A lot of people think that once you have a baby you have to stop traveling. Fortunately, that’s far from the truth. In this guest post, Kristin Addis from Be My Travel Muse and Parenthood Adventures shares her tips for flying with a baby so you can travel with confidence the next time you take flight with your little one.

Flying with a baby can seem daunting. Plenty of parents dream of traveling with their little one, but visions of an entire plane of people gawking as their child cries keeps them from taking the leap.

As the mom of a well-traveled one-year-old, I’ve had my fair share of flights where everyone complimented how well my baby did, and others where I was counting the seconds until it was over, with a fussy, squirming child in my arms.

From those successes and failures, I’ve learned a lot about how to make a long flight more tolerable with an infant.

With 10 countries and nearly 100 flights as a family under my belt (plus some solo with my child), here’s everything I’ve learned about how to fly internationally with a baby:

1. Get Your Documents in Order Prior to Booking

Before traveling internationally, ensure you’ve left enough time to get your baby a passport. First, you’ll need a birth certificate, and depending on where you live, this could take a while.

Next, take photos of your child lying on a white background (I used a T-shirt) and make your passport office appointment, where you’ll submit your application forms (available online and at the office), photos, and payment. Check your local passport office or post office for the required documents and procedures.

Make sure that you leave plenty of time to spare for processing the application. Consider expediting it if there’s a long wait or if you plan to travel in a week’s time (in which case, go in person). It took us about three weeks to get the appointment, and six more to get the passport (even with expedited processing).

2. Make Sure Baby Has a Ticket

Even if your infant will be on your lap, they still need to be ticketed to be allowed to board. For international flights, you’ll have to pay the taxes, and usually 10% of the adult fare, even if they’re just on your lap.

Make sure you have this ticket confirmation prior to heading to the airport. I have run into issues before, when the airline said my son was added to my reservation when in fact he wasn’t, causing me to miss my flight while we sorted out the extra ticket and fees. Now, I make sure I have the actual ticket confirmation to avoid any issues.

3. Reserve a Bassinet

For those traveling with lap infants, check with your airline to reserve a bassinet. Bassinets attach to the area in front of the bulkhead seats, providing a safe and cozy spot for your baby to rest during the flight, and giving you your lap back. You do not need to book your child their own seat to reserve a bassinet, as it will be attached to the wall in front of you. They have weight limits, but each airline is different in terms of what those are, with most being 20–26 lbs.

These bassinets are limited, and bulkhead seats are popular, so make your reservation early to secure one. Not every airline reserves these ahead of time, but some do. Singapore Airlines and Emirates even reserve bassinet seats especially for parents!

4. Get Toddlers Their Own Seat for Longer Flights

Children under two can fly on your lap (usually for free or for a discount, as mentioned above) instead of in their own seat, but on lengthy international flights, it’s well worth booking a separate seat for them. If they’re mobile, they’ll be squirming and encroaching on the space of the people next to you if they don’t have their own seat and will probably be frustrated that they can’t move around more.

Though we didn’t do this for my baby before he was standing and crawling, on our most recent flight, from Cape Town to San Francisco, which involved 24 combined hours in the air, it was our saving grace. Having our own row gave my son space to move, stand, climb a bit, and get his energy out. It also gave us more legroom and a space for him to sleep. It was so worth the expense.

If you do this, you’ll need to either bring a car seat or CARES harness onboard for them. A CARES harness wraps around the seat, creating a better-fitting seat belt situation, but they are only usable for babies who can sit up comfortably unaided, are over 3 feet (1 meter) tall, and weigh 22-44 lbs (10-20 kg).

5. Reserve a Meal for Them

Some airlines offer baby meals, such as purees, and even toddler meals. Though it’s a rare offering, Emirates even has formula onboard!

Notify the airline in advance about any dietary restrictions or allergies your child may have. Airlines can often accommodate special requests, ensuring that your child has a suitable and safe meal during the flight. I always pack our own snacks and food as well, since you never know what the meal might include, and babies get hungry on their own schedule.

Don’t count on the airline to provide milk for your child. We’ve found that while some have milk onboard, they’re not really prepared with extra for babies and toddlers, and some might not have any to spare at all. We bring our own plant milk in smaller containers (see below about quantities), or lately, I’ve been bringing powdered fortified oat milk sachets now that he’s older. Toddler formula is an option as well!

6. Print Their Boarding Pass

Even though parents can use mobile boarding passes, I’ve always been required to show a printed ticket for our baby, even as a lap infant. From time to time, the ticketing agents have not realized this and said we could use a mobile ticket, but TSA, at least in the US, may require the printed ticket to get through security. While you’re checking in at the kiosk, just ask for printed tickets to avoid any headache.

7. Leave Extra Time at the Airport

Give yourself more time at the airport than you ever did before when traveling with a baby. Diaper changes, blowouts, extra time in security, and impromptu feedings can all happen, and having a comfortable buffer before your flight leaves is essential. It also allows for a more leisurely airport experience, ensuring that you don’t start off the whole trip rushed and stressed. You may have been able to sprint to a closing gate in the past, but that’s going to be difficult with a baby and all the extra luggage that entails!

8. Be Aware of TSA Regulations

Security is a whole new experience as a parent, and one you’ll be spending extra time dealing with. Familiarize yourself with regulations concerning traveling with a child, and know your rights. Regulations can change, so if you’re departing from the US, check the TSA website for the most up-to-date information (and if abroad, check your country’s website).

The most important thing to know is that formula, breast milk, juice, water, and food for infants are allowed over the 3 oz./100ml limit in “reasonable” quantities, which will be up to the agent. I have only been questioned once, and only in the US. Abroad, we’ve hardly been given any extra checks when the agents know the liquids are for a baby. We even brought an entire carry-on full of oat milk through security in South Africa without anyone batting an eye.

However, when going through US security, you will have extra checks. They may run any liquids through an extra scanner, bomb-test the bag if there’s powdered formula, and even take off the lid to perform a vapor test. This can take anywhere from 5 to 20 extra minutes, even if you have TSA Precheck!

9. Learn How to Survive the Airport and Layovers

After security, we’re usually on the lookout for a family bathroom (so we can all go in) for a diaper change, followed by finding a quiet area to let the time pass. If you have a toddler, locate family-friendly amenities, such as play areas, where your child can expend some energy. I like to research this before we even get to the airport, so we know where we’re going.

Remember to have a stroller that can fit in the overhead bin of an airplane or baby carrier for easy transport in the terminal. I prefer smaller strollers, so that I don’t risk them getting damaged through gate-checking and don’t have to wait after the flight to get the stroller if it’s a tight connection, which happens all the time when there are delays.

However, if your stroller is too large to be a carry-on, you can usually gate-check it for free. I have yet to come across an airline, including low-cost carriers, that don’t do this.

If your baby needs to move, let them crawl. Yes, the floor is dirty, but you can always wash their hands and change their outfit before boarding.

10. Keep Them Entertained

In your diaper bag (which doesn’t count against carry-on allowance), pack a variety of entertainment options for your baby. We like to stick spinners to the plane windows and bring small object permanence boxes, little books, and stickers. Most airlines have had little toys as well, though I wouldn’t count on those being your main source of entertainment. Never underestimate the power of reading a book, playing peek-a-boo, or giving your child a water bottle to play with.

Although we’ve never done this, I’m not here to judge you if you download some Ms. Rachel on your phone or tablet before leaving home. Just keep in mind that you’ll have to either play it without sound or get your toddler baby-sized headphones for the full experience.

11. Pack Finger Foods for the Flight

Another way I pass the time is by making sure my son is fed and happy with foods that take some time to eat. Finger foods like Cheerios, squished blueberries, smoothie melts, quartered grapes, and other non-messy fruits or veggies your child enjoys are always good to bring along. If you’re doing baby-led weaning, you can do this from six months of age. If you’re doing purees, bring pouches that don’t need refrigeration.

Keep in mind that you’ll have to finish any produce before entering your destination, as most countries do not allow outside fruits and veggies through customs.

12. Prepare Your Carry-On

In your carry-on bag, ensure you have enough diapers, wipes, pacifiers, and changes of clothes for delays. We usually pack way more diapers than we think we’ll need, and even so, we often go through all of them when we encounter delays or an upset stomach. We’ve gone through four changes of clothes before, too. Diapers and wipes can be difficult to impossible to find in the terminal, and most airlines don’t carry them onboard.

Don’t forget extra outfits for yourself, too, as travel can sometimes lead to unexpected messes. Additionally, have a small first-aid kit that includes any medications your baby might need, such as pain relievers, fever reducers, or allergy medication. It’s the worst to wish you had these onboard when you need them and to not have them on hand.

TSA will apply liquid limits to medications unless you have a prescription, so put over-the-counter liquids into smaller containers for travel.

13. Understand Stroller Policies

Thankfully most airlines do not count a stroller or car seat against your checked baggage allowance if you choose to check your stroller or car seat. I also have yet to find an airline that doesn’t allow parents to gate-check strollers, meaning you can use them in the airport until you board the plane. This convenience can make navigating the airport much more manageable.

If you can’t gate-check your stroller, many airports have free ones you can use while you’re at the airport.

14. Review the Car Seat Policies

If you’re traveling with a car seat, you have the option of checking it as hold luggage, bringing it to the gate, or bringing it onboard if your baby has their own seat. If you do check it as hold luggage, as mentioned above, it usually does not count against checked luggage limits, even on low-cost carriers. If you plan to check both a stroller and a car seat, check with the airline, as some only allow one.

You’re rolling the dice a bit checking a car seat, because if it gets lost, you could show up to your destination without it. We’ve still gone for it, though, knowing the risk, in order to have less to juggle in the airport, but it’s important to keep that in mind just in case.

If you plan to bring the car seat onboard, make sure it’s FAA-approved for air travel. I loved our Uppababy Mesa, and the Nuna Pipa is great too.

