96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation

96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation Have basic medicine when traveling.

To bring medicine for a headache, alergy, upset stomach and motion sickness prevention medicine is always a good idea.

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18points

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Xenon 1 year ago

Always.

0points

Do not overpack.

Less you bring, easier it will be to pack, carry and there will be more space for souvenirs.

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15points

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Libstak 2 years ago

Put a small suitcase inside a large one. This way you have a whole extra piece of luggage to fill with souvenirs and new clothes etc.

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Give your children your contact information.

If a kid gets lost, you'd want them to have your full name, phone number, email address and a local address.
If a child can't remember, have them carry a note.

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15points

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Okasan Willis 2 years ago

My 30 year old daughter has autism and wears a bracelet with my phone # and her uncles #.

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96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation Include nature in your travels.

Cities and culture can be a great experience, but do not forget about the nature, especially when traveling with kids, it's important for them to experience it.

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15points

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AliJanx 2 years ago

Zoos and children's museums are frequently reasonably priced and a good 1/2 day events. Some kid museums - science museums - can be fun for adults too. For every city we visited, we'd find either a zoo or kids museum to spend a morning or afternoon. Is parents liked it as much as the kids did.

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Explain the trip to your children in great detail.

After reviewing trip plans with your kids, they will know what to expect and be more comfortable with whatever is happening around them.

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14points

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Natalie H 2 years ago

Are we there yet? 😉

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Bring snacks.

Hangry children or even some adults can bring a fun trip to a miserable one in a matter of minutes. Have snacks ready!

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14points

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Jennifer Genaro 1 year ago

And bring twice what you think they might need. You might have a crabby toddler seated nearby whose mom forgot snacks!

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96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation Keep your schedule loose and leave room for adjustments. It will create a lot less stress for you and your family, resulting in a lot happier trip.

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13points

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Prebook everything that you can.

There will be less things to worry about when you eventually get to your destination.

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13points

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angel B 1 year ago

Used to pre-book then got really sick in Vancouver didn't want to miss any of my pre-book excursions so I did them anyways I hugely regret it I now book excursions on the day of except for things like the Alhambra in Spain that sell out give you a lot more flexibility in case you do end up getting sick or just not feeling like doing anything for a day and relaxing at the beach

0points

Pack smart.

Roll clothes and stuff socks and underwear inside shoes. Wear the heaviest clothes on the flight. Pack essentials and buy what you really need at the destination.

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13points

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#10

96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation Bring plenty of wipes.

It doesn't hurt to have extra wipes for when there is some mess occuring.

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12points

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#11

Build an "activity bag" for your kids.

Depending on age, it can be anything, from portable consoles and new games to colouring books and other art supplies.

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11points

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Dad 2 years ago

And tie the toys to long elastic strings so they're easy retreavable when it gets jettisoned down the aisle

2points

#12

If you are fresh parents, readjust your expectations.

A lot of things will be different with kids, and some of them not for the better.

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10points

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Jennifer Genaro 1 year ago

Yes especially beach vacations with infants and young children. You will be constantly trying to protect them from drowning and burning up. Not relaxing at all. Bring a babysitter if you want to enjoy peaceful beach time.

0points

#13

96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation Plan flight times.

Some flights might have a better price, some fit better into your or your children's sleeping schedule.

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9points

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#14

Schedule a "downtime".

Usually when travelling, we plan a lot of activities and feel pressured to experience them all. Having a dedicated downtime might increase your trip satisfaction.

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9points

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Taylor Carroll 2 years ago

This. I went to Paris and London with my art & design dept at uni and we were visiting at least 2 if not 3 galleries a day, then other stuff on top of it. One night the chunk of people I'd been spending time with went off to bar hop in London and I stayed behind in the hotel room in complete silence. Best night of the trip.

0points

#15

Pick your trip destinations based on personalities.

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9points

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#16

96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation Look for places with animals.

Kids love animals and the experience with them might leave a memorable feeling for children.

