When we as adults think back to our childhoods we usually don’t remember the things we owned or the clothes we were wearing. What we remember is the time we spent with our loved ones. So when you are travelling with your kids you are creating memories that will last them a lifetime.

The importance of planning your perfect family holiday in advance

Travelling with your family is a quality time like no other, even if there are some unavoidable “ups and downs” along the way. However the better you prepare in advance, the more you should enjoy your family holiday.

Planning a family holiday with children of any age is different from planning a holiday for adults only. Children have different needs and ability, depending on their age and development. When planning your perfect family holiday, the most important thing is to keep the needs and ability of all family members in mind.

What is the best age to travel with children?

There is no one best age to travel with children. Each age group offers different delights and challenges.

Many parents feel the best time to travel with young children is when they are babies. Healthy infants tend to be very adaptable, as long as properly fed and are clean and comfy.

Travelling with toddler is considered by many parents the most demanding time to travel with a child. It can still be enjoyable experience, you just need to prepare accordingly and don’t forget to pack your patience – and lot of it.

Many parents consider travelling with school age children not only easiest but also the most enjoyable. School age children show more interest in their surroundings and are old enough to remember the trip.

There is though no reason why travelling with teenagers isn’t as enjoyable as travelling with school age children. Teenagers can be excellent travel companions as they are mentally and physically as fit as their parents, if not fitter.

Well prepared family holiday should help you to enjoy travelling with your kids – no matter what age they are.

Travel tips that are valid for all children

Babies, toddlers, school age children and teenagers have very different travel needs. However there are some valuable family travel guides and tips that are valid no matter what age your child is.

Air travel with children or long car journeys are usually challenging as most children don’t like confined spaces for too long. Make sure you provide age appropriate entertainment for your child while travelling. There are many excellent travel games for children available now-a-days, but the good old imagination is also a valuable travel companion and can be the source of many fun travel games for children.

Make sure you bring more snack and drinks than you ever imagined you would need. Hungry and thirsty children tend to be irritated travelers.

Make sure you travel destination offers age appropriate activities for your child. No matter how old, or young, your child is… children are sociable creatures and love to make new friends.

It’s also important that you too enjoy spending time with you children on your holiday. Family travel guides recommend you to look for activities that you and your child can enjoy doing together. It can be taking an afternoon nap with your baby, building sand castle on the beach with your toddler, going on a rollercoaster ride with your school age child or go shopping with your teenager. Doing something together is a great bonding experience and good fun for all involved.

Your children’s health and safety should always be your top priority when travelling. Be careful though not to go overboard in this respect. Most people travel with children without experiencing any problems, being overly obsessed with health and safety could easily spoil your otherwise lovely family holiday. Use your common sense, take all necessary safety measures and be alert at all times.

Children are more prone to some minor accidents than adults so don’t forget to make sure you have comprehensive travel insurance for children in place. Having good travel insurance for children will give you valuable peace of mind.

The best family travel guides and tips are tough about how we behave on our holiday. Family holidays should be fun. When you see your child eyes glaze over you know it’s time to change the plans. Leave the schedule flexible enough for that. Always allow time for letting of some steam (e.g. playing sport or just running around), as well as time for relaxing (e.g. by the pool or reading a book). Loosen the rules a little bit, just make sure they know it’s a privilege and because you are on a holiday.

Save your restaurant expenses: You can save a lot by doing your own cooking during a holiday. However, this possible only if you stay in a vacation cottage. Remember, eating in restaurants can turn out to be extremely expensive.

Discounts in hotel reservations: Look out for hotels that offer discounts in reservations. Always ask before making your hotel reservations. Remember, hotels may offer discounts when there is a lower rate of reservations for rooms.

Online discounts: The Internet has always been a useful tool in searching for hotels offering discounts and discounts in air tickets. If you are travelling abroad, make sure you do an online search for airlines that offer attractive discounts on air-tickets.

Cutting down on gasoline expenses: Expenses on gasoline are inevitable if you plan on taking a self-driving holiday. Try driving away from the highway. Gas stations on most highway may cost you more than those in smaller towns and rural areas. Always look for shortcuts and fill your car from stations that are located away from the highway.

Stay away from the hotel minibar: Mini bars in hotels are known for their excessive pricing on beverages and foods. Try taking your own snacks and foods when you are staying in a hotel. This will save you a lot of money.