15. Know the Baggage Policies

Traveling with children often means more luggage, so be prepared for potential extra baggage fees. Familiarize yourself with the weight and size restrictions to avoid surprises at the check-in counter. Some airlines will give a baby some checked baggage allowance, but most don’t unless the child has their own seat.

We have yet to manage to go carry-on only since having a baby. We’re usually traveling with his foldable bed, travel high chair, and extra food for him. Thankfully most baggage is included without extra fees for international flights, with the exception of low-cost carriers.

Carry-on strollers and diaper bags have never been counted against our allowance.

16. Clear Their Ears Before Takeoff and Landing

During takeoff and landing, changes in cabin pressure can cause discomfort for everyone, but babies don’t know yet how to clear their ears. To help alleviate this, breastfeed, or offer a bottle, pacifier, or even a snack that encourages swallowing. By making sure we do this for every takeoff and landing, we’ve been able to avoid crying due to ear pressure issues.

17. Know How to Clean Things Onboard

If you’re on a long flight, you’ll eventually need to clean a bottle or maybe even a breast pump. I like to bring a small, 2–3 oz. unscented soap container and a portable bottle washing station. Ask the flight attendants for clean water for washing. I’ve had them sometimes even offer to rinse a bottle out for me with hot water.

18. Keep Nap and Sleep Times Consistent

International travel often involves crossing multiple time zones, which can lead to jet lag for both you and your child. To help minimize its effects, make sure you’re keeping with regular nap times and bedtime as much as you can while flying. Stick to the local schedule upon arrival to adapt more quickly.

Jet lag is one of the biggest fears parents have, but my son tends to adjust more quickly than I do, and I’ve been impressed every time!

19. Dress Your Baby Comfortably

Dress your child in comfortable, breathable clothing for the flight. Opt for layers, as the temperature on the plane can vary. We always put my son in bamboo baby clothes, which are great for temperature regulation, and, having worn the adult versions myself, I can vouch that it’s like wearing a cloud. In a dry environment like an airplane, having some comfort is key.

20. Take a Walk

If you have a toddler, make sure you’re getting up and letting them walk up and down the aisles when there aren’t food or beverage carts around. It can help pass the time, get some energy out, and if you have a social kiddo like mine, give them a chance to wave at their adoring fans.

Although there are some well-publicized incidents with passengers getting upset at crying babies, I’ve never personally encountered anything like that, and find that fellow passengers will often play peekaboo or smile and wave at my son.

21. Be Mindful of Timing

When booking your flights, choose departure times that align with your child’s schedule as much as possible. Although it’s sometimes unavoidable, it sets us off on the wrong foot if I have to wake my son up for a flight well before he would naturally. He’s fussy and irritable, and he doesn’t always fall back asleep easily.

As for red-eyes or day flights, I’ve found that both work, but at least on a red-eye, he’s more likely to sleep for a good chunk of it, meaning I have to find fewer ways to entertain him.

22. Invest in a Good Baby Carrier

A comfortable baby carrier is a valuable asset when traveling with a child under two years. It allows you to have your hands free to manage luggage, documents, and other essentials while keeping them secure and close. We only traveled with a carrier until my son was about eight months old before switching to a stroller. That said, some destinations don’t have great sidewalks (I’m looking at you, Southeast Asia), so having a carrier is important, too. I have used both Ergobaby and Artipoppe and like both for different reasons: Artipoppe is more comfortable for the baby facing in, and Ergobaby is nicer facing outward.

23. Know Your Destination’s Regulations

Different countries may have specific regulations and requirements for traveling with a child. Research and familiarize yourself with any necessary documentation, vaccinations, or permits needed for your international destination.

I was surprised that in Namibia, we were asked to produce a birth certificate for my son when checking in for our flight to South Africa. We travel with a copy, which I’m glad we had along.

If you’re traveling solo, you may be required to show a copy of the birth certificate, a copy of the other parent’s passport, and a written authorization from the other parent that you’re allowed to take the baby out of the country. Canada listed this as a requirement, but I was never actually asked for anything. Still, it’s important to be prepared just in case.

24. Plan for Delays

Delays can happen (over 20% of flights are delayed, in fact!), so it’s wise to be prepared for them. Pack enough supplies, including diapers, formula, snacks, and entertainment, to handle unforeseen delays. We encounter them all the time, and a well-stocked carry-on can make waiting at the airport more manageable. If you have a phone or tablet for your toddler, make sure you have an external battery to keep them charged.

25. Be Patient

Traveling with a child can be challenging, and there may be moments of frustration or fatigue. Remember to stay patient and calm throughout the journey. If you’re super stressed out and nervous, your child will pick up on it. A positive attitude and a sense of humor can go a long way in making the experience enjoyable for both you and your little one.

Ultimately, the key to a successful international journey with a child under two is embracing the adventure and knowing that it may not go perfectly. The flight is a necessary step to get to the vacation, so make the most of the experience, relish the small victories, and know that even if you have a fussy baby, it’s okay. They are part of society, and they’re allowed to fly, even cry if they have to.

It’s all worth it to build memories that you’ll always cherish with your little one, and to treat yourself as parents, too!

Kristin Addis is a solo female travel expert who inspires women to travel the world in an authentic and adventurous way. A former investment banker who sold all of her belongings and left California in 2012, Kristin has been traveling the world ever since. You can find more of her musings at Be My Travel Muse or on Instagram and Facebook.

The post 25 Tips for Flying with a Baby appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

Everyone says that you have to stop traveling the world once you have kids. In this guest post, Kristin from Be My Travel Muse shares how she has managed to keep traveling the world — even with a baby — and the lessons and challenges traveling with a child has presented.

For nearly ten years, I traveled to over sixty countries on six continents by myself.

If you had told 26-year-old me, who was just beginning her solo travel adventures, that she would eventually have a baby, she might have searched out a DeLorean to rewrite the script.

Traveling solo meant ultimate, intoxicating freedom. It didn’t matter if I woke up and made a last-minute decision to leave a place, or to stay for two more weeks. It didn’t matter if I completely upended my plans on a whim because of a new person I met or a new destination I became aware of. It didn’t matter what I wanted to eat for dinner or when. I could be totally, deliciously selfish, which I loved at the time.

But a baby changes all of that.

My son has now turned six months old. He has been on 17 flights and has his own passport and Global Entry card. Though traveling with him is beautiful, it is certainly very different in a way I did not expect.

These are the eight ways that traveling has changed for me as a parent.
 

1. I research MUCH more

One of the great things about traveling on a shoestring on an open-ended trip on which you’re time rich (and in my case ten years ago, cash poor) is the ability to coast. Although I did some research for my year in Southeast Asia, I also knew that I would learn a lot from the people I met along the way. For this reason, I didn’t want an itinerary in advance or do much research.

But now there’s so much more I need to learn. What do I need to know about flying with a baby? What kind of streets and sidewalks am I in for? (That will dictate whether I just bring a baby carrier or a stroller.) Is the water safe to drink? Are diapers, baby food, and formula easy to find?

When it comes to accommodation, I have to consider whether it’s going to be safe for him or not, if my son will be mobile by the time we visit, whether or not they have a crib, and even whether or not there’s a microwave or kettle for sanitizing baby bottles.

For our Mexico trip, I had to make sure the home had a water filter for safe bottle washing. I wouldn’t have worried about this for just me.

So, as a traveling parent, I spend more time on Reddit and parent groups than I ever have before. Two resources worth checking out are:

• Reddit Parenting
• What to Expect Forum

2. I plan MUCH more

I remember how freaked out my mom was when I took off to Bangkok with a one-way ticket and nothing else booked. I didn’t even have accommodation picked for the first night. I figured I would show up and just find something — and I did!

Although some people might be comfortable doing this with a baby, I need to have a plan to feel confident these days. For our most recent trip to Japan, I knew what we would be doing each day of the trip because I had researched the baby friendliness of all of my desired activities ahead of time. I already had all of our accommodation booked, train routes planned, and even many restaurants and food experiences picked out.

This ended up being a good choice, as most of our trip was drama-free, thanks to my meticulous planning.

This goes back to research: I’d read the reviews and looked into places where people had brought their children. I read blog posts about traveling with a baby in Japan, so that I wouldn’t repeat their mistakes (like overpacking). I figured that the fewer variables and in-the-moment decisions, the less stress we’d have to deal with.
 

3. I move around less

There were times during my solo travels when I’d arrive in place, decide I didn’t like it, and catch the next bus out. I had nothing planned or booked, so it didn’t matter. But now, each new stop means taking turns watching the baby while the other parent packs, planning around nap time, and carting all of your extra kiddie stuff around for hours. With a baby, nobody needs to be a hero with a 12-stop, all-you-can-see-in-a-fortnight itinerary. (Actually, that’s not much fun even without a baby in tow.)

For our first domestic trip to Vermont and our first trip abroad to Mexico, we stayed in one town each time. In Japan, we visited four towns in two weeks, and even that felt ambitious.

More stops don’t always make a trip better. In fact, it often has the opposite effect, since you spend much of your time in transit. Slow travel is more relaxing and cheaper, and provides an opportunity to know a place on a deeper level. Over the years, I’ve come to prefer it.
 

4. I accomplish less on the trip

In Thailand a few years ago, I did not miss a single sunrise all month. I felt that I needed to photograph each one, as well as journal, set intentions, and meditate each morning. Then I’d spend all day adventuring. Rinse, repeat. Such is the life of a blogger and photographer.

On our first trip to Vermont as a family, I realized that we were not going to be getting up for sunrise, hiking out past sunset, and going to the extremes I often do on my solo trips, because it often takes us an extremely long time just to get out the door each day. We need to make sure he’s fed, that we have his diaper bag adequately packed, and that his diaper is dry before we head out, and take turns getting ready while the other person watches the baby.

So I had to make peace with the fact that we weren’t going to do all of the things I normally do — and sometimes that’s still a struggle for me.

But I’m also happy with the slower pace.

I used to put a lot of pressure on myself to “see it all” on a trip, and that sometimes made me miss the point of being in the moment and just feeling gratitude for being on the road at all — which I’m now more aware of.
 

