Things that have made traveling with kids easier and way less stressful
This was us moving to the UK for the summer. That is the only reason we have so many bags (Plus my mom and sister). We normally travel very light and it helps with stress in the airport.
1. Looking at the airport map to find kids area/playground
Before our flight I will look at the airport map and find a kids playground or kids area - whatever they have. It depends on the airport but most of them have something for kids. Some airports are bigger than others so the play area may be in a different terminal. If we are going to be flying overnight or on an international flight I will make sure we are at the airport with plenty of time to be able to change terminals and visit a playground to let them burn some energy off.
If we are flying domestic and there is no playground or it’s not nearby, I will find a less busy area - usually an empty gate and play some games with them. This can be red light, green light, freeze tag or something similar to get them to move around a little. I want them to move as much as possible before we get on the plane - especially with younger kids.
2. Using Mobile Passport Control (MPC)when going through U.S. Customs
Mobile Passport Control is a free app letting U.S. travelers submit passports, photos, and customs info digitally for faster entry—no pre-approval needed. The major benefit is that it is COMPLETELY FREE!!! Check available airports before you fly, as more are adding MPC.
For traveling with your family, only one person needs to download the app and create a profile for each person flying - you can add up to 12 people. And yes, you do need to add every one of your children to it but it is pretty simple as you just add basic details and their passport and Live Photo for each person. Once you each have a profile, it also saves your info for the next time you fly, you just to “reapply” for every visit. I usually open the app as soon as we land and are waiting to get off the plane and make sure everything is set up. Every time I have flown back into the U.S I used this for my family and the line is significantly longer, especially in larger airports with lots of planes landing at the same time!
Read our full blog on Mobile Passport Control.
3. Label your passports with everyone’s names
This has made going through security so much less stressful with my 3 kids alone. I simply buy removable sticky labels (from target) and write each of our names on the back of them. This may be controversial, but it has been super helpful when going through security, customs and quickly making sure I have everyone’s safe. I have heard from people that in other countries (not the U.S.) you are not allowed to have any kind of stickers or anything similar on your passport as it is considered defacing the passport. I have personally been to over 10 countries with it on there and have not personally had a problem. With that being said, our stickers would peel off if I tried and they are on the back not covering up any important information.
4. Less is more when packing
Traveling with kids can feel overwhelming, especially with the amount of stuff you have to bring. As our kids have gotten older, I have vowed to pack less for entertaining them and it has actually worked out in both our favors. A simple few items is better than a lugging around whole bag full especially when they only use a few items.
I swear the number of times I have seen parents lugging bags full of toys for just a 2 hour flight is crazy. Even when my kid was a toddler as at the most fussy stage, I would always bring a book to read, an activity book and one other toy that they liked at the moment.
5. Choose a CC that gets you lounge access
Now, I want to start with saying that although I have taken my kids into a lounge with me, I don’t do it every time we fly. I usually prefer to take them to an airport playground. With that being said, if I am with my parents or sisters I will take 1 or 2 of them with me and let my kids experience the lounge for a little. You could always take turns alternating with your husband or wife and each taking one child in with you - whatever works best for you.
My two favorite cards that get you lounge access:
1.) American Express Platinum: Our overall pick! Starting off, I know there is a high yearly fee with this card. With that being said, it is truly worth it and the credits they give you more than make up for it. When it comes to lounges, I have not been to a major airport that that didn’t have multiple options for lounges with this card. The wide global lounge network of Amex gives you more options abroad than any other card because Amex has so many partners.
2.) Chase Sapphire Reserve: This card offers a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership (which gives access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide. Cardholders and authorized users can bring up to two guests free (most of the lounges). Be aware: not all chase cards offer lounge access, for example the Chase Sapphire Preferred does not give you lounge access.
6. Being prepared in case of medical emergency when traveling
A big worry for most people when traveling and especially out of the country is what to do if someone gets sick or hurt. It can seem overwhelming but it’ actually not that big of a deal if you do a little research ahead of time about the country you are going to and what to do in this situation. Every country has different rules when it comes to healthcare and It’s A LOT less stressful when you know what to do ahead of time. I have a few instances this has happened to us in the last few years to reference and explain what happened and how we handled it.
🇪🇸Spain/UK
-My son developed an issue while we were in Spain (on the island of Mallorca) earlier this year. I realized he had partial facial paralysis so I quickly did some research and found a tourist hospital nearby. The doctor mostly spoke Spanish so I was using Google Translate to help us communicate but he told me it seemed to be like a case of bells palsy and there was nothing too much to worry about. They gave us eye drops then sent us home. I had to pay around 200 euros. The next week we got back to London (where we were living for the summer) and I took him to a hospital in London because it was not getting better and I had remembered he had gotten bit by a tick a few weeks prior. The hospital was so amazing and they ran a bunch of tests and discovered it was Lyme disease. Everything was FREE even though we were just visiting London, it didn’t matter - this is how their healthcare system is because we went to a public hospital.
🇨🇭Switzerland
-While we were visiting Switzerland last year, my daughter was having some mouth pain and after a day or two we thought it might be an abscess. It was a Sunday morning and so I have no ides where to go or what to do, plus we were staying in a Rental, not a hotel so I didn’t really have anyone to ask. I went to the local tourism board and they guided me to a doctor in town that was able to check her out - she had a huge bubble under her gum. but it was nothing and would away on its own.
250 CHF out if pocket.
🇮🇹Italy/Sardinia
-Just last month we were in Italy for the last leg of our summer trip and my sister hurt her back. The first day we just assumed she pulled a muscle but by day 3 she doesn’t move or walk and was in so much pain she wasn’t able to get out of bed herself. We were flying back to the U.S a few days later and were worried about her getting on the flight. We asked the hotel staff if there was a doctor she could go to in town (we were in a small very remote area on the island of Sardinia). They directed us to a doctor who would see her but when they understood how bad she was they ended up calling a doctor to come to the resort we were staying at to see her. He was able to give her some cortisol injections to get her moving a little better and she paid 250 Euros.
