Article Surfing Archive

Traveling with children does not have to be a dreaded nightmare, as it's often depicted. As long as children are kept entertained, they will probably enjoy the flight. They will probably be more excited about flying than you are, because they have had fewer opportunities to do it. By flying with your children, you are adding many hours, sometimes days, to your family vacation time. It might take you a day or more to drive to Disney World, but you can be there in a few hours on a plane. This adds to your time in the park, or wherever your family chooses to go.

Plan your family vacation far in advance. This will afford you time to shop around for the cheapest tickets at the best airlines. Many airlines try to attract families traveling together by offering special children's meals and movies on the flight. Look around for a kid-friendly airline that will anticipate your child's travel needs. If you are taking an extremely long flight, research the airports where you will have to spend your layover. Many airports these days have small playgrounds and children's amenities that will give the kids a place to burn off their pent-up energy and let you rest.

If you must fly a long distance, plan your trip so the longest part of your flight coincides with your children's regular bedtime. This way they will be occupied with sleeping during the most boring part of the trip and hopefully they will wake up well-rested and happy. Time your flights to decrease your and your children's symptoms of jet lag and you will be grateful.

When traveling with children, it is essential to be a skilled packer. You want to travel light enough so you won't be weighed down with your luggage, but not so light that you have to buy a lot of clothes or extras when you arrive in your destination. It is difficult to pack properly for yourself and your children on a vacation, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time in advance. It will help to have a few days to add to your family's luggage, so you can be sure not to forget anything crucial. Try to fit as much into as few bags as possible. You don't want to risk the airline losing multiple bags. Keep essentials like clean underwear and a toothbrush in your carryon luggage, just in case.

The most fun part of traveling with kids is packing their carryon backpacks. Here you can provide new coloring books and snacks, interesting things for them to discover once they board the plane. They will be excited at new toys and activities. You don't have to spend a lot of money. The novelty will be enough for the children. Keep a store of surprises for emergencies, if the children become especially bored. Always have an ace in the hole, a candy bar or new crayons for the kids to enjoy. This will ensure a pleasant trip for everyone.