We're headed to San Diego and LA next week, and with little D down for her nap and E off at preschool, I'm busy packing today. We try to pack as light as possible, each extra ounce seems to weigh a ton when we're dragging it across the airport, and the last thing I need on top of two kids under the age of three is an extra bag to carry.
Each time we travel I get a little better at streamlining. When we took our month long trip to Paris in 2005 (with just E as D wasn't born yet) I had two large rolling bags, a duffel, and a car seat. I just couldn't bear to leave anything behind. For our three week trip to Spain (with both kids) I fit everything I needed for both kids and myself in one rolling bag, and I had one carryon for the kids and a separate carryon for my laptop and essentials.
Everest is getting to the age where he wants to have his own carryon. Great for him! We're one step closer to the "if you pack it you carry it" rule. I know that he'll eventually tire of carrying his bag, though, so we choose something that can fit inside my carryon or be clipped to the outside.
Pack Early and Edit, Edit, Edit
Mark Twain famously said "I didn't have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead." The same goes for packing. If you pack early, you'll not only be less likely to forget important items, but you'll have time to edit what you're bringing and remove anything that isn't essential.
Choose the right carryon
Choose something large enough to contain all your essentials so that you don't have loose items in the stroller basket or hanging off the handles of the stroller. We like this Baby Sherpa Diaper Backpack because it has lots of compartments, including a special compartment for a sippy or bottle and an insulated compartment for food.
Contain Yourself (or at least your stuff)
I segment different types of items into different bags within my suitcase. I use Eagle Creek Pack-It Cubes (Pictured) because they're sturdy and not bulky. I use one bag for myself, one for each of the children, one for toys, and a half cube for my accessories. I also have waterproof bag for cosmetics (which I wrap in a ziplock for extra safety). Separating everyone's items makes it easier to set limits, easier to find what I'm looking for, tons easier to pack and repack as we move from destination to destination.
Use a packing list
Make it less likely that you'll forget something important. Cross of the things you didn't use so that you don't bring them the next time, add anything you forgot. Start with one of our Packing Guides for Travel With Kids
Buy what you need on arrival
Don't fall into the trap of bringing everything you need for an entire vacation. They have babies where you're going, I promise, and those babies need diapers, wipes and snacks too. You might need different brands or the price might be slightly more, but you won't be lugging it through the airport. I usually bring a two day supply so that I don't need to run to the store right away.
Rent or Borrow what you need on arrival
If you're off to visit family, they may know someone with an extra pack-and-play, high chair, or some extra toys. If not, local rental services like
Baby's Away or Tiny Tots Travel can be hugely helpful. Most have everything you need, like high-chairs, baby gyms, strollers and car seats. Some will also deliver diapers and baby food to your destination. Many car rental companies will install rent you a car seat with your rental car for an additional fee.
Send things ahead
Lots of gifts to carry? Just can't do without that baby bathtub? Send it ahead to your hotel or relative's house. You can also order diapers, wipes and other essentials from services like Amazon
Choose Toys Wisely
Choose toys that are small with lots of play value. Now is the time for plastic, not wood, and you get bonus points for toys like play-dough and coloring books because they can be disposed of when your child is done with them. If your kids are old enough, you can give them a bag to fill and tell them that's their limit. Check out our travel toys recommendations
Final Tip: Take a digital picture of what you've brought (especially toys) to help you re-pack everything before you return home.
From time to time, I receive interesting questions from my readers. Here's one from Faith
I am travelling with my 19 month old to the States from London on a 9 hour flight. I am not worried about anything else except getting her to sit still during take-off and landing. Any advice?
Faith, first of all, have a great trip!
Here are my best bets for getting him to sit still:
Try to tire him out before you get on the plane. Let him run around in the airport and think of games that get him moving while you're waiting in the gate.
At 19 months, he can understand a lot (even if he's not saying a lot yet, so once you're on the plane tell him that once seatbelts are on you'll expect him to sit still, and that you will help him do it. Let him know that when the seatbelt light goes off, he'll be able to move around again.
