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We all count down the days until we can jet or sail off somewhere overseas, explore a new country, and spend time with our loved ones. However, travelling with kids can be stressful if you haven’t planned ahead.
Whether you’re booking a holiday with the kids or the whole extended family, make sure you read on to discover our top family travel tips; to ensure a smooth travel process, and a holiday that’s unforgettable, for all the right reasons.
1. Choose family-friendly destinations
This goes without saying, but when it comes to planning your next holiday, it’s important to choose a place that offers things to do for the whole family!
Getting your kids involved in the planning process is a great way to get them invested, as you browse the zoos, theme parks, beaches, and more on offer at the destination(s) you’re considering. You might even want to consider accommodation that offers entertainment or daycare, if you’re looking for some rest and relaxation!
2. Book in advance
Once you’ve pulled together a rough agenda of the things you’d like to do, make sure you start booking things in advance. Not only will you get better deals by doing this, but you’ll also have more options when it comes to choosing your flights and hotels. Leave it too late, and you might not be able to book a family room, or sit together on the plane, which could cause issues when it comes to travelling with kids on the day.
Booking family rooms in advance is particularly important - especially if you want interconnecting rooms, or specific bedding configurations, such as a double and two twins.
Don’t forget to sign up for airline points if you haven’t already, so you can get discounts on flights, attractions, and upgrades in the future; and if you have specific plans to go to the likes of a museum, theatre or zoo, check to see if you can book your tickets online, as it means you can usually skip queues on the day – perfect for family travel!
If you’re planning on travelling with kids to a big city, then there might be passes available that offer multiple attractions at discounted rates or free entry, which can save you tons in the long run – so make sure you do your research.
3. Share your itinerary with other travellers
When you travel with family, it’s important everyone knows what the plan is, so you don’t have grandparents, cousins, and kids constantly asking what time the flight is, or where the hotel is!
There are several different travel apps that enable you to input everything from your flight times, number, and dates, through to the address of the hotel you’re staying at, and anything else you’ve booked. One example of this is Traveler Buddy, with the benefit being that everything’s pin-protected, secure, and most importantly… paperless!
One of our favourite travel tips for families is to make a checklist in advance of everything you need to remember for your holiday. From the essentials like passports, visas, and travel insurance, through to things like your little one’s favourite stuffed toy; it’ll make travelling so much smoother, as it should (hopefully!) mean no one’s forgotten anything when it’s time to leave for the airport.
4. Get your kids involved in the packing
When your kids see you packing, they’ll no doubt want to get involved, so why not get them their own suitcase, and let them help? Whilst we’d never suggest having more bags than people, as it can involve unnecessary stress when unloading them all at the airport; there are so many cute rolling suitcases you can buy for little ones, that they’ll be able to use time and again.
Let them pack on their own – and then check they’ve remembered essentials like their toothbrush and PJs, and they’ve not over packed their case with too many toys!
You’ll also want to plan ahead with packing any gear you need for younger kids - while you can usually rent buggies, car seats and cots when abroad; it’s always worth double checking first so you don’t turn up without the essentials. Or, it might be that you’d prefer to take your own, in which case, contact the airline you’re flying with, to see if you need to check anything extra in.
5. Work out your time zones
Travelling to a nearby country shouldn’t be too unsettling, in that the time zone may only be different by a couple of hours. However, long haul flights can be tiring for adults, let alone little ones!
When it comes to booking your flights, consider which ones are the most convenient. Early morning flights where you have to leave home at 3am may be the cheapest option, but if you’re all going to be jet lagged, it may be worth setting off later in the day.
We’d also recommend bringing familiar sleep aids from home to help children get to sleep each night - whether that’s their favourite soft toy, a blanket, or even a white noise machine.
6. Prep for the transport
If you’re planning to travel with kids – especially younger ones – you’ll know that they can get restless when travelling. Make the time go smoothly for them, you, and other passengers by packing plenty of entertainment. Think colouring books and crayons, reusable stickers, an iPad, and a selection of healthy snacks.
You might want to consider packing cubes in your carry-on luggage if you’re flying, so that everything’s together and you’re not rummaging around in your bag mid-flight. Plus, it’s always worth bringing a change of clothes for the whole family, just in case your checked in luggage gets delayed.
Alternatively, you might want to consider going on a cruise instead – not only does it come with loads of activities while you’re travelling from place to place, but you’ll only need to unpack once!
7. Try and stick to a routine
Whilst this tip is more relevant for younger children, it’s still worth mentioning if you plan to travel with family. After all, getting back into a routine when you’re home can be harder if you’ve had constant late nights, and eaten meals later than normal.
Whilst holidays are a time for relaxation and exploring new countries and cultures, trying to keep to some sort of routine while you’re away can help make getting ready for school easier when you get back home.
We’re not saying you should be rigid with it, but sticking to the same time for meals, as well as waking up and going to bed will help – and, we reckon the excitement of being in a new country, making memories with their family will be enough to tire little ones out anyway!
Avoiding early morning or late-night flights will also help with this, to minimise the disruption of bedtimes.
8. Always have a plan B
When you’re out and about in certain cities and resorts, it might not be as easy to get your hands on things like snacks or medication, if you need them. So, one of our key family travel tips is to make sure you pack anything you think you might need, if you’re planning a day out. That means extra snacks, a change of clothes, and umbrellas or macs, if you think there might be a chance of rain.
One of the best things you can plan ahead for is meals. Research and book family-friendly restaurants in advance, making sure everyone checks the menu to ensure all dietary requirements are taken care of.
That being said, some things – like late or cancelled flights – are out of your control, so there’s no point worrying about it. If you feel anxious, your kids will pick up on it; so, go with the flow, and remember to enjoy the quality time you get to spend together.
Planning in a few days for rest and relaxation will help to give you some time back should things not go to plan; and if everything works out seamlessly, then you can all spend some time together playing at the beach, or going for a wander!
10. Speak to your kids about safety
While you’ll have done your research into finding out which areas are the safest, everyone in the family should be careful. Have a chat with your children beforehand about the importance of never running off, and holding hands in busy places, to keep your mind at ease while you’re exploring.
It goes without saying, but making sure kids are always supervised near water, and are in car seats if you’re hiring a vehicle and are under a certain height, are also key things to remember, and will make the time you travel with kids so much less stressful.
11. Most importantly… have fun!
There are so many things to consider when travelling – whether it’s just you, your partner and the kids, or your whole extended family. However, the main thing to remember is that above all, a holiday is a time to have fun, connect, and make lifelong memories, so just enjoy yourself!
Things may not always go to plan, but that doesn’t matter. From ice creams at the beach, through to a quick game of cards or ‘I Spy’, don’t forget to take a minute to stop and appreciate the small things that make your holiday truly special.
If you found our travel tips for families helpful, then why not head on over to our blog where you can find more tips and tricks, including things to do with kids in Dubai, if you’re planning a staycation?
