{"id":13607,"date":"2011-12-09T11:42:41","date_gmt":"2011-12-09T17:42:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/momstraveltales.com\/?p=1326"},"modified":"2014-08-26T20:05:56","modified_gmt":"2014-08-27T01:05:56","slug":"12-things-ive-learned-about-travel-with-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.momstoolbox.com\/blog\/12-things-ive-learned-about-travel-with-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Things I’ve learned about travel with kids"},"content":{"rendered":"

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1. What you carry on a flight with small children makes a difference. Pack backpacks with the right stuff<\/a>, and flying is a snap.<\/p>\n

2. Using a one-week packing list<\/a> helps me to be sure I don’t over pack or leave anything behind.<\/p>\n

3. And on that note about packing, pack to make unpacking easy. I like to pack clothes on hangers<\/a> so all I have to do is pop everything out of the suitcase and into the right closet.<\/p>\n

4. Making your way through security checkpoints <\/a>can be a breeze, if you know what to expect.<\/p>\n

5. When your luggage is misplaced, ask for a toiletry kit<\/a>. The airline might forget to offer one to you.<\/p>\n

6. Solve the ear pressure problem by nursing or offering a bottle, lollipop, gum or other snacks at takeoff and landing.<\/p>\n

7. Don\u2019t be afraid to plan an outing based on only one child\u2019s interest. See if you can plan an activity for each child that way rather than planning 4 activities everyone will only mildly enjoy.<\/p>\n

8. Club Med<\/a> family villages offer fantastic amenities for families. I thought that Club Med was only for singles or adults. How wrong I was! Use their site to enter your youngest child\u2019s age to find the right destinations for your family world-wide. We have been blown away by the childcare, access to baby-friendly food and in-room amenities, as well as all the family and adult activities.<\/p>\n

9. Use the concierge! Hotel concierges are not just there for business travelers, they can be a huge help for planning activities, suggesting restaurants, ssecuring tickets to shows and much more. One concierge in France even served as my translator in ordering kid-friendly food from room service.<\/p>\n

10. You don\u2019t only have to go to traditionally kid-oriented destinations to have a blast with your kids. There is always something fun to do with your family just about anywhere you go. (And stashing a deck of cards and a few coloring and puzzle books can make boring adult stuff more fun.)<\/p>\n

11. Keep your eyes open and be ready to make changes. I am still pumped that we saw a billboard advertising the Jello Museum<\/a> last month. What a cool detour we took!<\/p>\n

12.Yes, all of the extra bags and planning can be a hassle. But it totally pays off when you find a note in the hotel room from your son (who hates to write) like the one I featured above.<\/strong><\/p>\n

And, my bonus thing learned for today:\u00a0 Sometimes traveling to DisneyWorld without the kids is fun, too. Like this time I got to sleep in Cinderella’s Castle.<\/a>..<\/p>\n

Miss any days? Here are all 12 Days of Christmas Travel Tips on MomsTravelTales:<\/h2>\n