Adventures in Parenting: Insights from Travel-Savvy Families on Exploring the World with Kids

While DiGregorio previously utilized a standard stroller for excursions, he now strongly recommends the micro stroller from Pockit Air, which opens in “two seconds” and accommodates children from 6 months to 5 years (up to 55 pounds). Other parents I conversed with praised the “transformative” inflatable booster seats and bed bumpers, which are small enough to fit in carry-ons, and toddler-sized hiking packs for more outdoor activities.

Cinzia Reale-Castello, a photo editor from Rutherford, NJ, and mother to 4-year-old Leonora, also recommends keeping a “duplicate stuffie” in your luggage if your child happens to misplace their favorite toy while traveling, as occurred with her daughter’s cherished Black Cat. (Luckily—she was reunited with the original in Rome.)

Encourage the kids in research and arrangement

It’s simple for perpetually busy parents to just “take their children along without informing them of what is actually going on,” states Romeyn. However, the more youngsters are informed, she observes, the better their behavior improves. “Engage your children regarding the upcoming travels, even if you believe they’re too young to comprehend,” she counsels. “Explain to them what they will experience on an airplane, the sounds they will hear, what they will observe, and what activities will take place—like, ‘we’ll be on the plane for two sleeps but we’ll have some playtime in between and eat three meals.’”

Marilyn Lobos, an art instructor from Lyndhurst, NJ, motivates her 8-year-old daughter Luna to examine maps with her, contribute to lists of potential activities should it rain, and always contemplate, “‘What can we do, see, taste, and experience here that we cannot do at home or anywhere else?’”

Involving children in the planning stage is particularly significant with teenagers and preteens, according to Chris Bergaust, a Foreign Service Officer based in Washington, D.C., who has four notably well-traveled children: 19-year-old Erik, 17-year-old Joseph, 15-year-old Adam, and 12-year-old Ana. “Your teenagers will value having a say,” he says, “and they will remain more engaged.and be less prone to complain if they had already pledged to a certain engagement.”

Think about the combined journey

Tom Marchant, the London-based co-founder of the luxury travel service Black Tomato, recently embarked on their first multi-destination journey with his two daughters, 6-year-old Minnie and 3.5-year-old Coco. While Iceland and Morocco may appear to be an unusual pair, Marchant discovered the blend to be both exhilarating and fulfilling—a means to introduce his daughters to “two distinctly different cultures, lifestyles, environments, and landscapes on a single trip while maintaining the right mix of adventure and relaxation.”

Manipulate the seating arrangement

When flying with two parents and two children, Romeyn has had some luck arranging seats in different rows. “It might seem odd, but it was much simpler for [my husband] to manage Indah while I took care of baby Mira, preventing them from interfering with each other or waking one another,” she states. DiGregorio uses an alternative strategy for his family of four by reserving both aisle and window seats within the same row and leaving the middle seats unoccupied. “Sometimes individuals arrive for the middle seats, and we slide over to offer them the aisle,” he shares. “However, there are occasions when we end up with six seats for just the four of us.”

Accept the presence of screens

Numerous parents conveyed to me that they restrict screen usage at home but invariably pack an iPad filled with educational games and children’s programming when they travel. “Peppa Pig became our secret weapon,” mentions Chris Schalkx, a Bangkok-based writer and photographer, when he needed to keep his now 6-year-old son, Ollie, quiet on public transport or in an upscale eatery. Just ensure to download videos for offline playback ahead of your travels, Bergaust advises, as Wi-Fi can be limited, connections may falter, and certain aircraft do not have built-in screens. He also recommends turning off devices 10 minutes prior to reaching your destination, emphasizing that this allows children a chance to reset and be less irritable.

Opt for the VIP service

Certain airport terminals feature indoor play areas, as well as designated security lines and check-in counters tailored for families. “They aren’t prominently advertised, so it’s wise to ask,” DiGregorio advises. “They can save a significant amount of time and frustration.” He also suggests reserving day rooms in an airport hotel or lounge for extended layovers (“it provides us with a private space to rest and establish a home base”) and arranging for a VIP meet-and-assist service through the airport or local tour operator when feasible. “Someone will be waiting for you as you disembark, guiding you through immigration and other procedures,” he explains. “This alleviates the hassle of determining where to go and what to do, as well as waiting in any queues.”

Always keep snacks available

Food on the plane is a certainty, but satisfying the appetites of our children is a round-the-clock endeavor. “Kids rise and expect breakfast, so you must be ready,” says Campbell Levy, the Evergreen, CO-based founder and CEO of PR and marketing agency CampStories, and father of three young boys: Wilder (6), Lawless (4), and Hawkins (2). “Numerous hotels can provide larger refrigerators to bring into your room—call in advance and ask for one,” he suggests, adding that you can also request it to be stocked with basic items like milk. “This is if you cannot secure a room with a kitchenette,” he continues. “If you can, you certainly want it.”

Incorporate a buffer day to unwind

“While [travel] may often feel tedious for adults, the shifts in time zones can be particularly disorienting for the little ones,” notes Marchant. His most effective tactic for managing jet lag is to allow for an extra day or two to adjust to a new time zone. If you can only spare a few days, it’s better to stay closer to home. DiGregorio agrees, emphasizing that his family primarily traveled to South America when their eldest daughter was quite young because the time zones were similar to New York, facilitating the maintenance of her sleep schedule.