5. I can no longer travel with only a carry-on

For my entire first year of traveling alone in Southeast Asia, I had a 35-liter backpack and a crossbody bag that I could easily carry on my own — that was it. I never had to check luggage, which gave me so much more freedom than people who were lugging huge suitcases. It was cheaper never paying checked-bag fees, too.

But the strange thing about humans is, the younger they are, the more things they need. You might need a stroller that fits in an overhead bin, car seat, travel crib, and definitely lots of diapers, wipes, clothes, and food. Gone are the days of only traveling with a carry-on backpack.

I still try to go as minimalist as possible, but I’m definitely checking luggage now that I travel with a baby. But being older and wiser about collecting points and miles, I have cards that refund the checked-baggage fees, and status on some airlines that gives me free checked baggage, so it’s not a big deal.
 

6. People treat me differently (in a good way)

I met some amazing people when I traveled alone. I hitchhiked through China, solo-trekked in the Peruvian Andes, and navigated my own way through Mozambique. At the eleventh hour of any given situation, someone would always show up to help if I needed it. It reinforced my view that humanity is mostly good.

I thought this was as good as it could get, but I didn’t imagine how much people would light up seeing a baby abroad, on the trails in national parks, even if only on social media.

Many have gone out of their way to be extra helpful. In Japan, Felix was almost a celebrity, and he got so many smiles and much positive attention. We were offered toys at dinner, a private dining area simply because we were a family, and always the right of way when hiking with him. These are kindnesses that have been above and beyond what I’d experienced before.
 

7. I see the world through a new lens

When you’re traveling alone, nobody is there to influence your impression of a place. Nobody knows you or has preconceived ideas of your personality, so you also get to be whatever version of yourself that you are right then and there. I used to love this, but I think I was also discovering who I was back then, and I needed that time.

Although I’m always on a voyage of self-discovery, now I’m seeing the world through the eyes of someone else. It’s amazing how much my son loves windchimes, the way that he smiles at falling snow, and his love of colorful lights. I know that as he gets older, there will be even more seemingly random things that he’s going to pick up on when we travel that I never would’ve otherwise noticed. I’m excited to see how he continues to explore the world. It’s giving me a new way of viewing it, too.
 

8. I get to know myself better

They say you never really know someone until you travel with them. The same can be said for yourself.

Solo travel helped me get to know myself on a level that I hadn’t had the opportunity to discover prior. I learned what I was capable of when there wasn’t anyone else around to make decisions for me. I became a more confident person.

But it wasn’t until I became a mother that I realized I was going to get to know myself on an even deeper level. Although I do not think parenthood is for everyone — and completely support those who don’t want children — I’ve been amazed to see how much I have grown, not just as a traveler but as a person, by becoming a mother.

I didn’t realize I could be so selfless. I didn’t realize I could plan a trip, mostly with someone else’s needs top of mind, and find it in some ways even more enjoyable than when I’d traveled alone.

I didn’t know that I could enjoy traveling so much with a baby. I had worried that it would just make things so much harder, as I heard so many people say. But now I think it’s all about how one approaches it. Letting go of expectations, planning more, packing strategically, and letting it be a completely new kind of travel experience all help. It’s so much different than traveling alone.

But different doesn’t mean worse.

I’m glad I got to experience so much of the world solo. I’ll cherish those memories forever.

Now, I get to make new ones with a family.

Kristin Addis is a solo female travel expert who inspires women to travel the world in an authentic and adventurous way. A former investment banker who sold all of her belongings and left California in 2012, Kristin has been traveling the world ever since. You can find more of her musings at Be My Travel Muse or on Instagram and Facebook.

The post How I’ve Kept Traveling the World After Having My Baby appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

I don’t have much RV experience — and I definitely don’t have any experience RVing with kids. But, this summer, with many people are planning domestic vacations instead of traveling abroad, RV travel is going to be even bigger than last year.

To help those of you with kids plan an epic domestic trip, I’ve asked Karen from The MOM Trotter to share her tips and advice. She’s been traveling in an RV with her family for almost two years and knows exactly how to make the most of a family RV trip!

RVing with kids is a great way to create lasting family memories. From the excitement of seeing new things to the joy of the simple pleasures like stopping for ice cream or seeing that odd attraction that you stumbled upon, it always makes life more fun.

My family and I took a trip in November of 2019 that introduced us to the world of RVing. We rented one from Outdoorsy and set off on a two-week adventure, visiting all five national parks in Utah, state parks and monuments in Arizona and Nevada, and Joshua Tree National Park in California. We fell in love with RVing after this trip — and a few months after that, we sold our home in California and purchased our very own RV.

This kind of travel requires some forethought, however. You can’t just hop into your vehicle and hit the road. You’ll need to plan, get and stay organized, establish boundaries and ground rules, and generally be prepared for anything the road might throw at you. While that all might sound daunting, it’s quite similar to planning for any other trip in a lot of ways.

That being said, it will not always be smooth sailing. You’ll have bumps in the road — both literally and figuratively. However, it is one of the best adventures you’ll get to have as a family.

These tips will help you prepare for the journey as best as possible, allowing you to focus more on fun and less on roadblocks.

1. Find the Right RV

There are so many different types of RVs, from those you can drive to those that need to be pulled with a truck. If you don’t own one, research the size and type of RV that will match your family’s needs.

When renting an RV or even buying one, it is important that you check how many people it can sleep. When we rented our first RV, I was planning a trip for six people — two adults and four young ones — so I found one with a bunk room so that the kids would have enough space to sleep and feel comfortable.

We love to cook, so finding an RV with a decent-sized kitchen was also high on our list. It’s good to look for one with a spacious living room and dining area as well, but keep in mind that you’ll be spending lots of time outside, so indoor space might not matter as much as you might expect.

RVLove has tons of resources for helping you learn more about what RV is best for you, your family, and your budget.

If you’re not ready to purchase an RV, keep in mind that there are tons of places that rent RVs too. You can start with RVShare for affordable local rentals (it’s like Airbnb but for RVs).
 

2. Set Expectations

It’s important to set expectations for your upcoming trip. The kids need to know what’s expected of them and all the ground rules, so they have some sort of structure while on the road.

Talk about the rules for electronics, other devices, and screen time; who will be responsible for what chores; and how much help you expect with setting up and taking down your camp. It’s also important to explain campground etiquette to your children if they’ve never been camping before. With your neighbors so close, making excessive noise and running amok — especially on other people’s RV plots — is frowned upon. Everyone in an RV park has a limited amount of space. It’s important that your kids don’t sprawl into other travelers’ territory.

3. Clearly Define Personal Space

RVing with kids means addressing and respecting personal space, as RVs are quite small.

Before your trip, you should discuss where each person will be sleeping, and emphasize that every member of the family should respect that space when it’s time to go to sleep.

You can also set rules about bathroom time: most have only one bathroom, so setting up some sort of schedule so that everybody gets equal time will help a lot. Defining personal space also includes letting the children know who gets to use the bathroom first in the mornings, as well as reminding them to always knock before entering any space in the RV.

If the RV park you are visiting allows for tent camping, consider allowing your older ones, such as teenagers, to pitch a tent outside, as they may enjoy it even more.
 

4. Get (and Stay) Organized

When it comes to children, organization is key no matter where you are. This is especially true when it comes to RVing.

There’s a finite amount of space in an RV, no matter how large it is, so it’s critical to create spaces for the kids to store their toys, books, devices, and the like. Make sure they know that their items should always be put back in those places when not in use. Otherwise, your space can get cluttered very quickly. Set up a cleaning/tidying schedule so that everyone gets into the habit of keeping the space organized.

Another way of staying organized is by setting a daily schedule that kids can see and follow, so they know what to expect and when to expect it. For example, having a menu will give them an idea of what’s for dinner and breakfast so that they can start to understand the routine.

RVing is about freedom and fun, but in the midst of it all, whenever possible, stick to the routines that you have at home like bedtimes, nap times, and mealtimes.

5. Set a Cleaning Schedule

We all know how quickly a home can get out of control when it’s full of children. Now imagine that happening in an RV. Things can go bad really fast.

Set up a cleaning schedule for both yourself and the kids. This is a great way to teach them about the RV itself while instilling a sense of helpfulness and a strong work ethic.

Older children can and should be part of the regular cleaning process too. It saves you some work and teaches them the value of helping the family. If they are old enough, they can help with things like emptying the gray water tanks, adding chemicals to the freshwater, and other RV-related upkeep tasks.
 

6. Map Out Your Stops

While RVing gives you a certain amount of freedom, it does come with caveats. Unless you’re traveling in a conversion van, even the smallest RV is pretty big. So before your trip, research places that make for convenient stops for your rig.

Truck stops, gas stations, and even Walmart parking lots are all great places to stop for a rest, enjoy a meal, fill up on gas, and maybe pick up any essentials that might have fallen through the cracks during your packing.

Mapping out stops helps a lot. Knowing where you plan on stopping for gas, for food, and to park overnight gives you peace of mind for the rest of the trip. With the essentials handled, you can plan accordingly and relax.

Planning regular stops for food and gas can also help if a problem arises. One time, we had a flat tire in a small city on a Friday evening and couldn’t go anywhere until Monday morning because there wasn’t any open tire shop near us. If we had planned our stop in a more accessible area, we could have avoided this situation. (Of course, not all situations like this are avoidable, but the better you plan the less hiccups you will encounter).

This is also important while traveling as a Black family because we need to make sure we don’t end up in the wrong city at the wrong time of the night.
 

7. Choose the Right RV Park

One of the most important things about RVing as a family is choosing the right RV park. If you’re all about spending time in nature, then you’ll want to choose a state or RV park located close to nature, with lots of trees and hiking trails nearby. If you’d rather enjoy a more glamping-type experience, then pick one with amenities like a pool, a lazy river, a playground, Wi-Fi, etc. (One of my son’s favorites, in Galveston, Texas, has all of that plus a water park and weekly kids’ activities.)

