Take it easy and get out. There’s Plenty of Time
When I travel alone, I do the exact opposite of what I do when I plan for additional time. I normally arrive at my home airport with so little time that once I pass through security and walk to my gate, I can usually board the plane in 2 or 3 minutes. If you’re traveling with children, this is absolutely not the way to go.
Everything will take longer than you expect when traveling with your family, including:
Arriving at the airport and checking in
Passing through airport security
Purchasing snacks and beverages
Getting on the plane
Make sure to arrive early at the airport and allow plenty of time for things to go wrong.
You don’t want to miss your flight because your stroller and bottles took an extra 10 minutes to get through security. Then you’re trapped at the airport with upset kids, waiting for your flight to be postponed. That’s not fun, believe me!
However, flying is just one example of doing things slowly. Leaving additional time for all aspects of your journey is a good idea.
Don’t bring too much
Families have a habit of bringing everything their children use at home. Bringing familiar stuff ensures that your routines remain regular and that you have all you require.
Regrettably, this is a horrible plan. After a long day of traveling, there’s a good chance you’ll be carrying at least one child, so you don’t want to be hauling 100 pounds of luggage as well.
Rather, bring as little as possible. Traveling will disrupt your daily routines in and of itself, so attempting to maintain them all will be futile. It will only result in frustration and aching arms.
Describe the journey
For first-time travelers, it’s especially vital to introduce kids to the trip ahead of time.
Going over the itinerary and what will happen might assist kids grasp their circumstances at each stage of the journey. They’ll know what to expect next, and as a result, they’ll feel more at ease in their surroundings.
Telling them what to expect at the airport, on the plane, and once they get at your location is one way to explain the trip. Take advantage of this time to go over your expectations for their behaviour on the trip. Specify how they should conduct themselves on airlines, in hotels, and throughout tours.
Always bring extra snacks
In a matter of minutes, hungry youngsters can turn a great family outing into a dreadful experience. This is something I can’t stress enough. Hunger can make the difference between a happy family and a family with cranky, hungry children.
Always have food on hand for your children!
It’s impossible to predict when the time between meals will be extended. It might be a cancelled flight, unforeseen gridlock on your way to your accommodation, or a tour that takes longer than intended.
It’s possible that the food at your destination will be considerably different from what your children are used to. They may gladly order lunch and then nibble on it because it isn’t what they expected. You’ll have a hungry youngster deal an hour or two later on your afternoon museum excursion.
Keep an eye on your child
Keeping track of your youngster may seem self-evident, but it is significant enough to note. Always make sure you know where your children are no matter what you’re doing, whether things are going well or if you’re having a logistical nightmare.
You’d be shocked how easily you can become engrossed in something as simple as purchasing train tickets in another language. The next thing you know, your child has strolled over to the train station’s small shop to look at candy bars. If the candy bars are on the far side of a shelf and you can’t see your child, you can have a panic attack.
Share responsibilities if you’re travelling with another parent or adult. One person purchases the tickets while the other keeps an eye on the children. If you’re traveling with the kids alone, make sure they’re visible at all times. Hold their hands or have them sit in your line of sight if required.
Even the most attentive parent can lose track of his or her children. Consider utilizing a small GPS tracker that you may attach to your child’s shoes or belt if they are prone to wandering off. If our child wanders too far away, the tracker will notify you and allow you to track them down to see where they went.
Give Kids Your Contact Information
You’ll want them to have your contact information in case a youngster gets lost despite your best attempts.
So that you have many opportunities for aid in locating your child, your contact information should include the following items for all of the adults on your trip.
Name
Phone Number
Contact information via email
Address in the neighborhood
A note in one of their pockets is the greatest approach for young children to give contact information. If they don’t have pockets, tuck a small card into their belt loop or into their shoe. Don’t be scared to use your imagination, but make sure your child knows where to look for it.
Help older kids memorize your phone number and email address. If they need the local address where you are staying, write it down for them or have them put the information on their phones. We all know a teenager isn’t going to go very far without his or her phone.
Travel With Basic Medicines
One of the easiest ways to ruin a day of travel or possibly an entire trip is to have a sick family member. It can be even worse if the whole family gets sick. Whether your child has an upset stomach from the bumpy bus ride to your destination, or you find a new kind of tree pollen you’re allergic to, you want to be prepared to make the sick family member feel better as quickly as possible.
It’s always a good idea to take a few over-the-counter medications your family might need while traveling. Over-the-counter medications may include:
- Headache medicines
- Allergy medicines
- Medicine for upset stomachs
- Motion sickness prevention medication
- Other medication that might apply to your family or the specific trip
If anyone in your family is taking prescription medication, be sure to bring it along. Whenever possible, take your medications in their original packaging, especially prescription medications. If you can’t take the original package, take a copy of the prescription from your doctor so you can show exactly what your prescription is and why you have it for border crossings and if your luggage is searched.
Before your trip, check regulations for your destination and confirm you’re allowed to enter the country your medications without filling out additional paperwork or getting special permission.