So, you’re taking a vacation with kids. Maybe it’s your first time. Maybe you’ve done it before, but it was a total shitshow. You’re overwhelmed. Where do you start? What do you need? Traveling with kids is a whole new ball game compared to solo travel, and it’s easy to feel like you’re in over your head. Here are my best tips, tricks, and suggestions to make your family vacation as smooth as possible.
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Before you leave
- Decide where you’re going! Mexico is a very popular destination for good reason, but there are countless beautiful beaches out there. I swear by all-inclusive options with small children, because food on demand and an endless supply of fruit and fries is music to a mother’s ears. Note, you won’t find all-inclusive resorts everywhere! There aren’t any in Hawaii (opt for hotel or air b&b instead), and consider your specific needs when determining your destination.
- Do your due diligence researching. For example, Cuba has some of the most beautiful beaches in the entire world. The white powdery sand and the bright turquoise water are absolutely breathtaking, and the music, culture, and architecture just as incredible However, due to decades of sanctions, embargos, and political instability – many food and personal care/beauty items you may be accustomed to are non-existent as Cuba is heavily reliant on imports. We ate incredible food off-resort, but didn’t enjoy the meals on site. When we were in Cuba, my Sephora sample and extra toothpaste were welcomed as tips (moreso than money!)
- Check your passport validity and expiry. Most destinations require your passport to be valid for 6 months AFTER the date of your anticipated return.
- Go to your bank and withdraw currency for your destination country. While it is definitely easier for some places (Jamaica, Dominican Republic) to just use US dollars, I have found in Mexico it is much easier to use pesos. When service staff receive cash tips in USD in Mexico, they still have to take those bills to the bank to exchange into pesos (after you have already paid to exchange your currency into USD) and that dilutes the value of your dollar.
- Speaking of tipping, hospitality staff in Mexico, Jamaica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, etc earn on average $1.50/hour USD. Tips aren’t mandatory, but highly encouraged. I have found for a family of 4 for a week vacation, $150-$200 will suffice for tips. Bigger families and heavier drinkers/eaters may want to consider bringing more.
- Check to see if your destination country has additional tourism fees. Typically considered Tourism Enhancement Taxes, these fees are designed to support the toll that tourism takes on the land you’re visiting. This varies by location, and isn’t always included in your vacation pricing.
- If you are a blended family, single parent, or have a situation in which the custody of your child is split between a guardian traveling and a guardian remaining behind, prepare a consent letter in advance. You can find all the details on what that entails here.
Packing
- Packing a family up for a week at the beach is much more comprehensive than even I ever could have imagined. Because of this, I created a comprehensive 6 page beach vacation packing guide for your whole family. It includes checklists for clothing, footwear, required documentation, health & safety, tech faves, toiletries, and other essentials you will need to consider. Handy tips and tricks for traveling with kids are sprinkled throughout, as well as the extra luxuries I enjoy having on hand!
- My best suggestion is to use colour coded packing cubes. (for example, purple for mom, green for dad, blue for brother, pink for sister). These ones are my favourite (USA link). Not only does this maximize space in your luggage, but it makes finding who’s pyjamas are where so much easier.
- Pack some extra Ziploc bags or reusable food containers – I’ll share why later.
- Also pack stain spray. After a day of double fisting strawberry daiquiris, your child will more closely resemble Dexter than ever before and if you’ve ever seen what I’m talking about, you know that stuff stains. Spray it as soon as they get undressed and you’ll save yourself so much time and energy when you get home and need to do the laundry. This one is my absolute favourite, I have never met a stain it hasn’t conquered. (USA link)
During your vacation
- Adjust your expectations. Your kids may or may not eat/sleep/or play like normal while outside their comfort zone. Fight your battles accordingly, and consider the hills you’re willing to die on. Naps in the shade on the beach in exchange for a firmer bedtime might be your priority, or allowing some poolside soda in exchange for vegetables being eaten at dinner might be your trade-off. Remember – it’s just a week, don’t sweat it. Moderation is key.
- You probably can’t overdo it on the kids entertainment. Waterproof card games, beach toys, colouring supplies, stickers, etc. My kids have “art bags” (with blank paper, markers, stickers, and pens) they bring to dinner on vacation to entertain themselves after they’re done eating and the adults are still going. Of course, tablets work just fine too, we just reserve those for quiet time in our room during afternoon siestas. Blank paper and stickers are mesmerizing for most kids though.
