Traveling with children is not always easy. During a recent trip to Cape San Lucas, Mexicowith my three boys (8 years old and 3 year old twins), one of them attempted to board a flight to Seattleanother sprinkled our seats with pretzel crumbs and the third cut his finger in the baggage carousel. But it was worth it once we arrived; I will never forget the looks of wonder on their faces when they released baby turtles into the sea.
Family travel can have immense benefits for the entire clan. In 2023 investigation from the Family Travel Association, 82 percent of those surveyed said the experience brought them closer together, 79 percent said it enriched a child's education and 73 percent said it made them better citizens of the world. A third thought it made them better parents. Here are tips for planning and enjoying an epic vacation with children.
Dream big
Take a moment to think about what would make a truly memorable trip, beyond the constraints of time, budget and your own sanity. If the children are older, can they help brainstorm places to go or things to see and do? Use maps, photos, stories and films set on location, anything that makes them dream of promise. Do you want to go to a place you know well, to already have an idea of the terrain, or to an unknown place, so that everyone can share the thrill of discovery?
Set expectations
Don't put too many things in the suitcase Or itinerary. “You don’t need to bring a lot of stuff to keep the kids entertained,” says Afar’s editorial director. Sarika Bansalwhose toddler spent an hour giving river rocks a bath during a camping trip. Bansal also rethought his own expectations: “I realized it was crazy to try to visit two museums, a fancy restaurant and a trendy neighborhood in one day. And that’s OK! I don't need to see everything.
Carl Gray agrees. The founder and CEO of Gray & Co. not only designs personalized active trips, but he is also the parent of a 12-year-old who has visited 31 countries. When planning family trips for her clients, she prioritizes multi-night stays in specific locations over single-night stops, a strategy that helps kids settle in and sleep well . “If you can see a part of the world on a deeper level, we highly recommend it,” says Gray, who is also a member of Afar's Travel Advisory Council. “Nothing ruins a vacation day more than a child who hasn't slept or hasn't had time to deal with jet lag. »
Heather Greenwood Davistravel writer who also runs the Globetrotting Mom Bloghas traveled with her children (now ages 19 and 22) since they were born, including a year-long world tour. She says she's learned to keep details “on a need-to-know basis with toddlers,” adding that it's “better to surprise than to disappoint.”
Try new things, together
Travel is inherently educational and mind-expanding for children, but you can up your game by getting creative with their interests. Are you a manga fan? Visit the bookstores of Tokyo. Do you have a swimmer? Put on some diving masks and dive in Belize. Also consider how to create traditions – perhaps with a cooking class – and inspire curiosity and empathy by meeting local people. Let older children plan a day. Journal together.
Sarah Dusekowner of Few and fara carbon-neutral travel company, says it helps families create memories together by “finding unique and extraordinary things to do, whether it's swimming with pink dolphins in the Amazon or meeting meerkats in Botswana. She also strongly believes in showing children how travel can have a positive impact on local ecosystems and communities. “When they’re young, they see the good that travel can do, and it instills in them this superpower of traveling well.”
Kiss the delicate parts
Things are going to go wrong. Lean into that. Be the glass half full, even if the other half of the glass, neon and sugary, is all over your pants. Bansal says she stopped worrying about long-haul flights with her daughter: “I turned them into an opportunity to spend precious time together.”
Above all, be kind to children and to yourself. As Greenwood Davis explains, “Overcoming these obstacles helps build resilience. Travel gave (my children) the space to grow and then take what they learned about the world and themselves back to their classrooms and neighborhoods.
