Win a $100 Prepaid GC by sharing your travel tips {Canada}

I’m working on a homemade quiet book to keep our toddler engaged and happy while we are travelling! We also make sure to have snacks onhand in case of unexpected travel delays.

I don’t really understand the first one re: not telling the kids you’re travelling until you have to. In the vast majoity of cases, there would be no problem with telling kids and in some cases, springing a trip on them without advance notice might actually backfire and cause distress in kids who don’t deal well with sudden changes and transitions. We always tell our kids as soon as we’ve firmed the plans as it gives them something to talk about, look forward to etc.

my travel tips:

buy each kid their own, appropriately sized backpack, to carry their car/airplane activities, a few snacks, favorite stuffy. mom & dad don’t end up carrying everything and the kids have their own luggage that they can be responsible for and independent with

if travelling between climates, bring a change of clothes on the plane so that you can be comfortable when you get off at your destination, particularly when going somewhere warm in winter. you’ll be much more comfortable standing around waiting for rental cars/shuttles etc in 30C+ weather if you brought your shorts and flip flops

Be sure that all your liquids are in a regulation sized bag and in your carry-on if your are traveling by airplane.

Bring snacks, lil fun games!!! Keep those lil ones busy!

Keep kids busy by making up a travel bingo card ahead of time. When they spot something on the card during your trip they can mark it off and qualify for small prizes you’ve brought along. Super fun!

i always pack a smaller bag inside the bigger one to bring home any extra purchases

Lay out full outfits for adults and children, including undergarments/diapers, then roll each up into a bundle to be packed. Saves time and space!

bring coloring books,games for the kids

Pack extra medicine! Especially if you suffer from allergies and what not. You never know when it might come in handy

My best tip is to not forget to relax and enjoy it! Make those lasting memories!

Always bring a few plastic grocery bags with you so you can put dirty clothes into and keep your other clothes fresh for the remainder of your trip.

Make a list of what to bring weeks ahead..add to the list as you remember and while travelling don’t try and cram everything in one day..it just doesn’t work

While it might seem great to save some money and book your hotel through websites like Expedia or Booking.com, it can actually create more of a hassle. You’re better off to book through the hotel’s website or their call centre directly. They have a better cancellation policy (Expedia is a no-cancel, all prepaid website) and can suit your booking more to your needs. You’ll save yourself a lot of headaches and disappointment and can ensure exactly what you’re getting ahead of time.

Put socks & undies in shoes to save space!

My best travel tip is each member of the family gets to bring a carry on only plus your hand bag or computer carry on. This saves so much time at the airport not having to stand around waiting for your luggage.

Ever since losing a suitcase I’ve made sure a couple of changes of clothing for everyone are in every bag!

Always take a light weight shawl or pashima with you as it doubles as a blanket on the plane or hotel and will keep the rain of you for a bit if needed. Also roll clothing when packing, it takes less room and you will have less wrinkles when you arrive.

Make lists before you pack so that you can check everything off as you put it in and don’t forget anything!

make a list and cross it off as you go! it is too easy to forget stuff otherwise! 🙂

I always pack a change of clothes for one day in my carry-on in case my luggage is delayed or lost.

roll up t shirts to save room in the suitcase

Pack clothes and essentials needed for overnight in a carry on bag, or smaller bag if you’re travelling by car etc. I find it handier to have an easy to grab bag that is quick to go through instead of having to dig through many or a larger bag, I then repack it for the next night when going from place to place. So nice for when you are tired or rushed!

My families travel tip: make sure the iPods are charged! My kids are the quietest when they are watching them and it gives me some quiet time as well!

My tip is to keep all of your shampoo/conditioner/body wash, basically anything liquid in a ziploc bag in case it leaks!

No matter where you go bring snacks.

Bring lots of activities to keep the kids busy but try to limit screens.

I like to pack lots of activities for my kids to do on the trip and lots of snacks. If my kids are keep busy it is a much more pleasant trip.

Allow for extra time to get to the airport.