We’ve had the opportunity to experience both types of RV parks and loved them equally. Neither is better than the other — it just depends on what you’re looking for. Call ahead to a few to find out which are best suited to your family size and your travel needs.

GoRVing and RoverPass are a great resources for finding RV parks.

Additionally, here’s a list of some of our favorite family-friendly parks.

8. Shorter Travel Days are Best

The thrill of the open road is something that calls to the entire family, but it might call a little more strongly to the adults. Kids — especially younger children — need time to relax. Remember, to a child, sitting in one place for hours on end can be downright exhausting.

Make sure to keep travel times to around 5 or 6 hours if you have older ones and as little as 3 to 4 if you have toddlers. Try to travel during nap times, as that’ll help them not get anxious about the long drive.

If you do drive for long stretches, make sure to have plenty of snacks and activities to keep your kids busy. It’ll be easier on you too.
 

9. Keep Snacks and Finger Foods Handy

The easiest way to keep children entertained during long drives is to offer them as many snacks as you can. You’ll be surprised to find out that your kids will want snacks so much more than normal on long road trips.

So bring along prepackaged or store-bought snacks and water bottles or juice boxes that they can keep nearby to limit the temptation for them to get up and roam around the RV while you’re cruising down the interstate.
 

10. Take a Day Off

One of the most fun things you can do when RVing is taking a day off from driving. Of course, you have to reach that final destination, but don’t forget to stop and smell the roses along the way. Nothing beats a day of just hanging out with the family and seeing what an area has to offer.

On our first RV trip, we had almost no days off, as we wanted to see everything in the short time that we had. Because of this, we were so tired after our trip.

Now that we are slow traveling, we plan for lots of days off, when we can just relax by the fire and unwind.

11. Pack Some Entertainment

Board games are a great way to bond as a family, and they’re an excellent source of entertainment. They provide lots of family time, promote togetherness, and are the perfect entertainment platform for the slower pace of an RV road trip.

But kids need variety, especially when playing on their own. In addition to any tablets they might have, think about packing things like coloring books, bubbles, Play-Doh, and, if your camper has a DVD or Blu-Ray player, their favorite movies.
 

12. Create an Outdoor Playspace

Once you’re all settled in at a stop, set the kids up with an outdoor playspace. All you need is some sort of waterproof mat that you can unroll to create an area that’s perfect for building blocks, toys, and other fun.

If you’re traveling with toddlers or babies, bring along a baby gate or two or even a collapsible playpen. These are excellent for keeping young children safe while outdoors by the campfire or keeping them out of potentially dangerous areas inside your RV.
 

13. Safety First

If you’re camping, be sure that they understand the boundaries of the camp and where they can go unattended, if at all.

In addition, it’s important to talk about safety if you plan to hike in any national park. Be sure the young ones understand the importance of paying attention to their surroundings, giving local wildlife plenty of space, and respecting nature. Make sure you have a well-stocked first-aid kit in your RV too. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

From planning to packing and sightseeing safety, these tips for RVing with kids will help keep your trip on the straight and narrow, so you can focus on fun.

One of the biggest keys to having a successful journey is to accept that things won’t go perfectly or smoothly at all times. Children are a constant wild card. They might be crabby out of nowhere; they might get a small owie and freak out — it could be anything. However, all of these things will pass, and in the grand scheme of things, they’ll only be a small part of the whole picture.

But, with these tips, you’ll be able to ensure a relatively smooth trip that builds family memories and togetherness and is full of adventure and fun.

Karen Akpan runs The MOM Trotter blog, a website dedicated to inspiring and encouraging parents to show their children the world. She is also the founder of Black Kids Do Travel which was created to bring about diversity in travel and bridge the travel gap by sharing black travel stories. Her goal is to raise global citizens who are open and accepting of everyone. You can find her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram

The post 13 Tips for RVing with Kids appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

Traveling with a baby (or two!) can present its own unique set of obstacles, especially when it’s your first time. On top of that, everyone has an opinion about the right and wrong way to travel with your family. In this guest post from Corinne McDermott of Have Baby Will Travel, you’re encouraged to ignore the nay-sayers and find a solution that works for everyone!

Whether you’ve newly welcomed a new life into this world or your bump resembles a watermelon, if you’ve always loved travel you may be thinking, “Can you travel with a baby?” Of course, you can travel with a baby, but once part of the parent club, the question seems to become “Should you travel with a baby?”

“It’s too dangerous!” “It’s irresponsible!” and “It’ll be too difficult!” are few exclamations you’ll have thrown your way. And then there’s my particular favorite: “It’s very selfish. Babies need routine; they don’t want to be traipsing all over the globe.”

I can attest that babies do like routines — so it is important to create new ones when you travel. But I think the occasional break from the norm ultimately makes infants more adaptable. Babies just want to be with their parents, if it makes mama and dada happy to have a change of scenery, so be it.

As a new parent, chances are you’re not going to be choosing a war zone as your destination, and you’ll hopefully decide on a place with good access to healthcare. Small babies are more susceptible to illness, but when they’re really little you have more control over what and who they come in contact with.

And is traveling with a baby difficult? Yes — but so is travel without a baby sometimes, and we still love doing that. There is definitely more work involved than tossing a handful of diapers into your backpack, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth it.

Babies need things, and you’ll need to carry those things. Babies need to eat, and you’ll need to have food. Babies need to sleep, and you’ll need to ensure a safe place for that. (Hostels might be great for single travelers but aren’t always the best for babies.) You’ll need to adjust your pace — trying to cram as much into your days as possible will make you all cranky and tired. You’ll need to adjust your expectations — your life has changed, and if you think the way you travel won’t, you’ll likely be disappointed.

Before my daughter arrived, I was certain I had this motherhood thing down pat. I’d read the books, I’d done the research, I was ready. But from the moment she arrived, I was completely thrown for a loop and didn’t feel anywhere close to normal for almost nine months. In hindsight, she was the kind of easy, adaptable baby that would have been a dream tiny traveler. However, I wasn’t ready to make that leap until she was nearly one. The occasional “smug daddy” or “sancti-mommy” would tut-tut about how they simply popped their babe in a sling and off they went hiking the Inca Trail/trek for Rwandan gorillas/summit Mt. Everest and the baby just fit into their lives and that was that. Well that was not my experience, nor anyone else’s I know.

Here are a few key tips to get you started:

1. Breastfeed. The best food for baby is also the easiest to “prepare” when you’re on the road. Breastfeeding not only eliminates lugging bottles, nipples, sterilizing, equipment, formula, etc. but also baby will be getting valuable antibodies that will protect against illness when you’re away from home.

2. Bring a sling. Or a baby carrier. Slings can help you carry the baby, but they can also substitute as a blanket, changing pad, or nursing cover. If slings aren’t your thing, many lightweight cloth baby carriers offer excellent support, keep your hands free, and don’t take up too much room when stored.

3. Bring a stroller. When you’re traveling, a stroller is not just a stroller, it is a highchair, a bed, and an all-around stuff-lugger. The type of travel you prefer will dictate whether a lightweight or an all-terrain stroller would be more appropriate but don’t cheap out here. Good strollers are easy to push, and most are easy to fold up when needed. In warmer climes, slings and carriers can become uncomfortable, so a stroller can offer some shade as well.

4. Pack or buy wipes. Lots of them. Diaper wipes are a traveling parent’s best friend. Not only do they serve their intended purpose, they mop up spit-up, sticky hands, and faces; serve as toilet paper (don’t flush!), and can clean any number of gross surfaces that you or baby may need to touch. Diaper wipes and hand sanitizer (for you) can make sometimes-icky public bathroom scenarios a little more bearable.

5. Don’t overschedule. If you try to cram too much into your days and into your trip, you’ll all end up feeling exhausted and frazzled. Use your destination’s local parenting websites to find parks and other baby-friendly outings that will be easy and comfortable for everyone. That climbable monument/jungle trek/coral reef has been there for a long time already and will still be there when your child is old enough to enjoy it with you.

My children are living proof that starting travel at an early age makes them easier and easier to travel with and instills an early love of travel. And as they grow up, we’re looking forward to taking more adventurous trips with them. For us, it’s not “Are we there yet?” — it’s “When are we going?”

In the Spring of 2007, Corinne McDermott wanted to take a family vacation before her first maternity leave was over. Frustrated by the scattered information on baby travel – destinations, packing, flying tips, and family-specific hotel reviews – she decided to create a one-stop web brochure for busy parents with questions on traveling with baby. Now, Have Baby Will Travel is your guide to family travel with babies, toddlers and young children.
 

The post Can You Travel with a Baby? appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

It’s been a long time since we’ve had a blog post on family travel on this website so today, I’m excited to introduce to you Cliff. His San Francisco based family spent ten months traveling the world on a career break. They homeschooled and enrolled their kids in schools overseas, spent time with family, saw the world, and bonded as a family. And, they did so, on a budget this nomad is impressed with.

Today, Cliff is going to share how his family did it — and advice for other families looking to do a big round the world adventure!

My dream of taking my family on a world tour began in Nicaragua in the summer of 2012 with my two daughters, who were three years old and six months old at the time.

Most people thought my wife and I were crazy to go to Central America with two little girls.

But, for three weeks, we relaxed at the beach in San Juan del Sur, rode horses through the countryside, and hung out in the bustling town of Granada.

It was an experience we vowed to repeat.

Over the next couple of years, we traveled together to various destinations, including Puerto Rico, Peru, Argentina, and Guatemala. We enjoyed these short trips but, the more we traveled, the more I wanted to go longer — I wanted a year-long trip around the world.

In 2015, that dream became a reality as we spent 10 months traveling in 10 countries.

But to make that happen we needed to be creative with how we saved and spent our money.
 

How We Saved Money and Budgeted for Our Trip

My family lives in one of the most expensive areas in the world: Silicon Valley outside San Francisco, California. Housing prices are extremely high and the overall cost of living is higher than most cities in the United States. I worked as a marketing manager in technology companies while my wife took care of our two daughters.

