Tips For Travelling For The First Time With Kids

**Collaborative post**

It’s normal to feel nervous when planning your first family holiday. We’ve been there – not knowing how our children would behave or even if they would enjoy it. There is always a mix of emotions when travelling for the first time as a family, you want to make sure everyone will be happy and enjoy themselves but at the same time, there is a chance nothing will do as planned.

I’ve been travelling with my young children for a while now and I remember having all those feelings, but I can assure you that everything will be fine. I often travel for work with Aviation Spares and Repairs, a ground support equipment supplier, and from time to time my little ones come with me. No matter if they are joining me on a business trip or if we are all going on a big summer holiday together, I’ve put together a list of tips that have helped me ensure that I always have a stress free(ish) family vacation.

Table of Contents

Choose a family-friendly location.

It’s important to sit down with all members of your family and try and figure out what everyone wants to do. Do you want a relaxed holiday at the Algarve? Maybe an exciting city trip to Barcelona? Or maybe a safari trip to Namibia? I know that all of these sound great, but you have to consider what your children would prefer as well. You should all have a say in this, after all , it’s a family holiday.

When researching a location, you should see what nearby attractions spark the interest of your little ones. If your children love nature and science but are too small to actually go hiking for a full day – why not take them to the science museum? Also, make sure to think about things you also want to experience, maybe pick some child activities and also some adult activities.

As an article on Love Exploring states it’s important to think carefully about everyone’s needs, in order to maximise your chances of a restful holiday. There is always the possibility of choosing a cruise holiday or an all-inclusive holiday. Both these options will have enough activities for all the family, without having to plan every step of the way thoroughly.

Where to stay.

Do you want to go to a hotel or resort which will take care of most things for you? Or do prefer to have your own space and freedom by staying at an apartment rental or home exchange? It comes down to personal preference as each one has its advantages and disadvantages.

For instance, do you enjoy going on holiday because it means you don’t have to cook every meal during the week? If so, maybe a hotel would be best suited for you. According to the Guardian “if you are going down the hotel route, always check for special family deals, from discounted rates to free meals for children; many international chains offer these.”

Even though hotels and resorts offer many perks, I still prefer renting apartments or houses. It gives the whole family more space than in a hotel and it reduces our eating out costs by cooking our own meals. Rental apartments are also perfect if you or your child has a special diet, this way you can always ensure the food is prepared to your liking.

Double-check travel documentation.

An article on Travel Republic mentions it is easy to be surprised on how quick passport expiry dates can creep up on you, so ensure all of your travel documentation is in order and remember that if you have a newborn baby, they will need their own passport as well.

The NHS encourages families to have travel insurance that will cover the duration of your stay and all the different activities you might do. In case you are travelling in Europe, it’s vital to have a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

Other documentation might be needed. For example, if your child has a different surname from yours, you might need to bring a birth certificate or an adoption certificate. Better safe than sorry!

Create an itinerary but don’t overschedule.

It is always easier to plan ahead some activities. Put together a list of places you’d reckon the whole family would like to go and then ask them for their own opinion. Make sure to have activities for both adults and children to enjoy. Once you know what everyone wants to see or experience, why not book some activities in advance? This will save you money and time queuing up.

Remember to have a look at free activities that might be taking place when you visit the city – anything from a street fair or a cultural event could be a great way to spend some time and experience the local culture.

Overscheduling activities will quickly turn a great trip into a stressful one. When visiting a new place, it is normal to want to visit any and all attractions, but it will be okay if you don’t. You might be able to visit all these places by yourself but remember that your little one won’t have the energy to do it all and will probably get tired or bored from walking around all day. So, leave time for some downtime and just enjoy your holiday.

Prepare your kids for the trip.

Explain to them what to expect when travelling, from the whole airport process to teaching them some words in the destination’s language. The more information the children know about their upcoming trip, the more excited they will be about it.

If your child is afraid of flying, a good way to help with their fear is to play aviation role play games. Play pilot or flight attendant games with them to help them feel more comfortable flying.

Pack light.

As light as possible. I know how difficult it is to pack light when you have little ones, there are some things that you just don’t want to be without. However, some items, such as toiletries can be bought at your destination and save you some space in your luggage. If you are staying for a long time, why not bring fewer clothes and wash them at a nearby laundry service or washing machine while you’re at your destination?

Matt from Nomadic Matt recommends renting children’s equipment, such as strollers, cribs and other equipment to lighten up your luggage load. In a blog post, he mentioned that the first time he used this type of service was in Sayulita, Mexico, where he rented a crib for around $50 (per week).

It’s vital to bring a plane backpack with all the essentials, including change of clothes, toys, nappies, wipes, first aid kit, snacks and more snacks. We all know how expensive airport and in-flight food is and the last thing you want is for your child to get hungry and cranky, so don’t forget to pack snacks for everyone (adults can get hangry too!). Also, take some home comforts for the little ones – it’s easy to get overwhelmed when visiting a new place, so their favourite cuddly toy or blanket can be a great help.

Flying for the first time.

Travel entertainment is a must. Bring their favourite book and load up your tablet with movies and cartoons that could keep them happy for hours on end (the last thing you want is not to have anything to entertain your child if your flight is delayed).

It’s also important to have something to help toddlers and babies pop their ears during take-off and landing on a plane. If you have a baby, I’d recommend feeding your baby during these times to help relieve the discomfort. However, for an older child, I’d recommend giving them chewing gum.

Do a test run.

Before going on a big holiday together, it would be helpful to try a smaller trip together, such as a weekend away. This will help you understand how long you can prepare everything for the trip and how fast everyone moves around experiencing a new place.

Enjoy the real deal.

Once you are at your destination, take your time and enjoy your time together. Try to be relaxed about it and remember that if all plans fail, nothing is lost. If one plan fails, you can always find something else to do. I believe that being open-minded and flexible when travelling with family is the best way to go. Enough about me – what are your best tips on travelling with children?