I don’t travel much. But when I do i make sure to always make a list of what I need to pack and check it off as I pack. And I always bring wet wipes, You can even put them in ziploc bags to save space.

My best family travel tip is to be prepared and stock up your carry on bag for emergencies, delays, etc. We always have in our carry on – extra diapers, a package of wipes, books, small toys, stickers, a tablet, lots of snacks, a spare change of clothes, swimwear if we are going somewhere warm, a small first aid kit, some local currency, travel documents etc. That way if we get delayed, sick, or end up with lost luggage we are never in a panic because we have all our essentials on hand.

Don’t overplan. Be willing to compromise and make changes and adjustments as you go. Remember that some of the most fun moments can be spontaneous.

Try to pick things that you know they will love and then some that you think they should try for the experience. Once our kids were older we would give them choices so that they had a hand in planning the day. For example we told them we were doing the Magice Kingdom over 2 days and going to rides in areas close together each day. We took them through the rides in those areas and they got to pick the first 3 rides we went on. This way they participated in picking things to do that day.

Make sure you bring enough entertainment for the young ones, you don’t want them to get bored

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A SAFE SPOT TO MEET IN CASE YOU LOOSE EACH OTHER

Always pack extra snacks, extra bathing suits and the POLYSPORIN!

plan in advance!!!

When flying…ALWAYS bring snacks and stuff to keep the kids busy! Toys, colouring stuff, tablet, DVD player, etc.

Roll your clothes up to save space. Found out about this tip online after packing for my son this summer. I rolled his socks and underwear up with the other clothes to save even more space.

my best travel tip is to bring plenty of activities, snacks and extra batteries

Make a list and stick to it so you don’t end up overpacking

Have a bag of little surprises to keep younger children entertained on flights.

bring an empty water bottle to fill on the other side of security, and lots of snacks!

Prepare for hunger, headaches and boredom by stocking an easy-to-access bag with necessary gear.

My best tip would be, do not wait until the last minute to pack. I do it (at the least) one week ahead of time.

roll your clothes and less is better! plan accordingly and bring the essentials but do not over pack also leave the valuables at home!

For my two little boys, I pack their outfits into ziplock bags. Each day had a bag with a complete outfit so there is no hunting around for matching clothes, socks, underwear, etc. It makes getting dressed much easier and we re-use the bags for each trip. Another tip is when you’re flying, be sure to pack clothing for each member of the family in each bag. That way if one suitcase goes missing, you should still have clothes in the other bags.

put all your shampoo, suntan oils in zip lock bags in case they leak all over your clothes…oily spots are impossible to clean in a hotel bathroom sink

I travel fairly often and my tip is to check your airline websites frequently for the best price on you tickets, the prices change so much more often than you might think they do.

Always bring snacks and activities.

With kids who are tiny/small I always put them on a “leash” when going through airports. I a great “thumbs up” from the security guys at theOahu airport…..wishing more parents would do that with little ones. I have used the wrist ones where I wear one end and a child wears the other and I have used the Halter with wrist band for parent type. When you have 6 kids and then 7 others travelling with you, it’s the only way to keep track of the small ones. I also take various forms of nausea/air sickness remedies because you never know who is going to not take to flying. I have used wrist bands (come in all kinds of colours) and medication. Fotunately, for us the wrist bands worked. Always have extra medical insurance for the one who ends up with ear infections!

Stock up on snacks.

Be flexible and build in down time. DO NOT over schedule your family. Give yourself space in your itinerary to linger if something really excites your kids, or to bail out if it’s just not working.

The best travel trip is to do it in real life…don’t spend it behind a video camera the whole time!

If it’s a road trip, stop travelling early (6:00 pm), and check into hotel or campground, if camping. Relax and have fun in the evenings.

I make a different packing list for summer vs winter vacations.

My best family travel tip is to be flexible. Even the best made plans will run into problems.

research where you are going to see if there are any events happening while you are there. During the summer there always outdoor activities that are kid friendly!

think outside the box. when i was about 14 I forgot my very vital medical piece for my nebulizer machine. My dad got stressed initially until we realized we could try a nearby hospital for one. it worked out! Actually… another time.. when i was 19.. I forgot again lol… this time we were going on a cruise. well wouldnt you know the cruise medical area had a tonne of these nebulizer masks! dont fret… there is always a solution

Plan ahead on where to stop and bring lots of snacks for everybody.

