Before you head out on your next family vacation, there are a few key things you’ll want to keep in mind. To help make the most of your travels, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide packed with over 40 essential family travel tips.

“You’d better travel now before you have kids. Once you have kids, you will be stuck…for years.”

Thankfully, I didn’t listen to this well-intentioned yet unsolicited advice from a friend.

There are few things as rewarding as traveling with your family. Seeing the world through your children’s eyes, watching them experience new cultures and customs, and creating memories that will last a lifetime — it all adds up to an unforgettable adventure.

Family travel is a fantastic way to bond and create memories that will last a lifetime. However, family travel can be tricky — keeping everyone fed, entertained, happy, and in harmony can be overwhelming. That’s why I have put together this guide based on my personal experience. In it, you will find over 40 family travel tips that will help make your family vacation a success.

Whether you are a first-time traveling mom or dad or just looking for new ideas and top tips, read on for the best advice. Sit back, relax, and get ready for the time of your life.

Affiliate Disclosure: There are affiliate links throughout this post. This means if you click on a link and purchase a product through that link, then I will receive a small commission for the referral. And that is kinda cool.

But First…The Benefits of Family Travel.

Traveling with your family is a great way to spend time together and create lasting memories. Not only that, but family vacations can also be a great way to learn about new cultures and experience new things. Here are a few other benefits of family travel.

1) You’ll get to spend quality time together. There’s something special about spending time together on vacation. With no work or school to worry about, you can really relax and enjoy each other’s company.

2) You’ll create lasting memories. Vacations are an excellent opportunity to make memories that will last a lifetime. From exploring new places to trying new things, you will surely have plenty of stories to share when you return home.

3) Your kids will learn about different cultures. One of the best things about traveling with your children is that they’ll learn about other cultures — this can be a great way to teach them about the diversity of the world and its many different people.

4) You’ll have plenty of new experiences. When you’re on vacation, there’s no limit to the unique experiences you can have. From trying local food to going on safaris, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Family Travel Tips.
Our family traveling on an open top London bus tour on Big Bus B

If you are a first-time traveling mom, you need this — 40+ essential family vacation tips to make the best of your upcoming adventure.

My #1 family vacation tip is to just go for it.

Kids are super busy with schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and schedules. Time spent together with them on a typical weekday can be minimal and sometimes hectic. Getting away from home takes much of this day-to-day stuff away. It will be difficult sometimes, but the more you go, the more you know.

Ten compelling reasons why you should travel with your children starting early:

  • Travel teaches children patience.
  • And flexibility.
  • Traveling with children creates a lifetime of shared family memories.
  •  If you teach them how to travel early, it will be so much easier for you in the long run.
  • Travel brings families together.
  • My kids can both navigate a city like a boss.
  • And research their destination, so now they create their own itineraries.
  • Children learn things they cannot learn in school or at home.
  • Traveling encourages children to move out of their comfort zone.
  • If you travel with your kids, YOU get to continue to travel.
Family Travel Tips

The Planning Process.

2)  Get the kids involved.  

Find kid-friendly travel guides for them to study before a trip.   For our trip to London, I purchased two books, Mission London and Kids Travel Guide London. 

Getting them involved in research makes them more curious about the destination; they can add what they want to experience to the itinerary.

Let them suggest different attractions based on what they have read.  I will often consult them on where they may want to go next.  For example, for our upcoming Christmas vacation, whoever wins NCAA bracketology gets to pick our destination, which will be related to an NBA or NFL game venue, I am sure.

3)  Let the school know beforehand so the teachers can give them homework before the trip.  

Plan vacations around the school schedule so there aren’t any missed days.  However, sometimes, this does not work out. 

My kids missed two days for our Galapagos expedition.  The teachers knew at the beginning of the school year that they would be out of school for those two days. 

Most teachers don’t mind kids missing a few days for a fantastic learning experience, such as travel.  I try not to make this the norm, however.

4)  Choose a destination that will make the entire family happy. 

