I’m sure you’ve all heard that travelling with kids is either very difficult or a waste of time and money because they won’t remember most of it. None of it is true.

Truth is, my children (now 5 & 7) remember the trips we’ve taken since they were 3. Also, I doubt there’ll ever be a time when my kids and I will have the same interests so I might as well split the fun and experience in half. Some of the fun for them, some for me.

So, if like me, you insist on wasting that time and money to take the trips, let me share what I’ve learned along the way;

1. You will need to keep them entertained, ALL THE TIME. I strategically pick trips that have loads of kid entertainment so they can be occupied and mama can have a cocktail. And let’s face it, it makes me happy to see them happy and exhausted. Most vacation spots are very family inclusive so rest assured no one will be left out.
2. They never want to eat anything healthy so I find ways to sneak in some healthy stuff. Fruits before main course, water in pineapples(see pic), vitamins early in the day and at least one meal of my choosing with the understanding that they’ll choose the other 2. Part of the fun for them is that they get to eat whatever they want.
3. When picking a flight, I scour reviews from fellow parent travelers to identify child friendly airlines that won’t call TSA if my son asks for a 3^rd bag of pretzels. One thing about parents who travel with kids is their passion for being brutally honest about their experiences, you can count on those reviews.
4. It gets expensive, so my plans are made months in advance for better deals with flights and hotels. This also ensures that I plan accordingly with work, their school and my finances .There is no spontaneity when you travel with kids, everything has to be planned to a T( most of it wont go as planned but the important things will).
5. I like a layover if the flights are going to be longer than 3 hours. This gives us time to use a proper bathroom, stretch out with running around and possibly refill on the snacks. Anything longer and the kids get cranky, irritable and overly tired, and guess who must deal with that?
6. If you are planning for a night out with your partner in the new city, make sure you arrange for child care in advance. Most parents (myself included) cannot afford to travel with a nanny so we always call the hotels ahead of time as most of them have contracted with agencies that provide child care. Alternatively, there are numerous websites dedicated to child care with vetted, background checked services at your fingertips. Care.com or sittercity anyone?. I haven’t had an unpleasant experience yet.
7. Lastly, don’t forget to plan for some together activities. My kids are happy playing at the hotel pool the whole vacation and calling it the best time. Forgetting that they have the very same pool at home. Therefore, anything outside of the pool is totally at my discretion, whatever I pick is an adventure for them.
8. First things last, get your children some passports, because “the world is a book, those who don’t travel only read one page” Saint Augustine.

Happy travels