10 Tips for a Stress-Free Trip — Talkspace

Traveling with kids gives the whole family a chance to step away from daily routines, spend meaningful family time together, and create lasting memories. For children, these experiences can help them grow and develop through navigating new environments, fun activities, and connections with loved ones. 

Travelling to a new destination is a great adventure for your little ones, but it’s not always smooth sailing. Although family trips can be the experience of a lifetime, they often require an extra dose of patience, planning, and flexibility. 

A few practical strategies can help make family travel less stressful and much more enjoyable. If you’ve ever wondered how to travel with kids without the usual chaos, this article will share 10 tips to help parents prepare for smoother, more relaxed travel experiences with children of all ages, so you can focus on what really matters — making happy memories together.

1. Plan and Pack Strategically

A vacation checklist can help you plan a successful trip. Start thinking about what to add to your checklist before packing. Pay attention to the items you and your family use every day and make sure those items make it onto your list. Keep your checklist in an accessible location to add things as you think of them. This allows other family members to add items they don’t want to forget to the packing list. 

When planning outfits for yourself and your kids, check if your accommodations have laundry facilities. If you can do laundry throughout your trip, you may not need to pack as many clothes. 

It’s tempting to bring everything the kids need and more. However, if you’ll be in or near a big city, it may not be necessary to pack all the diapers your baby will need for your trip, as you can likely buy them there. This family travel tip can save you lots of suitcase space and allow you to pack more strategically. 

2. Keep Routines as Consistent as Possible

Maintaining familiar routines while traveling—whether it’s sticking to the school-year schedule or following your kids’ summer schedule—can help them feel secure and at ease. Eating at usual times and sticking to bedtime rituals give children a sense of predictability, even while traveling to new places. This can make it easier for them to handle changes, prevent meltdowns, and enjoy the trip more.

If your travel plans are flexible, you may also consider traveling in the same time zone. For example, if you live on the East Coast but want to travel somewhere further, you could travel to the Bahamas, which is in the same time zone. 

Changing time zones can be especially disorienting for younger children. If you’re traveling across time zones, consider adding a day or two of downtime when you arrive to adjust to the new time zone. 

3. Pack a “Survival Kit” for Emergencies

No matter how well you plan, the unexpected can still happen when you’re traveling with toddlers and kids. A small “survival kit” can help you weather surprise emergencies on the go. Customize your survival kit based on what you need. 

Here are some items to consider including:

• Wipes 
• Hand sanitizer
• Tissues
• Face masks
• An extra set of clothes for accidents, spills, or unexpected weather changes
• Band-aids 
• Snacks 
• Favorite toys or comfort items, like a blanket
• Refillable water bottle
• Sunscreen and bug spray
• EpiPen (if needed)

Make sure your survival kit is easily accessible. That means packing it in a carry-on instead of a checked bag if you’re flying or in an easy-to-reach spot in the car if you’re on a road trip. 

4. Choose Kid-Friendly Accommodations

Where you stay can make or break a family trip. Choosing family-friendly accommodations in mind will make your vacation more comfortable and a lot less stressful.

• Look for family-focused amenities: Cribs, high chairs, and minifridges can go a long way. Some hotels may offer a small kitchen or kitchenette, which is incredibly helpful if you need to prepare simple meals and snacks or cater to your children’s eating habits or dietary restrictions.
• Check for play spaces and kid-friendly extras: Accommodations with play areas, pools, or outdoor spaces where they can safely run around can help kids burn off extra energy. It’s also helpful to check if the location is close to kid-friendly attractions, parks, or stores, so you don’t have to spend too much time going back and forth. 
• Do your research: If you’re traveling somewhere you’ve never been before, try to read reviews from other families to get a better idea of how well your chosen hotel or rental really caters to families. 

When your accommodations are set up to meet your family’s needs, you can spend more time relaxing and enjoying your vacation and less time worrying about the little things.

5. Set Realistic Expectations

Even with the best planning, traveling with kids rarely goes perfectly, and that’s okay. Setting realistic expectations can help everyone enjoy the trip, even when things don’t go to plan. 

Everyone has a different travel style. Some people like to have every activity planned out in advance, while others just show up and go with the flow. When traveling with toddlers and kids, it can help not to overschedule your trips. Instead of aiming for a perfect vacation, focus on creating fun moments and being flexible when things don’t go as planned. Build extra time into your schedule for slower mornings, snack breaks, and unexpected detours. This way, small hiccups won’t feel like big setbacks.

