Let’s face it, while family vacations can be a lot of fun and create some very special memories, traveling with kids can also leave you feeling frazzled and frustrated, especially at the airport and on the plane.
It’s worth having a few travel hacks up your sleeve to make your trip go smoothly, so here goes my two cents;
1. Make Them Part of The Process: Planning a family vacation can be overwhelming so if there are any tasks you can delegate to family members, you should, depending on their age, Kids can pack their own bags with basic instructions (check your airline baggage policy beforehand to avoid overpaying); there’s a difference between flying an airline with a strict baggage policy like Spirit and a liberal one like Southwest
2. For Those in the US, Get Your Kids State ID! Most states issue state identification cards for kids so check with your local state. This will help speed things up through security for domestic flights. Of course passports will work too but I don’t like bringing the kids passports along for domestic flights.
3. Get The Kids Frequent Flyer Miles Accounts: Not doing so is leaving money on the table and parents cannot get credit for kids miles even if they pay for them.
4. Pack Their Favourite Snacks For The Flight and For The Destination! These little details will make their trip more enjoyable.
5. Ensure Their Gadgets Are Charged Up: Another duty to delegate, for the flight and layovers.
6. Sneak In Some Education: The world is one big classroom and travel is the best education; make sure they learn something new about each destination. You can have them research upcoming destinations so they know what to expect or look for when they get there.
7. Have A Budget For Incidentals: Leading up to the trip you can also encourage them to save some money from chores and birthdays for future trips and then let them spend it on what they want. The key here is to show them that travel costs money and create good money habits.
Give the gift of travel to your kids, whether it’s within your neighborhood or across oceans, the benefit is immeasurable.