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9points

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Mary Daniel 2 years ago

Petting farms

0points

#17

Accept that things might go wrong.

Travel is an adventure, and adventures rarely go to plan. Be ready for a few bumps and try not to get irritated by them.

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8points

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#18

Keep track of your kids.

It might seem obvious, but with the rush of adventure, things might slip your mind. Hold your children's hands, have them sit in your line of sight, and consider GPS trackers.

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8points

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#19

96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation Always check what documentation do you need when crossing borders alone or with children.

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8points

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#20

When traveling, bring new books or toys for kids.

Something they haven't seen before can occopy them for a long time.

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8points

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#21

Once they're old enough, have your kids carry their own luggage.

It will be easier on you, and they'll get to experience the traveling spirit.

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8points

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#22

96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation Invest in good gear.

When you invest in quality products, you'll spend more, but also will receive more benefits from your products. Like less weight, more comfortable, more durable and so on.

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7points

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The Queen Of Upper Butt Crack 2 years ago

Kids grow out of gear so quickly I find that cheaper will often work for what I need. I didnt get near the top end stroller or pack and play for example and never had a problem at home or when we travelled.

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#23

If you're planning to rent a car, bring a car seat for your child.

Most rental companies have car seats available, but you should confirm that there is one available before leaving for the trip.

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7points

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#24

Bring electronic enternainment devices.

When traveling for long, it might be hard to keep your children or even yourself occupied and not bored. Technology might solve that problem.

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7points

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Taylor Carroll 2 years ago

Sadly.

1point

#25

Don't forget about the free activities.

Seeing a street fair, a concert or a cultural event can often be free and leave some nice memories. As well as seeing a sunset, just walking or taking a bike ride, playing in the park, swimming in the sea, lake or a river, climbing a mountain.

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7points

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#26

96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation When traveling with kids, pick a children friendly location.

A safe and central location, near the local attractions, food outlets, the beach, the park, would save you time, money and keep your kids from getting bored.

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7points

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David Green 2 years ago

Also pick nice kids as some are truly awful travelling companions.

5points

#27

When looking for a place to eat, stay away from "tourist" streets.

By walking a few blocks away, you will not only find better prices, but also have a more authentic dining experience.

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7points

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Xenon 1 year ago

Hahhaaa... I just finished commenting on the exact same thing in the entry before this one.

0points

#28

96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation Ask for discounts, especially for children.

There are a lot of places that offer a children discount, which will save you a lot of money during the trip.

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6points

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#29

Bring a spare outfit.

Especially if you're traveling with babies.

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6points

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#30

Have a plan for when the kids are tired, hungry, bored or suffering from heat.

It can be the cause of the worst tantrums ever and it might be difficult to tackle unprepared.

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6points

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#31

96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation Stay over Sunday.

Many hotels receive Friday-Saturday bookings from leisure travelers and Monday-Friday from business travelers. Sunday could be a void.

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6points

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#32

Consider resorts.

It may be more expensive, but it also will have more activities for children, giving more free time for parents to relax.

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6points

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Jennifer Genaro 1 year ago

This is why we went on a couple of short cruises when the kids were little. They have kids activities that are safe and fun. And mom and dad can roam the ship or go to the spa. Then we ate together every night and took them to shore.

0points

#33

When booking for hotels, look for one with breakfast included.

It'll save time and money.

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6points

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#34

96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation Invest in refillable water bottles.

Not only you'll save environment this way, but also save money in the long run.

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6points

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Libstak 2 years ago (edited)

Both my nieces have trained their kids to only want water to drink by always having a refillable water bottle with them. The kids all say no to any other drink. Neither niece is strict the kids could have a soda if they wanted now that they are older, they just never want one even at friends birthday parties etc.

1point

#35

Bring trash bags and sealable bags along your other luggage.

It can be great for storing dirty clothes and snacks.

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6points

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#36

Pack a night light.

A little light source can always make the sleeping in a different place experience a lot more enjoyable both for you and your kids.

