Tips For Traveling With Kids

When it comes to planning travel with our little one, I think through a lot more of the timing and logistics. Naps and bedtime play a huge role in the success of a trip. I’m all for making things as convenient as possible, and that means prioritizing sleep. Over the last two years, I’ve found that better flight paths and more time on the ground equate to better success for everyone.

Don’t force sleep. I did this once—tried to get my 10-month-old to sleep on a plane, and she was just too excited to wind down. It led to many tears, from both of us, and it was a big lesson. So now, I’ve found that if I don’t force it, often she will fall asleep on her own.

Relaxation feels far from our daily itineraries at the moment—so we take full advantage of our toddler’s naps to relax. That’s why having accommodations with a terrace or separate living space is so helpful. Our daughter is very adventurous right now, so we lean into that when we plan our trips. Beaches, hiking and all of these similar activities are big wins for us as a family in this season.

Traveling with our daughter has opened a new lens to seeing the world. I have a greater appreciation for cultures that value family and young children, and a newfound appreciation for restaurants and hotels that welcome little ones with open arms. When so much of our daily life revolves around our daughter and her needs, how we interact with the world greatly impacts this—so I am constantly pleasantly surprised by her presence in unfamiliar surroundings and how we navigate them as a family.

My daughter is really into wildlife, and I find myself looking for ways to intertwine this into our trips. During our trip to O’ahu, she discovered the local mongooses. We stopped every 10 feet the first few days to observe them, and while most would overlook these animals, I found that these moments of pause allowed us to truly enjoy our surroundings. I frequently find that her curiosity invites us to look at things that we hadn’t noticed before.

A compact travel stroller, white noise machine and all the snacks.

We’re heading to Europe in May for six weeks and visiting three countries: France, Italy and England. I’m most excited to return to France, my roots, where we’ll be in the south. I know she’ll love the ocean, the fresh produce and being with family.

Professional babysitting services booked through the hotel are a lovely offering, especially for nights when you want to indulge in an adult-only dinner. We thoroughly enjoyed this during our stay at Kiwi Collection hotel La Residencia, A Belmond Hotel in Mallorca. Another wonderful amenity that we enjoyed at Casa de Sierra Nevada, a Belmond Hotel was the high-quality cribs and high chairs at their onsite restaurants. It’s so much easier to travel without a pack & play when you don’t have to!

Rip the bandaid off once with a low-expectation trip—don’t travel too far from home and make it a one to two-night trip. Remember, as you’re figuring out how to travel with your kids, they’re also learning to travel with you.