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Traveling with families is often a mixture of chaos and good times. After our third family vacation, I decided to spend a little more time preparing for our next trip to see if I could reduce some of the chaos and stress that always seemed to be associated with every family trip we took. Much to my surprise, our vacations went much more smoothly when I implemented just a few traveling rules and stuck to them! Researching traveling options and packing in advance made a big difference!
5 Traveling Tips That Saved the Day
1. Consider staying at a Walt Disney World resort or hotel if you are traveling to Florida for theme park fun. These Orlando resorts and hotels offer bountiful continental breakfasts that are included in the price of the room. This is a great way to make sure your family gets a healthy breakfast to start the day with and you also save money by not having to purchase the first meal of the day at a restaurant. I enjoy using Gogobot to compare reviews to decide where I want to stay!
2. Make your children comfortable by packing a few familiar nighttime items. Packing a favorite stuffed animal or a snuggly blanket your child is used to sleeping with will make naps and overnight stays easier on your child. Keeping to familiar bedtime routines will also help your child to feel more secure and get a better night’s sleep.
3. Pack snacks in advance and put them in a thermal traveling bag. Thermal traveling bags are great for storing snack food and bottled water and juices when you travel. The Mayo Clinic recommends snacks for children that include peanut butter and celery, carrot slices and hummus and cold fruit wedges.
4. If you travel by car on a long road trip, be sure to pull over often for pit stops. I found that when I left early and planned for frequent stops, this resulted in my kids being happier during the ride!
5. Pack coloring books or electronic tablets to keep children occupied during long trips. This will result in fewer complaints and will save you from headaches while you are trying to focus on driving.
Traveling on family vacations does not have to be stressful. Planning in advance will help you to successfully prepare for a safer and more enjoyable trip. It is also important to remember to not overthink things and to roll with unexpected events!
Kendra Thornton is a mother of 3. Before being promoted to the full time position of mommy, she was the former Orbitz director of communications where she was able to travel all around the world. She’s been to 28 countries on 6 continents and has been quoted in the news about seasonal travel trends and destinations all over the United States. She still loves to write about travel trends and tips, and how to travel in a peaceful and balanced mindset.