Travel Packing Tips to Survive the Flight

Your carry on bag is not just for tickets and a paperback. When you are travelling with kids, the carry on bag can make or break a trip.

Any thing you can’t afford to lose should be in that handbag. This means jewellery (limit when travelling), medications, essential items and all documents for the trip – not just the airplane. You may want to review the car rental reservation before you land, and don’t want to risk a bag being lost with all your hotel vouchers in it.

If you are travelling during potentially stormy weather, or have connecting flights, you may want to add a few items to that carry on. For one, there is a greater chance of flight delays, cancellations or missed connections. You may want to put a toothbrush, tiny toothpaste, hair brush, disposable wash cloths-pads, and a clean pair of underwear. You may also want to pack a bathing suit for hotel layovers or delayed baggage in hot weather destinations.

When you travel on airplanes with children, the carry on bag can contain additional essentials like medications or a thermometer for your child, a change of clothes if they get wet or soiled, and extra diapers if they are really small. It is best to dress your child in layers, so you can remove a layer if the plane or airport is warm, and add a sweater if it gets too cool. Comfortable, loose, easy drape fabrics are the best for travel. Avoid itchy fabrics like wool, tight fitting clothes or ones with lots of buttons, zippers that can get stuck, belts, etc.

Kids Love 2 Travel

I am a nomad at heart. I got hooked on travelling at a young age. We live in a cold climate and being able to hop on a plane in the winter and get off the plane in the tropics was like a miracle to me. Trading white snow banks for white sandy beaches in a matter of hours! A trip we took to Europe, mainly Greece, when I was 13 was also life changing. It taught me that the world is a very big place with lots to discover. I remember getting pamphlets from the airline - each pamphlet had information about a different country this airline flew to. There must have been close to 50 pamphlets in my collection and I read each one of them. I would look at those pamphlets for hours, even organizing them into groups: my A list, B list, and so on. I made a vow that I would someday visit each one.

That was over 30 years ago, and I am happy to say I have been to over 70 countries. I met my spouce while travelling, and we share the same nomadic spirit. We have instilled the love of travelling in our children, taking them on a trip every chance we get. To date, they have visited 5 continents. I can honestly say that every trip has been a good one. Planning, being open to new things, and going with the flow are keys to travelling.

Travelling with kids is different then travelling as 2 adults. The choices of places and sights to visit will change once you have a family. Kids learn so much when they are exposed to different cultures and new places. It also brings you closer as a family.

My goal with this blog is to share some experiences with you, offer some travel recommendations and tips on travelling with kids. I hope you will take the journey with me.