Some families like to travel and some don’t. I know and love both kinds of people. We are the traveling kind. If you’re in the same boat, this post could be for you.
Travel with kids is unlike travel without kids. (Am I stating the obvious?) There is much more to process, ready, and prepare. However, in my experience, it has always been worth it.
Why do we travel?
Our family chooses to travel for three reasons:
- Travel allows for quality time together.
- Travel allows us to experience God’s beauty in new ways.
- Travel takes us out of our comfort zone and at the same time allows us to rest and relax.
Most of us would agree it is much easier to stay home than take the road trip or fly across the country with kids in tow. It’s common sense. And there are seasons and times when the longing and comfort of home is just what we need. However, since travel is something we value, we make it a priority and we do it.
How do we make travel work?
Travel is a priority for us, but it doesn’t just happen. We have to be intentional. We do two things:
- Budget for travel, both with money and time.
- Plan.
Because travel is a priority for us, we put aside money each month for it. Instead of new living room furniture, we took a beach trip with the kids this year. Instead of eating out often, we put money towards our travel fund. Twice each month, a set amount is transferred from our checking to our savings account specifically for travel, so we don’t even think about it.
We homeschool, which allows us to be flexible with our schedule. We are able to travel year round, which allows for some savings when it comes to flights, lodging, etc. If you aren’t a homeschooling family, I wholeheartedly believe travel is worth a missed week or so of school.
We plan in advance. Kevin and I have already had a few discussions about travel in 2021. If we want to take the trips, we have to make the plans. And many times that means far in advance so we are able to book the places we want.
Where do we stay?
We almost always stay at a VRBO or Airbnb. With kids, it just makes sense. My biggest reasons a VRBO trumps a hotel are:
- There is a kitchen to make meals, keep things cold, and hold snacks.
- The kids have their own room and space to move.
- LAUNDRY
Laundry is probably my biggest reason for staying in a home or apartment rented from VRBO or Airbnb. We can pack half the stuff we would need and then throw in a load of laundry sometime during our stay. And, we can come home with clean clothes if we want to.
How do we pack?
Light, we pack light. There are some minimalists out there that would say our version of light packing isn’t light at all. But, as James Clear has said: ‘The goal is not to have the least amount of things, but the optimal amount of things.’ We pack as light as we can and each time we travel we learn a bit more about what is needed and what isn’t.
When we travel by plane or in a car longer than a weekend, each child has a backpack and a rolling carry-on. When we travel by car for a weekend away, we pack it all in one suitcase. On longer trips when each kid has their own designated place for their stuff, everything stays more organized.
Kevin and I pack one large suitcase together that we check and a small carry on. Our baby’s things are in with our suitcase as well. We pack a car seat bag that gets checked.
In my experience, I almost always pack too much. I’m (slowly) learning I can pack a lot less.
What happens when we get there?
When we arrive at our destination, one of the first things we do is pick up food at a local grocery store. Since we are usually staying in a house or apartment with a kitchen, we pick up snacks, eggs, bread, bacon (always bacon), peanut butter, jelly, lunch meat, fruit, and veggies.
Next, we check into our place and get unpacked and settled. We usually try to explore a little in the evening to get our bearings before the next full day in a new place. The rest of our time is spent exploring and enjoying one another. On most of our trips, the kids write in their journals about something they did each day. We use a Polaroid Portable Printer to print a picture each day and the kids write about it. As they have gotten older, this is a highlight each day and doubles as a souvenir.
Travel is something we value as a family and strategically do things to make happen. Tell me: Do you travel with kids? What are some tips are tricks you have learned along the way?