Once the plane has left the ground, you can give him a sippy cup filled with milk to help clear his ears (or nurse him). I always sing quietly to my kids during this time too. The engine noise is so loud that I don't think it disturbs the other passengers (and it certainly disturbs them less than crying would). Often, if they're tired and well feed they'll drift off to sleep as the plane takes off.
If he's not sleepy, small crackers (e.g. goldfish) handed out one-by-one will often keep a child interested in staying on your lap. Book also work well, as does music coming from earbuds (they have to sit still to keep the earbuds from falling out)
Your airfares are purchased, your hotel room is booked, and you've already reserved a rental car. You might think you've done the best you can to cut costs on your holiday travels, but it's not too late to save even more. Whether you're headed home to visit family or retreating to the sun, here are some money saving tips for you.
Save money on a hotel by not staying in one
Not staying with family? Lots of people are travelling this time of year, so it's an ideal time for a houseswap or to housesit. Homeswap agencies and Craigslist are typical was to find a homeswap, but don't be afraid to work your own network if you know someone in the city you'll be visiting.
Dine out less (and make your meals out count)
Bring your own food to the airport. (avoid liquids, dressings, apple sauce, etc) You'll save time, eat better, and avoid one more line.
Once at your destination, enjoy picnic lunches and simple breakfasts. While exploring restaurants is and should be an enjoyable part of any vacation, resist the temptation to eat three meals a day in a restaurant. Instead, eat breakfast in your room, pack some picnic lunches, etc. and save those dining dollars for truly memorable dining experiences.
Bringing a refillable water bottle and snacks with you each day alone can save quite a bit of money. If you have kids in tow, you'll always be sure that you have something good for them to eat when they need it.
Planning to visit one or two world-class expensive restaurants? Try lunch instead of dinner. Prices are lower, and because lunch is more casual than dinner, you can often avoid bringing a single-use formal outfit.
Don't break the bank on travel toys
Parents can be so desperate for the kids to behave on the flight that they buy lots of expensive toys and games hoping to keep everyone content. One or two is ok, but there's no need for more than that. Bring books, music, activity books and simple crafts or check out our helpful tips for Entertaining Your Child on a Plane and packing Travel Toys You Already Have at Home
Bring Less
The less you bring, the less you'll spend on baggage to carry it all in, and you won't risk over-weight fees or extra baggage fees. Especially for children… rent or borrow what you need at your destination (or better yet, figure out how to do without). If you're headed to visit family, consider buying inexpensive gear to keep there, it might be cheaper and easier over the long haul. For example, some car seat carriers cost just as much as a second car seat to be kept at grandma's house, and no rental is as expensive as a trip to the chiropractor after your return home…
Re-negotiate your rates
Rental car prices often go down as dates get closer, and few car agencies have cancellation fees. Now is a great time to search the rates again for substantial savings. Hotels sometimes offer last minute specials, and most allow changes up to 24 hours before scheduled arrival.
Luxury Hotels Aren't Always Easier and They're Never Cheaper
Sometimes it's easier to stay in a a self catering apartment than in a luxury hotel. You'll have the ability to do your own laundry (which saves money), your own kitchen, and a bit more space. An apartment rental really starts to save money vs. a hotel when you need two or more rooms. Many rental apartments are used primarily by long-term business travelers, making them even more affordable during November and December when business travel is light. To save even more, you can avoid rental agency fees by renting on Craigslist or VRBO.
Take Public Transit
If you're visiting a city, stay on major transit lines & plan to take public transit around town. With no rental car you'll have no car seats to rent or lug around and no parking expenses. You might be surprised at how much easier your vacation is without the need to navigate down one way streets, find parking, and locate your car again at the end of the day.
Buy useful souvenirs (or none at all)
You'll probably be tired of that Sagrada Familia snow globe in a few years anyway. Instead, consider buying something that is needed and will get daily use in your home for example, a new tablecloth in France or modern and cool kitchen gear in Italy.
