Family vacations are a great time to relax, have fun, and most importantly bond with the people you hold dear. At the same time, traveling with kids in tow is an entirely different animal from traveling alone. It can be stressful, managing their boredom levels, keeping an eye out for their safety, and trying to balance fun, education, and relaxation without all the amenities you’ve likely hoarded in your house since raising children. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to use modern technology to make your next trip less of a hassle and more of a vacation. Here are some tips and tech you can use to make the most of your next family vacation.
Traveling for business? We’ve got tips for you too!
Pack Light
When you’re traveling with kids it’s all too tempting to bring half your house with you—their favorite toys, books, games, a first aid kit, diapers, extra clothes, napkins, the list can go on. That’s why it’s important to create a list of essentials and stick to it. The fact is your kids have needs that will take up more space than you could get away with when you were single. The solution is to pack extraordinarily light when it comes to your personal belongings. Harken back to your college days when you backpacked across Europe. All you needed were some spare clothes, a toothbrush, basic toiletries, and a Macbook Air.
For Unexpected Rain and/or Messes – Opt for Quick Dry Clothing
When you’re traveling with kids, messes are bound to happen and your kids will burn through their clothes faster than you’d like. Quick drying synthetic clothing, like the type used for gym or sports, wash easy and pack tight allowing you to travel light. You can easily wash them in the hotel sink and hang dry when you’re in a hurry.
Keep the kids entertained on long car trips with a Tablet PC
Music, movies, games and books, an entire suite of entertainment packaged into a single device, the iPad or other tablet pc devices are essential to any family vacationer’s arsenal. Keeping your kids entertained during long plane rides, train commutes, and while waiting in line will make the entire trip much more relaxing, and tablets like the Samsung Tab S have multiple user functionality so you can keep track of exactly what apps your kids have access to.
Pack Extra Snacks and Drinks (for you and the kids!)
Kids have faster metabolisms than adults, and much smaller stomachs. As a result to prevent them from getting hangry you are going to want to pack enough healthy snacks and drinks for the trip to keep them satisfied. As a bonus packing snacks will keep your wallet full, saving you money otherwise spent on eating out.
Backpacks for Everyone!
One upside to traveling with kids is that you have more hands to carry souvenirs. Most airlines allow each passenger one free carry on, and with the rising costs of checked luggage it helps to carry as much as you can on your person. Your kids are also more than happy to have immediate access to sweaters, games, and snacks.
Ziploc Bags
Be prepared for anything with a store of ziploc bags of various sizes. It helps to have a means of dealing with the consequences of motion sickness, packing wet bathing suits, or storing leftovers. You can also use ziploc bags to protect electronics and valuables from water damage in the event of a storm.
Don’t Forget the Camera!
What family vacation would be complete without a photo album? A good camera can go a long way towards creating a photo album you can be proud of. Take stunning action shots of your kids surfing in Hawaii, running around the Colosseum, or cheering at the World Cup with a DSLR camera. Quick point and shoots will also work if you don’t have enough room for lenses and filters (especially if you are packing light). Document the trip well; your kids will be grateful when they’re older!
When Buying a Suitcase, Opt for one with Good Wheels
Normally when people buy suitcases they look at the obvious things like storage space, internal compartments, and appearance. You also want to check how well the suitcase glides along different surfaces. When you’re trekking across the cobblestone streets of Venice you’ll want sturdy wheels that allow your suitcase to glide effortlessly across the ground. Four-wheeled suitcases called spinners are great for travel, because a good push can send them flying down an aisle.
Keep in mind these tips and tricks, and your next trip is sure to be a stress-free family vacation you and your kids will remember forever!
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