The Ultimate Guide to Family Travel: Everything You Need to Know
If you want to know everything about family travel, let this blog post be your guide!
Call me crazy, but I LOVE family travel. There is just something about sharing new experiences that can build relationships. Traveling with kids is an exciting adventure—but let’s be honest, it can also feel a little overwhelming! Or a lot. There’s a lot to consider, from choosing family-friendly destinations to figuring out how to entertain kids on long flights and long travel days.
Trust me when I say that with the right planning, your trip can be low-stress and so fun. This guide covers everything from packing tips for family vacations to budget-friendly travel hacks. I also included links to tried and tested Amazon travel essentials that can make your next trip a breeze.
This post is the ultimate guide to family travel.
How to Choose the Best Family-Friendly Travel Destinations
Spoiler alert: As much as some travel influencers may have you believe, not all destinations are ideal for kids. Sure, it may look exhilarating and incredible, but the reality of some of these places is not what you do. I’m here to tell you that the best places for family vacations have kid-friendly attractions, easy transportation, and comfortable accommodations.
Trust me when I say that all of these things are so important! You do not want to carry a tired toddler miles to your hotel that just happens to be on the outskirts of town because the one playground you found for them was not open. That is not what family travel should be!
Based on personal experience and a lot of research, here are my top picks for family-friendly travel destinations that I recommend for all families, whether you are a seasoned family traveler or just dipping your toes in.
Best Travel Destinations for Families
Beach Vacations with Kids:
Best National Parks for Families:
Top Kid-Friendly Cities:
Best Theme Parks for Families:
Best Cruises for Families
Pro Tip
Many hotels and resorts offer free stays for kids or have all-inclusive family packages which can cut down on the cost of accommodations significantly! You can find the best deals by clicking below.
Packing Like a Pro (Without Overpacking!)
One of the biggest struggles for parents, or maybe just me, is packing efficiently while making sure you don’t forget anything important. I’m really good at not forgetting anything because I bring so much! But that’s not always the best when traveling with kids, especially little kids, who can’t quite carry their own suitcases yet.
I have a blog post that goes over packing light that you can check out. I’ve also got a blog post with my ultimate toddler packing list.
Here’s how to pack light for a family trip while still bringing all the essentials:
Use Packing Cubes for Kids’ Clothes
Packing cubes and compression packing cubes
You would be surprised at how many of your kids’ clothes will fit in ONE packing cube. Especially when they are younger. It’s amazing! We have both regular packing cubes and compression packing cubes and honestly, I love them both. If you’re not sure which to start with, you honestly can’t go wrong with either!
Organize Outfits by Day
Choosing your outfits (and your kids’ outfits) for each day before your trip can help cut down on extra clothes that may end up in your suitcase and aren’t used!
Bring Travel-Size Toiletries
TSA-approved and mess-free [Shop Here]
Seriously, don’t make my mistake and think that a 6 oz bottle of face wash will sneak through TSA unnoticed. It may once or twice, but eventually, it will get caught and thrown away. (RIP face wash). Do yourself a favor and invest in either travel-sized, refillable bottles or buy travel-sized versions of what you use for your trip.
Pro Tip
Use up everything from your travel-sized bottles when you get home to avoid waste and spoilage.
Invest in a Lightweight Travel Stroller
A must for sightseeing! [Shop Here]
If you still have stroller-aged kids, do yourself a favor and invest in a good stroller! Unless you like carrying your kids around in a carrier, a good stroller will be a lifesaver! Just make sure that it can fold up in a pinch in case you are taking public transportation a lot or with a lot of stairs.
Bring Snacks from Home
As fun as it can be to find new snacks in the places you go to, it can also be super tricky with kids. They are creatures of habit and taking them out of their habitat can be a lot for them. Having comfortable snacks from home can go a long way in helping them accommodate to family travel.
Don’t Forget a Spill-Proof Snack Cup
Less mess, happy kids [Shop Here]
Along the lines of snacks, if you are traveling with little kids, bringing spill-proof snack cups can be a lifesaver in keeping precious snacks in your kids’ mouths and off the floor.
Download my FREE Printable Family Packing Checklist here!
Booking Flights & Accommodations for Family Travel
Booking flights and hotels is my bread and butter when it comes to family travel. I love it because I love finding good deals and fun places to stay!
In our experience, there are definitely some airlines and hotels that are better for traveling with kids than others. Nothing wrong with the others though!
