Well, that blogging break was a bit longer than I had planned! I intentionally did not post our last week in Spain so that I could be fully present and enjoy the last bit of family time. Getting sick when we got home and then transitioning to the start of the school year resulted in more weeks without posts, but I learned a lot in the process. I’m almost a full year into blogging and this is the longest break I’ve taken, even after I lost my mom. It’s been refreshing and I’m ready to get back into a normal rhythm again. We will be shooting some fall outfits this weekend, but in the meantime, I’m sharing some tips for traveling with kids.
1. Pack as many snacks as you can cram into your backpack.
We flew Norwegian Air, which is a low cost airline and you pay separately for each meal that you order. They aren’t cheap! We opted out of the airline meals and brought our own instead. Our flight left at 8pm, and we were able to eat dinner at the airport before boarding the plane. I packed peanut butter sandwiches, apple slices, granola bars, fruit leathers, and nuts. It was perfect! I knew that we would all be exhausted and jet lagged when when we arrived in Spain. Having to look for food that your kids will eat right off the bat is stressful and complicated. Bringing your own food helps with this transition! The snacks lasted well into our trip and we were glad to have them.
2. While you’re at it, bring some easy dinner options.
In addition to the snacks, I tossed in three boxes of mac and cheese. Again, this is so helpful to avoid meltdowns that occur as a result of your kids being overtired and hungry. I made mac and cheese for the boys our first night in Granada because it was quick, easy, and can be made with water if necessary. It didn’t take up much space in the suitcase and was nice to have.
3. Invest in good carry on suitcases.
When the boys were younger, we were able to have them share a suitcase. Now that they older and their clothes are bigger, this doesn’t work, especially for a long trip like ours to Spain. It is critical that you choose suitcases that are easy for kids to maneuver! My favorite carry on is the Antler Juno cabin suitcase, which I reviewed here. I love it so much that we purchased two more for this trip.
4. Plan to do laundry on your trip.
One of the best tips for traveling with kids is to plan to do laundry. I packed as many complete outfits as I had pairs of shorts (6-7 per kid), a couple extra shirts, and the corresponding number of underwear and socks. Because we were gone for four weeks, we stayed in apartments rather than hotels, which means we had access to washing machines. Even if you don’t, it’s well worth a trip to the laundromat every few days to avoid overpacking.
5. Use ebooks instead of regular books.
My sons both love to read, but books are heavy! We bought my older son a Kindle a few years ago and it’s been a great investment. Our local library allows you to have up to ten electronic books checked out at one time, and that’s a huge money saver in addition to a space saver when traveling. My younger son doesn’t have a Kindle, but he was able to read using the Kindle app on an old iPad. Two years ago, the school librarian turned us on to Epic Books. This is book subscription app that offers a summer reading promotion in which you can get three months for only $3. After the three months, it costs $7.99 per month if you wish to continue. We did this for awhile but found that there weren’t a lot of options for my older son, so we eventually canceled.
6. Stock up on inexpensive toys, games, and puzzles.
I always try to stock up on new toys before a trip because the new toys are more entertaining than old ones. The Target dollar spot is a great resource for inexpensive toys, as is the Dollar Tree. The benefit to buying inexpensive items is that if one of them gets lost or left in a hotel room, it’s not a big loss. We also make sure to bring a deck of cards.
7. Sign up for TSA Precheck or Global Entry.
The best $85 I’ve ever spent was for TSA Precheck. That gets you five years of Precheck at participating airports/airlines (which is most of them, by the way). The even better part is that your kids are automatically included for no extra charge! Once our oldest turns 13, he will have to apply for his own known traveler number. Avoiding long security lines and not having to remove your shoes, liquids, or electronics is worth every penny. In fact, Global Entry costs just a bit more and gives you access when traveling internationally. I didn’t realize this three years ago when we got Precheck, but I will definitely upgrade when my Precheck expires.
8. Utilize all allowed liquid carry ons.
Because the boys each had their own suitcase, we technically could fill four ziplock bags with liquids. I filled my younger son’s bag entirely with squeeze applesauce packets! Those are a favorite comfort food of his, and as it turns out, it was hard to find applesauce in Spain. We didn’t check our bags so I had to limit the number of ounces, but it was also helpful to pack children’s Tylenol and their shampoo.
9. Bring one pair of good walking shoes for everyone.
It was hot in Spain and we all wore flip flops pretty much the whole time (my favorite brand for the boys is Reef). However, we always fly in tennis shoes. We stayed in five different locations, so we walked a fair amount with our luggage. I was glad the boys’ feet were protected and no one’s toe got hurt by a suitcase rolling over it. My husband and older son rented bikes one day and needed tennis shoes for that. We also went hiking one day. Wearing your tennis shoes to the airport saves space in your suitcase, and it’s nice to have socks on a long flight.
10. Bring your own water bottles.
I’ve been in the habit of carrying an empty water bottle through security for years, and now I have the boys do the same. It’s nice to be able to fill them up and have water on the plane before the beverage service comes around. In this case, Norwegian doesn’t give you water unless you order a meal, so we would have had to pay for it separately. I am glad we brought our own! I love this small Nalgene bottle and the boys are partial to their S’ip by S’well bottles.
I’m sure there are other tips for traveling with kids that I could have included, but these are the ones fresh in my mind since we just got home from Spain! If you have anything you’d like to add, please feel free to do so in the comments!
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