Family Travel Tips

As we are getting ready for our long weekend in Belgium, I thought I would share with you some of the little tips we've picked up for travel in the last (almost) year! 

Pack light. Ladies, I know this is easier said than done, so I'll say pack lightish. Don't under pack, but don't over pack. I always pack extra undergarments and an extra shirt (or two) for myself and the kids, but chances are you won't need two ball gowns for a three day weekend in Paris, so just pick your favorite! :) I also carefully choose the outfits I do bring so they will be versatile. The major challenge I always face is that I like to change clothes. Josh jokes that I'm not ready until I've worn three different outfits in the morning. One way to accommodate this habit, is to pack clothes that can be mixed and matched to make different outfits. Know what your plans are, and check the weather for those plans. I almost always only bring one pair of shoes with me as well. 

On that note...can we talk about shoes for a moment? Cute shoes are great, right?! Leave the cute shoes at home-trust me. Cute is almost always synonymous with painful. I know I know, it's like the cardinal rule of girldom to always sport the most fashionable footwear. But, especially if you aren't used to walking long distances, comfort trumps cute! When we first got here, my poor little tootsies hurt for weeks!  I quickly learned that being cute just wasn't worth it. Find a pair that will keep your feet warm and dry and fit nicely. 

In the same breath that I advise you not to overpack, I will say: be prepared. It may seem contradictory, but trust me they are completely different! For instance, being prepared means that you've scoped out your accommodations and you know there's no cribs available, therefore you bring the portable. Now your precious baby has somewhere to sleep! We also tend to bring our pillows and blankets with us, as well. It helps the kids feel more comfortable in a new bed. Heck, it makes me feel more comfortable! Totally different than too many ball gowns!

If you're staying at a hotel that doesn't offer free breakfast, eating out three meals a day can get quite pricey. Something that we've found helpful: BYO. I know it sounds cheap, and that's kind of the point. We have five people to feed. That is neither quick nor cheap, so we've started to bring our own. Things like Pop tarts, cereal, bread and peanut butter are great. But if your hotel provides a microwave or even a coffee maker, you can bring oatmeal along as well. Who said you can't have a hot breakfast?! If you're looking for in room food for other times of day, try Easy Mac or cup of noodle soup. You'd be surprised how excited my kids get over those things! Basically, if you have a microwave, the possibilities are pretty endless. In addition, good ole peanut butter and jelly don't need to be refrigerated, and they travel well. 

Do your research. Even if your trip is planned on a whim, do your research in the car/on the plane, etc. Nothing kills a good time like an 8 mile hike you aren't prepared for (even in comfy shoes). Look at area attractions, check out your hotel's surroundings, check show times. Try and make a list of "must see" attractions for your travel party. Sites like Trip Advisor offer user reviews of hotels, attractions and restaurants. This is what we use to plan our must see list. People are all too willing to share their experience with you-good or bad, so use it! Once you know where you want to go and what you want to do, map a route. How will you get from one place to another? Most major cities offer bus tours that run every few minutes. This is a good way to rest your feet, get from one place to another quickly, and learn a little more about the sites you're hitting up. If you don't take a bus tour, try and look at a metro or bus map. Find one that runs near your hotel that can get you around the city. It will save you time and hassle in the long run, especially if you're traveling in a place that speaks another language. Most people are happy to help if you ask, but sometimes it's easier to not have to overcome a language barrier. 

Traveling with kids? Something we learned very early on in our travels: feed the animals! Kids get bored, they get hungry, they get thirsty, and sometimes because of these things they get downright nasty while traveling. It's a good idea to bring along snacks and water. Even if you plan on stopping for lunch or dinner, sometimes they just need something to do while they walk. We like to carry a backpack that has all our necessities for the little ones. Portable snacks like pretzels, carrot sticks, crackers and fruit work very well. Stay away from things that will squish or spill in your bag. Also, I'm sure it goes without saying, but if you bring along perishables, make sure to keep them cool and eat those in a timely manner!

Enjoying a snack in front of Prague Castle

Travel Pharmacy: In addition to carrying snacks in our bag, we carry the camera, diapers, wipes, an extra change of baby clothes, an umbrella (for those pop up rain storms that frequent Europe), a English-German dictionary (since we live and travel a lot in Germany), gum, sun block, and a huge bag of medicine. Like, I jingle when I walk, huge! I keep basically every type of medicine my family might need when we are out in this bag. Upset tummy, headache, fever, motion sickness, allergy....you name it, I've probably got it! Have you ever been to a pharmacy in another country?! It's not a chance I'm willing to take--it's hard enough choosing in English! Plus, it is just so convenient to be able to take whatever we need without stopping. And no one has to suffer through whatever ails them for long! 

The stroller vs carrier: This is a tricky one. We personally do not take a stroller with us. Peyton is just about two, and pretty hefty at this point. But it's still so much easier to carry him on my back than it is for us to lug a stroller around cobblestone streets and up massive castle stairs. Plus some of the roads here are barely wide enough for a stroller, so you know that most shops and museums aren't having it! I don't see the point of pushing it around just to leave it outside when we go in somewhere. I'm happy it's one less thing to worry about, and he's happy because he can see the world (and pull my hair). Also, naptime is a breeze--I just rock him to sleep on my back. Now that he's a little older and a much better walker, he's able to get down and walk off some excess energy, as well. The only major downside to the carrier is that because of the way it sits on me, it digs into my hips and shoulders after a few hours. But, as I said...this is our personal preference. Do what's right for your family and your situation.

PJ looking thrilled in his carrier in Prague

Plan your gas stops. I cannot tell you how stress inducing it is to be on 1/8 of a tank of gas in a foreign country. We drive to most of our travel spots, and having a route to gas already planned out really saves us the frustration of trying to find one along the way.

The very last tip I can offer is go with the flow. Even the most carefully planned out trip can get off track. If you are willing to bend and wing it a little, you can still have a pretty darn good time. Make note of what could have improved the trip or what you would do differently next time. Every trip is a learning experience, so just have fun!

"It's Me...Mario"

It's all about having fun!

Now, we are off to sample some of the world's finest chocolates, waffles, beer, and fries. My next post might have to be about establishing a good workout plan!! 

Adieu! Näkemiin! Auf Wiedersehen! Goodbye!