Spring break is not that far off and that may mean a family getaway. There's no doubt about it - traveling with young kids requires preparation and compromise. We learned a lot from talking to other parents and by just doing it. Jordan Ferney of Oh Happy Day recently shared her top 10 tips for traveling with young kids.
Our favorites among the list of 10?
1. Splurge on the room. You'll be spending lots of time there (think naps and early bedtimes). So a comfortable room with a view, or better yet, a large suite or apartment will allow you do enjoy yourself while the kids are sleeping.
2. Eat at nice restaurants but go early. Just because you're with the kids, doesn't mean you should skip the nice restaurants. But go early to avoid the primetime crowd.
3. When all else fails, take a taxi. This is a wise tip. Public transportation is great but when the kids are cranky, tired, or hungry, spending the money on a taxi can be well worth the price.
To check out the rest of Jordan's great travel tips, run over to Oh Happy Day.
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We started travelling with our daughter when she was 8 weeks old, and we've had a blast. Things we've learned:
- always have an exit strategy just in case you need it
- lower your expectations - don't overschedule, make time for naps and early bedtimes
- find joy in the simple things like riding the subway or a free ferry
- keep a stash of snacks on hand. There's nothing worse than having a hungry child and realizing you can't get into a restaurant for another hour
- bring a stroller -- we were in Costa Rica for a month and brought our stroller for our 4 year old. Other families offered us cold hard cash if we'd sell it to them. We were able to go hiking, do plantation tours etc... because she could take a rest and ride
- plan for fun restaurant activities like drawing games, word games, I spy etc... We bring a backpack with books, paper, crayons, BrainQuest cards and such to restaurants when we travel, we all play together and it makes the waiting much more manageable
- give the child lots of information about what to expect, what you are doing etc... so they're not thrown off too much by the novelty. Bring familiar stuff from home, and also give the child some choice of activities.
We love to travel with our daughter. Sure we've had some rough moments, but it's been a blast so far. She's probably been on 20 different flights and she's only 4 :)
Have lots of reasonably healthy snacks available! And we focus on outside attractions because it usually allows the kids more flexibility and we don't worry as much about keeping behavior in check.
I travelled internationally with a 2 year old for work, and it was much better than I had expected.
Be so organised it's ridiculous, and get organised well before you leave. Know exactly what you'll need, what you're packing and which bag it'll be in. Take it easy on the packing... especially if you're staying somewhere with a washing machine. Don't bring half the toybox. Select a favourite book, a favourite toy and a comfort toy. A drawing pad and crayons/pencils/pens is also good for the +2's.
The stroller is a must, however because a large, bulky pram was a nuisance when in transit, my boss bought a cheap umbrella stroller when we arrived. We were also visiting Europe in winter, from Aus, so she bought bulky winter clothes over there too. Everything bought was given to charity when we left.
Don't expect the child to fit into your dream holiday itinerary.
Do expect them to not cope, at all, with the change in time zones, at least for the first couple of days.
Plan one activity per day, anything extra is a bonus. I found it best to have a slow morning, go to the park, come home for a nap and lunch and then do something touristy in the afternoon.
Skip the hotel altogether, and rent an apartment. They're usually cheaper anyway, and you have the bonus of a kitchen and washing machine.
Don't eat out at restaurants all the time. Not only is it pricey, but I find young kids eat better in a home setting. Go to the grocery store and buy their favourite snacks and meals.
My number one tip, though, is to use your carry-on baggage allowance for as much of the child's things as possible (mainly if child is under five). This way if your baggage is lost, you have everything you'll need for them and won't have to worry if there isn't a store open when you arrive.