes and color-coordinated separates so if something gets dirty you only have to change part of the outfit. And pack bags with what is needed first on the top — a change of clothes for dinner, pajamas, or what is needed during the day including a change of clothes in case of accidents.
Do not pack like this!
Hot Tip: It’s always best to halve your clothes and double your budget 
5. Hotel Tips
Pick a Kid Friendly Location – Stay in a safe and central area that’s close to local attractions, food outlets, the beach, the park, and all preferably within walking distance. This will save you time, money, and your kids from getting bored.
Savannah and Kalyra enjoying the hotel bed
Stay More Than 1 Night – Many hotels provide their best deals when you stay over more than one night.
Stay over Sunday – Many hotels receive Friday and Saturday night bookings from leisure travelers and Monday-Friday bookings from their business travelers, so there can be a void on Sunday nights.
Check for Family Deals – Always ask about discounted rates, free meals for children, and an upgrade at check in – they can only say no.
A Pool and games room – Kids love both of these options. Does the pool have any special features (like a slide or waterfalls)?
Family fun in the pool
Make Sure it Has a Lift – Carrying strollers, toys, and luggage up several flights of stairs is NO FUN!
What’s the room configuration? – For our family of four two double beds is required or a portacot. If you have a baby make sure this is available, and for free.
Coupons and Discounts – Check out the brochure shelf in the lobby and any tourist literature in your room for ways to shave a few bucks off the price of your family vacation.
Enroll in a Loyalty Program – Many hotel chains are now offering free loyalty programs with incentives like earning free rooms after multiple stays. If you travel often and stay at the same chain, or one of its participating partners, you may save on future family vacations.
Check the Dining Options – Does the hotel restaurant and room service have a kids’ menu?
TV Channels – Does the hotel offer several family-oriented cable stations, like Disney, Nickelodeon, AMC, Discovery and Lifetime? Is there a movie library with kids’ movies?
Bathtub? – You’ll want to be sure that your room will include a bathtub.
Laundry – For longer vacations, check to see whether the hotel has coin operated machines for hotel guests.
6. Consider a Cruise or All-Inclusive Resort
With activities to appeal to every generation, food choices to suit all ages, and itineraries that can be full-on or you just sit around and do nothing, a cruise or a resort can eliminate daily decision making that can cause conflict. Look for Kids Eat Free, Stay Free, and Play Free deals.
Ready to board a Carnival Spirit cruise
cruises have water parks!
7. Consider Apartment Rental
Most big-city hotel rooms were not built for families with young kids. They usually have no refrigerator or microwave, floor space is at a premium, and neighbors can hear every tantrum. But with an apartment you get more space, thicker walls, a kitchen, a washing machine, and separate bedrooms.
These extra facilities on a long stay can make your trip so much more enjoyable.
our apartment in Auckland
8. Do a Test Run
If this is going to be your first serious trip as a family, consider starting with a shorter trip such as a weekend away or even just a day trip to the zoo as a trial run. This will help you figure out packing choices, daily routines, how fast you can move around, and how you all get along and interact together.
9. Set a Budget
Travel with kids does not have to be expensive. Decide on a comfortable budget that works for your family and include items such as souvenirs, entertainment, and a few unexpected activities. Once again involve your kids to make sure they feel comfortable with your travel plans.
Hot Tip: Every now and then blow your daily budget. We go away to experience things and create lifelong memories. Don’t limit yourself to just traveling for the sake of traveling. Go splurge on a famous restaurant, see a big concert, attend a mega sporting event, go on a safari, jump out of a plane, do something incredible.
10. Build in Some Private Time or “apart” time
No matter who you are, everyone needs a break from each other at some point. While the goal of your trip is to create shared memories, it is also important to remember that children need time to burn off energy and enjoy the company of kids their own age.
Likewise, us parents need quiet periods for rest and some adult company as well. Keep this in mind and be a little flexible on your trip, as children’s moods and interests can change constantly. If you and your children find something you’d rather do, be spontaneous and go with the flow.
