The holiday travel season is here, and millions of Americans are hitting the roads and skies in droves to reach their final destinations.
according to AAAmore than 55 million Americans travel more than 50 miles during Thanksgiving. pricewaterhousecoopers notes that nearly half the country travels between Thanksgiving and mid-January.
Traveling comes with stressors year-round, but vacations have a unique high-octane feeling of anxiety. Add young, inexperienced children to the mix and there can be conflict, fights, and tears. However, with a few simple tips and tricks, traveling with kids can go smoothly. Travel experts who have children of their own or are familiar with family destinations offer plenty of hacks to make this year’s holiday travels as smooth as possible.
pack light
There is still much work to be done, as parents will attest fly on a plane with children More than meets the eye. Unlike adults, who often have more experience flying and can anticipate potential delays and problems, children need a gentle hand to hold, both literally and figuratively, during the trip. Whether it’s nerves or constant stimulation, flying with kids adds an element of challenge to any trip. Still, experts say it doesn’t have to be that complicated. One of the easiest ways to make your travel experience more manageable for the whole family is to pack light.
It may be tempting to leave your luggage for a hands-free travel experience. But the benefits of using carry-on luggage go beyond saving on pesky checked baggage fees.Monica Fish Founder planner of the heartshares how her family transitioned to a carry-on-only lifestyle. “There’s nothing worse than arriving at your destination without your child’s belongings because the airline lost it for days, so I stopped checking luggage,” she says.
Fish also says that when dealing with winter weather, when flight delays and cancellations are common, having a carry-on bag makes everything easier. Fish recommends services like Amazon Locker and Target Delivery if your family is traveling for the holidays and needs gifts delivered.
Delivery services are also useful if you want to minimize the amount of snacks you bring on vacation. Kimberly Fidler, Vice President of Marketing Let’s run away todaysays her family “will be using Instacart to deliver groceries, travel snacks, and other essentials to their hotel room.” This will save you packing space and will come in really handy when you’re on vacation. ”
Use snacks and screens
Some parents try not to give out too much. snack Or you quickly turn to your tablet or smartphone to distract your kids while traveling. On the contrary, experts advise parents to rely on them as tools to keep their children occupied and comfortable. The key is to load up on healthier snack options that can keep kids feeling full while you’re out and about.
Alex Caspero, Registered Dietitian delicious knowledge, recommend snacks rich in fiber and protein. Her favorite choices are “date sweetened bars, popcorn (for older kids), cheese and whole grain crackers, applesauce pouches, and trail mix.” As for how many snacks she should bring, Caspero says, “My advice as a mother and nutritionist is to bring more snacks than you think you’ll need.”
Families with tablets and smartphones can download their favorite shows and movies on the plane or even while waiting at the airport. Caspero added: “Screens make life easier for everyone, especially in the case of long flights or delays.” Parents are likely to be more patient than young children when a flight is delayed, so it’s important to have distractions to keep everyone happy.
expectations of temperament
One of the most valuable tips experts highlight when traveling with kids on vacation isn’t a single gadget or packing hack. Here are some quick tips to practice patience and manage expectations before your trip. Anticipating crowds at airports and roads can help you avoid a rude awakening when your family is in the middle of a trip.Sarah Gilliland, travel editor and writer Traveling with Sarahparents should “moderate your expectations when traveling during the holidays. Airports and roads are busy. Being kind to fellow travelers and airline employees will go a long way toward making your trip better.” It will be of great help.”
In addition to being prepared in the right mindset, keeping a few simple tricks in mind before you leave the house can prevent you from getting too many headaches. Gilliland added: “Make sure your devices are charged, your content is downloaded, and your snacks are packed. Never assume you’ll have Wi-Fi on the plane. Please get ready.”
Thinking outside the box will make family travel more flexible this holiday season. Theme park journalist Megan Dubois encourages travelers to consider alternative transportation options, especially if time permits. She said: “If you can drive, I encourage you to drive to get where you want to go. Not only do you have your own space in the car, you can stop whenever you want and take care of hungry children and other people.” You can bring all the snacks and food you need for the adults.”
As always, arriving at the airport in plenty of time and choosing the earliest possible flight are proven tips for an easier travel experience, especially if the whole family is together.
This article was created by Media decisions Syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.
