21 Essential Travel Tips with Kids

One of the greatest pleasures in life for Glutendtrotters is being able to enjoy the time we have together and discover new places. We know the mere thought of traveling with children can feel exhausting. That’s why we are here today: we’ve had plenty of practice and want to share with you our best travel tips with kids so you can enjoy the journey without losing your mind.

Family trips are a unique and unforgettable experience if they go well; otherwise, they can turn into a nightmare. You don’t need magic or to be a superhero. With a little bit of organization, patience, and a sense of humor, your next adventure can turn into the best trip of your lives.

Here are our essential tricks to ensure your next family vacation is a resounding success.

1. Choose your destination

Map, camera, notebook,... — Choose the destination you like best

This is our first and most important tip for traveling with kids: you must know that life with children changes, and if you haven’t realized it yet, it changes your home, it changes your car… and it changes your travels. The destinations you chose when you traveled alone or as a couple are likely no longer the most suitable for trips with young children.

It is crucial to look for a destination that adapts to the ages of all family members and to consider their opinions. There are almost always options that satisfy the different tastes of the family.

Our advice is to opt for destinations that offer a lot in a concentrated area. Ensure you don’t need to walk great distances, as this can ruin the trip and end up exhausting the kids. And if you are interested in exploring a big city, consider a longer stay. This way, you can include rest times and activities for the kids without having to sacrifice seeing the places you want to visit or feeling stressed by a lack of time.

If you can’t think of destinations to travel to with your children, here are a few suggestions:

2. Change the pace

Child sleeping on his father's shoulder — Sometimes children need to rest

Yes, this is another lesson we have learned through our experiences. When Manuel and I traveled alone, we didn’t mind waking up early and taking long walks to fit everything we wanted to see into our itinerary. The number of days available wasn’t an issue; we meticulously planned it and included everything in the time we had.

But the reality with children is very different. It is essential to adapt to their pace so that the trip is truly fun and pleasant for the whole family. Change your approach: it is better to see less and enjoy more. There will always be an opportunity to return or for them to visit when they are older.

3. Stops along the way

Gas station lit at night — Make stops so the kids can rest. And you too!

We frequently travel by car for medium distances with our daughters because it allows us to save costs and gives us greater freedom of movement, especially if we want to visit places near our main destination. However, during the trip, we recommend making stops every two hours.

We have gotten into the habit of eating breakfast and lunch at service areas that have green spaces or facilities suitable for children. This makes the trip much more bearable for them. During these breaks, they have time not only to go to the bathroom but also to stretch and play. Although the journey takes a little longer, it turns out to be much calmer and more relaxed.

4. Planning

My daughters and husband say I have OCD and, in a way, they are right. I like to have everything tidy at home and well-planned when we travel. For us, choosing restaurants is fundamental. We need to find places where we can eat gluten-freeand that offer suitable options for a young child. Although we don’t plan everything down to the last detail, we do organize our visits around where we plan to eat, to avoid the desperation of looking for a suitable place when the girls are very hungry.

5. All documentation up to date

Passport — Don’t forget all your documentation

In relation to the previous point, we want to remind you that before leaving for any destination, it is crucial to check the necessary documents for entering each country and how long it takes to obtain them. This will help you avoid unpleasant situations with expired ID cards or passports right before leaving home. It is especially important to have all documentation ready, including health insurance cards, if you plan to go abroad.

The European Health Insurance Card, which is requested online, is valid for one year and certifies the right to receive necessary healthcare benefits during a stay in any country of the European Union.

If your familyis “binuclear” like ours, it is important to inform your ex-partner about the trip and, if possible, take with you the family record book and a consent form signed by the other parent. This can avoid problems in certain countries and allow you to travel with greater peace of mind. This procedure can be done at any police station; it is completely free and is valid for 30 days.

6. Reality check

Multitud de turistas haciendo fotos con el móvil frente a la Mona Lisa en el Louvre — Keep the children’s interests in mind!

Do you really want to spend quality time with your children and enjoy yourselves together? Then it is essential to adjust your travel expectations. It is not realistic to visit Rome with children and expect to see everything in just 2 days.