Look for online coupons to attractions and restaurants
For those who plan ahead (even the night before) there are often a variety of discounts to be had. Amusement parks have multi-day passes. Cities often combine popular attractions into city passes, and you can often find online coupons for attractions and restaurants. Check the websites for the attractions you are visiting for details or use google to search for coupons online. Discounted tickets and coupons can also be found on Ebay (but make sure that you understand the transferability and expiration dates of the tickets). Once you've arrived, you can also ask your hotel for discount coupons or ask about auto club discounts at the ticket booth. Buying discounted tickets ahead of time not only saves you money, but you can often skip the lines as well.
Give each child a set amount to spend
This will not only save you money, but it will also save you time and energy negotiating at each attraction about which "treats" can come home with you. Depending on the age of your kids, you can set a daily budget, or a budget for the entire trip.
Wow, with everyone getting ready for holiday travel it's been a busy month here at DeliciousBaby, and it's been fun to watch our daily traffic continue to grow as the month progressed. Here are our top-viewed articles and city guides for the month of November.
I'm a fan of the
Family Hack website, it's a nice (and useful) mix of hacks, tips, entertaining articles and great ideas for families with children. That's why I'm so pleased that they've asked me to write a guest post this week about
making travel days with kids easier.
We're home for the next few weeks (and then headed to visit family in San Diego and LA), and I feel like we're all getting in a little bit of a rut. This weekend, in between errands with E, I realized that we had the perfect outing right here at home.
Frequent readers know that E has never met a bus (or train) that he didn't love. They also know that he's a picky eater (which just about kills me because food is one of the great joys in my life) and I'll try almost anything to get him interested in something new. Sooo… I decided to take him to the Taco Bus. "Taco Bus?" my friend asked when I told her. Don't you mean "taco truck" No. I mean bus.
If you live in California, you've seen taco trucks parked in gas stations, by the side of the road, in empty lots, and in general wherever they can reliably find space. The food is cheap, authentic, and delicious, and luckily for us the trucks have just recently started to migrate their way up the coast to Seattle. Seattle's taco bus, though, is unusual. Instead of putting a kitchen into a van and letting people eat under an awning or in their cars, the folks at Tacos el Asadero converted the back of an old bus into a kitchen, and put seating in the front. There's a covered awning outside for those who like space to move, but for E the eating on the bus was the only way to go.
This was a real adventure from start to finish. I had E help me order in Spanish. He even volunteered to try a taco, but looked puzzled when it arrived and finally ended up removing the filling and eating just the tortillas and a plate of rice. Still, he's never been willing to eat a tortilla before (and won't touch quesadillas, the typical toddler staple)
E took it all in as other (presumably Mexican) parents brought their kids who devoured a variety of dishes he'd never seen before. He made up a song about how not being willing to eat a tamale, and he loved that we could get up and leave as soon as he was done eating. I came close to making a huge mistake in the parking lot. Typically when he won't put on his seatbelt, I tell him "the car can't move until your seatbelt is on." This time I said "is that because you want to stay here and not go anywhere else." His face lit up, and he said "I want more taco bus." Luckily I was able to divert his attention to calling his grandparents and telling them about his adventure.
Tacos el Asadero
3513 Rainier Ave S, no phone
10 am-10 pm every day
I was at my
favorite toy store this week picking up holiday gifts, and took a few minutes to look for travel toys too (I like to keep a few things in reserve so that I don't have to rush out as I'm packing and getting ready for a trip).
There's a huge variety of choices for ages as young as three, and I love that each one packs neatly into its own little tin, not much bigger than an Altoids container. I picked up a Mini Memory Game and a Crazy Cats Card Game (this one is rated for older kids, but I think we can scale back the game play to work for my 2 1/2 year old.
Looking at the big selection on Amazon makes me want to order a few more! E is just getting old enough to understand and enjoy games, and it seems like a good idea to buy these little tins for home and travel rather than stocking up on larger sized games and finding room in the house for them…
If you've been reading our travel stories or family travel guides, you've probably noticed that we prefer to stay in vacation rentals rather than hotels with the kids. Staying in an apartment lets us live more like locals and less like tourists. While we forgo the daily cleaning service, we get a little (or sometimes a lot) more space, a kitchen, and a washing machine in return. Better yet, the price is often cheaper, especially when compared with two hotels rooms or a suite.