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6points

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Xenon 1 year ago

I always left the bathroom light on and the door cracked. This is a better idea!

0points

#37

96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation When planning a trip, leave one day free in the schedule.

It's great if you discover something interesting that you'd like to explore but wouldn't be able to fit into the schedule.

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6points

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#38

Schedule the first few days after the flight with light-exploring and relaxed activities to avoid suffering from jetlag.

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6points

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#39

Plan a general and daily budget and update your kids on it to avoid overspending.

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6points

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#40

96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation Start young.

Travelling with babies will make them much more comfortable with adventures when they're older.

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5points

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Christoffer Vogel 2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

0points

#41

Include private and apart time for your family.

While the goal of traveling is to create memories, kids need some time to burn off energy and enjoy the company of other kids. Parents need some quiet time and adult company too.

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5points

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#42

Check for family deals when booking.

Always ask about special deals for families with children. Worst case scenario, they can only say "no".

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5points

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#43

96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation Research the hotels room configuration.

If your family has a larger count of members, number of beds, bed type and the overall layout of the room is important to know.

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5points

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#44

Research if hotels have a bathtub in the room.

Families with younger kids will benefit from rooms with a bathtub.

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5points

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Xenon 1 year ago

I've never seen one without one. I guess some just have shower stalls?

0points

#45

Avoid having dinner in restaurants.

There are places where the meal costs are increased for dinner.

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5points

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Xenon 1 year ago

Follow the locals for the best food, avoid the tourist trap restaurants.

0points

#46

96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation Feeding a baby with either a bottle or a breast when taking off or landing in a flight can help their ears to adjust to the cabin's air pressure.

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5points

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#47

When it comes to bedtime for your kids, try to keep the rituals same as home.

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5points

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#48

Before disembarking, make sure you and your kids have eaten and been to the toilet.

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5points

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#49

96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation Avoid "red eye" flights.

Arriving or leaving at crazy hours can often put the first days of your vacation in a tiresome loop.

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5points

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#50

Research how to explain your special needs in a local language.

Allergies, special diets, special physical and mental needs might be easy to explain at home, but could prove difficult in another country.

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4points

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#51

Bring a travel journal.

The whole family could write down what they did today, what they liked and not, along with any other general thoughts.

You'll remember the trip better this way and the memories will stay longer.

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4points

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#52

96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation Bring a stroller if you're traveling with children.

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4points

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#53

Take public transit.

It's fun for kids, every type of public transportation can provide a different experience, while also saving you a bit of money and in some cases time.

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4points

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#54

Before your first big trip with children, do a trial run.

Go for a weekend getaway or just a day trip, to help you figure out the packing choices, routines, how fast are you moving around, and how will you all get along.

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4points

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#55

96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation On longer trips, plan one or two activities per day and do the high energy ones early.

Kids have the highest energy in the morning, so leaving the more relaxing activities for the evening can be a great way to distribute the energy levels throughout the day.

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#56

Bribing the kids works.

Promise them something like ice cream at the end of the day, and they'll have a lot more motivation for a hike.

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4points

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#57

Consider getting separate, but interconnecting rooms.

Both parents and kids could use a little bit of privacy and independency.

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4points

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#58

96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation If possible, self-cater.

Purchasing your own supplies in grocery stores can be a lot cheaper than eating out.

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4points

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#59

If possible, fly direct on long haul flights.

Changing flights mid-way to your destination, often at late hours can throw off adults and even more so children.

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4points

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#60

If your child sleeps well in a car seat, consider bringing it to the plane too.

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4points

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#61

96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation If you're carrying an infant, consider investing into a nursing pillow.

It can make the flight experience a lot more comfortable.

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4points

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#62

If you have your seats assigned, board last.

In doing so, you'll minimize the time in tight space for your baby.

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4points

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#63

Have diapers and other essentials either shipped to the destination or bought locally.

You'll save space this way.