After our trip in Nicaragua, we decided that we would make family travel a priority in our lives. From July 2012 to December 2014, we saved approximately $40,000 USD, which equates to $1,333 USD per month. Saving that much money on one salary in one of the most expensive areas in the world was not easy. It took some crafty saving skills, but here is what we did:

• I worked freelance jobs. I earned extra money for work on short-term marketing projects, in addition to my full-time job. Now with the on-demand gig economy, there are many great options to earn extra money, including Uber and Lyft.
• We refinanced our mortgage. With a lower interest rate for our home mortgage, we saved over $500 USD per month.
• I reduced my 401(k) and 529 contributions. Instead of putting all of my savings into my retirement account and my daughters’ education accounts, I decided to reallocate about $500 USD per month to our travel funds.
• We reduced our spending. We cooked most meals, capping our food budget at $1,000 USD per month. We also stopped buying unnecessary electronics, clothing, and toys, limiting our discretionary spending to $500 USD per month.

By earning more, spending less, and reallocating a portion of my savings to travel, our travel budget gradually increased to a point where we felt comfortable enough to take time off to travel the world.

But in order for this trip to really make financial sense, we needed to do something about our house while we were away. We did this by renting our house with a family found through Craigslist.

Thankfully, this area is in demand and after accounting for our mortgage, insurance, and taxes, we were making $500 USD per month profit from the renters, which helped pad our travel fund.

Additionally, we sold our SUV, which ended our $700 USD per month loan payment. We also sold all our furniture and about 80% of our electronics, clothes, shoes, and toys through Craigslist and some local Facebook groups.

In total, we made about $5,000 USD from these sales.

With about $10,000 USD of extra money from rent payments and selling our stuff and the $40,000 USD in savings, we created a budget of $50,000 USD for our trip. We knew we had to make our money stretch as far as possible by being savvy with how we saved and spent on the trip.
 

How Much We Spent

Below is a list of some of the expenses of our trip per country visited. (Later I’ll go into more detail about how we accomplished this.) With this information, I hope you realize that extended family travel around the world can be affordable and realistic.

All you need is a curiosity to explore the world, flexibility, and a bit of budgeting skills.

Honolulu, Hawaii 

• Duration: 1 month
• Accommodations: Free, stayed at my mother’s place
• Transportation: $800 USD
• Flights: $2,400 USD
• Total: $6,000 USD

Phuket, Thailand

• Duration: 3 months
• Accommodations: $2,000 USD ($667 per month for one-bedroom apartment)
• Transportation: $400 USD ($133 per month)
• Schooling: $2,100 USD ($350 per month per kid)
• Visa extensions: $200 USD total
• Flight from Phuket to Hangzhou free with Star Alliance points
• Total: $8,000 USD

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

• Duration: 3 days
• Accommodations: $150 USD
• Flights: $435 USD
• $750 USD total

Hangzhou, China

• Duration: Approximately 2 months
• Accommodations: Free, stayed at my wife’s parents’ place
• Schooling: $400 USD total for 2 months ($100 per month per kid)
• Total: $2,500 USD

Europe (Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands)

• Duration: 2.5 months
• Accommodations: about $5,200 USD (average of $71/night) for 73 nights
• Food: $3,500 USD (average of $47 per day)
• Shopping and leisure activities: $1,500 USD (average of $20 per day)
• Schooling: $800 USD for 4 weeks in Barcelona ($400 per month per kid)
• Flights and transportation: $5,000 USD
• Total: $16,000 USD

Hong Kong

• Duration: 3 days
• Accommodations: Free, stayed at friends’ place
• Flights: Free stopover in Hong Kong on the way back to Hangzhou from Europe
• Total: $300 USD

Hangzhou, China

• Duration: Approximately 2 months
• Accommodations: Free, stayed at my wife’s parents’ place
• Total: $2,500 USD

Flights to Bay Area: $2,000 USD

Breakdown by Expense Type

• Flights: $9,000 USD
• Other Transportation: $2,000 USD
• Accommodations: $7,500 USD
• Schooling: $3,300 USD
• Food, shopping, and leisure activities: $17,750 USD

GRAND TOTAL: $39,550
 

How We Saved Money During Our Trip

In order for our travel budget to last 10 months, we had to be efficient with the way we spent our money. We did this in a number of ways:

We Used Our Frequent Flyer Miles.
Using points and miles was vital to our success. In total, I used 250,000 miles for free airplane tickets on Star Alliance airlines on this trip: 100,000 of those miles came from signup bonuses for Chase Sapphire Preferred credit cards for both my wife and myself.

After $4,000 USD spent on each card, we were awarded the signup bonus of 50,000 points, which were converted 1:1 for Star Alliance miles. It’s our travel credit card of choice because there are no foreign transaction fees. Another 100,000 of those miles came from the accumulation of miles through flights flown by all four of us in the previous years.

The remaining 50,000 miles came through spending on the cards over two years. A great site I use is The Points Guy and Matt has a great book on the subject too.

We Purchased Cheap Flights
For flights that were paid in full, I used travel comparison sites like Google Flights and Kayak to find the best prices.

In Asia and Europe, there were many budget airlines that made flying economical, so those flights didn’t take a huge chunk of our travel budget.

For example, for all four of us, one-way flights from Venice to Barcelona were $420 USD on Vueling Airlines and round-trip flights from Phuket to Kuala Lumpur were $435 USD.

We Stayed at Our Parents’ Places
For about 45% of our time away from home, we stayed with my mother in Honolulu, Hawaii, and my wife’s folks in Hangzhou, China. Not only did we spend quality time with our extended families, but we also saved a ton of money on accommodations.

While our situation is unique in that we have parents in different parts of the world, there are great options for free housing, including sites like Couchsurfing, Servas, Hospitality Club, and housesitting opportunities.

It’s not as easy as what we had but it still works and is an option families can use!

We Rented Apartments
Airbnb was vital to helping us stay on budget. Especially in Europe, where accommodations costs can be expensive, we stayed in furnished apartments ranging from a studio in Paris to a two-bedroom apartment in Barcelona for an average of $71 USD/night.

Our accommodations costs were much cheaper than if we had stayed in hotels. 

We Did Free Activities
There are lots of free activities to do with kids while abroad, including going to beaches, parks, markets, shopping malls, churches, and outdoor festivals. Even for expensive cities like Rome and Barcelona, there were always free things to do. For example, from having read an article in National Geographic, we went to the Picasso Museum in Barcelona on one of its free Sundays, and we walked around the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona to watch the various street performers.

We Cut Our Transportation Costs
In Phuket, we rented a moped (for all four of us!) for $133 USD per month. In China, we took cheap taxis or rode the bus. In Europe, we rode the subways or the buses, which were not expensive (e.g., $1 USD per bus ride in Florence and Barcelona). By taking public transportation or walking whenever possible, we kept our daily transportation costs low.

We Cooked Most Meals
With a kitchen at our parents’ places or our Airbnb apartments, we ate a majority of our meals at home, especially in Europe. When we ate at restaurants, we ate simply or at inexpensive lunch buffets (e.g., $10 USD for a Japanese lunch buffet in Florence).

In Asia, eating at restaurants was fairly cheap, so we didn’t need to cook at home as much.
 

FamilyTravel: Final Thoughts

Family travel can be stressful, with all the planning, movement, logistics, new time zones, new languages, different foods, and taking care of the kids. It’s never really a vacation with children, because the majority of your time and energy will be used to take care of them.

But family travel is also very rewarding. 

When you travel together, you collect memories and build the bonds of your family through the shared experiences of being in different countries, interacting with different people, speaking different languages, and eating different foods. By getting out of your comfort zones and traveling the world, you allow your family to learn and grow in ways that could never happen at home.

One of my warmest memories (and there are many) comes when we were living in Spain. We found a trilingual preschool (English, Spanish, and German) that allowed our daughters to enroll for the entire duration of our stay in Barcelona.

They became immersed in the Spanish culture and language, made local friends, and went on many field trips. It was amazing watching them learn to interact with the locals, learn a culture, and grow as people.

They developed a cultural understanding that just wouldn’t have been possible if we had stayed home. I know this is a positive experience that will live with them forever.

Whether for three weeks during a winter break, three months in the summer, or a full year, budget family travel is possible. Traveling through 10 countries in 10 months with my family was a great learning experience and a dream come true.

Despite all the headaches, fevers, upset stomachs, hot days, lost items, frustrating situations, and everything else that we went through during our trip, it was all worth it and we grew closer together as a family.

And there’s no better feeling than that as a parent.
 

The post How this Family of 4 Traveled the World on $130 a Day appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

Today, Cameron Wears from Traveling Canucks shares his tips and advice on how to travel better with your kids. If you’re a parent making plans to travel with your family, there’s a good chance you’ve already come across plenty of nay-sayers, or perhaps you’re facing your own self-doubts. Here are some myths about traveling with your family.

Before having kids, we didn’t spend much time thinking about what travel would be like with little ones. We knew having kids would be a big part of our future and, like many newlyweds, we mistakenly assumed our days of travel would be put on hold when the babies arrived.

Over the past few years, I’ve heard many reasons why it’s not a good idea to travel with young children. It was the common wisdom of those around us. “Once the kids arrive, don’t expect to travel anymore,” they would say.

And so my wife and I internalized this line of thinking, but I realized I was listening to the wrong people.

While I can appreciate that some families are simply not in the position to travel, most of the reasons people don’t travel with their children are based on outdated conventional wisdom and conflicting information online and in the media.

Today, with the help of a few family travel bloggers, it’s time to shoot down those common reasons why people delay family travel.
 

1. You should wait until your child can remember the trip

Sure, your kids won’t remember every detail about your travels, but let’s be honest — most adults struggle to remember what they did last week. I don’t remember every detail from my trips, but I still appreciate the overall experience.