Involve your children in choosing some museums or monuments that they are genuinely interested in and include activities that are suitable for them. There are visits that can be tedious for children. It is a good idea to alternate playful and entertaining activities with those that are more intensely cultural. This way, the trip becomes an enriching experience for both children and adults. These are some tips for traveling with children that can help you plan an itinerary that everyone enjoys.

7. Make the children participants in the adventure

Clapperboard for a movie — Make your children participants in the movie!

Manuel and I usually daydream about traveling to countless places and we love to sharethis passionwith our daughters. We include the girls in trip planning from the beginning, choosing the destination and possible activities, and we try to convey all our enthusiasm to them so that the experience begins to be the best adventure together, even from the comfort of our living room.

If we find a movie about the place we are going to visit, we watch it all together and share travel guides so that everyone can express their opinion about what they would like to do and see. Manuela, for now, has to go where we take her, but we always keep in mind what she might enjoy the most.

8. Luggage in just the right amount

Crowd of travel suitcases — You don’t need that much luggage to travel

Sometimes, the “just in case” mindset can make suitcases multiply by three. Although the trunk of our car is big, we cannot create space where there isn’t any. That’s why we limit ourselves to one suitcase per person when traveling by car. Aitana and Paola organize their own things and we only do a final check, checklist in hand, to ensure there will be no surprises. Of course, we prepare Manuela’s suitcase, but we believe that teaching them to pack their own luggage is a way to give them responsibility and prepare them for when they travel alone.

When we travel by plane, we adapt to hand luggage restrictions. We have become masters of luggage Tetris. If we check bags, there is a risk that they could get lost, so we avoid this option unless it is strictly necessary. In those cases, we always carry the essentials for a couple of days in our hand luggage, including toiletries, a change of clothes, medications, etc.

And remember, if you forget something or need something unexpectedly, you can always buy it at your destination. That way, you’ll have an extra souvenir from your trip!

9. Improvisation

Child throwing water — Improvising isn’t bad! It can be very fun!

When you travel with children, it is important to have some things planned, but avoid making a single or totally closed plan. Leave room for improvisation. Sometimes, unexpected things happen, and it is better to approach them with a sense of humor so they don’t ruin the experience. These are valuable tips for traveling with children that will help you maintain flexibility and enjoy the trip with the little ones.

10. Playtime and animals

Girl on swings — A playground can save you from a lot of tears

It is unlikely that you won’t find an amusement park, swings, a zoo, or an aquarium at your destination. These are optional ideas for traveling with children. There is always a moment, however brief, for them to enjoy some swings or to visit a nearby water park. A hotel with a pool is also an excellent choice for relaxing after an exhausting day of sightseeing. It is fundamental that children have time to play, as they need it.

In addition, if you find an activity related to animals, include it in your itinerary without hesitation. It is a sure bet for success.

11. Schedules and routines

Routines checklist — Your child is not like you; they have their own schedules and routines

When traveling with very young children, it is crucial to take their schedules and routines into account when planning. As they grow older, it becomes easier to improvise, but to ensure that both they and you enjoy yourselves to the fullest, it is essential to consider this aspect. A tired or hungry child will not contribute to your trip being a pleasant and memorable experience.

12. Save yourself as many lines as possible

People waiting in line — Skip the lines; with kids, it can be desperate

Buying tickets in advance for museums, aquariums, and shows you’ve planned to visit will save you trouble. Children find it especially tedious to wait in long lines, even more so if they are in the sun, and waiting to see a church can be even less attractive to them. If you can, avoid letting the children arrive exhausted even before entering anywhere. These tips for traveling with children are essential to guarantee a pleasant experience for the whole family.

13. Healthy snacking

Healthy snacks — Bring some snacks in case they get hungry, and if it’s healthy, even better

Since becoming a mother, small purses have ceased to be an option for me. When we go on a trip, I always choose to carry a small backpack, but one that is spacious enough to carry water, some snacks for everyone, wet wipes, and my personal items.

14. Imperfectly perfect

Two people looking at a map — Perfection doesn’t exist, have fun with the anecdotes that happen to you

Before heading out on a trip with children, if you don’t want to lose your mind, it is better to accept from the beginning that not everything will go perfectly.

