February break is right around the corner! For many parents with young children, family travel can feel daunting. Even road trips within Saskatchewan can be a challenge, let alone a long plane ride! But while there are bound to be a few mishaps and unexpected occurrences along the way, travel can be one of the best and most memorable experiences you can have as a family.
We all know that when travelling with kids, the keys to ensuring a great trip are paying attention to their needs and finding the right balance between rest time and fun. This looks different for each and every family, and you really have to experience family travel firsthand to know what works best for you and your children. No matter how much you plan there will always be hiccups, but we came across a few tips that we think could benefit most any family during a flight, at the beach, while touring a new city, and of course, while doing Disney!
On the Plane
Plan to get to the airport extra early. Rushing will only add to the stress that can come with organizing small children for a flight. If you have little ones, this will also give you a chance to get settled at the airport and then crawl, walk, or play them out as much as you can prior to boarding. It just might help to ensure a nice long nap once you're on the plane.
This might seem obvious, but try to schedule your flight during nap time. Depending on the age and energy level of your child, an in-flight nap might be worth any extra money spent securing a flight during the most ideal time of day.
Be prepared for painful ear-popping. Try to ensure that you can feed your baby or give your toddler a drink during takeoff and landing. This is a great way to alleviate the pressure on your child's ears. An older child could be encouraged to yawn or chew on something, and you could give a younger child a straw to blow through. If your child is sleeping, you should wake him or her up during landing and takeoff as the discomfort can be worse if they are allowed to sleep.
Source: lajollamom.com
At the Beach
If it is a busy beach, go early to get a great spot near the water and check the tide to ensure that you won't have to keep moving your stuff back. It's a good idea to mark your territory by spreading your beach toys out a little bit. If you brought a cooler full of snacks, keep them behind your chair in the shade.
Speaking of snacks, small kids are all but guaranteed to get sand in the community chip bag. Separate food into individual serving size containers to avoid sand-contamination of everyone's snacks! :) It's also a good idea to avoid getting sand in the tiny crevices of your phone by keeping it in a ziplock bag.
Bring along baby powder to aid in brushing sand off of yours and your children's bodies. Of course you don't need to be reminded to bring sunblock, but a great tip is to try to spray it in the same direction as the wind to ensure that it actually ends up on your child.
Source: bloglovin.com
Touring a City
Consider an apartment rental through Airbnb or VRBO. The extra facilities that come with a vacation rental can make your stay much more convenient and enjoyable. Having a kitchen, washing machine, separate bedrooms, and extra space for kids to play certainly beats hotel rooms that were simply not built for families with young children.
The savings that come from having your own kitchen and being able to cook your own meals can be significant, especially for a large family. This also means more control over the ingredients in your food and the ability to keep things healthy over the course of your trip. If you plan to do a lot of eating out and want to save costs, consider doing breakfast or lunch out and cooking dinner at your rental. Another tip for keeping food costs down is to eat away from touristy streets. Even stepping a block or two off the beaten path to eat where the locals eat can mean less expensive meals and a more authentic experience.
Do the free stuff! Visit festivals and free concerts or street fairs if you can. Spend time in parks, take a bike ride or just wander and enjoy exploring the nooks and crannies of the city you're in. Most museums have special discount times and even free days that you could take advantage of. With some advance planning, you should be able to include at least a few free activities into your visit.
Source: huffingtonpost.com
Doing Disney
There are endless books and blogs out there with tips for getting the most out of your Disney experience. One of our favourites is to try to stay at the park as late as your kids' schedule will allow for it. This might mean heading out later, as exploring the park can be tiring, but it just might be worth it. Disney World is a whole different place near the end of the day, as the crowds tend to majorly thin out later in the evening. Not only are lines much shorter, but this makes for a great time to leisurely explore the beauty of the park and you'll notice things you wouldn't have seen amidst the throngs of people.
Buy t-shirts and other Disney swag before you go, as this sort of stuff is a lot more expensive in the park. If your child is of the age where he or she is interested in trading pins, consider buying a variety pack of pins online before you go. It doesn't matter what you end up getting because you can trade with other pin-traders or Cast Members once you get to Disney World. Learn more about Pin Trading here.
Don't fear long lines. You'll be through a half hour line before you know it, and if the time starts to drag you can always spend the time catching up with your kids about their favourite parts of the trip so far, taking funny pictures, or looking for the hidden Mickeys that can be found throughout the park. It is also super helpful to work the Fast Pass system, which you can learn more about here.
Source: disneytouristblog.com
Do you have a tried and true tip for travelling with kids? Tell us about it in the comments!
Looking for more ideas for travelling with kids? We've pinned a ton of lists and hacks for various destinations on our 'Travel' Pinterest board.
Stay tuned for more about travel during the month of February on My Saskatoon!