When parents stay flexible and go with the flow, it sets the tone for the whole family. Some of the best travel memories come from unexpected moments, not perfectly planned ones.

6. Involve Kids in the Planning Process

Your trip may go more smoothly when the kids can be part of the planning process. Whenever possible, let kids choose a pit stop, activity, or snack to help them feel involved. When traveling with toddlers, who may be too young to fully understand, you can involve them by explaining what’s going to happen next. Try to frame things in a way they’ll understand. For example, you may try to use naps or meal times to explain how long a car or plane trip will be. 

Older kids and teenagers will especially appreciate being involved in the planning process. Giving kids some agency over what, where, and when the next activity is can help them feel more engaged and more willing to be cooperative. 

7. Break Up Long Travel Segments

Long stretches of travel can be tough on kids, especially a fussy baby or an antsy toddler. One of the most important tips for traveling with kids is to plan for regular breaks to give everyone a chance to decompress. 

• For road trips, look for parks or playgrounds where kids can run around and recharge.
• On flights, encourage movement with short walks or simple stretches. 

These breaks help prevent crankiness and keep everyone in better spirits.

Ultimately, you know your kids best. Try to plan longer activities or sightseeing when they’re most likely to enjoy them. For many families, that’s often the first thing in the morning. Plan your breaks for times when kids normally have some downtime or naptime. Timing activities with your child’s natural rhythms can make the day smoother and reduce meltdowns. A few well-timed breaks and thoughtful planning can make a long travel day much more manageable for your child.

8. Use Entertainment Wisely

If you want to avoid hearing ‘Are we there yet?’ on repeat, be sure to plan activities to keep boredom at bay. A mix of different activities can help kids pass the time, such as books, printable activity sheets, small toys, and travel-friendly games. A brand new toy or game can help keep kids entertained during especially difficult moments, such as an unexpected delay in flights. Rotate your kids’ activities to keep things fresh and give them something to look forward to. 

Some parents also consider relaxing screen time limits. If you’re doing a digital detox, you might want to put it on hold during long family travel days. Loading up a phone or tablet with movies, TV shows, audiobooks, educational apps, and games can be a special treat. 

“Audiobooks may be another way to engage the whole family and encourage reading.”

– Talkspace therapist Minkyung Chung, MS, LMHC

9. Prioritize Healthy Snacks and Hydration

Hunger and dehydration can quickly turn a happy traveler into a cranky one. A little preparation can go a long way in preventing “hangry” meltdowns and keeping the whole family feeling good. 

Think of portable, mess-free options, such as: 

• Granola bars
• Trail mix
• Fruit
• Carrots  
• Crackers or popcorn
• Applesauce pouches

Don’t forget to check out the grocery store to let kids pick out their own healthy snacks. If you’re traveling in another region or country, there may be new snacks your kids will be excited to try. 

Refillable water bottles can also help make sure everyone is hydrated, especially during long travel days or outdoor activities. 

10. Stay Calm and Model Flexibility

Kids pick up on the moods and emotional cues of the adults around them. That means the way you react to a delay, detour, or mishap sets the tone for the whole family. Staying calm, positive, and adaptable when you’re stressed can help your children feel more secure and relaxed. 

Even if you’re frustrated and tired from traveling, a deep breath and a smile can help calm your kids’ travel anxiety. By modeling patience and adaptability, you’re teaching your child valuable life skills while making travel more enjoyable for everyone.

“Children are more perceptive than adults are aware of at times. This often shows in how they mimic or take on more emotional and behavioral cues to ‘offset’ parents’ emotional states. When traveling, there is a lot of stress and unpredictability for both children and parents. Ensuring that the parents model positive problem solving behavior and implementing calming strategies, can show children that emotions are valid but working to manage them are also important.”

– Talkspace therapist Minkyung Chung, MS, LMHC

Moving Forward: Making Family Adventures More Enjoyable

As a parent, traveling with kids may be more of a “trip” and less of a “vacation.” However, with a little planning, your family trips can give you an opportunity to slow down, connect with each other, and make lifelong memories. 

Ask friends and family for tips on traveling with kids. You should know that your first time traveling with kids may not go exactly as planned. Learn from your mistakes so you can be better prepared next time. Then, when others ask you how to travel with kids, you’ll be the expert. 

Preparing for a trip with kids can be stressful. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by the challenges of traveling (or parenting in general), Talkspace is here to help. Our licensed online therapists offer support for mastering stress management techniques, navigating the challenges of parenting, and taking care of your emotional well-being so you can enjoy more of life’s adventures. Get connected with a therapist so that can help support you. 

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