Top family travel tips to get you there and back again

There are so many things to do, carry, and remember when you’re traveling with kids. It’s natural to have some pre-trip anxiety. Try to do a mental walkthrough of your travel day before you leave for the airport and make lists of what to pack, both for the trip and to bring on board. Scheduling out how long each part of your travel day will take — and adding an extra buffer to that schedule — can help adults feel more cool and collected in the moment.

One of the best ways to maximize your time when you're traveling with young kids is by writing out a daily schedule that includes naps and meal times and then filling in the wake windows with activities you want to check out (and how you’ll get there). You don’t need to plan every moment away, but having a rough idea of places you can go and for how long will help keep naps and meals closer to their regular time.

Travel is expensive in general — but when you’re traveling with kids, you’re suddenly paying for multiple plane tickets, bigger accommodations, and more attractions. Budget travel takes a little extra planning, but it doesn’t need to sacrifice the fun. Consider a trip type that’s more of a set price like a national park — you can pay for the passes up front and cook meals in the kitchen of your vacation rental. You can also save by going to big cities for shorter trips (weekend getaway, anyone?), dining out for breakfast or lunch instead of dinner, and checking out local parks, playgrounds, beaches, and other outdoor activities.

Do you start packing for a trip ten days ahead of time? Or are you more of a last-minute, throw-it-all-in-a-suitcase kind of person? Whatever your packing style, when you’re trying to figure out what to bring for the kids and yourself, while being mindful of baggage fees and transportation logistics, it can feel like a very un-fun game of Tetris. We’ve got you covered for everything from what to bring on board when flying with a baby, to strategies for the whole family (and their bags).

The idea of flying with the kids might inspire a bit of anxiety — no one looks forward to being stuck in one place for several hours, surrounded by strangers, with a squirmy, hungry, potentially sleep-deprived kid. The good news is, your seatmates have likely traveled with kids before and will be understanding if anything goes off course. If you’re flying with a baby, try feeding them as the plane takes off and lands to avoid pain from pressure. We’ve got plenty of other ideas, including fun activities and travel hacks for flying with the kids and tips to survive travel with a baby.

Imagine arriving in paradise, and then trying to fit the adults and kids into a single room for everything from naps to snacks to early bedtimes. No thank you! Vacation rentals are great for families because they give each person their own space to unwind and decompress before another day ahead. They also come with the comforts of home, which makes it easier to keep kids fed, snacked, and napped. This article is a great place to begin if you’re curious about the best amenities to look for in a home.

Nobody likes jet lag — especially kids who might have a harder time understanding why they can’t start the day when they’re awake at 2AM. Top tips to tackle this common travel problem include:

• Arrive at your destination towards the end of the day so everyone can use their travel exhaustion to get a decent night’s sleep
• Make sure you get up and out into the daylight as much as possible
• Pack some melatonin or other sleep aids if necessary.

Here’s a full list of jet lag-busting tips that will help you settle in and get some rest (at the appropriate hours).

Vacations in the time before kids meant lazy days at the beach and time to go wherever the wind took you. Things have changed, but you don’t have to give up all the things you love to do when you’re traveling with young kids. Consider taking shifts with your partner or another adult so you’re able to do some exploring on your own, invite your extended family to come along and help, or bring the kids along but pack plenty of toys and activities to keep them occupied. Make your nights at your vacation home all about you, whether you pick up some goodies at a local spa or indulge in a favorite beverage and dessert after the kids are tucked in for the night.

There’s no getting around it — traveling with young kids does come with a lot of challenges. The best way to get through it is to do some careful planning in advance so you feel confident and go with the flow when hiccups inevitably happen. Because between the messes and occasional meltdowns, you’ll find plenty of beautiful little moments together you won’t soon forget.