- Even something as simple as an empty spray bottle from Dollarama can entertain a toddler for HOURS as they spray themselves, the plants, the ground, the sand, and the walls. It’s easy, simple, entertaining, and not something they may usually get to do at home.
- Leaving the resort to go on excursions? I highly recommend a wearable tracker for all children. Either an Apple Airtag, Samsung Smart Tag, or even a Tile Tracker. It provides peace of mind in the unlikely event your child is separated from you. You can get all kids of holders for them, from bracelets, to clip ons, or necklaces, etc. I also use these on all our luggage so they aren’t lost in the abyss of the airline networks. Just clip it onto a zipper on the inside and you’re good to go.
- On that same note, a small travel backpack is great for excursions to hold water bottles, valuables, and sunscreen while you’re out and about.
Returning home
- Remember those Ziploc bags I suggested you pack earlier? This is when you need them. Last morning of glorious all-inclusive breakfast buffet, tuck away some Froot Loops, fresh croissants, an apple, assorted nuts and granola for when your kids get hangry at the airport or on the plane. Delays are commonplace these days (it took us 5 hours from landing in Cancun to get to our hotel room on a recent trip) and you can only control so much. Bring food. It helps. It also helps decrease your chances of experiencing highway robbery at the airport for a hot meal.
- Packing cubes are great for packing to depart, but for returning home, I pack entirely differently. I pack the return luggage for the way I’ll want to unpack it all. For example, all the dirty laundry goes in one suitcase, and that suitcase will go straight to the laundry room upon our return. All the pool toys and floaties, the shoes and hats and sunscreen, goes into another suitcase destined for the garage. This truly makes unpacking MUCH easier.
- Did you buy a lot? Make sure to weigh your suitcases before you depart. Most airlines have a hard weight limit of 50lbs per suitcase before they impose wild charges on you. I always pack a portable suitcase scale whenever we travel (USA link).
- Delayed in the airport awaiting your flight home? Put in a grocery order for delivery upon your arrival, even if just for the basics. Your kids just got accustomed to an epic buffet spread for every meal, at least make sure you can offer cereal when they wake up the next day.
Now listen. If you’re reading this and feeling more overwhelmed than before, please don’t. People travelled long before the internet existed with none of the above, and it didn’t really matter. I am just a hyper organized human being, and I thrive on lists and being prepared. I have travelled with my two daughters since they were infants, and so I have picked up a tip or two on how to make our vacations run smoothly. I try to focus on ensuring I pack what I deem as necessities (a well stocked first aid kit because your kid probably will have their first ever allergic reaction to something in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language), making sure our travel insurance is up to date, and keeping all our travel documentation up to date and ready to do.
If you run outta sunscreen, just be prepared to pay $50 per bottle at the resort gift shop.
Long sleeves and wide brim hats to protect from the super strong UV rays
Pack a few lollipops and a pack of gum for plugged ears in kiddos who are too young to be coached to unplug their ears on their own. Sucking on a lolly or chewing a piece of gum or even fruit snacks can help to relieve that pressure.
Also, if you’re a Sweaty Betty like me, pack a small USB powered fan (or neck fan) in your carry-on. When you’re stuck waiting an hour at the gate or the AC is non-existent, you’ll want to ward off swass and anger by plugging that fan into your power bank and enjoying the breeze. I’ve included a few of my faves here and yes, I have them all (USA link)
Bring bug spray. You will meet bugs from the depths of Hell designed to torture you. Combat those with a healthy dose of bug spray (and After Bite if they penetrate the forcefield of bug spray and leave their mark behind).
Forgot the beach toys? Some disposable cups from the coffee shop make great sand castles, and plastic cutlery makes super cool designs in the sand. My kids spend most of the time jumping over the waves and collecting shells! Note, I have never been to a beach resort that provided life jackets for children (obviously a liability issue) so be prepared to pack your own.
Lastly, in the most random ways of ending a blog post ever, you should pack bandaids. And after you have packed your bandaids, add a few more. Hell hath no fury like a toddler forced to wear sandals that have had the audacity of causing a minor blister on their feet. Bandaids fix everything, but bandaids are $$$$$ in tourist hot spots because we are all suckers and wear shoes for the first time when we’re sweaty and 5000km away from home.
Now – Have Fun & Safe Travels!
PS. What Am I Allowed to Pack? 400 items You May Want To Know Whether to Pack Up or Leave Behind