Have basic medicine when traveling.
To bring medicine for a headache, alergy, upset stomach and motion sickness prevention medicine is always a good idea.
Do not overpack.
Less you bring, easier it will be to pack, carry and there will be more space for souvenirs.
Give your children your contact information.
If a kid gets lost, you'd want them to have your full name, phone number, email address and a local address.
If a child can't remember, have them carry a note.
My 30 year old daughter has autism and wears a bracelet with my phone # and her uncles #.
Include nature in your travels.
Cities and culture can be a great experience, but do not forget about the nature, especially when traveling with kids, it's important for them to experience it.
Zoos and children's museums are frequently reasonably priced and a good 1/2 day events. Some kid museums - science museums - can be fun for adults too. For every city we visited, we'd find either a zoo or kids museum to spend a morning or afternoon. Is parents liked it as much as the kids did.
Explain the trip to your children in great detail.
After reviewing trip plans with your kids, they will know what to expect and be more comfortable with whatever is happening around them.
Bring snacks.
Hangry children or even some adults can bring a fun trip to a miserable one in a matter of minutes. Have snacks ready!
And bring twice what you think they might need. You might have a crabby toddler seated nearby whose mom forgot snacks!
Keep your schedule loose and leave room for adjustments. It will create a lot less stress for you and your family, resulting in a lot happier trip.
Prebook everything that you can.
There will be less things to worry about when you eventually get to your destination.
Used to pre-book then got really sick in Vancouver didn't want to miss any of my pre-book excursions so I did them anyways I hugely regret it I now book excursions on the day of except for things like the Alhambra in Spain that sell out give you a lot more flexibility in case you do end up getting sick or just not feeling like doing anything for a day and relaxing at the beach
Pack smart.
Roll clothes and stuff socks and underwear inside shoes. Wear the heaviest clothes on the flight. Pack essentials and buy what you really need at the destination.
Bring plenty of wipes.
It doesn't hurt to have extra wipes for when there is some mess occuring.
Build an "activity bag" for your kids.
Depending on age, it can be anything, from portable consoles and new games to colouring books and other art supplies.
If you are fresh parents, readjust your expectations.
A lot of things will be different with kids, and some of them not for the better.
Yes especially beach vacations with infants and young children. You will be constantly trying to protect them from drowning and burning up. Not relaxing at all. Bring a babysitter if you want to enjoy peaceful beach time.
Plan flight times.
Some flights might have a better price, some fit better into your or your children's sleeping schedule.
Schedule a "downtime".
Usually when travelling, we plan a lot of activities and feel pressured to experience them all. Having a dedicated downtime might increase your trip satisfaction.
This. I went to Paris and London with my art & design dept at uni and we were visiting at least 2 if not 3 galleries a day, then other stuff on top of it. One night the chunk of people I'd been spending time with went off to bar hop in London and I stayed behind in the hotel room in complete silence. Best night of the trip.
Look for places with animals.
Kids love animals and the experience with them might leave a memorable feeling for children.
Accept that things might go wrong.
Travel is an adventure, and adventures rarely go to plan. Be ready for a few bumps and try not to get irritated by them.
Keep track of your kids.
It might seem obvious, but with the rush of adventure, things might slip your mind. Hold your children's hands, have them sit in your line of sight, and consider GPS trackers.
When traveling, bring new books or toys for kids.
Something they haven't seen before can occopy them for a long time.
Once they're old enough, have your kids carry their own luggage.
It will be easier on you, and they'll get to experience the traveling spirit.
Invest in good gear.
When you invest in quality products, you'll spend more, but also will receive more benefits from your products. Like less weight, more comfortable, more durable and so on.
Kids grow out of gear so quickly I find that cheaper will often work for what I need. I didnt get near the top end stroller or pack and play for example and never had a problem at home or when we travelled.
If you're planning to rent a car, bring a car seat for your child.
Most rental companies have car seats available, but you should confirm that there is one available before leaving for the trip.
Bring electronic enternainment devices.
When traveling for long, it might be hard to keep your children or even yourself occupied and not bored. Technology might solve that problem.
Don't forget about the free activities.
Seeing a street fair, a concert or a cultural event can often be free and leave some nice memories. As well as seeing a sunset, just walking or taking a bike ride, playing in the park, swimming in the sea, lake or a river, climbing a mountain.
When traveling with kids, pick a children friendly location.
A safe and central location, near the local attractions, food outlets, the beach, the park, would save you time, money and keep your kids from getting bored.
When looking for a place to eat, stay away from "tourist" streets.
By walking a few blocks away, you will not only find better prices, but also have a more authentic dining experience.
Ask for discounts, especially for children.
There are a lot of places that offer a children discount, which will save you a lot of money during the trip.
Have a plan for when the kids are tired, hungry, bored or suffering from heat.
It can be the cause of the worst tantrums ever and it might be difficult to tackle unprepared.
Stay over Sunday.
Many hotels receive Friday-Saturday bookings from leisure travelers and Monday-Friday from business travelers. Sunday could be a void.
Consider resorts.
It may be more expensive, but it also will have more activities for children, giving more free time for parents to relax.
This is why we went on a couple of short cruises when the kids were little. They have kids activities that are safe and fun. And mom and dad can roam the ship or go to the spa. Then we ate together every night and took them to shore.
Invest in refillable water bottles.
Not only you'll save environment this way, but also save money in the long run.
Both my nieces have trained their kids to only want water to drink by always having a refillable water bottle with them. The kids all say no to any other drink. Neither niece is strict the kids could have a soda if they wanted now that they are older, they just never want one even at friends birthday parties etc.
Bring trash bags and sealable bags along your other luggage.
