We’ve made traveling a priority since our daughter was a baby. When she was younger, we would make small visits to neighboring states and stay in the city. As she grew older and became a little more adaptable, and our family became more accustomed to traveling, we ventured further afield and went to major locations like Disneyland and Universal Studios Orlando. In our latest adventure, we went international.
After traveling a lot and recently traveling to French Polynesia, I feel like I’ve gained so much wisdom about how to travel (and travel) as a mother. right) Because children change everything. After traveling a lot and making a lot of mistakes, I’ve put together 11 unconventional travel rules for families.
1. No homework while traveling
I know this is not a special topic, but if your child misses it. a lot When you’re in school, people get a little bit judgmental. Before I take my daughter on a trip from school, I always email her teacher ahead of time to notify her of her upcoming absence and to let her know that she won’t be doing any homework on the trip. Her teachers never hesitated. I don’t want to waste my child’s time collecting lots of assignments or reading books, and I don’t want to do it while I’m relaxing on the beach.
2. We all need to learn important phrases when traveling to places that speak a language other than English.
There’s nothing worse than coming to a new country and not understanding anything in your native language. you I hope they understand English. Oddly enough, most people in other countries, especially tourist-heavy countries, do speak some English. And here we are, unable to speak back. In the future, if you go somewhere where English is spoken, you will learn key phrases. in front We show up. That way we don’t use Google Translate in our restaurants and we look like representatives of what everyone actually thinks Americans are.
3. Book a private car service to get there house
Having been to and from the airport so many times, I know deep down that there is no need to wait for a ride at the airport after a long trip. You don’t want to drag all your luggage and kids to the airport rideshare area. I also don’t want to be left sitting in the back seat of my stepfather’s car driving home at half the speed limit. I would like a professional driver with a nice car to pick me up on the highway. For the last few trips I have booked my car through Blacklane and it has changed my life. They are always punctual and have great communication so you don’t have to worry about anything. All I can do is close my eyes and let someone take me home.
4. Don’t plan your trip around school holidays.
If it makes sense on *our* calendar, we’ll book a flight. My husband works on weekends, so it’s much more advantageous for us to travel during the week. Airline and accommodation prices increase during school holidays know Demand will skyrocket. In fact, we usually don’t go anywhere during school holidays due to crowds and cost.
5. Book a red-eye flight.
Listen, *you* may not be able to sleep in economy, but your kids will. My daughter fell asleep on a recent trip. largely Plus, an eight-hour flight will feel 10 times shorter if your child doesn’t ask for snacks frequently. It’s also a great way to avoid spending a whole day traveling. Also, I prefer the quietness of the airport at night as opposed to the hustle and bustle of the morning.
6. We read books every night before going to bed.
Now, I think I said I don’t do any school work while I’m traveling, but trust me, we all read. I’m a bookworm, so I read everywhere, but especially at night, before bed, I read with my daughter. Not only do I stick to this because I want to keep her mind fresh, but it’s great to have at least something from her bedtime routine at home.
7. Everyone packs their things.
I give my little one a list (i.e. 6 pairs of pants, 7 shirts, etc.) and she chooses what she wants. Then we organize and refine them together. Of course, traveling is for fun and adventure, but why not use it as an opportunity to develop your independence?
8. Consult your travel agent.
Once I finally decided to go full travel, my entire perspective on travel changed. Travel agency source! On our recent trip to French Polynesia, we enlisted the help of Tahiti Tourism, who have a wealth of knowledge about the islands of Tahiti. From where to stay to the type of trip that would be best for our family, Tahiti Tourism helped ease the burden of planning. If you like being in control (like me!) but tend to get a little caught up in the weeds with too many choices about where to go and what to do, a travel agent can really help.
9. Everyone takes a break from screen time during the holidays.
Everyone reaches their breaking point at some point while traveling. Therefore, you may take some time to concentrate. The little one can watch shows and play games on the tablet, and my husband and I can scroll for an hour. Everyone can just lay back, do their thing, and recharge before heading out to dinner or activities. There’s no need to tell other moms it’s time for a break. need
10. We all go to bed at the same time.
There is no need for mom and dad to spend more time alone. The lights go out and we all call it a night. We are all so tired that there is nothing wrong with going to bed a little earlier.
Traveling is different for every family, but these “rules” have been extremely helpful to me as a mom when planning my next trip or getting excited about vacations.
