There was once a time where travel was the definition of relaxing. It was the time where you could rise and shine whenever your heart desired, and your itinerary was completely in your own hands.
Then, came the kids. Now, no-one would disagree that they bring plenty of happiness through our lives, and we most certainly wouldn’t live without them. However, there’s no doubt that an extra degree (or two) of stress enters the picture when travelling with them, and that once-simple trip is nomore.Fortunately, there are ways you can manage this. Through today’s article, we will now take a look at some of these.
Location, location, location
It’s one of the biggest clichés going, but first and foremost we really can’t emphasise the importance of picking your location shrewdly.
If you are planning a trip to the UK, London might seemingly be the obvious choice. Now that you are travelling with kids, this might not be the foregone conclusion it once was. Instead, picking somewhere less crowded can often work better, and the fact that Edinburgh hotels are typically cheaper than London alternatives can make this a worthy option. Or, simply have a look around and find other cities which have plenty on the radar for little visitors.
The rules on packing
As we all know, when it comes to small children, a trip to the shop can feel like you are packing for a two-week vacation.
In regards to the vacation itself, we really can’t emphasise the importance of less being more. Sure, there are always going to be essentials to pack, but at the same time, you don’t want to be carting around cases and cases of things “you might” use. All this will do is prompt tiredness – and this is the last thing anyone needs.Remember, if you don’t decide to bring something, you can buy it in the worst-case scenario.
Plan your flights as best as you can
Again, this next piece of advice is even more important to younger children, but planning your flights around your child’s bedtime can be an invaluable tip if you can make it work.Flights can be stressful at the best of times, and with a crying child alongside you, the situation can be made even worse.
Even if you can’t arrange for the flight to be directly around their bedtime, at least try and avoid the early morning flights. All this will do is prompt an extremely tired child, and this is something that could prompt knock-on effects for several days into the vacation.
Stick to “some sort” of structure
Admittedly, vacations are not the time to stick to a strict routine. At the same time, most kids live and breathe through routines, so try and provide at least some structure for this trip.
It might involve just sticking to a regular bedtime, even if it is later than they are used to. Or, these timings might just revolve around mealtimes. Regardless, make sure they have some structure to fall back on; it will make the trip more manageable.