11. Bring a Few Comforts from Home
Allow your children to bring along a few home comforts such as a stuffed toy, reading books, or a portable music player. Activity packs can be a lifesaver on a plane and car rides. Make one with items such as coloring pencils and books, card games, board games, hand held electronic games, puzzles etc.
Savannah loves her ducky
12. Capture Your Memories
Consider giving your child a journal and a cheap digital camera. Kalyra loves taking her own pictures and it is fascinating to see travel through her eyes. Pictures can be put into a scrapbook after you return, providing a lasting keepsake of your wonderful experiences together.
Kalyra displaying her skills
If your children are writing a journal, encourage them to draw and list things they see, eat and experience. And how about buying a cheap postcard from each destination and help them to note a memory on the back, or they can create a large collage to place on their bedroom wall once home.
Kalyra drawing in her journal
13. Keep Meal Costs Down
Food costs can eat up a large portion of the family travel budget.
Go out for Breakfast or Lunch – Try and avoid dinner as restaurants raise prices. OR, have brunch instead of 3 meals a day. Many restaurants offer lunch specials where items on the dinner menu are offered for a fraction of the cost you’d pay for the same meal in the evening.
Eat Away from the Tourist Streets – Just go one street or one block over and it will usually be cheaper and more authentic.
Self-Cater Where You Can – On long stays, we make self-contained accommodation with kitchen facilities a priority. Stay in places with a refrigerator so you can store breakfast foods, snacks, and bottled water. Purchasing your own supplies from the grocery store can save you big bucks.
Free Breakfasts – When booking a hotel look for one with breakfast included. Also, have picnics, barbeque’s, and house parties. This saves precious money.
14. Take Your Own Food
Always take your own snacks on flights, buses and road trips where practical. Long road trips or flights can leave kids feeling cranky and hungry. Pack plenty of snacks for yourselves and your children.
Do not assume that you will be able to stop and buy snacks along the way as airports especially can be expensive and have a limited selection of healthy options.
15. Do the Free Stuff
Many things to see and enjoy are absolutely free. See a street fair, concert, or cultural event. Catch a magnificent sunset, take a walk or bike ride, play in the park, swim at the beach or lake, climb a mountain.
Kalyra dancing to a free sunset in San Diego
Use the Free Days – Attend museums and tourist sites on free days or when they are discounted. Most museums have special discount times or free nights. Before you go anywhere, make sure you look on their website or facebook page to find out if they offer free visiting hours or family discounts.
Playground fun
16. Advanced Planning
Finding accommodation when you arrive without booking ahead can be challenging with children in tow. It’s definitely worth pre-booking at least your firstcouple of nights, even if you want to be flexible on your travels: this will allow you to look for other places in a more leisurely way.
After a long flight or car journey, the last thing your family will feel like is hunting around for somewhere to stay and something to eat. Make reservations and map out your first day or two in advance to make the trip smoother.
17. See Your Doctor
If you’re going overseas and have little ones, see your doctor at least two months before you leave to discuss your plans. Mention the ages of your children and bring everyone’s vaccination records, and ask the doctor to note down their blood groups for you.
If any of your children has a pre-existing medical condition, ask for help in identifying a doctor in your destination who specialises in the same condition.
18. Make Use of Equipment
A pram or stroller can be useful even if your child is walking. It can serve as a place for them to rest during day trips, a makeshift bed when out in restaurants, and you can use it to great effect with carrying the bags.
19. Sleep Whilst Traveling
When taking a long flight, train, or bus journey, try and plan it so you are traveling at night. That way, you don’t have to pay for a night’s accommodation.
20. Learn a New Skill Together
We believe life is “all about the memories”. By doing something new together, your children will be impressed with your sense of adventure and curiosity. Learn to kayak, snorkel, surf, or spot wildlife in nature. Maybe go snow skiing, fishing or roller blading. Find something that’s new to all of you and share the joy of learning together.
