Popular Tips for Travel

Popular Tips for Travel

Book accommodations with separate sleeping areas

Choose accommodations that offer one- or two-bedroom suites instead of the standard hotel room with two beds. You’ll pay a little more for this convenience, but a good night’s sleep is the key ingredient to a successful family trip.

Play it safe, make reservations
Before kids, we rarely made reservations in advance. Part of the adventure is arriving without a plan and allowing the moment to guide you, right? The problem with this travel style is that when you have kids you need to consider their threshold for being uncomfortable.

Lighten your load, rent equipment
Did you know that most popular travel destinations have services available for families to rent strollers, cribs, car seats, high chairs, playpens, and bikes?

We first used this service earlier this year on a trip to Sayulita, Mexico. We rented a two-bedroom apartment for a few weeks so we needed to find a sturdy crib for our toddler. The owner of the apartment recommended a local business that set up the crib before our arrival and picked it up after we departed. It was super convenient and reasonably priced (I think we paid about $50 per week).

Protect yourself — get proper travel insurance
This one is self-explanatory. Travel insurance can feel like an annoying, unnecessary expense, but it’s always best to play it safe, especially with young children.
Our infant has a severe food allergy and our toddler is accident prone, so a trip to the hospital is not out of the question. This is not the time to cut corners to save a buck, so get the right plan that protects everyone. When in doubt, pick up the phone and talk to someone about your specific questions and concerns.

Choose your destination wisely
Choosing the right destination can make or break your family trip. It’s important to consider your children’s needs, but it’s equally important to visit a place that interests you. Most destinations have some form of amusement park or family-friendly attraction, so when you make your short list, look for destinations that have some adult fun for you, too.