FAMILY TRAVEL AT A GLANCE
The idea of family travel, especially international family trips, can be quite terrifying for many of us with kids—especially young kids.
There really is no need to be scared though. Family travel can be even more exciting and rewarding than travel without kids. This part-time family travel website shares our experiences, and we hope they help you feel more comfortable about taking the plunge with your children.
If you are already a family travel guru, we hope you will still learn something new or see something from a different perspective.
A family that travels together is a family that stays together.
OUR TOP FAMILY TRAVEL TIPS
Start early
Travelling with babies and toddlers can be hard work, but normalising travel early teaches children patience and adaptability—and gives you memories you will always keep.
Slow down
Family travel is different. Stay several nights in one place, use it as a base for day trips and leave regular time for children to play, swim and rest.
Include their interests
Playgrounds, pools and theme parks are not wasted time. Include age-appropriate activities in your travel itinerary so everyone enjoys the trip.
Pre-book essentials
Know where you are staying and reserve important transport, seats, meals and activities before travelling. It removes decisions when everyone is tired.
Expect changes
Things will go wrong: missed buses, closed restaurants and urgent toilet stops. Accepting that early makes those moments much less stressful.
WHY YOU SHOULD TRAVEL WITH YOUR KIDS
Travel is life-changing. Getting away from the daily grind and being adventurous makes us come alive, and we want our children to grow up with the travel bug too.
- It helps them become citizens of the world.
- It exposes them to languages, cultures and unfamiliar food.
- It builds confidence, independence and adaptability.
- It encourages curiosity and creates opportunities to be brave.
- It teaches them that the world is wonderfully large and varied.
THE BEST AGE TO TRAVEL WITH KIDS
There is no single perfect age to travel with children. Every stage has advantages and disadvantages, and each child’s temperament matters as much as the number on their birthday cake.
A flight can also feel completely different for the same child depending on the time of day, whether they are tired and whether they are unwell. Think honestly about your child and choose the pace and destination accordingly.
Travelling with a baby
Practical guidance for taking your first trips with a baby.
Read more
Travelling with a toddler
How to plan around sleep, food, movement and a toddler’s growing curiosity.
Read moreOUR TOP FAMILY TRAVEL DESTINATIONS
Many countries can make brilliant family destinations. The best choice depends on your children, the climate, journey time and what each person wants from the holiday.
HOW TO BOOK AND SURVIVE A FLIGHT WITH KIDS
Flying with children is one of the things parents dread most, but preparing in advance makes it far more manageable.
- Choose direct flights where possible.
- Reserve seats and meals in advance.
- Travel light and pack snacks and entertainment.
- Explain what will happen at the airport and on the plane.
- Allow movement and a bathroom break before boarding.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation often has the biggest impact on whether a family trip succeeds. Room rules, extra charges, facilities and sleeping arrangements can vary enormously, particularly for babies and toddlers.
Look closely at location, kitchen facilities, laundry, cots, pools and how much space your family will genuinely have at the end of a busy day.
Woolacombe Bay Holiday Park review
Our experience of a family holiday park stay in North Devon, including the accommodation and facilities.
Read moreTRAVEL INSPIRATION – THE BEST THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR KIDS
Each family is looking for something different when they travel. Some are looking for outdoor activities, some are looking for historical sites, still others just want to keep their busy toddler occupied while they see a different part of the world.
Know what each member of your family hopes to get out of the trip before you solidify your itinerary. Perhaps your husband won’t care what Instagram spots he has to photograph for your family as long as he gets to visit a certain museum or brewery. Maybe all you want out of the trip is to sip a cafe au lait at a sidewalk cafe (my only request for our second visit to Paris). Maybe your kids are begging you for a day at the beach.
Take all of this into consideration as you add some things to your schedule and discard others.
GO CAMPING WITH YOUR KIDS
GO ON A ROADTRIP WITH YOUR KIDS
GO TO A THEME PARK WITH YOUR KIDS
GO TO AN INTERACTIVE MUSEUM WITH YOUR KIDS
GO TO THE BEACH WITH YOUR KIDS
GO CARAVANNING WITH YOUR KIDS
GO ON A CRUISE WITH YOUR KIDSTHE GOOD. THE BAD. THE UGLY – REALITY OF TRAVELLING WITH KIDS
There are so many reasons why traveling with kids is amazing, but it would be a lie to say that traveling as a family is easy.
Travelling with kids is different to travelling without kids. The primary difference is that your job (ie parenting) travels with you. You still need to deal with kids waking at night, getting bottles, changing nappies, getting meals, doing washing etc etc. This doesn’t mean that it can’t be lots of fun, it’s just important to have the right expectations (or even better – have none!).
You need to have realistic expectations of what you can achieve while travelling with kids. We are rarely disappointed while travelling as we don’t expect to do as much as we did pre-kids. I do recommend prioritising attractions that are important and doing them first as you never know what might pop up. It’s also important to keep a good attitude about doing things that might seem like a waste of time when you are in a foreign country. For example, going to the local playground can be a great way to interact with locals, so think of it that way rather than just doing something you would do at home.
PACK YOUR SUITCASE FOR YOUR NEXT FAMILY HOLIDAY
One of the most stressful things about travelling with the kids is packing. Are there enough clothes? Is there enough stuff to keep them entertained? The temptation is to throw everything in so you’ve got every eventuality covered – but that’s really not the best way to go!
Packing for a family holiday needn’t be overwhelming. We’ve come up with some great tips and essential packing lists, to make your next family holiday a whole lot easier.
The basicsClothing, medicines, documents and comfort items
The journeySnacks, wipes, spare clothing and entertainment
Your destinationWeather layers, sun protection and specialist kitOUR FAVOURITE TRAVEL GEAR FOR FAMILY HOLIDAYS
One of the hard parts about getting organised to travel is to know what are the best sites to use to book travel, what gear you need to buy and what other tools are useful. This is where we can help you!
In this section, you will find reviews of the best products to help you travel smarter, cheaper and better. This includes many guides to the best products to help make your trip a success!
To find all our best baby travel gear recommendations, look here. For all our best toddler and kids travel gear recommendations, look here.
Family luggageSuitcases and bags that are practical to move and organise.
Packing organisersKeep each person’s clothes and essentials easy to find.
Health essentialsA compact kit for the minor problems that happen away from home.
Travel techUseful technology and accessories for easier family journeys.THE BEST BOOKS FOR FAMILY TRAVEL
Family travel books can provide practical reassurance and inspiration, particularly when you are planning a new type of trip or travelling with children at a different stage.
We use books alongside current online information: guidebooks are particularly useful for maps, background reading and ideas that can be marked up before departure.