Smooth Sailing – 5 Essential Tips for Stress-Free Family Travel Preparation

Traveling the world is an exquisite opportunity for families to bond, see new places, and create memories that will last a lifetime. But without the right planning, a dream getaway can quickly become an exercise in aggravation.

From packing the appropriate essentials to planning your itinerary, preparation is essential for a well-executed family trip! A little organization and a thinking a few steps in advance will help your family stay on the road to a stress-free vacation. Read on for some tips on what you can do to make your next family trip a little less stressful!

Tip #1 Plan and Stay Organized

The number one tip for a hassle-free family travel, as I mentioned earlier, is being prepared!

Starting with a list and checking off the things you’ll need can be incredibly useful, even for seasoned travelers. Be sure to include all the big ones, like passports, visas, tickets, accommodations, and travel insurance. But also consider any unique needs your family may have. Any dietary restrictions, medications, or favorite baby items should all be thought through and accounted for.

Tip #2 Pack Smart and Light

Packing for a family trip can quickly become overwhelming, but don’t overpack! Stick to the basics and try to only allow one suitcase or backpack per family member. Whether it’s a shorter trip or an around the globe adventure, you shouldn’t pack more than about a week’s worth of clothes. You can do laundry, if necessary.

If you have other essentials, like medications or toiletries, bring them as well, but don’t go overboard! Most places you can visit will have pharmacies and supermarkets where you can get the essentials. Prescription meds are the exception here. Be sure to bring all that you’ll need for your trip, or be prepared to find a local doctor who can write you a script for more, if needed.

Packing your luggage with packing cubes or bags can help organize and save space. Bring a separate carry-on with essentials like snacks, chargers, and key documents to the airport or on long car rides so you can keep them close at hand.

Tip #3 Prepare for the Unexpected

No matter how well you prepare, there’s always the possibility of the unexpected happening. And honestly, if you travel enough, it will happen. Over the years, our family has had plenty of scrapes, bruises, splinters, and stings, some of which have landed us in local doctor’s offices. (Nothing too serious, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry!)

Paying for doctor’s visits out of pocket is very possible in most locations, but if you’d like a bit more peace of mind, it’s also possible to get low-cost travel medical insurance that will cover you for a myriad of different emergencies. I personally prefer SafetyWing for this as they have a super simple claims process, cover flight delays and lost bags on top of medical emergencies, and even have add-on options that can cover electronics theft. You can (and should!) check out the details on the SafetyWing website before buying.

For smaller problems, it’s also helpful to bring a small first aid kit with things like band-aids, Tylenol (and children’s Tylenol), and antiseptic wipes. I also bring allergy medicines with me for longer trips, as I can usually get these cheaper in the States than I can abroad. (I don’t know why.)

In addition, you could also research local emergency contacts at your travel destination for doctors, or even a personal injury lawyer, so that if an accident does occur you know who you can call. This isn’t really necessary, but if it give you peace of mind, it’s worth the 5-10 minutes it takes to look it up ahead of time.

Tip #4 Keep the Kids Engaged

Keeping children entertained and content during your trip is one of the most important things you can do to ensure a calm travel day. Smaller kids can get tired easily on long trips, so make sure you pack enough things for them to do! Opt for games that are easy to transport, coloring books, or educational apps. 

It’s best to stick to multi-use items, for the sake of luggage space. We use Kindle e-Readers and the Libby App for getting books while traveling, and both our kids have tablets that they use both for doing school work and for entertainment purposes. We also travel with a small stash of LEGO, for screen-free play time, and, if we stay in one place for a longer time, we’ll also buy some small toys that get left behind when we leave. Nothing too expensive, obviously, but enough to keep them entertained.

And, of course, once you’ve arrived, you should be sure to take plenty of fun, family-friendly field trips!

Tip #5 Stay Flexible and Relax

While it is always a smart idea to make plans for your family trips, it is equally essential that you remain flexible with those plans. Flexibility and “not sweating the small stuff” are key to preventing stress, whether it be an oversold room or a downpour that rained out your picnic.

Keep the focus on what you can do to make the situation better and remember that the main reason you are on this trip is to spend time together. The unexpected will happen. Stay chill when it does, and everyone will have more fun along the way.

Family travel doesn’t need to be a hassle. A little bit of preparation and an open mind to change will go a long way to helping make your next family trip a success!