Untours has been in business for 33 years, making travel arrangements throughout Europe for people who want to travel independently. The owners take a small paycheck, live a simple life, and donate the rest of the proceeds to their foundation which provides low interest loans here and abroad. Loans are issued to individuals and organizations in order to create jobs, build low-income housing, and support Fair Trade products all through the most environmentally friendly means possible.
We'll fly down to San Diego in a few weeks where we'll spend a few days with my brother's family and my parents before driving to Orange County to be with my husband's family.
Since school is in session when we arrive in San Diego, we'll be on our own for part of the day, and I'm looking forward to exploring a bit with my kids (I lived in San Diego for a year while I was in college, and have been back several times, but this is the first chance to explore with the kids.
My notes about what I plan to see and do while we're there are posted in the
San Diego Family Travel Guide. If you suggestions for me (especially family friendly restaurants), please send me email! debbie at deliciousbaby.com
Our kids are little, so when we travel, it's more about having fun experiences as a family and seeing places that P and I are interested in, and less about giving our kids cultural experiences that they will carry through life with them. As they get older, of course, I expect that they'll begin to take away more information about different cultures, history, architecture and art, but for now it's enough for me to expand my own horizons and for them to have a great time and enjoy some new experiences.
E is starting to get to an age (2 1/2) where he can express himself pretty well, though, and it's interesting to hear, a month later, which of his experiences in Spain made the biggest impression. The trip itself still figures large in E's daily chatter, so I thought I'd write up some of the things we have heard from him in the past few days.
E seems to be developing a sense of what it means to travel from city to city. He regularly informs us of facts like "There's a funicular in Barcelona, but not in Sevilla" and "Seattle has a Lego store." Last week we were at a paper store and I saw some cool wrapping paper with a world map on it. He was absolutely fascinated when I started pointing out the different places he's been, and we ended up taking a sheet home with us to discuss more. Yesterday he remembered how his friend went to Hawaii, and he wanted me to show him Hawaii on the map. I'm not trying to raise another
Lilly Gaskin but I'm hopeful that when he does start learning geography and history he'll be able to tie the abstract concepts to real places.
In true toddler style, he wants to act it all out. We helped him build a gondola out of legos, and it's been a favorite toy for a week. Last night we built an airplane too & of course he volunteered that the people needed to fly to Barcelona to ride on the gondola.
In case you haven't noticed the theme, (like most toddlers) he's obsessed with public transportation. E was literally in withdrawal for the first several weeks after we returned home, begging to ride on a bus or a train almost every day. We try to take the bus when we can, but the most I can manage to work into our schedule is about once a week. I feel terrible telling him "tomorrow is school, the next day we're meeting a friend, maybe we can ride a bus on the weekend"
He has funny ideas about who speaks Spanish. He refuses to speak in Spanish to our housekeeper (who always speaks to him in Spanish, but who he thinks of as an intimate in his circle of friends), but last week I took him to the Space Needle, and everyone working there got a resounding "Hola."
Just when I thought he'd forgotten all about churros and chocolate, I asked him yesterday "What is your favorite restaurant." I'd expected to hear "Nishino" (a local sushi restaurant) or maybe "All Purpose Pizza," but instead I got "The Churros and Chocolate restaurant" He added that he liked the churros in Barcelona better than Madrid, and frankly I have to agree & I was surprised that he'd thought about it to that level of detail!
Best, or maybe worst of all, he seems to have caught the travel bug. Lately he tells me constantly about where he wants to go next (Hawaii to play with his friend who is there, New York to eat Pickles, Anaheim Hills to visit his Grandmother). This from a kid who almost never asks for new toys. Our little outing to Bellingham seems to have settled him down temporarily, but I'm sure he'll start up again in a day or two.
About Me I'm Debbie, mother of three delicious kids and I write about traveling with little kids. That's my daughter in the backpack and my son in Paris on Halloween.
because it has lots of compartments, including a special compartment for a sippy or bottle and an insulated compartment for food.
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