Be prepared. Make sure you have everything you need to prevent melt downs 🙂

When the kids were younger & we flew down south multiple times, we’d practice the airport security scene ahead of time so they knew they had to move quickly with the shoe removal, electronics, carry-ons etc.. into the bins & through security. 😉 (I even timed them on a few occassions) 😉 Worked for us – the kids were quicker, less stress for mom, and they weren’t so intimidated by the process.

Stop often.

We love to bring along snacks and food in coolers. Not only does it save time and money with stopping for food, but it also helps stop meltdowns when traveling with kids.

Best family trip was going to Disneyland

Remember the bug spray and the sunscreen and bring plenty of snacks and water.

Being organized is key! While you should pack light, make a list so you don’t forget anything!

Bring along lots of snacks and water with you while going on a travel with your family.

Pack Gravol and earplugs! 🙂

If you’re going abroad, it’s a good idea to let the Canadian Embassy know you are there. Especially for certain countries.

Bring a surprise travel activity bag with new items to amuse your kids.

When we fly I always bring gum to help with ears popping!

I use lists to help me stay organized and compiling a master list that will have all the items we need on any trip, so I don’t have to start from scratch every time we go somewhere.

snacks and more snacks. even if you think you have enough pack more.

Make sure all important travel documents are packed 45 minutes before you leave to travel.

always plan ahead and double check that you have everything you need!

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Carry all valuables and medications with you in your carry-on luggage.

Carry an extra set of clothes, camera & meds in your carryon.

Pack some clothes for carry on in case the checked baggage gets lost

My best tip is to only pack what you need. Don’t pack too much…can be overwhelming.

DO NOT OVERPACK. I totally did that this past week and it was such a pain in the bum

I make lists so I don’t forget anything.

My best family travel tip is to leave the family at home. There’s nothing wrong with taking a solo trip. Less headaches, no fighting, no whining, and essentially much cheaper 🙂

I use planned vacations as a money learning tool. You have the child save what money they choose and even earn extra if they want. The child has to buy one meal while on the trip so they learn the cost of things. The rest of the money they are allowed to spend on souvenirs or whatever they wish. Mine would study prices and take sometimes an hour before they would let go of their cash.

Make sure you have all your documents in order well beforehand – especially a passport, that usually needs six months after your scheduled return.

Cheers.

Make sure the kids have plenty of entertainment for the car or plane. An ipad usually does the trick.

I try to involve the kids into the plan. My daughter makes a top list itinerary and we try to compromise. The kids get a little and we give up a little. We even involve the kids in the budget a little to show where costs are involved so compromises are a little more tangible.

Bring half as much clothes and twice as much money as you think you will need. Make copies of your passport and hide into the lining of your carry on, and have the phone numbers for your banks & credit card companies and the embassy in the country you are going to visit.

Allow extra time…

I just traveled to Europe with my 6 year old and 6 month old boys. Having new surprise distractions were key for the long trip that lasted over 24 hours. Having ziploc plastic bags with a diaper, wipes, and disposable changing table cover inside made diaper changes a breeze in the tiny airplane bathrooms!

Take half as many clothes and twice as much money as you think you will need.

Having kids activities and snacks is a must, we pack them their own backpacks of goodies

Always allow yourself extra time when doing things.

My tip is to pack a few snacks in case your flights get delayed and to make sure you have some extra room in your bags. You might want to pick up souvenirs and it is best to leave some space in there so you do not have to cram and play “packing tetris” at the end of the trip.

It is wise to know about the high crime areas when you visit a new place.

Travel light, plan ahead and put yourself on a budget. Don’t forget to enjoy!

i always take snacks, drinks and games to keep the kids happy on our trips!

always take electronical items in bagage area

I just always make sure to pack lots of healthy snacks.

Be flexible with your schedule and always have snacks in the car!