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4points

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#64

96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation Hide toys to reveal during a long trip.

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4points

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#65

Consider using packing cubes.

You'll save space and each family member will have more of a say in what to pack.

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4points

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#66

Consider inviting your child's friend.

It will be a nice change of company for them and a great bonding experience.

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4points

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#67

96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation If you had a great time in a specific place during a vacation from before, consider going back.

There's often a lot more to discover.

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4points

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#68

Create a list of things that you need to pack.

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4points

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#69

Plan out the travel plans to and from the airport, to avoid the last-minute calls.

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4points

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#70

96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation If you're traveling by car, plan out the route with points-of-interest to stop and explore.

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#71

While kids need the most attention, do not forget it's your holidays too.

Treat yourself to a meal you always wanted to try, an activity you read about long ago and so on.

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4points

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#72

Foresee enough variations in your trip.

Try to think of multiple different types of activities, to keep everyone excited and from getting bored.

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4points

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#73

96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation Give children a camera.

Having a camera can help to see the beauty in landscapes, nature, architecture and details of the crowds, the buzz of the city.

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3points

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#74

Schedule longer layovers.

It may be a bit more waiting, but it would also bring less stress, because you will have more time to think about and take care of everything before your flight.

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3points

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#75

If possible, fly in a premium class.

You'll avoid long airport lines at check-in, security, boarding and border control.

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3points

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#76

96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation Pack headphones that are comfortable for a longer period of time.

It will greatly enhance your flying experience.

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3points

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#77

Let kids pick out activities.

The trip isn't just for you, you mustn't forget about your children's interests. That way, everyone in the family will have their say and a great time.

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3points

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#78

No matter how much time you invested in planning, always be flexible.

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3points

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#79

96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation Take roadtrips.

Kids will feel more comfortable and safe, however, pack up a lot more patience, because you will be traveling in the same car for a long time.

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#80

Try to visit unique to the location museums and places.

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3points

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#81

Stay more than one night.

Many hotels provide the best deals when you're staying for a number of days.

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3points

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#82

96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation If you have a lot of luggage, make sure that the hotel has a lift.

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3points

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#83

Research the hotel dining options.

If the hotel doesn't have a kids menu, parents are in for a difficult time.

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3points

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#84

Research available TV channels in hotels.

While it should not be the main focus to watch TV, it can be a nice activity to have a family-oriented channel to watch together with kids in the evening.

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3points

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#85

96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation Research if hotels have laundry machines available for guests.

In longer vacations, laundry can become tricky, so having a laundry machine nearby is always handy.

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3points

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#86

Consider getting tourist attraction cards.

If at least a few offered attractions would be something you'd be interested in visiting, these cards could be a valuable investment.

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3points

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#87

Visit your doctor before traveling.

Find out your blood groups, vaccination records. If anyone in the family has pre-existing medical condition, ask for doctor's help in tracking down a specialist in your trip's destination.

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3points

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#88

96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation If you're flying a long distance, take a change of clothes on board for you and your baby.

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3points

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#89

If you have the means, invest in a travel-oriented stroller for a baby.

Lightweight and compact stroller can greatly improve the traveling comfort.

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3points

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#90

Consider investing in baby carriers.

Having your hands free to navigate when traveling will bring a great sense of freedom and be more comfortable overall.

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3points

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#91

96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation If possible, plan a trip with another family.

It can be great to have some extra company, both for your kids and you.

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3points

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#92

Double check downloaded movies and music.

While many flights have internet connection, there's never a guarantee that it will work for the entirety of the flight.

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3points

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#93

Research and download the local taxi apps for an easier commuting experience.

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3points

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#94

96 Useful Family Travel Tips For An Enjoyable Vacation Don't postpone your trip until your kids grow up.

While the children might not remember the trip, it can have the same effect as going to the park or a playground.

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3points

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#95

Prepare and hype up your kids about the trip.

The more the kids will know about the trip and the destination, the more excited they're going to be to see it with their own eyes.

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