Don’t be put off by other people telling you it’s impossible to travel with kids! Family travel can be fun (although let’s be real – some days it’s hard work!) – but it does take a little more preparation and thought than travel pre-kids.

Given my husband and I met overseas and spent most of our 20’s and early 30’s travelling the globe, we weren’t about to be put off travel after our kids came along.

In fact, we’ve been travelling with our kids as much as possible since our first daughter was around 16 months old. Our first trip was very tame and completely NOT off the beaten track – Bali!

Our next adventure was when the girls were 3 and 1 (to squeeze in that last free flight before Annie turned 2 and we had to pay for a seat!). This time, we headed to Sri Lanka (and Singapore) – much to the surprise and shock of many friends and family. And guess what? It was AMAZING!

Since then we’ve managed to clock up around 15 countries and counting (not all ones you’d initially consider as family travel destinations either)… not bad with three kids along for the ride!

Throughout this time we’ve had so many people look at us like we’re completely bonkers – especially other parents. Because we’re all told that you’re supposed to get the travel bug out of your system before you have kids, right? I mean, you can’t travel with kids…. can you?

Yes. Yes, you can.

Travelling with kids is an incredible way to create lasting family memories—for you and your kids. You can introduce them to new cultures, and you get to experience the world through their eyes, which makes revisiting places you’ve visited while backpacking in your 20s a completely new adventure.

Combining kids and travel undoubtedly comes with its fair share of challenges; with proper planning and the right mindset, you can create an enjoyable and rewarding adventure for the whole family!

Why Travel with Kids?

Taking kids travelling isn’t just about vacations (though let’s face it who doesn’t love a bit of resort time with a kids club!). It’s about exposing them to new environments and fostering their curiosity. Plus it also helps them to build resilience. Whether it’s a weekend getaway or a long-term international adventure, travelling as a family:

• Encourages adaptability and problem-solving skills
• Strengthens your family bonds through shared experiences
• Introduce your kids to new languages, foods, and traditions
• Creates cherished memories that will last a lifetime (cheesy but true)

Overcoming Common Challenges

Travelling with your kids obviously requires extra thought. You can’t just jump on a plane and arrive at a destination without thinking about where you’ll stay or what you’ll need like you used to. But with a little preparation, you can navigate common hurdles, like:

• Packing smart: It can be tricky to balance essentials without overpacking – but it can be done! Aim for versatile clothes, comfort items, and entertainment for long journeys. We’ve known friends who just travelled Asia for a month with carry on luggage – with their two young kids.
• Managing jet lag: While it can be easy to say just adjust your kid’s sleep schedules before departure, and it’ll all work out, that’s not usually how it works! Add extra time to your itinerary to ensure there’s rest time available for your arrival.
• Keeping kids engaged: Bring books or an e-book (we got Amazon Kids Kindle for the girls and it’s been a godsend – it usually comes with a 12 month subscription to Amazon Kids so they’ve got HEAPS of options to keep them busy and keep keep the packing light), travel games (card games like Spot It are great, and activity books or small toys can keep your kids entertained on long flights or road trips.
• Handling unexpected situations: Flight delays, lost luggage, and tantrums obviously happen with kids! And some days can really suck. Although it’s always a challenge, try to stay flexible and positive – even if it’s just you while your other half has their own toddler tantrum!
• Prohibitive costs: Sometimes you’ll need to get pretty creative when you budget for family travel to keep it affordable – especially when you reach the golden age of 12 and you have to start paying full price for a lot of things – including flights, accommodation and tours.

Best Types of Travel for Families

Different styles of travel will obviously suit different types of families! So finding the right fit can make all the difference:

• City breaks: Museums, parks, and kid-friendly attractions can make urban destinations exciting for families. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital is one example that offer plenty for families. Just remember to balance the kid-friendly attractions with the things that you want to see.
• Beach vacations: Relaxing by the ocean with plenty of activities like snorkelling, sandcastle building, and swimming.
• Road trips: The flexibility of driving lets you stop when someone inevitably needs a wee, and gives you a heap of flexibility. Our recent trips around Malaysia have involved lots of driving and it’s been great to go at our own pace.
• Adventure travel: This is my personal favourite (along with cultural immersion). Think safaris, hiking, and wildlife encounters (our trip to Kinabatangan River was the perfect example of this). All of this will give you and your kids a big thrill!
• Cultural immersion: Visiting historic sites (hello Chichén Itzá and attending local festivals will open up your kids eyes (and yours) to the way different people live. You may even want to consider staying with host families to enrich your kids’ understanding of the world.

Essential Tips for Stress-Free Family Travel

To make your family travels smooth and enjoyable, keep these key tips in mind:

• Plan, but stay flexible: I ALWAYS have an itinerary (who doesn’t love a spreadsheet?), but there have been plenty of times where we’ve changed our itinerary mid trip. Especially on longer trips. Flexibility can give you the option to build in much needed downtime or opt for spontaneous discoveries.
• Choose kid-friendly accommodations: Booking the right accommodations can make or break a trip if you travel with little ones. Family rooms with small kids can be HARD work, especially if you’ve got multiple bedtimes or one of your kids regularly wakes in the night. Look for family-friendly hotels, apartments on AirBNB or HotelBooking, or resorts with kid-specific amenities.
• Pack snacks and essentials: HANGRY kids are hard enough at the best of times, but on the road? Nightmare. Always have snacks and water on hand. And consider some basic medical supplies too particularly on longer trips – like Kids Panadol and some band-aids (plasters).
• Involve kids in the planning: Let them help choose activities (give them options) or destinations to keep them engaged and excited. Show them where they’ll be staying and places you’ll be visiting beforehand.
• Capture the moments: Obviously take lots of photos but also get the kids taking pics – they will love it! Although it will slow you down! There are some great cheap kids cameras available online that won’t cost you a fortune. And get the kids to journal their experiences to create keepsakes of your adventures.

Explore More Family Travel Tips

Whether you’re planning a short holiday or a long-term journey, we have plenty of destination guides, travel hacks, and real-life stories to help you navigate the world with kids.

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