Family Travel Tips for the Best Vacation with Children

Tip One: Consider your children's age

 

When you’re a child even a few months can make a big difference in behavior. Children go through 4 main stages and each one would require a different approach:

Infant. If you decide to take an infant with you on a trip, the main thing to remember: they require a schedule. Make sure that they sleep, eat, play, and drink according to the plan.
What’s also important to consider, give your baby an opportunity to move. Don’t just keep them in a stroller all day, let them walk or stretch on a mat and roll around.

Toddler. This is one of the most fun and active periods of your children’s life. Make sure to let them explore, look around, and see something new — just staying in the hotel will only make your children upset. Go to the playgrounds, pools, beaches, and other interesting places.
To make sure that your toddler doesn’t get an upset stomach from eating foreign food, research some children-friendly restaurants beforehand.

School-age children. Here, the key is to involve your children in trip planning. Ask them what activities they’d love to do and incorporate them into your family travel. Thus, your children will surely be satisfied.

Teenagers. To ensure that your teenager enjoys family travel, consider allowing them to plan a part of the trip themselves. Some families recommend that you give your teenage children one to two hours a day to explore the city and do some activities on their own.

Tip Two: Set the trip goals and destination

 

When you’re going on a family trip being spontaneous isn’t a good idea. It can make your children nervous or even upset, so make sure to plan everything ahead — and start with a trip goal.
Do you wish to go to the beach and lay under the sun? Maybe you want to have an active tour and show your children something completely new? In what country are you planning to do the said things?

Pro Tip: If you struggle with planning everything yourself, you can get your personal guide who will help you plan everything and provide some good children-friendly options.

Tip Three: Choose the right accommodations

 

Your children require some special needs and conditions so make sure that you choose a suited place to stay in during the trip.

If you’re going to live in a hotel, check whether it offers options for families, including children's beds, suitable bathrooms, food, playgrounds, or pools. It’d also be great if a hotel has separate rooms, so you and your children have their personal space for rest and relaxation.

Still, you can consider renting a house. If you need more space or a kitchen where you can cook dishes yourself to save up on dining out, this is a great option. Still, make sure to research thoroughly a place you’re going to rent and decide whether you want to live in the city or in the suburbs.

Tip Four: Pack everything… literally

 

It’s important to pack all the necessities. There are a lot of things your children might need during the trip that you might not be able to easily find abroad. So, make sure to take the following things:

Documents and tickets. During travel, everyone needs a passport, even infants. Make sure to prepare them in advance, make copies, and pack them with you. Also, don’t forget your tickets, driving license (if you’ll rent a car), IDs… And especially don’t forget to get children's insurance.

Your children’s favorite toys and items. If your child becomes grumpy during the trip, toys can help cheer them up. Or if they feel tired during the flight, you can calm them down with books, papers with pencils, or games.

Snacks and drinks. Keeping your children full and hydrated during the trip is important for ensuring their well-being.

First aid kit. You should always be ready if your children fall ill during the trip, wound themselves, get an upset stomach due to new food or acclimatization, etc.

Children's essentials. Consider your children’s age and pack your cases accordingly: take diapers, enough clothes, wipes, bottles, a stroller, bibs, blankets, chargers, warm clothes, swimwear, etc.

Tip Five: Consider getting your personal guide

 

Finding a guide can make a world of difference for your family travel. Unlike a pre-planned group tour, your personal guide would take into account that you have children and make all necessary adjustments to fit into your rhythm. Make stops, find restaurants and hotels suitable for the young ones, offer some children-friendly activities — everything to make your journey enjoyable.

So, to ensure the whole family’s entertainment during the trip, get your personal guide! And if you don’t know where to find them, use the Find Guide app. There, you can find a guide and get in touch with them to discuss and plan your trip. Tell them that you have children and guides will offer you options safe and fun for family travel.

Still, keep in mind

 

It’s still important to remember that no matter how hard you plan, something can still go wrong. But, don’t make this scare you. Embrace those bumps and don’t make them ruin your trip — brush them off and continue enjoying your trip with your children and family!