7. Don’t be so rigid with your plan/schedule
When traveling (specifically internationally) it is better to try to adapt to the local schedule and norms. This can mean anything from being more flexible with when you eat meals to having a little bit of a later bedtime. When in Europe, it is more normal to eat a later dinner, sometimes as late at 9pm. When we travel, we try to have a bit more of a flexible schedule so my kids will eat late and stay up late as a result. It won’t hurt them in anyway and can be a bonus for me because they tend to sleep in!
If you have younger kids, this can be tricky with naps, etc but it’s important to note that kids adapt much easier than we give them credit for. If you are one only on vacation for a week or two, having some flexibility is good for your soul.
8. Giving your kids a good traveler budget
As i’m sure you know it feels like every time I would turn around, my kids were asking for me to buy them something - especially while on vacation.
So we started to implement something called a good traveler budget. If you have never heard of this, it is basically an amount you give your children each day as an incentive to have good behavior. I give them each a different amount depending on their age but usually it’s about $10 a day. You can obviously go by whatever of your choosing. Then I let them choose if they want to use that amount each day they earn it for a small toy or extra scoop of ice cream or save it up and use the amount at the end to buy a bigger souvenir.
This has really helped with instead of them constantly asking for things throughout the trip, they already know they have to earn it.
9. Know these tricks to easily pass the time while waiting
When traveling with kids it has been a game changer to have some tricks up our sleeve to pass the time. Traveling can seem long and daunting for kids. There is a lot of waiting in long lines, waiting on a bus or sitting on a train. We obviously try to limit screen time but the real reason we started this is to keep our whole family engaged and have some fun while passing the time without complaining. Some of our favorite games to pay:
-Kids trivia: I will just google questions and sometime make them up myself. My kids LOVE this game the most. I will ask questions they might all know or just say “this questions I just for my 3 year old” that way he has a chance to answer some of the easier questions.
-20 questions: My kids specially love to play this with guessing animals
-Ispy: All kids, almost any age can play this
-Hangman or Pictionary: I always make sure to have at least a paper and pen with me when traveling.
10. Balance kids activities with things adults want to do
It's all too easy to fall into the trap of planning a vacation entirely around your kids, just to keep them occupied and happy throughout the trip. While this might seem like the smoothest path at first, it’s also a quick ticket to frustration and even starting to resent traveling with your little ones. But here’s a gentle reminder: it’s your vacation too and that matters just as much! What’s worked wonders for us is being open and honest with the kids about balancing everyone’s fun. I like to say, “We do some things for the kids and we do some things for the adults. Traveling is a special privilege, and we all get to spend time doing the things we love.” This simple approach helps keep things fair, fun, and memorable for every member of the family.
11. Do “taste tests” of local treats to keep kids engaged during all of the walking
So as a follow up to that, kids are kids. It can and should be just as much fun for them and you. Doing some little things to keep kids motivated during a long day is crucial. This can be anything from making a daytime stop for gelato or anything similar. This can definitely help with keeping kids from melting down or having a temper tantrum.
We love to take breaks when exploring for a “taste test” of a local treat! Buy a few different flavors of one thing that location is known for (gelato, croissants, etc) and let everyone taste each and rank their favorites!
12. Seek out local playgrounds
No matter if we are traveling 3 hours in the car for a weekend trip or for 2 weeks in Europe, I always look up the local playgrounds. This is a great way to break up a long car ride or a long travel day.
Last year we flew overnight into Frankfurt then had about a 2 hour drive to our final destination of Colmar. So, before we left the airport I looked up playgrounds near us and found a great outdoor playground for the kids to let off some stream. It was the best idea and after about 1-2 hours they were ready to get back in the car without complaints.
You can download an app like Playground Finder or Playground Buddy, or just search google maps with these key terms:
“playground near me”
”adventure playground”
“play area near me”
Our top reasons we do this when traveling:
-FREE Activity
-Breaks up day
-Gets energy out
-You can meet local parents where you can so you can get tips or other things to do you wouldn’t know about otherwise
13. Preplan a few activities per day but be flexible
When traveling (specifically to new places) it can be tempting to try to pack everything you want to do in a few days. I found this always backfires for me, especially when I have 3 kids 10 & under. I am not the traveler who plans every minute of every day down to when we eat meals, etc. With that being said, I do like to have a one or a few activities that we plan for each day. This lacks lots of room for flexibility. Things can change due to weather, overall tiredness, etc. Your vacation will go a lot smoother if you keep your mind open and have some room for change of plans.
What an average day would look like for us preplanning but leaving room for changes. I’m gonna use Mallorca, Spain as an example:
☀️Morning: Wake up, have breakfast and swim/hang around hotel
🍔Afternoon: Have lunch and plan to walk around/explore the old town/get souvenirs
🌙Evening: Beach time for a couple hours then dinner and resort show
14. Take pictures of all of your important documents
Before leaving on your trip, take pictures of everyone’s passports, medical cards or any other important documents you have. If your passport was to get stolen or lost having a picture is crucial. It won’t pass as the real thing, but if something was to happen it would help to be able to show the pics.
For example, I always make sure to have pictures of my late husband’s death certificate in case we were to get questioned when entering/exiting the U.S. or any country.
15. Get the kids version of the audioguides when visiting museums
Most places have a kids version of the audio guide that will give you them some information and tell the same information or story but in a simple way. They also might have games for them to interact with that show them history of the museum.
All of my kids love getting these, even my 3 year old wore his! We got these at the Tower of London, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Buckingham Palace.