21. Road Trips
Borrow an idea from the airlines: Purchase or borrow a portable TV/DVD player that mounts on the back of the seat in front. Rent a bunch of DVDs or borrow them from your local library for free.
Take Frequent Breaks – Preferably every two hours. Expecting young kids to sit still longer than that is unrealistic. Find interesting picnic spots, historical monuments, public parks or a playground. Let the kids run around and burn off some energy.
Safety – Pack plenty of water, a first-aid kit, and a flashlight in case you break down at night. Call to make sure your road assistance plan is up-to-date and charge your phone beforehand.
Have your vehicle completely checked out by your mechanic. Oil changes, brake checks, light checks are important to the vehicle’s safe operation. Also, double check the installation of all car seats to ensure they are properly set up for maximum protection.
22. Flight Tips
- Take a change of clothes on-board for you and your baby, especially on a long haul.
- Feeding your baby with either a bottle or breast when you are taking off and landing, can help them adjust their ears to the change in cabin pressure.
- Try to keep the same rituals as home when it comes to bedtime. Put the kids in their pyjamas, read them a book, and sing them songs. And make sure they have their favourite toy or blanket.
- Before disembarking, make sure they have been fed and to the toilet. Trust me, standing for an hour in customs with hungry and tired children is NO FUN!
- Check in online to book preferred seats from home and cut out the hassle of queuing.
Oh, and sometimes it’s BEST to fly direct on long haul flights.
Try to avoid the hassle of queuing
23. Travel With An Open Mind
We travel abroad to experience different cultures, environments, and ways of thinking. Don’t shut yourself and your kids off to experiencing all there is to offer. If you all travel with an open mind you can have a much more enriching experience.
There are times and moments when other cultures will shock you. Don’t judge them. When this happens, just sit back and say to your kids …“Isn’t that interesting?”
24. Expect the Unexpected
Attitude is everything: no matter how much you plan and prepare, things can and will go wrong. Just go with the flow and everything will work out great. Travel is not always easy and traveling with kids can be tough. So just treat your trip like one big adventure and any mishaps simply become small obstacles for you to overcome.
Plan for occurrences such as air travel delays, illness, and homesickness. If unforeseen events happen, stay positive. Your children will learn important life lessons from watching you on this trip.
25. You Were a Kid Once
Try and put yourself in your kids shoes. Remember what you were like as a small child, or teenager, and how you liked to travel and the things you enjoyed doing.
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Craig
Craig Makepeace is the co-founder of yTravel Blog and has been traveling and living around the world since 2002, first with his wife Caz, and now with his two daughters Kalyra and Savannah. Don't miss his 9 best tips to help you travel more. Follow him on Google+
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57 comments on “25 Tips for Travel with Kids”
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Hi! We’re Caz and Craig…
Our blog is about helping you to get inspired & informed to go travel, & travel more often Read On
I did some tips on this as well. However, here’s a big one that I really like – make a kids part of the planning process. Ask them what they want to do. Let everyone in the family have input. When your kids take an investment in the trip, they will feel like they are a part of it and will enjoy it even more.
Agreed Jeremy!
Always a good idea to have them participate in the planning process, as well as the day-to-day desicions once on the road. Like you said, will make them feel more apart of the whole experience!
Improvise!! We are a family of four travelling in Spain for the next six months. The biggest learning we have had is to improvise.
Instead of feeding our 10 month old baby food from jars, we improvise with the local food and have found some great tapas including ensalada russa, tortilla, albondigas, pan and more.
Instead of packing heaps and heaps of toys, we improvise with whatever we can find – toilet rolls, stones, flowers, leftover containers, etc.
This 6 month trip has really made me re-think how I bring up my girls and has pushed me to become a lot more open-minded and flexible in my approach.
Great tips Brigit!
What a great experience for them to try the local food. And glad you’re bringing in some flexibilty to your travel style. Enjoy Spain!