Our toddler still talks about the time we slept on the overnight train and “Daddy slept on the top bunk.” He may not remember visiting the Eiffel Tower when we were in Paris two years ago, but he remembers riding the popular carousel located across the street. This past Christmas, he opened a present and saw a gift receipt attached to box. He ripped off the gift receipt and screamed, “A plane ticket, I got a plane ticket, Daddy!”

Keryn Means of WalkingOnTravels.com says, “My son remembers going to Iceland almost a year ago. He remembers splashing in the waters of Hawaii and hanging out at a volcano. He remembers eating gelato in Italy when he was 3 (he is 5 now) and how to say ‘strawberry gelato’ in Italian. If he hears the word ‘Iceland’ mentioned he’ll say, ‘Hey mom, we went to Iceland!’

These are not things we bring up, so he clearly remembers. Adults don’t give kids enough credit for what they remember.”

Without question, our travels are influencing our boys and shaping who they are and who they will be. I understand that when they’re teenagers they won’t remember many of these trips, but every trip we take teaches our boys something new about themselves and the world. It would be such a shame to put all of those impactful life lessons on hold for 15 years, just because you want your kid to remember what the Eiffel Tower looks like.
 

2. Traveling with kids is too difficult

The biggest mistake new parents can make is to travel the way they did before having kids. Life is different now, so you have to change your expectations. You can’t stay out late partying at nightclubs with a baby, and you can’t scale the side of a mountain with a baby on your back (well, maybe you can, but I wouldn’t).

“When I was pregnant with my first child, many of my friends told me that my traveling days would be over because it would be too hard to travel with a baby,” says Becky Morales of KidWorldCitizen.org. “We got our baby a passport shortly after she was born, and her first international flight was at three months old. Growing up traveling has helped my kids become comfortable in all types of situations.”

Times have changed, but that does not mean you have to stop traveling. It is possible to have kids AND travel; you just need to plan ahead and slow down. There are plenty of families out there who travel all the time — listen to what they have to say about family travel instead of the naysayers who say it’s too difficult.
 

3. It’s too hard to travel with a baby

We couldn’t fathom taking our newborn baby on a long trip at the time. We took a couple of short road trips to test the waters, but didn’t board a plane until he was three months old — but babies sleep a lot. They don’t crawl, they don’t walk, and they don’t do much of anything except eat, poop, and sleep. Traveling before your baby is mobile is actually the BEST time to travel with your baby!

Claudia Laroye of TheTravellingMom.ca says, “Traveling with a baby is much easier than traveling with toddlers. Upsides: If you’re nursing, no extra food packing is required; babies are not mobile and can’t run away, and they sleep most of the time. One can also access fast lanes through airport security with kids up to a certain age — a happy bonus of family travel.”

When babies get older, they become more active, inquisitive, and demanding. We’ve found the hardest time to travel is between the ages of 12 months and 18 months because they just want to move and they’re difficult to reason with.

But babies aren’t as hard to travel with as you imagine.
 

4. Babies and children are terrible on planes

Some children behave poorly on planes — but so do some adults. We can’t label all children as dreadful flight passengers just because a few children have a hard time being confined to a seat. Out of 30 flights we’ve taken with our boys, only one is filed under the “terrible flight” category.

Babies less than 24 months old fly for free on most airlines, so we thought we’d save some money and have him sit on our lap. He was 18 months at the time, so we thought this would be fine. He wasn’t having it. Lesson learned.

Most children are fine on airplanes as long as you keep them entertained. We prepare by bringing plenty of snacks, toys, and games. We have their favorite shows downloaded on our tablets, and they have noise-canceling headphones so they don’t disturb our neighbors.

Moreover, whenever possible, we book direct flights and choose flight times that coincide with nap schedules.
 

5. You have to visit destinations built for kids

Having kids does not mean you’re sentenced to a life of prepackaged vacations or theme parks. Far from it — but you do need to include activities that your children will enjoy, otherwise nobody’s going to have fun. When we went to Arizona last year, we enjoyed visiting the Phoenix Zoo, SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium, and Rawhide Western Town just as much as our boys did.

“Parents often hear that children only enjoy vacations to Disney World and other theme parks or beach destinations, but this couldn’t be further from the truth,” says Lisa Goodmurphy of GoneWithTheFamily.com. “It has been my experience that children are naturally curious about the world and get excited about visiting new places and doing new things. Our kids have great memories of exploring European cities like London and Paris, cruising the Baltics, visiting palaces in St. Petersburg, Russia, and experiencing the midnight sun when we traveled north by train to Fairbanks, Alaska — all of these places would not be classified as typical family destinations.”

Keep in mind that all destinations have child-friendly activities. You don’t have to stick to theme parks. There are museums, play areas, aquariums, and parks.
 

6. You have to pack so much stuff

Yes, it’s true, traveling with little ones means more luggage and bulky items like strollers and car seats. Yes, you will most likely be required to check your bags and pay the additional baggage fees. But it’s only a temporary inconvenience.

Once you check your bags at the airport, you no longer need to worry about them. When you arrive at your destination airport, grab a buggy for your luggage or ask for help. Traveling without a partner? Why not hire the services of a porter? Instead of taking a taxi or bus, consider renting a vehicle directly at the airport. By renting a vehicle, you only have to set up the car seats once and the headache is over (instead of the alternative, which typically requires setting up the car seat several times per day — not fun).

To reduce the weight of your luggage, consider booking accommodations that have an in-suite washer/dryer or laundry service. Being able to wash your laundry means you can pack half of what you’d normally take. You can also rent baby equipment, like strollers, cribs, car seats, and high chairs, at your destination. This service will cost you more, but it will significantly reduce your load.

Micki Kosman of The Barefoot Nomad points out that you can always purchase items at your destination. She says, “When we first traveled with our little guy, I was worried that we wouldn’t be able to find baby supplies (like disposable diapers) at our destination. It turns out that there are babies everywhere, and we found what we needed everywhere from the Philippines to Hong Kong to Mexico.”
 

7. Traveling with kids is too expensive

Traveling with kids is certainly more expensive than traveling without kids, but that doesn’t mean it’s too expensive or unattainable. If travel is important to you, there is always a way to reduce costs and make it affordable.

There are plenty of ways to save money on travel. Family travel is no different.

“It actually doesn’t cost much to travel with kids at all, especially if they’re still really small,” says Corinne McDermott of HaveBabyWillTravel.com. “As lap infants, they typically fly for free until they’re two, public transit is usually free or steeply discounted, and it’s free admission to most attractions until a certain age. Until they enter the picky ‘chicken nugget only’ stage of kid-hood, most are content to just to eat off your plate in restaurants.”

I shared some tips on saving money on family travel in a longer and more detailed post.

Family travel is not something to fear or avoid. You do not need to put travel on hold just because you have kids — far from it. Your children will only be children once. Before you know it, they’ll be awkward teenagers that don’t want to spend time with mom and dad. There’s no better time than right now to experience the world together as a family.

Cameron Wears is one half of the duo behind the award-winning Canadian travel blog TravelingCanucks.com. Having traveled to over 65 countries, he now lives in beautiful Vancouver, Canada, with his wife Nicole and their two young boys. You can follow their family travel adventures on Twitter and Facebook.
 

The post 7 Common Excuses People Use to Avoid Family Travel appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

Every month, Cameron Wears from Traveling Canucks will share tips and advice on how to travel better with your kids. This is an often-requested topic, so I’m excited to have him on the team! 

As a newbie parent, the thought of traveling with your infant or toddler can feel like an overwhelming proposition. You don’t want to put your life on hold while you raise your little one, but, at the same time, you don’t want to take a trip that will be more of a headache than an enjoyable experience.

Introducing our two little boys to the world has been an extremely rewarding experience. We cherish our time together and enjoy sharing our passion for travel and adventure with them. But it’s not always easy. In fact, sometimes traveling with our boys can be quite challenging. I think that’s part of what makes it so satisfying. Like a mountain trekker reaching the summit after hours of painful climbing, the reward is not just about the view at the top or the ability to say “I did it.” The reward is the preparation and the journey, the unexpected moments in between.

That’s what we love most about road trips. They make the journey the adventure, the destination secondary. Road trips were a big part of my childhood and some of my fondest memories. They are a wonderful way to spend time together as a family, travel on a budget, and see a lot of the countryside.

Here are the reasons why you should consider a road trip for your next family vacation and ways to make it possible.
 

Choose your own adventure

Whether you drive 100 miles or 2,000 miles, you’re in complete control over where you go and how you get there. Being in a vehicle allows you to see the countryside and visit places you would not ordinarily visit. Adventure lies in the most unexpected places.

While on a road trip through the Canadian Rockies this summer, we had the freedom to visit whatever attraction we desired. As we drove down the Icefields Parkway from Jasper to Banff (arguably the most beautiful drive in the world), we constantly found ourselves pulling off the highway to view waterfalls, canyons, glacial lakes and Rocky Mountain viewpoints. We would never have been able to stay at this incredible mountain lodge in Banff National Park if we were traveling by bus or train.

The great thing about road trips is that every day is different. Tomorrow brings new landscapes, new towns, new attractions, and new hotel rooms. This is exciting for little ones and parents, because every day becomes a new adventure. It also means that you can change your itinerary at a moment’s notice if you find something better to do.
 

Schedules are not important

One of the most stressful parts of family travel is making your departure time. No matter how well you plan, you always feel rushed on travel days. Packing, feeding, cleaning, dressing — there’s never a shortage of things to do (and that’s before you start getting yourself ready). Planes and trains don’t wait for unpunctual families, so we often start “the process” several hours before departure time.

Road trips allow you to go at your own pace, removing the unnecessary stress that comes with strict departure times. On our summer road trip through the Canadian Rockies, we had a set itinerary with planned activities for each day. But, as the trip evolved, our itinerary changed. We added stops, we removed stops. We decided to swim in the pool after breakfast instead of hitting the road.

What I love about road trips is that if your children (or you) are moving a little slower, you can push back your departure time and let things happen naturally. If you want to spend more time at a tourist attraction, no problem, take your time. This is your trip, so you get to call the shots.