The Disney Cruise is an absolute favorite in this family, with many activities for every age group. 

There are kids-only programs where parents aren’t even invited.  Our kids will not go; they won’t even try. Looking back (and looking forward), this is a good thing for us.  Spending time with our children is what it is all about.  We only have them for so long.

5)  Bring a friend.

When I was a teenager, our family took vacations in the Georgia Mountains. My parents always allowed me to take a friend; this kept me occupied and happy.  Someone once told me that the best travel accessory for a teenager is a friend. 

However, this can be tricky. Some friends aren’t necessarily easy to deal with and can be high maintenance.  The choice of a friend has to be well thought out so this idea does not backfire on the parents.  Pick a friend who will make your child happy and not make you too nutty.  Y’all know what I mean.

As my teenagers grow up, my thoughts on bringing a friend on vacation have evolved. Teenagers would rather be with friends and spend a ton of time with their friends on a day-to-day basis. Our time with them is limited. I hesitate to bring a friend sometimes because I want time with my kids.  In a few years, they’ll be off and on their own.

Family Travel Tips.  The boy and his mother are standing on the top of the mountain, A woman is traveling with child, Boy with his mother looking at the mountains, Travel with backpacks, Hike and climb with kids.

6)  Give them space.

When booking your lodging, make sure the accommodations are spacious. Maybe try to have a separate area for the kids if possible, especially if staying for more than five days. 

They need space to wind down and have quiet time, and so do we.

7) Let them sleep.

Teenagers need their sleep, so let them have it. Plan your itinerary so that they get downtime and get to sleep in. And while they sleep in, head out for a walk and some me-time. Book a yoga class or go for a run. Or better yet, sleep in yourself.

Sometimes, an early activity cannot be avoided, but definitely, early days should be minimized. And they will like you better, I promise.

8)  Culture.  

Book a few cultural experiences ahead of time: theatre, an art museum, or a historical attraction.

Culture does not sound exciting to many children.  Mine have been known to complain.  But it is important to me, and they will thank me later. 

9) Buy them a travel present before leaving. 

Binoculars, a travel guide, a soft travel blanket, a new stuffed animal (this one can double as a pillow), or a new travel backpack.

Pre-Travel Home Prep.

10) Before you go on vacation, you should do a few things to prep your home. Here is a list of things to remember, from arranging for pet care to discarding the perishable food on the counter and in the refrigerator. By taking care of these things before you leave, you can relax and enjoy your time away without worrying about what’s happening at home.

  1. Arrange for Pet Care.
  2. Stop the mail and newspaper.
  3. Let a neighbor know you will be going on vacation.
  4. Discard perishable goods in the frig.
  5. Empty all garbage cans, the dishwasher, and the dryer.
  6. Clean out the garbage disposal, too.
  7. Store your expensive jewelry in a safe.
  8. Leave a light on in the hall (or set a timer).
  9. Make sure all of the doors are locked.
  10. Arm your house on your way out.
  11. Leave a spare set of house keys hidden on the patio or with a trusted relative or neighbor.

There are many things to do before you head out for your adventure. Preparing to leave for vacation doesn’t have to be stressful. Begin your trip organized and thoroughly prepared so you aren’t obsessing over what you forgot to pack or do before you left. Read more here.

Packing Tips: Don’t Leave Home Without These Essentials when Traveling with the Family.

11) Travel documents.

Gather up your travel documents, including passports. Check ahead of time the country’s requirements for identification for the kids.

We faced a scary situation in St. Thomas on our way back to the United States with our little kids. We did not have the proper official identification for them, as we had yet to require it while traveling out of the country.

Well, to leave St. Thomas, IT IS REQUIRED…AND they take it seriously. It was scary for the kids and for us, too.

12)  Tech. A controversial subject.

We stay busy all day long, eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner together every day, and are physically active wherever we go.   I don’t have a problem with screen time during vacation.  It is downtime for all of us. My daughter watches Netflix and chats with her friends, and my son catches up with the latest basketball news.

