Here’s the rest of the tips about enjoying your vacation while traveling with kids:
• Double-check your reservation- to err is human, and sometimes reservation agents can make mistakes with your reservation. To avoid unnecessary inconvenience, make sure you call your hotel or resort 24 hours before you leave to double-check your reservation. Also, if you’re unfamiliar with the hotel, and you know someone in the area, have them check it out for you beforehand. Issues about cleanliness and security, which you might normally let pass if you were traveling alone, can suddenly become a big deal if you have kids along. If you have any special requests, such as non-smoking rooms or an extra bed or crib, it’s always better to let the hotel know beforehand, so they can be sure to reserve it for you.
• Make a list of things you need to pack, and bring it with you – I’m a great believer in lists. Not only does it help get things organized, and less likely for you to forget an important item, it also helps you decide whether something is really important, or if you can afford to leave it behind. Make sure you bring your list when you travel too; this is one trick to make sure nothing gets left behind when you’re ready to go home.
• Bring along an adequate supply of food, drinks and toys – the key word here is moderation. Make sure you won’t run out of food and drinks, especially if you’re traveling to an exotic locale and you don’t know where to buy supplies, or if they’ll have your brand. But if you’re traveling to a place you’re fairly sure has supermarkets and malls, you might want to consider just carrying enough for the trip. You’ll have a lighter load and more room for other things. Go easy on the toys as well. You don’t need to bring a whole arsenal of toys, especially since you want your kids to interact with you, not with their toys. Just bring enough to keep them occupied during the ride.
• Most importantly, see the world thru your kids’ eyes – what may seem boring and banal to you will be unusual and exciting to your kids. Planning a trip that kids will enjoy may seem like a bad idea for the adults, but believe me, you’ll start enjoying your vacation once your kids start enjoying themselves too.