Traveling with Toddlers: Smart Tricks for Making It Extraordinary

Traveling is one of the best and most exciting things in the world and the fact that you can share that experience with your kids is truly amazing. However, traveling with toddlers isn’t always easy. Make sure to keep these tips in mind in order to avoid having to cut your trip short.  

Don’t make it too long

It’s not a coincidence that people say that distracted individuals have the attention span of a toddler. They tend to get distracted in no time and bored with even the most interesting things. So, make sure to keep your trip shorter. You might be ready for a two-week adventure, but your kids would probably want to go home in seven to ten days tops. Everyone will love their vacation more and be in a much better mood throughout. 

Inform the kids

Kids usually feel strongly about their habits, so if you want to avoid toddler meltdowns, it’s a smart idea to give your little ones a good idea of what to expect on your trip. Grab some books and pull out a few websites and show them some pictures and maps. It’s quite easy to get kids to become excited and interested in your trip. 

Pick the right accommodation

You might not mind a cheap hostel, but when you’re traveling with kids, you need all the peace and comfort you can get. Hotels are pretty good options for families with kids (some resorts even have kid-friendly activities and experienced nannies), but if you’re traveling with friends, a villa might be a better choice. This accommodation has shared spaces, a kitchen where you can prepare all sorts of meals and oftentimes a private pool for you to enjoy in peace. It certainly beats the hotel and it’s often cheaper as well. 

And pick the right transportation

If you’re going somewhere far from your hometown, you’ll need to fly, but otherwise, having a fun road trip can be a great solution. Even if you fly to your destination, you can still rent a car once you arrive and gain a lot of freedom and comfort. Some companies even offer deals on first-minute bookings and treat their loyal customers with complimentary upgrades. And traveling in a lux car is much more comfortable for your kids and you than hitting buses or trains, so expect much less fuss. 

Stay safe and healthy

Before your holiday, everyone needs to have their necessary vaccination, especially if you’re going somewhere tropical and remote. Visiting your doctor a few months before you embark is also smart. This way, you’ll get your shots and even end up with other medication if needed. Make sure to always pack plenty of pest repellent when traveling somewhere with malaria and sunscreen when hitting sunny destinations. 

Give some responsibility to your kids

Sure, they might be tiny and they can’t pack their own suitcases or be responsible for their money, but there are always ways to make them feel more grown-up and important. For instance, they can carry their little backpacks with snacks and necessities. Or you can give them two or three itinerary choices and let them pick. Your kids will feel much more involved in your family trip. 

Have a few surprises in your sleeve

Kids love their routines, but they just can’t resist some fun surprises. You know your kids best, so you’ll know just want sort of surprises to throw at them. You can “forget” to mention an exciting trip to a water park or organize an ice cream crawl where you sample every ice cream shop you see on your route. The look on their faces when you let them know about your surprise will be truly priceless and it will boost everyone’s mood. 

Consider traveling in pairs

Do you often wish you had a pair or two of extra hands when your toddlers start fussing and making a scene? If yes, then consider inviting your friends with you on your adventure. If they have kids of similar age, you can not only share the costs of your trip but also be there for each other and make things go smoothly. The kids will love having their friends close and you can even get a night or two to spend with your partner while your friends have the little ones, just make sure to return the favor. 

In case your kids get too excited or too fussy, remember that you were a kid once as well. But also keep in mind that you still carry all your travel memories with you, so all the annoyance and stress will never outweigh the precious adventures you will have with your little ones.