It is okay with me to have some daily screen time.  Frankly, I like it, too.  I check social media, look up news from home, research, plan our next day (or next vacation), check emails, and upload pictures from the day.  My husband can do some office work online.  I have some rules and boundaries, but I spend time online daily.

Family Travel Necessities
ipad, laptop, headphones, and keyboard

13) Noise-canceling headphones 

I bought my husband the Bose Noise-Canceling Headphones for Father’s Day last year; it was the best gift I ever bought for him.  He loves them.  When I asked him what he couldn’t travel without, he said, “Noise-canceling headphones!”  I hope he’s not trying to tell me something.

14) Medications for common travel issues/First Aid Kit.

Be prepared with the basics. There’s nothing worse than a sick kid or a sick family during vacation. Save time and money by packing the essentials.

Bring the following over-the-counter medications/ointments for travel:

  • Acetaminophen.
  • Ibuprofen.
  • Imodium.
  • Pepcid.
  • Tums.
  • Benadryl.
  • Epinephrine (food allergies).
  • Cortisone cream.
  • Benadryl cream.
  • Include a small first aid kit that includes bandaids, wraps, and tape.

15) Caffeine  

Café Bustelo makes these perfect little coffee packets (or this small bottle is also easy to pack).  All you need is hot water.  I don’t leave home without them.

16) Non-Disposable Water Bottles 

Pack S’well Bottles for the whole family. Each bottle has a unique and fun design they have picked out for themselves.

If you travel to a destination where the water is questionable, buy Gallon water jugs and fill each bottle individually. At least you won’t have to dispose of tons of little water bottles.

17) Books 

Bring a book or, better yet, a travel guide. Or the Kindle Paper White.

18) Snacks. Snacks. And more snacks.

I have a child with multiple food allergies, so this is a must for us. We can’t always find snacks for her that don’t contain allergens. So, I always stock with her favorites. She can eat pretzels and chocolate, so all is good.

19) Hand Sanitizer

Lots of germs await in all of these amazing places that we roam; always carry hand sanitizer. There are travel-sized hand sanitizers that you can purchase at most convenience stores as well as in many airports. We buy from Amazon in bulk.

20) Tide Travel Sized Laundry Detergent

These little Tide travel packets have come in handy more than I thought they would. We often travel to AAU Basketball tournaments. I use these to wash their sweaty, stinky uniforms.

If you want to pack light, you can do a few hand washes along the way. These little travel-sized detergents have been a game-changer (pun intended).

21) Packing Cubes.

A fellow uber-organized travel blogger recommended these Packing Cubes. Another game-changer. They come in several different sizes, and they are quite durable. 

22) Steamer.

Pack clothes that travel well and don’t wrinkle. My best advice. But, if you must, travel with this little steamer

It is compact, so it is easy to pack. I can steam two shirts, and then it needs a refill, so it is unsuitable for bulk steaming. But who does bulk steaming on vacation?

23) Fraas Cashmere Blanket Wrap 

Easy to pack and great for airplanes, cold restaurants, and sleeping.  And sometimes, even as a scarf.

24) Chargers ~ Don’t forget your chargers. 

I am a big fan of charging stations when traveling.  That way, we are all charging in one place.  Bring several extra batteries to use if the battery loses charge and we are out and about.

 

25) Pack a good, quality camera.

To me, a novice photographer, Canon cameras are the easiest to use and get you the best photos. 

Family Travel Essentials

Packing Tips when Traveling with Kids.

26) Let the kids pack for themselves. ~ Teach them early how to pack, with a checklist, of course. By packing for themselves, they are learning independence and accountability. Plus, in the long run, they will be packing like champs.

27) Don’t overpack. ~ You will have to pay a fee, you will be miserable lugging all of that stuff around on travel day, AND you won’t wear half of it.

Family Travel Tips for the Airport.

28) Consider your flight time wisely.

This family does not like early flights. It is painful to work with them super early during vacation. If your kids are the same, husband included, avoid this if possible.

