5 Family Travel Planning Hacks

January 27, 2022 Natalie Preddie

Planning a vacation for you and baby can be exciting and overwhelming all at once. As a traveling mom, I’ve narrowed down my favourite travel planning hacks to make the whole planning process easier.

1. DECIDE ON A MAXIMUM FLIGHT DURATION

Let’s be honest, both you and baby have a limit on how long you will be stuck on an airplane with one another. Personally, we try not to do longer than 4 hours on a plane with our little one and plan our vacations accordingly. Thankfully, KAYAK has an EXPLORE Tool, which helps you find all the destinations you can fly to based on budget. This way, we know exactly how long we will need to keep the baby entertained until we get to the beach.

2. FIND A PLACE WITH A BABYSITTER

Whether your family has chosen an all inclusive resort, a city hotel or a rental with grandparents, make sure that there is a trustworthy babysitting service or baby club available. As much as you adore your little one, some baby‐free adult time with your partner is very necessary. You are the best possible people, parents and partners when you have time to relax, reconnect, enjoy balance and give ourselves permission to do so.

3. HOW ACCESSIBLE ARE DIAPERS AND WIPES?
If possible, avoid flying with a box of diapers and all of the wipes to last you all week. Fly only with what you will need in the terminal, on the plane and a few extras just in case. Most cities will have a drugstore or supermarket nearby where you can pick up diapers and wipes on arrival. If you are staying on a resort, check to see if they have any baby gear packages available. You can often purchase these ahead of time and they will be waiting in your room when you arrive. Perfect, right? The less you have to journey with, the better.

4. CONFIRM TRANSPORTATION FROM THE AIRPORT
Some accommodation will have long transport times from the airport. The last thing you want is a fussy baby that sat through a flight, customs and security, only to have a long drive to the hotel, resort or rental: It is a long journey for everyone. When possible, choose a final destination that is easy to access and make sure your transfer vehicles comes with a car seat already installed.

5. …OH, AND TRANSPORTATION AT YOUR DESTINATION
Consult an online resort map or call ahead to make sure your hotel or resort is fairly easy to navigate based on your needs. Will you need to take a shuttle to the beach? Are the restaurants really far from your room? All of this is easily dealt with; just make sure you are aware ahead of time. This is especially true if you have a family member with mobility issues…or a partner who will not want to push the stroller up a hill at the end of a long day in the sun.

6. BE PREPARED TO BE FLEXIBLE
As a traveling parent I have learned that the right mindset is key to enjoying a family getaway. Kids are unpredictable and sometimes, following their explorative lead is the way to go. One can never plan for every eventuality and regardless of nap times, excursions or dinner plans, your baby will most likely operate on their own schedule. Rather than fight it, roll with the punches and enjoy every magical moment on vacation with your little one.

Read more tips from Natalie here.

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