Top 10 Things I Learned About Traveling with Kids
1. it takes a day
It takes a day for everyone to settle in - to get used to being together & to get used to a slower pace. It will happen, but don’t expect it upon take-off.
2. Don’t overpack
Yes, you want to bring the things you need, but resist the temptation to pack too much. Why? Because if your house is like mine, you’re probably packing for everyone – which is overwhelming. It’s a pain to pack, unpack & then re-pack all this stuff. Plus, bringing more only makes it more likely that you will leave a few things behind! Take the time to really assess what you need & stick to just those items.
3. Having the ability to do laundry is life-changing
This relates to #2, but having a washer/dryer or a laundry service while on vacation is literally, and maybe sadly, heaven. No, I don’t like doing laundry while I’m away, but I love the fact that when we can wash clothes while we’re gone, we each only need to pack 2 bathing suits & cover-ups, a few outfits and some underwear for a week-long beach vacation.
4. Multi-bedroom layouts are so much better than connecting rooms
You went away to spend time together so spend time together! Not in separate or connecting rooms that lack common space. Getting an accommodation with multi-bedrooms and common areas like a living room, dining room, patio, pool, etc. make all the difference in how you spend your time together. We love having breakfast together in our villa, taking a dip in our private pool over lunch & relaxing after dinner. Give yourself the space to truly connect & enjoy your time.
5. Plan 1, not 10, activities per day
Resist the temptation to overplan. You want to have a little bit of structure to your days while traveling & you of course want to experience the real culture of your destination, but make sure you leave time to explore on your own & enjoy all of the amazing, unscripted moments travel can offer us. More often than not, these organic experiences are what stick with us the most.
6. Preorder groceries & snacks
Regardless of whether you are traveling with 2-year-olds or 15-year-olds, kids get hungry. All. The. Time. Most resorts offer grocery delivery services and I highly recommend taking advantage of them. This helps avoid the nonstop ordering by the pool & can often provide healthier options. Plus, you can pre-order alcohol too which is always nice for after the kids go to bed.
7. Even if they say they don’t want to go on a tour or see the city sights, do it anyway
Kids are almost never going to say that walking around a foreign city’s streets in the blazing sun sounds like fun. And they aren’t wrong, but I guarantee that if you do it – in a way that is enjoyable to them – they will love it. There are lots of creative ways to explore cities & their cultural sights. Think vespa tours, private drivers & guides, DaVinci Code, Harry Potter, Emily in Paris & James Bond experiences. The list is literally endless. Focus on the things your kid(s) like & I promise, they will get so much out of the experience.
8. A pool helps, but you don’t need a water park
While this may sound scary, I have found that kids don’t need nonstop entertainment on vacation & in fact, sometimes it makes your life worse. Yes, the kids club & the water park sound like good safety nets, right? No way the kids can get bored if the resort offers nonstop entertainment. But sometimes – being a little bored can be a good thing. It means you might wander a little bit. It means you might ask your brother to swim in the pool with you or to go snorkeling in the ocean. It means you might ask your dad to throw the football with you or you might go on a walk or a bike ride with your mom. And it also means that half the family is going in 1 direction while the other is doing something entirely different. I don’t know about you, but chasing after young kids in a water park is not high on my vacation to-do list. So be mindful of how you truly want to spend your days away & pick a destination that honors that vision.
9. Pack a bag of essential medicine for the kids
It is uncanny, but have you ever noticed that kids only ever seem to get the onset of a raging ear infection in the middle of the night!? Not helpful, particularly when you are on an island or in a foreign country. To avoid the middle-of-the-night emergencies (or at least, many of them), always pack a small medicine bag with kids Tylenol, allergy medicine, band-aids & a few other first aid items. I promise, you’ll thank me later.
10. While every moment won’t be perfect, time spent on vacation creates bonds you cannot replicate
Even on the best trips, there will inevitably be moments that are less than perfect. And maybe, even disastrous (hello screaming baby on a plane). But, when you travel with your family, you give them exposure to new places & cultures & experiences that they could have never even imagined exist. It is these shared memories and moments that tie us together in a way that nothing else can. Adventures over things. Memories over stuff. Every. Time.
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