Save money on flights

Now that we travel with two little boys, our flight expenses have literally doubled. Although our youngest is still under two years old, he’s a curious little guy that can’t sit still for more than a few minutes. Because of this, we now need to purchase four seats when we fly so that he can have some space (and to give us a break from holding him for hours).

Purchasing flights for a family of four is not cheap. In fact, finding the money to pay for flights is often the biggest constraint that prevents young families from traveling. Domestic flights cost at least $500 each, so a simple trip within North America can run us over $2,000. By removing this expense, we are able to stretch our travel budget further, allowing us to travel longer and deeper. Most road trips we take total less than $2,000, which means we can travel more often.

Starting a road trip from home allows us to use our personal vehicle, so we eliminate the costs of renting a vehicle and adding auto insurance. Renting a vehicle can cost $100 per day, so taking advantage of using our personal vehicle saves us a lot of money.

Having a vehicle also allows us the freedom to stay at hotels or apartment rentals that are located outside of the city center, which tends to save us considerable money on the price of accommodations and overnight parking (don’t overlook the cost of parking in the downtown core of a major city — it can be as high as $40 per night!).
 

Travel more often

Building on the above point, by saving money on expensive airfare, we are able to have more travel experiences. Road trips don’t always have to be epic cross-country adventures that take weeks to complete; sometimes a weekend getaway a few hours from home is exactly what the doctor ordered.

Big trips to exotic destinations or remote tropical islands can sometimes feel unattainable when you’re caught up in the daily routine of raising your children, but that doesn’t mean travel has to stop. I’m sure you think of a few destinations within a 3-5–hour drive from your home that “you’ve always wanted to visit” but have never found the time. Why not make that city/beach/national park your next adventure?

The road trip mindset allows us (and you) the ability to travel more, because it can be a last-minute decision that isn’t very expensive, especially if you plan to camp or stay with friends and family. And with new sharing economy platforms like RVshare, it’s never been easier (or cheaper) to rent an RV and embark on a family adventure!
 

Pack what you want, not what you need

I love the amount of space we have when we take road trips. Traveling with young kids means we no longer travel lightly, so packing can be quite a stressful ordeal. Do we bring the playpen and/or portable high chair?

Packing for a flight forces us to make tough decisions on what is essential and what needs to be left behind. Young children are unpredictable, so having more clothes and “comfort toys” is ideal. Having a vehicle allows us to bring the questionable items “just in case.”

One of the questions we get asked most often is whether or not we travel with baby car seats. They are big, heavy, and awkward, so many parents struggle with the decision to rent a car seat at the destination or bring their own (to answer the question, we always bring car seats with us). A road trip with our personal vehicle eliminates this headache because the car seats are already set up.
 

Take breaks on your terms

Do you remember your first long flight? Did you have a “get me off this freaking plane” moment? I did. I felt suffocated and trapped. All I wanted to do was walk around and get some fresh air (not a good idea at 35,000 feet).

Kids are no different. They need a break from the chair, they need to stretch their legs, and take a deep breath of fresh air. The problem is that young kids have a tough time understanding why they can’t get up and walk around or get off the plane (not an easy thing to explain to a two-year-old). Road trips allow you the ability to slow down and take as many breaks as you need, making the trip much more enjoyable for everyone.

Routine is important, so we try our best to drive long stretches during typical napping hours. When they fall asleep, we step on the gas and try to cover as much ground as we can. Our boys don’t like to be in the car for long stretches (who does?), so we try to plan breaks around the day’s activity or attraction.
 

Bring your own food — and save money!

Our infant has a severe food allergy, so it can be difficult finding restaurants that cater to his diet. It’s a challenge even in our hometown where we’re very familiar with the available options. Traveling with a vehicle allows us to stop at a grocery store and purchase food items that have ingredient labels. This is very important to us.

We bring a small cooler with us and load it up with food so we don’t have to rely on restaurants. Eating at a restaurant as a family of four typically costs us $30-50 in North America (without alcohol). If you eat out 2-3 times a day, that number adds up quickly. By purchasing groceries in bulk we save time and money, and it allows us to pull over and have picnics at random parks, which is always fun.
 

Spend quality time together

This is my favorite part of road trips. Life is busy. We’re always plugged in and focused on what’s “out there” or we’re too busy working through our daily routines. Spending long periods of time together gives us the opportunity to unplug and connect with each other on a completely different level. We blast songs on the radio, play games like “I Spy,” and actually talk to each other. We love listening to their stories and learning how they process the world. Kids have a way of simplifying even the most complex situations.

I’ve often heard parents say that travel is too difficult and expensive with young children. While they may have perfectly valid reasons for this line of thinking, if travel is important then a fantastic solution is to load up the car and take a road trip. If you’ve recently said to yourself, “I need a vacation but the timing just isn’t right,” do yourself a favor and take a road. Open up a map, pick a destination you’ve always wanted to visit, and go.

Need some road trip inspiration? Here are a few posts to help plant some seeds:

• Great Road Trips Ideas In Canada: 9 Routes To Get You Pumped For The Summer
• National Geographic: Ultimate Road Trips
• Top 10 American Road Trips

Cameron Wears is one half of the duo behind the award-winning Canadian travel blog TravelingCanucks.com. Having traveled to over 65 countries and territories on six continents in the past eight years, he now lives in beautiful Vancouver, Canada, with his wife Nicole and their two young boys. You can follow their family travel adventures on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook.
 

The post Why Road Trips are a Good Idea for Family Travel appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

Cameron Wears from Traveling Canucks is here to give us tips and advice on how to travel better with your kids. In this month’s article, Cameron shares his top tips for traveling with your family, including small children.

No matter how well traveled you are, traveling with young kids is a very different experience than solo backpacking or couples travel.

I remember planning our first family trip to California like it was yesterday. We had so many questions and didn’t know where to begin.

How do we get a passport for a baby?

Do we need to get clearance from a doctor before we travel?

What do we need to pack?

Will we get any sleep if we share the hotel room with our little one?

How do we keep him entertained?

What if something happens abroad?

With no experience as traveling parents, we defaulted to the way we traveled as a couple. That strategy was a good starting point, but we learned a few valuable lessons the hard way and made a few mistakes.

Now, having traveled with two young children for many years, I want to share some of the most relevant travel tips we’ve learned so you can avoid our mistakes and travel easier:
 

1. Book Accommodations with Separate Sleeping Areas

Choose accommodations that offer one- or two-bedroom suites instead of the standard hotel room with two beds. You’ll pay a little more for this convenience, but a good night’s sleep is the key ingredient to a successful family trip.

Consider this: if everyone is piled into one room, you’ll likely have to go to sleep when your kids do. Now, if it’s been a long travel day and sleep is what you’re after, this won’t be an issue.

However, if you want to have a drink, read a book, watch a movie, or have a conversation, it’s best to book accommodations that will give you and your kids separate sleeping areas.

Not every hotel offers one- or two-bedroom suites, so you need to do a little more research. We use most of the big sites like Expedia, Booking.com, and Hotels.com to get an idea of the hotel options within our price range, then we go directly to the hotel’s website to research room options and availability.

Apartment rentals are the best option for this. They are often cheaper than hotels and offer all of the comforts of home. We look for centrally located apartments that provide full kitchens and laundry, which saves us time and money. We like to use Airbnb.
 

2. Play It Safe, Make Reservations

Before kids, we rarely made reservations in advance. Part of the adventure is arriving without a plan and allowing the moment to guide you, right? The problem with this travel style is that when you have kids you need to consider their threshold for being uncomfortable.

Do yourself and your kids a favor: make hotel and transportation reservations ahead of time to avoid unnecessary frustrations. Wandering the streets for hours in search of a hotel room or waiting an extra six hours at a train station is not fun at the best of times, let alone when you add a cranky child to the situation. Not pretty.

Don’t assume that your hotel or apartment rental will have a crib or high chair available. Call ahead to confirm availability, even if the hotel’s website states that it has cribs on hand (they may be used by another guest during your stay).
 

3. Lighten Your Load, Rent Equipment

Did you know that most popular travel destinations have services available for families to rent strollers, cribs, car seats, high chairs, playpens, and bikes?

We first used this service earlier this year on a trip to Mexico. We rented a two-bedroom apartment for a few weeks so we needed to find a sturdy crib for our toddler. The owner of the apartment recommended a local business that set up the crib before our arrival and picked it up after we departed. It was super convenient and reasonably priced (I think we paid about $50 USD per week).

Availability depends on location, time of year, and length of time you need to use the item. I’ve yet to find a central website that works for all destinations, so it’s best to research online and use a local business that has good reviews. When in doubt, ask the almighty Google.
 

4. Protect Yourself — Get Proper Travel Insurance

This one is self-explanatory. Travel insurance can feel like an annoying, unnecessary expense, but it’s always best to play it safe, especially with young children.

Our infant has a severe food allergy and our toddler is accident-prone, so a trip to the hospital is not out of the question. This is not the time to cut corners to save a buck, so get the right plan that protects everyone. When in doubt, pick up the phone and talk to someone about your specific questions and concerns.

Matt says: Cameron’s right. Travel insurance is not something you should leave home without. I never do. Here’s my detailed guide to buying travel insurance.
 

5. Load Up Your Tablet

The tablet has firmly landed in our top five travel items we never leave home without. We bring two tablets with us when we travel, an iPad and a Surface. Each tablet serves a different purpose. We use our Surface for cartoons and movies because it has a USB port. Being able to have our kids watch their favorite shows is a lifesaver, especially on long flights and in the evenings when we need some quiet time.

We use our iPad for games, music, and video. Our toddler loves Angry Birds and coloring programs, so we pull out the iPad when he’s feeling playful and creative.

Both tablets are loaded with white noise (sounds of waves, rain, etc.) that we crank up at night and place beside their beds. The loud white noise is soothing and drowns out other sounds that could potentially disturb them. Give it a try if your kids have trouble falling asleep while traveling.
 