I have an extra tip. On returning home, make a small photo book. Let your child take it along to school or when visiting family. Then they can tell their own story using the photo book. I did it with our daughter after visiting Indonesia and it works well. I let her choose which photos we would put in the photo album. Greetings Janneke
Hi Drieculturen,
Nice tip. I Like the idea of our child sharing her own pics and stories with others via a photo book. Safe travels
These are great. Most of what I’d add kind of combines much of what you’ve already said.
What I realized while traveling with Lila is that small things that may seem minor to adults while traveling are really important to kids. And the things that strike adults, kids sometimes won’t even notice.
One of my best memories with Lila is lying in bed in La Spezia during a heavy rain storm and counting the seconds between the lightening and thunder. Or when we
It’s also ok to do the same thing many times. Lila enjoyed having a routine, and we didn’t have to worry about finding something new to do every day. So the Sunday market in Salta, daily collecting shells and whatever else we found on the beach in Panama and then going home (to our rented place) for art projects.
One must have for us. Art supplies. Paper, small box of crayons and paints (there are some great paint pens out now, too). They’re small, easy to find anywhere and can turn any place you go or anything you do into an activity.
Hi Leigh,
Isn’t it great Lila and small kids are easily pleased and get ecited about the smallest of things. For our little Kalyra, just a pool or a playground or paper to draw on and she’s good to go over and over again
Deciding the budget should be your priority as most of trip if not planned well gets out of budget. Also keep some amount for unseen activity which may come across during the trip.
Agreed Adrian. Always good to have a little in reserve. How many kids do you travel with?
I’ve always been amazed by those that can travel with children and thought it must take a herculean effort (i’m sure sometimes it does). But this list made me realize that what you described was the way we like to travel anyways! Maybe we could actually continue with longterm travel even after kids (assuming we can make some cash on the road). Thanks for the great tips and inspiration!
Hey Tony,
We are testiment to the fact that when you have kids travel doesn’t have to stop
Sure you need to adjust but it’s a great new experience in many ways.
When I used to travel with 3 under fives (they’re much bigger now!) I found the biggest distress arose when a precious comforter/toy went astray. So I used to spend a few weeks before each trip getting each one of them used to two comforters. It was hard work (they always have a favourite!) but it definitely made things easier when a loss did occur – I’d just whip out the alternative and, most times, it worked!
Hi Karen,
We know all about that. Good idea on the back up toy. Where was your favorite destination with the kids?
What a great list! Patience is always #1 in my packing list! Especially when traveling with an infant and a toddler!!! The most important thing is to enjoy the ride!
Thanks Ana. Yep, it’s a great ride!
Great tips! Thanks for such a helpful, comprehensive list.
Welcome
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I love this! Great and amazing tips! I’m so glad we aren’t the only “crazies” out there! Traveling with two young children! Your daughters are beautiful too!
Thank you Hilarye. Where are you guys from?
Great tips. We are getting ready to embark on a mini-vacation as a family of 8 (and that’s not even all of our kids). Me, my husband, and six of our eight children ages 11, 5, 4, 2, 1, and 4 months. We are traveling by way of vehicle (8 hour drive) and doing a home exchange with a family of 6. This is a first for us and your tips have been great and very useful. I am sure we will find many imperfections on our first go at it but this is our preparation trip before the BIG one in just 3 1/2 weeks. We are all traveling to California from Florida by way of vehicle (4 days and 5 nights) to get there. We are pulling a travel trailer and spending our evening at campgrounds and then when we arrive to California, we will be setting up camp for a few weeks at my father’s property and then we’ll have the return trip home (less one kid, the 11 year old, who will be flying out of California with his oldest 24 year old sister and his 18 year old brother). Both of the oldest kids are flying in and out of California…hmmm, I wander why?? Haha! So we have a lot of little ones (5 that are 5 and under)….this will be an adventure. We too will be blogging our trips. God Bless us and thank you for your travel trips with kids! ~Kat
Hello Katrina, or should I call you Carol Brady?
Wow, family of 8. A home exchange sounds awesome and a practical way to do things. Safe travels on your trip. Where in CA will you be based?
