Guest post: Tips for traveling with kids

Today's guest post comes from Kendra, a stay at home mom of 3.  Before being promoted to the full time position of mom, she was the former Orbitz Director of Communications where she was able to travel a great deal.  She loves to write about travel trends and tips.  If your interested in more travel tips from Kendra you can follow her on Twitter @KendraThornton

Tips To Help You Travel With Your Kids And Have A Stress Free Vacation

I’ve always loved traveling. Since becoming a mom though, I’ve learned that I have to do things a little differently with little ones tagging alone. However, all the adjustments and preparation are worth it in order to spend time together and get away from the chaos of real life for a bit. Even though it's late in the travel season, you can still plan a memorable trip for your family. The following tips will help any parent be prepared and have a fun, hassle free travel adventure with their kids.

1. Lists Can Be Your Best Friend

There’s nothing worse than going on vacation and suddenly realizing that you forgot something you really need. You can avoid this by making a list of items you will need for your trip. As you are packing, refer to your list and check off items that you’ve packed in your suitcase. Making a list of things to do on your trip can insure that you don’t forget to do anything fun that you had planned on doing. There are many helpful apps like Packing Pro that can make life easier for us moms.

2. Choose Your Destination Wisely

One of the most important things you can do when traveling is picking the right destination.  Family friendly resorts will be the most suitable for those traveling with kids. They not only have fun things for the kids to do, but for the adults as well. Places like dude ranches or hotels with water play areas are both perfect vacation destinations. If you can, stay at a place that has a kid’s club. This will allow for the kids to be entertained while mom and dad get some alone time.  You can use travel services like Gogobot to find hotels with amenities like a continental breakfast or a pool.  My family was able to find a great list of Orlando hotels that offered tons of family-friendly tricks and tips when it came to making a decision.

3. Document Your Vacation

You can create some great family memories on a family vacation. It doesn’t matter where you go or what you choose to do, you need to document it! Make sure that you bring a camera with you (even if it’s a disposable one). Also, have your kids document the trip by writing in a journal or drawing pictures. When you get home you can make some sort of scrapbook to remember your vacation.

4. Make Children As Comfortable As Possible

Children will do better on a long car or plane ride if they are comfortable. Try to bring a blanket and pillow. Also, pack their favorite stuffed animal to provide a sense of security as well. You can also invest in blinds for the windows to block out the sunlight that might be too bright or too hot.

5. Use Technology To Your Advantage

You can easily entertain your kids while traveling without taking a bunch of items with you. Audio books can be easily downloaded on many electronic devices. These books can be listened to no matter where you are. Just make sure you invest in a pair of headphones ahead of time! This will keep your child from disturbing other passengers nearby.

6. Utilize Your Child’s Sleep Time

If you are facing a lengthy travel time, plan on flying or riding in the car during your child’s nap or sleep time. This will make it easier not only for them, but for everyone around. Traveling when it’s your child’s sleep time will be especially beneficial for younger children who are constantly on the move. If your travel time is on the shorter end, depart to your destination when it’s your child’s naptime. If you will need to travel for extended lengths of time, it may be best to travel at night so your child can sleep.