12 Practical Family Travel Tips

We all know that traveling as a family can bring you closer -- or not!

It's all about planning the trip that's right for your family. Take a minute to review the following tips before you leave to insure that your next trip will be a memorable experience for the entire family.

Allow each child to pack his or her own suitcase and backpack with books, crayons and small toys.
Carry your own water bottle on a plane. Staying hydrated improves your comfort during long trips.
Make a good impression on your host, whether you stay in a hotel or bed and breakfast. Teach your children to shake hands, smile and make eye contact.
Don’t overschedule your days. Leave time to just hang out and enjoy the moment. Take an ice cream break when sight-seeing.
Learn half a dozen words in the language of the country you’ll visit. It’s both fun and useful. Grazie goes a long way!
The best (and least expensive) souvenirs are postcards! (Plus, they come in handy for future school reports.)
Include children in pre-trip planning so that they are as excited about your destination as you are.
Before your trip, read books or watch videos about your destination. If you plan to visit the house of an author or historical figure, for example, read about him or her first.
Encourage your child to write in a journal or make a scrapbook.
When visiting a museum, stop in the gift shop first and buy five postcards – then hunt for the real items or paintings in the museum.
Weave your child’s interests into your itinerary. For example, if your daughter enjoys playing with dolls, take her to a museum of dolls.
Do one amazing thing each day.

From United Parenting Publications

Thank you to ParentHood.com for providing this article for the PMA site.