Travel Bloggers' Tips for Traveling with Kids
Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
Traveling with kids is an exercise in patience and stamina. No matter how old the children are, it’s simply not as easy as traveling with adults.
Different kids have different needs (and so do the parents), and not meeting those needs can lead to frustration, exhaustion and hurt feelings instead of joy and fun memories. Don’t let that happen to you! Follow these simple tips for making your travels easier with kids, and you’ll come back in a better mood than when you left.
Have a Schedule
No sugar-coating this fact: Kids are not adults. Typically, kids cannot wake up early and stay up late. They need to be fed at certain times and take breaks at certain times, and it can get very tricky if you push the schedule a bit too far. For everyone’s sanity, having a schedule, even while on vacation, can help ease your mind as well as the child’s mind. Flexibility is important, but having a general layout of daily activities, breaks and mealtimes will help even teenagers feel a sense of organization on their vacation.
Take it Easy
In the same mindset of having a schedule, knowing the limits of your kids is crucial to a great trip. Planning activities is great, but sometimes you have to know when enough is enough. Rest and relaxation times need to be built into the vacation. Slowing down on occasion is good for everyone, including (maybe even especially) the adults. Renting a Gulf Shores beach house or Orange Beach condo can help with nap times and breaks from the beach. Many have their own section of beach, so it’s easy to return to the condo for a midday break.
Let Kids Plan
If children are old enough to help with the planning, let them. Getting them involved in picking Gulf Shores restaurants and Orange Beach activities helps them feel like it’s their vacation, too. Teaching them how to work with others when making decisions is a great life skill to pass along.
Bring Help
Traveling with kids is no small feat. There is truth in the saying that “it takes a village” to raise a child. Don’t hesitate to ask the grandparents to join you! Bring a family friend or travel with another family. Having extra people to split costs with is great for the budget, and having extra friends for your kids can mean more time relaxing for all adults involved.
Plan Your Return
Above all, know that this is not your last vacation with your kids. Trying to cram every activity into your stay can lead to disappointment and exhaustion. Do what you can, and plan another trip for the things you couldn’t check off your list this time.
For more tips on family travel, check out this post on saving money as a family. Visit our deals page to see more bargains available during your beach vacation. What are your best tips for traveling with kids? Share them in the comment section below.
Gulf Shores Vacation for Every Generation
From teens to toddlers and parents to grandparents, everyone can enjoy a beach vacation in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama.
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