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This is a great list; I’d like to add that it’s really fun to go back to places you are familiar with and re-visit with children – you’ll see a whole new side. It’s also a great excuse to do things you wanted to do yourself (Legoland in Denmark in my case!) When I was compiling a list of my 5 favourite travel experiences so far I found that my daughter was involved in two of them – taking her to her first massive rock concert when she was 8 was amazing; we travelled to the Netherlands for an outdoor summer gig. You can see my list here http://grownuptravelguide.com/my-five-best-grown-up-travel-experiences-so-far
You should definitely add more posts on great places for family travel, too…
Hey Andy,
Thanks for sharing your post. And yeah, we are definitely going to be writing more about family travel.
Honestly i say that i will go on vacation with my child that has only two years and I followed many of these advices, thans a lot!
That’s great Cazare. Happy travels to you and your family
Your flightncheckin tip is important. With four of us we try to always get a 3×1 configuration if that is available – the 2 kids and I with my wife across the aisle. We actually pay the extra cost to secure these seats when we book the flights just to be sure. The stress that can occur at the airport if ou end up all separated can be difficult.
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I loved the picture of “Savannah and Kalyra enjoying the hotel bed” although i think Savannah is definitely enjoying more!! look into her eyes, she seems to be in heaven. You better make a lot of dough!because you need it for her to keep enjoying the traveling lifestyle.
Great post, i am definitely bookmarking your blog…i need the tips with kids.
THis is a great article, thank you so much!
Fantastic tips guys. My wife is due any day now and excited about getting back to traveling. I showed her this post and she loved it. The one thing that bugs us both the most is how kid comfort never seems to be a priority. Car seats have padding that adults would never sit on yet parents go on long road trips without keeping that in mind. Good stuff here!
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Wow- another baby! Congratulations Mike. How exciting. Good luck with it an enjoy!
I like seeing a reminder every now and then that travel doesn’t have to stop once you get married and have a family! Takes the pressure off
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Being stuck at customs in a never ending queue with restless/bored/hungry/tried…. kids is my idea of a nightmare. This is the kind of thing you’d want a separate aisle for.
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Great Tips Craig…The First Things is be Patient and Flexible. Sometimes the child’s desire can be changed any time. If we are not patient, we will always angry with them.
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Hi there! what a great list! we’re currently in Nigeria visiting the in-laws after travelling from Australia with two boys-aged four and 14 weeks! cue 36 hours of travelling door-to-door…we survived-just! I think I focussed so much on the “getting there” (packing, travel logistics) and given that we’re visiting and staying with family (a definite plus!) now that we’re here I’m taking up quite a few of your tips now
I wished I’d come across this list sooner…will definitely be sharing this!
Awesome Maddy! You sound like you are having quite the adventure. I’m so glad our tips are helping you! Enjoy your travels, it is such a special time
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Really good tips and your daughters are beautiful!
Thank you! We think so
Thank you for your advices! I am planning trip with my children right now, your blog I read just on time. It is very useful information.
I was reading the list quickly, and when I came to the sunset silhouette picture, I stopped. The caption is as good as the photo. KALYRA DANCING TO A FREE SUNSET IN SAN DIEGO. That’s priceless. I love it. Yes, I completely agree, the free stuff, and oftentimes very inexpensive stuff, can be so valuable! And taking your time! I like those two points. very good
thanks
Pleasure Carla! We spend so much time in nature enjoying what the earth gives us for free. It is such a great way to connect to the environment and have special moments. The kids love the space and freedom too and it teaches them that you don’t need a lot of stuff to be happy– you can find it in the trees and the sunset
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Great post, my kids will enjoy next trip for sure, thnx!
Interesting to know your thoughts on travel seats for kids.
I must say traveling with Kids is not easy, as you have to carry extra luggage of eatables and toys for them. It is really important to keep an eye on your kids comfort because if they are uncomfortable if is difficult to enjoy your trip without any hassle.
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Nice travel tips…
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very useful information for Travel with Kids. thanks you so much for the sharing your experience.
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