Best Airlines for Traveling with Kids
Money-Saving Tip
Use flight comparison sites like Google Flights or Skyscanner to find the best airfare deals for families.
Pro Tip
Sign up for a credit card with flight benefits, like free checked bags, TSA Precheck/Global Entry credits, or earlier boarding.
Hotel vs. Airbnb: Which is Better for Families?
I get this question all the time! Is a hotel better for family travel or should I book an Airbnb if I’m traveling with my family? The answer honestly depends! Each has perks and downsides.
Hotels are nice when traveling as a family because they are typically more centrally located to many sites, especially in big cities. If you can score hotels with small kitchens or separate bedrooms, or free breakfasts, those are gold!
Airbnbs give you such a cozy vibe! You typically have more room to move around and you can explore different parts of a city that are on the path less traveled. You will get kitchen access and many hosts are kind enough to provide all of the essentials that you need.
Best Family Hotels: Resorts with pools, kid clubs, suites, kitchens, and free breakfast
Airbnb for Families: More space and kitchen access, ideal for long stays
Pro Tip
Look for accommodations that offer cribs, high chairs, and family suites to make your stay more comfortable.
Managing Schedules & Beating Jet Lag with Kids
Depending on how far you travel, you may need to deal with jetlagged kids! Not to mention for yourself as well. As you may have heard, a well-rested child = a much happier trip. Whether you’re crossing time zones or just dealing with travel exhaustion, here’s how to help kids adjust to new schedules that have worked really well for us:
Jet Lag Tips for Kids
Start adjusting their schedule 2-3 days before travel
This is always the dream, right? But if you are anything like me, the 2-3 days before family travel, I am worrying about packing and last-minute items and not on jet lag. The few times that we have tried it though, it has been amazing! There was still a small adjustment when we got to our destinations, but it was definitely worth it.
Keep them hydrated and active during the day
Keeping kids hydrated and active is KEY to beating jetlag with kids, either when you get to your destination or when you get back! If you can get your kids, and yourself out in the sun as well, that will do wonders in helping your circadian rhythms adjust and help overcome your jetlag much more quickly.
Use a travel pillow for better sleep on the go
My husband swears by this travel pillow that he brought with us on a recent trip to London. We brought a small travel pillow for our son as well that fit really nicely in his backpack! Having a good and comfortable pillow to use on the airplane and in the hotels helped them adjust to the time change so quickly! Don’t undermine the power of restful sleep when traveling!
Don’t plan too much for the first day
Jetlag can hit hard and you don’t want to be exhausted and dragging while trying to do a bike tour around the city or zipline across the trees! Taking it easy on the first day can help you adjust and still not miss much on your family vacation!
Consider natural sleep aids for long-haul flights
Natural sleep aids can be a huge help in getting enough sleep and helping fight jetlag in kids and adults. I recommend trying them before your trip though to make sure you know how they affect you and what dosage you need.
Pro Tip
If you can, try to avoid booking flights that land late at night or in the middle of the night! Kids and adults adjust better when they arrive during the daytime.
How to Entertain Kids on Long Flights & Road Trips
Keeping kids entertained while traveling is key to a stress-free trip! Or low stress because there is always a little bit of stress when it comes to traveling, right? If not, teach me your ways!
Whether you’re flying or driving with your kids, having the right activities can prevent meltdowns and keep them engaged.
I have a full article on airplane activities for toddlers that you can check out. I also have a blog post on road trip toys for toddlers.
Here are some basic things that are amazing in entertaining kids on long flights and road trips.
Best Kids’ Headphones for Travel
Comfortable & volume-limited [Shop Here]
Mess-Free Coloring Books
Perfect for flights & restaurants [Shop Here]
Sticker Books
Our son loves these and they are perfect for flights and car rides [Shop Here]
Compact Travel Games for Families
Fun for all ages [Shop Here]
Yoto Player/Toniebox
Such a great way to keep kids entertained without screens [shop Yoto]/[shop Toniebox]
Best Tablets for Kids
Pre-load with movies & games [Shop Here]
Pro Tip
Download a few offline-friendly apps (like Disney+) so kids stay entertained without needing WiFi.
Final Thoughts: Travel Smarter with Kids!
There you have it! This post has your ultimate guide to family travel! We love traveling as a family and although traveling with kids may not always be as convenient as going without them, we have made some incredible memories together and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.
Family travel can be a little stressful but with smart planning, the right gear, and kid-friendly activities, you can make your next trip fun and low-stress.
Shop my favorite Amazon travel must-haves!
Happy travels!