Maybe someone gets sick, you get lost in the middle of the night, you leave something at the hotel, or even the airport loses your luggage. All this is part of the great adventure of traveling. The best thing is to take a deep breath, rely on your sense of humor, and continue adapting to the circumstances that arise. Applying these tips for traveling with children will help you handle unforeseen events better and stay calm in stressful situations.

15. Basic first aid kit

First aid kit on a brick wall — A small first aid kit can get you out of a jam

In addition to the usual medications you take at home for specific ailments, we recommend taking a small travel first aid kit. This should include an antipyretic, band-aids, single-dose saline solution, among other basic items. They are small things, but you will be glad to have them on hand in case of need. When traveling with children, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

16. Entertainment is power

colored playdough — Some playdough can save you from moments of waiting

Some playing cards, a sketchbook with crayons, or a couple of tubs of playdough can be lifesavers in situations like a long wait in line or to quietly enjoy a meal at a restaurant. It is a good idea to include in your suitcase a few items that don’t take up much space but are effective at entertaining children. These tips for traveling with children are useful to ensure that the little ones stay occupied and happy during the trip.

17. Technology

Girl taking a photo with a mobile — Technology in moderation is not bad

We know that the use of technology by teenagers on trips can be a contentious point. As parents of teenage daughters, we understand that sometimes it is a “necessary” resource for them. With moderation and well-established time limits, these devices can become a useful tool.

18. Outfits

Woman with clothes — Our daughter Aitana is quite the expert on outfits

Are your children fashionistas? Are they Instagram stars?

It is crucial that the clothing and footwear you include in your suitcases and your children’s suitcases are appropriate for the season and the temperature of the destination you are visiting.

Beyond looking good in photos, it is important that you are comfortable so you can enjoy the trip without suffering from discomfort like foot blisters or being cold just for the sake of showing off an enviable tan. Be practical in this regard; it will help you reduce the volume of your luggage. These tips for traveling with children are essential to ensure that both you and your children are prepared for any situation and can fully enjoy the experience.

19. Safety

British police officer — Keep your children’s safety in mind, and if you need to, talk to the police

It is crucial not to lose control of your children’s situation at any point during the trip. Do you remember Kevin McCallister from “Home Alone”? Sometimes, reality can be just as surprising. For greater safety, your older children can memorize your phone number and younger ones can carry identification with your details.

Another good practice is to carry a hotel business card where you are staying, or take a photo of the sign with the street name of your apartment. These details can be very useful, especially if there are language barriers. With these simple resources, you can easily overcome language obstacles and ensure that everyone can find their way back if you get separated.

20. When in Rome, do as the Romans do

The word respect on a wall — Traveling teaches you to respect different cultures

Before traveling to an unknown destination, it is important to soak up its culture and customs. Sometimes, something as simple as taking a photo can be seen as a sign of disrespect and cause unexpected problems. It is crucial to be aware of mealtimes, rules for accessing sacred places like temples and synagogues, and other cultural details.

Respect is a fundamental value to teach our children, and there is no better way to do it than through travel. Showing them how to be tolerant and empathetic toward other cultures is as important as teaching them about the world. This will broaden their vision and help them become kinder, more respectful adults.

21. Logbook

photos hanging from a rope — Make your trip into unforgettable moments

Encourage your children to keep a travel journal and, if they are older, to take their own photographs of what they like most. In our case, it is easy to motivate them because of our work with the website. However, you can always incentivize them to create an album with their photos so that, in the future, they can remember and relive the experiences shared during the trip.

Do you still have doubts about how fun traveling with children and not losing your mind can be?

We hope our tips have filled you with inspiration and a desire to embark on an adventure! Believe me, traveling with children is not only possible, but it can be an incredibly rewarding experience. It is a wonderful way to get to know your children on a deeper level and to share unforgettable moments and experiences with them.

Remember: there is no more valuable gift in this life than the time you share with your loved ones. If you love your family, don't think about it for another second! Plan that trip and then come tell us how our tips have helped you create memories that will last a lifetime.