Top Tips to Make Traveling with Kids EASY and FUN!

For many parents, the idea of traveling with young children is hair raising, but with the right planning and a little luck you might even find yourself having fun!  Guest blogger and family travel writer, Debbie Dubrow shares her top tips on how to make traveling with kids fun and easy.  Enjoy!

Pack Light

You won’t have fun on your vacation if you spend the first day recovering from a strained back or exhaustion, and checked baggage fees can really eat into a vacation budget. Consider renting the gear you need at your destination, or having disposable items like diapers or snacks shipped ahead by a service like Amazon.com.

Wear Out The Kids

After the long haul to the airport and the shuffle through airport security, it might be tempting to collapse in a corner with your portable DVD player. This is your last chance to wear out your children before they step on the plane (and you don’t want to run down that battery yet). Instead, find out whether the airport has a play area, or find an empty gate and make up running and jumping games for your children. Take a moment, also, to feed them some protein rich (and therefore sleep inducing) snacks. With any luck at all, they’ll be as worn out as you are by the time you step on the plane.

Pack a Busy Bag

Bring along a busy bag full of quiet and entertaining travel toys. You’ll find that you use them both during the plane flight and during down times in the hotel or restaurants. Need ideas? Check out this list of Debbie’s list of favorite Travel Toys.

Ditch the Hotel Room

Most families think first of renting a hotel room because that is what they have always done, but we prefer vacation rentals. The extra space means that parents can stay up and enjoy a movie or a glass of wine long after the children are asleep. Having a kitchenette means that you save money (and time) on restaurant meals. Even better, if you have picky eaters, you’ll be able to make their favorites while preparing a meal made of local ingredients for yourself. Many rentals also include a washing machine, meaning that you can pack less clothing for yourselves and the kids.

Plan your activities

There’s nothing worse than trying to figure out what to do while you’re lost in the middle of a city with kids in tow. Do some research in advance to find fun activities, playgrounds, or good snack spots close to the tourist destinations you plan to visit. Knowing what’s nearby will give you the flexibility to change plans midstream if the kids just aren’t up for one more museum visit. Our kid friendly city guides list activities, restaurants and other helpful information for over 100 cities around the world.

Allow Extra Time

Every parent knows that even a simple trip to the supermarket takes longer with kids in tow, but somehow we expect our vacations to run at their pre-baby pace. Plan to spend at least twice as long at each city or destination you are visiting as you would have without children. You’ll find that the extra time not only gives your kids a chance to do the things they enjoy, but lets you connect more deeply with the place you are visiting.

Biography of Guest Blogger:  Debbie Dubrow is a mother of two (ages 3 1/2 and 2) living in Seattle,
WA. Her blog, DeliciousBaby is about traveling with babies, toddlers and kids, and is filled with personal travel stories, family-friendly city guides, recommendations for kids travel gear, and lots of tips and advice for traveling with kids.

Debbie Dubrow

http://www.deliciousbaby.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/deliciousbaby