Choose a late morning or afternoon flight. Or if traveling across the pond, choose a late flight, and maybe they’ll sleep.

29) Arrive early at the airport.

Another key family travel tip when flying is to arrive at the airport early to avoid the rush and the hustle and bustle of parking, checking in, checking bags, and the TSA security line. Then you have plenty of time to relax and spend time with your family before you board.

30) Sign up for TSA PrecheckSpend $85 and speed through security without removing your shoes, laptop, liquids, belts, or light jackets.

Family Travel Tips.  Family traveling with kids. Parents with children at international airport with luggage. Mother and father hold baby, toddler girl and boy flying by airplane. Travel with child for summer vacation.

31) Entertainment at the gate (since you arrived super early).

  • Go for a walk around the terminal, but keep a close eye on the time.
  • Listen to your favorite playlist or podcast on your noise-canceling headphones.
  • Read your travel guides and dream about your destination. If you haven’t created your itinerary, now is the time.
  • Read a book or magazine, or listen to an audiobook.
  • Make a TikTok with your kids.
  • Watch a movie on Netflix.
  • Stretch out in the airport lounge if you can.
  • Close your eyes, deep breaths, and relax.

Healthy Family Vacation Tips.

32) Exercise.

  • Walk everywhere you can.
  • When booking your lodging, book where there is a pool or gym.
  • Mix in a workout while sightseeing. For example, go horseback riding, stand-up paddleboarding, bike riding, or kayaking.
  • Drop in for a yoga or CrossFit class.
  • Go out for a run. Here are the top tips to keep running while on vacation.

33) Pack sunscreen and wear it. Protect your family from the harmful rays of the sun. While sun exposure provides Vitamin D, which is essential for bone strength, it can cause skin damage, skin cancers, and early aging.

34) Maintain proper nutrition, or at least 80/20.

  • Begin your day with a healthy breakfast.
  • Pack healthy snacks.
  • Hydrate.
  • Stock your hotel refrigerator with healthy goodies: hummus, hard-boiled eggs, greek yogurt, fruit, and veggies.
  • Cook your meals, if you can.

Now, the Fun Part: Family Travel Tips While at Your Destination.

35) Have a plan. 

Know where you are going to stay and reserve.  Book a vehicle if you need transportation.  And create a soft itinerary. Oh, and maybe even let the kids pick a few fun activities to add to your itinerary.

36) Take public transport.

Kids love the tube, underground, subway, and even the bus. It’s an experience. And maybe even a life skill.

37) But, walk or ride a bike when you can.

38)  The Ultimate Family Vacation Tip for MOM — Plan “me” time.  

Schedule a massage or facial, take a walk, practice yoga, or go to the gym. My husband will hit the gym for an hour daily; nothing stops him.  Take time away to regroup, decompress, take a deep breath, or whatever it may be to keep fresh. 

Family Travel 
Spa scene with flowers and candles

39) Don’t overbook.

Don’t overbook your day, or you will have a load of complaints and maybe even tantrums. Know your kid’s (and your travel companion’s) limits.

If you want to see something and it’s too much for them, consider leaving them with Dad and heading off alone for an hour or two.

40) Schedule downtime for the family.

Make sure to schedule downtime. You will need it, too.

41) Let them play.

Let them splash around in the pool and build a sandcastle. Don’t rush it. You only have this moment once.

42) Just be there. 

Be present.  Relax. Enjoy these precious family moments. 

Family Travel Tips

There you have it — 40+ family travel tips will help you not only enjoy your vacation but enjoy each other as well. 

Remember to be flexible, pack carefully, take your time, and keep everyone active, fed, hydrated, and safe.
With a little bit of planning, you’ll be sure to have a trip that everyone will enjoy.

Traveling with children is challenging, but with a little compromise and a lot of love, the whole family will experience the time of their life.

Do you have any other tips for family travel? Could you share them in the comments below?
Until next time, safe travels.
Thanks so much for reading. If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends.

Traveling Party of Four Signature