5 Quick and Easy Family Travel Tips

Our guest post today is from former Orbitz Director of Communications. Now a stay at home mom to 3 children, Kendra is sharing her travel expertise for those who may be sneaking in one more trip before school starts in a few weeks. Enjoy these tips mamas. If your travels are completed for this summer, tuck these great ideas away for the future!

A family vacation can provide pleasant memories that your children will treasure for the rest of their lives. A family trip can also become a nightmare that everyone involved struggles to forget. While it is important to not over-plan a vacation, taking care of a few details ahead of time helps ensure that you enjoy a positive outcome. These five savvy family travel tips can help make sure that you’re ready to take your act on the road and enjoy an experience that everyone will cherish for years to come.

5 Quick and Easy Family Travel Tips

Tip 1: Fun in the Sun – Even brief exposure to bright sun can increase cancer risks later in life, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pack up sunglasses and sun-shading hats for every family member and load up on sunscreen that has at least SPF 15 and both UVA and UVB protection.

Tip 2: Family Fuel-Ups – For family road trips, bring along an assortment of healthy snacks designed to satisfy sweet and salty cravings. Scoop trail mix into sandwich bags for portion control and easy eating. 100-calorie snack packs let you appease a sweet tooth without overloading the kids on sugar.

Tip 3: Theme Parks – When taking on an all-day excursion at a theme park, save money and keep everyone energized by enjoying a hearty and healthy breakfast before entering the park. Family resorts like those at Walt Disney World and many Orlando hotels often include a full family breakfast in your room rate. I use Gogobot to sift through family-friendly reviews to find these great little added amenities!

Tip 4: Sleep-Over Strategies – Fatigue and lack of sleep have been the downfall of many a family vacation. Encourage your little ones to sleep tight by bringing along a familiar item or two from home, such as a special blanket or favorite bedtime storybook. Schedule “family nap time” into your daily vacation schedule.

Tip 5: Cleanliness Concerns – If air travel is part of your family vacation, bring along plenty of antiseptic wipes. Airplanes typically aren’t cleaned until they reach their final destination for the day, so you’ll want to protect your family from accumulated germs and grime. Avoid using “airplane water,” even in the bathroom, as the airline may have refilled their water supply from questionable sources. Hand sanitizer is a safer option.

A positive outlook is the most important thing to bring along during any family vacation. If you react to any delays, disappointments or mishaps that may occur with a shrug and smile, your family will likely follow suit. Keep your focus on the real goal of any family outing, which is to enjoy quality time spent together, and you’re sure to shore up your share of pleasant memories.

What are some of your best family travel tips? We’d love to hear how you make your vacations fuss free!

Kendra Thornton is a travel advocate, TV spokesperson, PR businesswoman, proud wife and mama of 3. I am a long time travel expert who has been packing my bags and traveling the world since I was 3 months old! I’ve found my utmost desire in life is right here in my own home. I have mixed my excitement for travel by bringing the taste of authentic cuisine to my own home with some of my unique recipes and sharing some of my personal traveling tips. Enjoy!

Twitter: @kendrathornton

Website: thorntonpr.com

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