6. Choose Your Destination Wisely

Choosing the right destination can make or break your family trip. It’s important to consider your children’s needs, but it’s equally important to visit a place that interests you. Most destinations have some form of amusement park or family-friendly attraction, so when you make your shortlist, look for destinations that have some adult fun for you, too.

Do you still travel with a stroller? If so, consider destinations with proper streets and sidewalks, as it will be easier to get around than trying to navigate jungles and more obscure places.

Long travel days are hard on the little ones, so it’s wise to pick a destination that has direct flights. I choose hotels that are centrally located and/or close to attractions (like the beach), which reduces the need for taxis or public transportation. Make sure to factor these things in when picking a destination.
 

7. Treats and Surprises are Always a Good Idea

Bring small presents and/or treats and reward your little ones for good behavior. When on a long flight or train ride, give your children a small present like a toy car, puzzle, or coloring book. Not only does it encourage good behavior but it also keeps them entertained.

It’s a good idea to let your children choose a few small souvenirs from the places you visit so they have a memento from the trip. On our trip to Alberta this past summer we visited the town of Drumheller, known as the “Dinosaur Capital of the World.” After we checked into our hotel we visited a tourist store and let our toddler choose a toy dinosaur. This got him thinking about dinosaurs again, which made our visit to the Dinosaur Museum so much more exciting for him. Timing is everything.

Now, every time he plays with that toy dinosaur he says, “Remember when we went to dinosaur town, Daddy?” That was five bucks well spent.
 

8. Check Your Ego with Your Bags

Most parents fear the dreaded meltdown while on a flight. I know I did. My anxiety levels rise the moment our boys get irritable and fussy. I don’t want to disturb others on the plane. I don’t want to be THAT guy.

But the reality is that even the calmest of children have a breaking point. Crying and misbehaving will happen, so it’s up to you to roll with the punches. How you react will set the tone for future flights. If you freak out too, there’s a good chance your children will associate air travel with daddy and mommy being angry.

Don’t worry about what others think. Many people on the plane are parents that have been in your position before. They can empathize with you and are usually willing to give a hand when needed.

Stay cool. Smile. Ask for help. It will be over before you know it.
 

9. Slow Down

If there’s one tip I’d like all traveling families to take, it’s this: slow down!

Don’t try to replicate the way you used to travel before kids. Things are different now, so try not to squeeze too many activities or sightseeing into one day. Enjoy your big activity or adventure in the morning when everyone is fresh and recharged. Break up the day and spend some quiet time back at the hotel before you venture out again.

The most enjoyable travel experiences we’ve had are the ones where we’ve set proper expectations for each day. Remember, travel is supposed to be fun. So make it fun!

Family travel doesn’t have to be a daunting experience that should be put on hold “until the kids get older.” It takes a little more planning and an adjustment of attitude, but you’ll be so glad you made the extra effort when you see the positive impact travel will have on your children…and you.

Cameron Wears is one half of the duo behind the award-winning Canadian travel blog TravelingCanucks.com. Having traveled to over 65 countries and territories on six continents in the past eight years, he now lives in beautiful Vancouver, Canada, with his wife Nicole and their two young boys. You can follow their family travel adventures on Twitter, and Facebook.
 

The post 9 Tips for Better Family Travel appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

Last month, I announced I’d be featuring monthly columnists on this website. I’ve introduced two so far, and now it’s time to introduce our final one! On the third Friday of every month, Cameron Wears from Traveling Canucks will be here giving tips and advice on how to travel better with your kids. I know this is a much-requested topic for many of you, so I’m excited to have him on the team! His column starts this month.

“Get your traveling in now, because you won’t be able to do it once you have kids.”

I heard this statement many times while my wife and I were backpacking around the world. And, sadly, the more I heard these words, the more I started to believe them.

Travel has always played an important role in our lives, so the thought of giving it up to raise a family seemed like a crappy deal to us. But having kids was also a big part of “the plan” we made when we got married in Mexico in January 2008, so we resigned ourselves to the idea that family and travel don’t mix.

After our first boy was born in 2011, we applied for his passport and booked a trip to California (we live in Vancouver, British Columbia). We wanted to prove that the idea we had internalized was wrong and that our days of travel didn’t have to stop. We chose a destination close to home, closed our eyes, and hoped for the best. Having a kid couldn’t really be the end, could it? We didn’t think so and refused to listen to those around us.

And we’re glad we didn’t. We realized on that trip that everyone was wrong.

I’d be lying if I said traveling with a baby is easy. It’s not. But it wasn’t as daunting as we thought it would be.

Sure, bringing a baby stroller and a car seat is a pain in the ass, but every trip we take together gets easier and easier. Flights aren’t that bad, provided you come prepared, and sharing accommodations is actually quite nice. Surprisingly, kids are very good at adapting to new environments (often better than adults).

Now every time we return from a trip, I’m reminded of that opening statement: “Get your traveling in now, because you won’t be able to once you have kids.”

And every time I think of those who warned us of that, I remember just how wrong they are.

It’s true, you won’t be able to travel the way you did before kids, but that doesn’t mean you have to exchange travel for family, and vice versa. You can do both, but you must change your expectations and accept that your travels will be different.

We’ve often heard newbie parents say, “We’re just going to wait until our kids are older before we travel again.” There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that plan…unless, of course, you actually want to continue traveling. There’s always an excuse to put life on hold, kids or no kids, but rarely do people regret pushing their comfort zone to pursue their passions and achieve their goals.

Generally speaking, there seems to be a lot of fear and confusion when it comes to traveling with babies and young kids. It’s easy to read blogs about family travelers and think, “That would be great but…” You can always find a reason why their situation wouldn’t apply to you. And when no one around you “gets it” or has done it, it’s easy to think maybe you shouldn’t either.

But we’re here to change that. In our monthly column, we’ll be sharing tips and tricks we’ve learned firsthand while traveling with our toddler and infant — practical travel tips, advice for when situations go wrong, stories from our travel, and much more.

If you have a specific question about baby/family travel, please share it in the comments section below. I’ll be checking in periodically and would love to know what’s most interesting to you.

Traveling with our little boys has forced us to slow down and appreciate each travel experience we have together. Seeing the world through their curious eyes has given us some of the most rewarding moments we’ve ever had, and we want to use our eight years of travel experience to help new families hit the road!

Cameron Wears is one half of the duo behind the award-winning Canadian travel blog TravelingCanucks.com. Having traveled to over 65 countries and territories on six continents in the past eight years, he now lives in beautiful Vancouver, Canada, with his wife Nicole and their two young boys. You can follow their family travel adventures on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook.
 

The post We Didn’t Listen to Those Who Said Travel Wasn’t Possible appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

I don’t have a lot of experience traveling with kids — but it’s a topic I get asked about often. To help me answer some of the most common questions and concerns, I’ve asked expert traveler Leigh Shulman to share her tips and advice in this guest post.

I’ve spoken with many who would love to travel as a family but worry that it’s just too difficult, perhaps even unfair to their children. Traveling with children certainly does have its challenges, but after two years of travel with my husband Noah and four-year-old daughter Lila, I’ve found the rewards far outweigh any potential disadvantages.

1. Parent Comes Before Tourist

People love kids, and if you’re lucky enough to be traveling with one, you’ll find whatever magic dust they have rubbed off on you. You’ll be the first to board airplanes and buses. You’ll meet people more easily. You’ll be more accepted into communities that might not have accepted you if you arrived solo.

I am convinced Lila was our ambassador with the Kuna Yala in the San Blas Islands of Panama. Lila ran barefoot through the village with the other children while Noah and I chatted with the parents. We were the only ones invited beyond the confines of tourist housing.

2. Packing Light Requires Imagination

I’ve seen Lila transform rocks into a walkie-talkie and plants into money. She has an invisible friend named Bendy, who, quite frankly, freaks me out because she’s prone to throwing herself out of bus windows. Not to worry, though, Bendy inevitably ends up at our destination.

Packing for children requires a little imagination. You need to keep them entertained on the road. For Lila, I pack a drawing book, a magnifying glass to see bugs (she likes bugs), and art supplies. We regularly go on nature walks to collect sticks, seashells, sponges, and leaves to be used later for art projects.

I’ve also found balloons work well. Blow one up, and you have something to bounce around like a ball. Glue leaves to it, and you have a stuffed animal. Bubbles are also a favorite. Within seconds of opening a bottle, you’ll find yourself surrounded by jumping, laughing kids all vying for a turn to pop the translucent creatures as they float away on the wind.

3. Be Patient

You wouldn’t invite a friend who hates getting dirty to hike with you through the jungle, and you wouldn’t ask a vegetarian to join you for a hamburger, yet somehow it’s easier to overlook the simple act of asking our children what they prefer.

Of course, a friend will usually tell you straight out what she wants, and then you split up and do different things. With a child, there’s less opportunity to go separate ways and more of a chance she’ll throw herself on the ground, kicking and screaming.

When Lila tantrums, she’s trying to tell me something. Acting out can mean she’s hungry or tired. It can also mean she misses her granny and grandpa or doesn’t want to travel anymore. I do my best to listen.

4. Children Are Infinitely Adaptable

Kids can handle and do a lot more than we think they can. They don’t need constant monitoring, and they can show far more patience, kindness, and responsibility than we credit them.

Does it make Lila sad to say goodbye when we leave a place? Yes, but everyone must learn to say goodbye. She’s also learned to walk into a crowd of strangers and turn them into friends, even if they don’t share a common language.

This is sometimes difficult for me. I want to protect her from getting hurt, but sadness is an inevitable part of life. I’ve also had to let go of the notion that I know what’s best and allow Lila to navigate the world a bit on her own.

And isn’t that exactly what we all strive for, adult or child, when we leave home to travel?

Leigh has traveled with her children all over the world. For more advice on traveling with kids as well as advice on writing and blogging, check out her website at leighshulman.com.
 

The post 4 Tips for Traveling with Children appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.