Taking a trip with children demands additional organization given that the whole process needs to be planned in such a way that everyone regardless of age will be comfortable. Luckily, numerous things exist for those who plan on traveling with children. In the following article, you will find five useful suggestions for families with kids so that you can enjoy your trip comfortably.
1. Family-Friendly Packing Lists
When traveling with children, packaging can be a challenge as it’s easy to forget important items. You can avoid this by creating a family-friendly packing list, which makes packing a breeze. If you’re not sure where to start there are plenty of free templates online, these lists can be modified to fit your destination and family needs. Once you made your list you can share this list with your family so everyone is on the same page. Packing in an organized manner also makes you less prone to forgetting what you need. Planning from the beginning will save you time as well as keep you organized, and creating a checklist or even using a packing app can do the trick.
2. Kid-Friendly Game Apps
During long flights, road trips, or waiting periods, there are several entertaining apps that can be lifesavers in keeping kids occupied. Entertaining content just for kids can be found in Apps like Kids Place or YouTube Kids. These apps allow you to let kids stay occupied while you travel, which is great in those calmer periods such as getting to the airports, checking into hotels, or dealing with other traveling logistics. These apps among others also have a feature called parental control, which helps to lock and manage the usage time of the apps as well as what content your kids can access. You can also download plenty of interactive learning apps, which can be a great way to keep kids’ brains working hard while you’re on the move, plus they’re equally as entertaining.
3. Online Family Travel Forums
Another way in which parents can gain information is by contacting online family travel forums. These sites share tips from other families about the best attractions, what to do while you are there, as well as tips on incorporating travel hacks to make it easier to travel with kids. There are resources shared by parents on these forums about kid-friendly hotels, restaurants, and transportation options. But they are also places that you can use to discover family travel deals and packages. Forums are often a source of tips regarding your travel plans in order to get the most out of your trip along with helping you avoid common mistakes. You can check on these forums to see if your plans are truly kid-friendly giving you an extra boost of confidence in your choices.
4. Airport and Airline Kid Services
Many amenities and services most airports and airlines provide today are geared toward families to make travel smoother for those of you traveling with children. In many airports you can find, family rooms, nursing stations, play areas, and so on in order to help families keep their children stress-free. Often airlines also offer complimentary toys, coloring books, and even priority boarding for families. These resources can be used to make airport waiting time and boarding more manageable. When you purchase your tickets you can reach out to the airline to ask if there are any other family-friendly services available on your flight. Having an idea of these amenities beforehand will help you plan accordingly.
5. Car Seat and Stroller Rental Services
Often it can be difficult to travel with a stroller on a crowded airplane, and if you do and the flight is full they may even make you check in the stroller at the gate. Instead before traveling, to New York City, for example, search online for “stroller rental in NYC”. These services allow you to rent a stroller at your destination. Often times these services offer a variety of strollers to suit your needs making it easier to travel light without compromising either comfort or safety for your child. These services take away the burden of transporting strollers that can be damaged if checked in at the gate. Airports also often offer strollers as well so you don’t have to worry about moving around within the airport either.
Conclusion
Traveling with children doesn’t have to be difficult if you plan correctly. There’s a lot out there to make family travel smoother and more enjoyable, including family-friendly packing list templates, kid-oriented travel apps, online forums, airport kid services, and stroller rentals. By using these simple tools you can plan a trip the whole family will enjoy.
