I’m sorry I have absolutely no experience when it comes to this subject. I do not have kids and I have never ever travelled with any. I’m one of those people who secretly pray to God they’re not sitting too close to anyone with children. Sorry! Travelling is one of my favourite things to do, I’m not here for the hooting, hollering and chair kicking.
I do look forward to the experience though – if ONLY to board the plane first. *shrugs*
Like I previously stated, I have no clue how people travel with little humans, therefore I have enlisted someone who does have experience in this very important subject. Meet D’vanya Hinsey, soon-to-be mommy blogger *wink wink*, mother of two active boys and wife to fitness guru Keith. As a young couple with children, they are the epitome of family goals. They make traveling with children look easy and I swear every time I look they are on a plane with their two boys. So, how do they do it?
I recently had a chat with D’Vanya who spilt some of her families secrets. Pull up a chair parents, this one is for you!
What are the most general misconceptions when it comes to travelling with children?
That you can’t! I always hear people say, “Don’t rush to have no children go travel the world first.” While part of that is true, definitely DO NOT rush to have kids, but don’t feel like having kids will stop you from travelling either. Is it a bit harder most definitely, hard enough to make me not travel at all? Heck no!
How do you manage to travel with two kids?
Proper planning and packing is key.
Tip# 1: We travel as light as possible. We check as much as we can at the gate. Hubby and I both carry 1 backpack each, one with snacks, formulas, pampers and change of clothes (just in case) and one with electronics. (The iPad mini has been the best investment made for my 3-year old lol it was sent from heaven). Besides our backpacks, we have a double stroller and that helps to keep our hands free.
Tip# 2 : Know your kids! We plan everything we do around what time our boys will be hungry and sleepy. We even try to book flight times based on when we know the kids will be ready for a nap. Most times we fly they sleep the whole way!
Tip# 3: Try not to pack too much into one day. Some days on a vacation time runs away from us and we don’t realise how packed the day has been until we are out somewhere and the kids are doing the most. That’s when we realise we have to pack up and get the kids to bed.
How do you budget for a family vacation?
The biggest thing for planning a family vacation is the plane ticket. Once the ticket it bought we are pretty much set. After baby turns 2 you pay FULL PRICE for their plane ticket so we had to adjust to having that extra cost. Both my kids are still under 5 so I haven’t gotten to the stage where hotels charge more for them. We plan most of our trips at the very least 3 – 4 months out and book tickets as soon as we know where want to travel. (The early you buy tickets the cheaper).
What are some budget family vacations that you would suggest for families?
I don’t have any specific “budget friendly” vacation in mind. Every family is different. We recently went on a cruise and I thought this was awesome for a family with 2 small kids. The initial cost may seem to be a lot but after we got on the ship and didn’t have to worry about food every day, so it became worth it. Also, not having to get in and out of a car every second made it more relaxing for us. A cruise may not seem like a “budget friendly” vacation for most but it’s something that worked for my family. I also like the plus side of visiting more than one country in one vacation.
What is your advice to parents that are afraid to travel with children?
Don’t be! I totally understand why it would horrify any parent. I mean the temper tantrums, feeding stops, diaper changes… it can be scary. But you have to give it try to give yourself the opportunity to know what you need to do when you travel.
How do you make a family vacation fun for parents?
Kids (at least mine) are pretty fun. Watching them enjoy themselves on a vacation makes it enjoyable for us.
Why it’s important to travel with kids/as a family?
Travelling as a family is so important! It gives everyone a chance to disconnect from the everyday routine and actually spend time together. I think it’s also important especially for the kids to expose them to a world outside of where they are from. There is so much for them to discover and it is important that as parents facilitate their adventure!
No one should feel as though having kids means you can’t travel with them. It may not be as easy and it may be more expensive with extra bodies but it is certainly possible. Having kids comes with its sacrifices but it also comes with its perks (Disney has never been as fun as it has been when I took my kids).
LET’S KEEP IN TOUCH!
2 comments
Travelling with a little one can be challenging at times but definitely worth it. My major tip is to RELAX. Chances are if you are relaxed, your kids will be too. Tip #2: Choose bulkhead sitting when travelling with infants. It might cost a little more, but worth it. In terms of airfares, some airlines will charge 10% of a full fare plus taxes (of the full fare) for children under 2 for international flights. Tip#3: involve them in your planning, educate them about the place, get them excited. Kids brains are sponges, and it is amazing to see and hear what they remember. 4: sometimes it’s better to forego priority boarding unless you really need more time to settle. Less time on the plane, more time to release their energy in bigger area. Tip #5 You are allowed to bring water through security for your kids. Let me know if you need more 🙂
Yes, as D’vanya said, the most important thing is to keep a “kids are portable!” attitude! The joy and memories are multiplied when traveling with people you love — like your children!
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