Planning a family vacation can be stressful. From booking flights to deciding on accommodations, it’s easy for things to go wrong if you’re not careful. You might worry about how your kids will behave or what they will eat. It’s hard to make sure everyone is happy when you have an opinionated family.

But with the right planning, you can make your dream vacation happen. Here are some tips for making traveling with kids easier and more enjoyable.

Traveling with kids is fun

One of the best parts about traveling with kids is letting them experience new things. It’s exciting to show them something they’ve never seen before whether it be a new city or a new animal. You’ll be surprised at how much your kids will appreciate the small things when they’re in a new place.

It can be hard to get your kids to agree on anything, but it’s not impossible. Here are some ways to make that easier:

-Plan your activities in advance

-Pack snacks and water

-Find out what your kids want to do and tailor the vacation around that

-Be flexible: if there’s something they really want to do or see, indulge them. You can always find something else later.

What to pack for kids

Packing for kids is tricky. You want to include the essentials, but you also want to be mindful of how much weight will be added to your luggage. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to pack light and limit the number of items you bring.

You’ll want to pack clothes, shoes, and toiletries for each kid. Kids need to be comfortable and happy while they’re traveling. That means they’ll need a change of clothes for any emergencies, a pair of comfortable shoes, and a toothbrush and toothpaste.

Also, pack a few snacks for each child. Snacks can make long trips much more bearable for young children, and they’ll give your child something to do while you wait at the airport or on the plane. Pack healthy snacks that aren’t too sugary or salty.

Don’t forget the entertainment! Pack an iPad or tablet with games and movies for long flights or family car rides. This can help pass the time and keep kids happy. You should also plan on bringing a book or two for the adults.

Where to stay with kids

Choosing a hotel with a kitchenette or kitchen is a great choice for traveling with kids. This way, you can save money by cooking some of your own meals and avoid the temptation of checking out of your hotel for restaurant food.

Other things to consider when choosing where to stay is the cost of the hotel and whether it has a pool. You might want to stay at an all-inclusive resort with a family suite and activities for the kids. Or you might want to stay at a hotel across town and visit the theme park on weekends.

No matter where you decide to stay, just be sure to do your research ahead of time. Pack smart snacks. Pack enough clothes, diapers, baby wipes, and pack baby supplies, just in case! And don’t forget your camera!

Get the whole family on the same page

You don’t have to have perfect kids to travel with them. In fact, you don’t have to have any kids. Nobody does. That is a good thing, because nobody has perfect kids.

When you start planning your family vacation, you need to make sure that everyone is on the same page. You may think your kids want to go to a theme park or the water park, but it might be better if they were interested in something else. For example, our daughter wanted to go to Disney World, but she didn’t want to do any of the rides.

We had to compromise and find a way for her to enjoy herself without riding any rides and she ended up having a really good time. You just need to be ready and willing to compromise and you will be able to create a successful vacation for your family.

Have a family meeting before you go

It’s important to have a family meeting before you go. This can be hard to do when it’s just you and your partner, but it’s essential when you have kids. Here are some questions you might want to ask:

• What are the kids most excited about?

• What’s their favorite foods?

• What are the kids not excited about?

• What are the most important things for the kids to pack, in their opinion?

• What is the kids’ favorite TV show?

• What do you want to do on vacation?

• What are your expectations for this vacation?

You don’t have to answer all these questions, but it can help make your vacation more enjoyable when everyone is on the same page.

Prepare your kids for flying or driving long distances

One of the most important aspects of traveling with kids is preparing them for the trip. Before you go, you need to talk to your kids about what to expect. You can do this by asking them about their favorite things and what they’re excited about.

You should also take the time to talk about what might happen if they misbehave and how they can behave in ways that make traveling easier for everyone in the family.

It’s also important to prepare your kids for the actual travel. This can include talking about how they will go through security and what might happen when you’re in the air, like when the plane will take off or land.

Before your vacation, you should also prepare your kids for any long-distance driving. This involves giving them a heads up about when you will be leaving and what they should expect on the way. For example, you could tell them about any bathroom breaks, snacks, or gas stops you have planned.

Finally, you should prepare your children for the potential time zone change. This will help them understand that they might have jet lag or feel more tired than usual once they arrive at their destination.

These simple preparations will make traveling with kids much less stressful for

Stay organized by packing light

If you’re packing for your kids, you’re probably not overly concerned about how much space you must pack. But, while you might be able to bring all the toys your kids want to play with, they won’t need all of them while on vacation. Make sure you plan before packing for your family vacation.

Pack light. You don’t need to bring every toy your kids love, especially if they’ll only use them for a few days. Instead, bring duplicates of the essentials.

Pack clothes in a carry-on bag. This way, if the airline loses your checked luggage or something happens to it at the airport, you won’t have to buy all new clothes for your children.

Pack snacks in a carry-on bag. If you’re carrying snacks in your carry-on bag, you won’t have to worry about forgetting them at the security checkpoint or having them confiscated at the airport.

Don’t forget the entertainment! Bring an iPad or other device to entertain your kids when they get bored.

Make sure everyone in your family is happy when it comes to food. If one family member doesn’t want to

Bring your own car seat

If you want to bring your own car seat, you should know that some airlines require children over the age of two to have their own seat. You may also think about bringing your car seat with you on the plane if you are worried about airline seats not fitting properly. Remember, if you are bringing your own car seat, you need to install it correctly on the airplane.

If you are traveling with more than one child, consider buying two seats to avoid having to switch seats during the flight. This will also allow both children to have their own space on the flight, which is important for keeping everyone happy!

Plan on an activity, not boredom

One of the biggest worries about traveling with kids is boredom. You know it’s going to happen. And it’s going to happen a lot. Kids just have a lot less patience than adults, and all that waiting in lines and being in confined spaces is not going to be fun. So, what can you do?

You can plan out an activity that will keep your kids happy. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate, but it will make the overall experience more enjoyable for them.

One of the easiest ways to do this is by bringing their favorite toy or snack. You can also plan out some simple games or activities you can do together when you’re waiting for your flight or when you’re in the car. This will keep them busy until they get to where they need to be.

The more you plan for your kids, the less stressful it will be for everyone involved.

Final Thoughts

The best advice for traveling with kids is to pack early and plan ahead. You can’t control everything that will go wrong, but you can prepare for it. Bring snacks and entertainment for your kids, and pack clothes in their favorite colors. Bring their favorite stuffed animal and blanket, too!

Bringing children to a new place can be exciting for them, but it can also be stressful. That’s why it’s important to plan ahead when traveling with kids.

Be sure to ask the hotel if they offer any special amenities for families (like a crib or a playroom). Be sure to pack enough clothes and snacks for your whole family in their favorite colors and flavors. And don’t forget to pack their favorite toys and games!

If you’d like some more tips and tricks, check these out.

Budget family travel for beginners

How to pack for overseas travel

Cheers and happy travels