It can be great for storing dirty clothes and snacks.
Pack a night light.
A little light source can always make the sleeping in a different place experience a lot more enjoyable both for you and your kids.
When planning a trip, leave one day free in the schedule.
It's great if you discover something interesting that you'd like to explore but wouldn't be able to fit into the schedule.
Schedule the first few days after the flight with light-exploring and relaxed activities to avoid suffering from jetlag.
Start young.
Travelling with babies will make them much more comfortable with adventures when they're older.
Include private and apart time for your family.
While the goal of traveling is to create memories, kids need some time to burn off energy and enjoy the company of other kids. Parents need some quiet time and adult company too.
Check for family deals when booking.
Always ask about special deals for families with children. Worst case scenario, they can only say "no".
Research the hotels room configuration.
If your family has a larger count of members, number of beds, bed type and the overall layout of the room is important to know.
Research if hotels have a bathtub in the room.
Families with younger kids will benefit from rooms with a bathtub.
Avoid having dinner in restaurants.
There are places where the meal costs are increased for dinner.
Feeding a baby with either a bottle or a breast when taking off or landing in a flight can help their ears to adjust to the cabin's air pressure.
Avoid "red eye" flights.
Arriving or leaving at crazy hours can often put the first days of your vacation in a tiresome loop.
Research how to explain your special needs in a local language.
Allergies, special diets, special physical and mental needs might be easy to explain at home, but could prove difficult in another country.
Bring a travel journal.
The whole family could write down what they did today, what they liked and not, along with any other general thoughts.
You'll remember the trip better this way and the memories will stay longer.
Take public transit.
It's fun for kids, every type of public transportation can provide a different experience, while also saving you a bit of money and in some cases time.
Before your first big trip with children, do a trial run.
Go for a weekend getaway or just a day trip, to help you figure out the packing choices, routines, how fast are you moving around, and how will you all get along.
On longer trips, plan one or two activities per day and do the high energy ones early.
Kids have the highest energy in the morning, so leaving the more relaxing activities for the evening can be a great way to distribute the energy levels throughout the day.
Bribing the kids works.
Promise them something like ice cream at the end of the day, and they'll have a lot more motivation for a hike.
Consider getting separate, but interconnecting rooms.
Both parents and kids could use a little bit of privacy and independency.
If possible, self-cater.
Purchasing your own supplies in grocery stores can be a lot cheaper than eating out.
If possible, fly direct on long haul flights.
Changing flights mid-way to your destination, often at late hours can throw off adults and even more so children.
If you're carrying an infant, consider investing into a nursing pillow.
It can make the flight experience a lot more comfortable.
If you have your seats assigned, board last.
In doing so, you'll minimize the time in tight space for your baby.
Have diapers and other essentials either shipped to the destination or bought locally.
You'll save space this way.
Consider using packing cubes.
You'll save space and each family member will have more of a say in what to pack.
Consider inviting your child's friend.
It will be a nice change of company for them and a great bonding experience.
If you had a great time in a specific place during a vacation from before, consider going back.
There's often a lot more to discover.
If you're traveling by car, plan out the route with points-of-interest to stop and explore.
While kids need the most attention, do not forget it's your holidays too.
Treat yourself to a meal you always wanted to try, an activity you read about long ago and so on.
Foresee enough variations in your trip.
Try to think of multiple different types of activities, to keep everyone excited and from getting bored.
Give children a camera.
Having a camera can help to see the beauty in landscapes, nature, architecture and details of the crowds, the buzz of the city.
Schedule longer layovers.
It may be a bit more waiting, but it would also bring less stress, because you will have more time to think about and take care of everything before your flight.
If possible, fly in a premium class.
You'll avoid long airport lines at check-in, security, boarding and border control.
Pack headphones that are comfortable for a longer period of time.
It will greatly enhance your flying experience.
Let kids pick out activities.
The trip isn't just for you, you mustn't forget about your children's interests. That way, everyone in the family will have their say and a great time.
Take roadtrips.
Kids will feel more comfortable and safe, however, pack up a lot more patience, because you will be traveling in the same car for a long time.
Stay more than one night.
Many hotels provide the best deals when you're staying for a number of days.
Research the hotel dining options.
If the hotel doesn't have a kids menu, parents are in for a difficult time.
Research available TV channels in hotels.
While it should not be the main focus to watch TV, it can be a nice activity to have a family-oriented channel to watch together with kids in the evening.
Research if hotels have laundry machines available for guests.
In longer vacations, laundry can become tricky, so having a laundry machine nearby is always handy.
Consider getting tourist attraction cards.
If at least a few offered attractions would be something you'd be interested in visiting, these cards could be a valuable investment.
Visit your doctor before traveling.
Find out your blood groups, vaccination records. If anyone in the family has pre-existing medical condition, ask for doctor's help in tracking down a specialist in your trip's destination.
If you have the means, invest in a travel-oriented stroller for a baby.
Lightweight and compact stroller can greatly improve the traveling comfort.
Consider investing in baby carriers.
Having your hands free to navigate when traveling will bring a great sense of freedom and be more comfortable overall.
If possible, plan a trip with another family.
It can be great to have some extra company, both for your kids and you.
Double check downloaded movies and music.
While many flights have internet connection, there's never a guarantee that it will work for the entirety of the flight.
Don't postpone your trip until your kids grow up.
While the children might not remember the trip, it can have the same effect as going to the park or a playground.
Prepare and hype up your kids about the trip.
The more the kids will know about the trip and the destination, the more excited they're going to be to see it with their own eyes.
Consider hotels with a kids club.
Staying in a room can quickly get boring for kids and having entertainment options is great.
