I've been doing lots of reading since we have a summer trip planned with the kids, going on an airplane. I'm wondering what to pack, what to leave home and what to buy there. I do all my "stressing" and planning before the trip, so I can relax and enjoy it when we get there.
What have you learned or read that you think other moms should know?
1. Put a baby in nighttime diapers on the plane.
2. Pack 1/2 as much stuff as you think you'll need.
3. It's not worth dragging most stuff when you can just buy it there - sand toys, sunscreen, shampoo, diapers, etc.
4. Do a lot of planning in advance to save money, and develop a game plan so you can relax and enjoy your time once you get there.
5. If you can swing it - pay a little more for an extra bedroom, to have a washer and dryer, or full sized kitchen. It makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE when you have napping babies, messy toddlers, etc. It's worth the extra money!
What are some of your BEST ideas?
id say pack double what youd think youll need you never know. Some little convenience shops are so expensive!
find a hotel in advance
research local restaraunts....and ask the locals about little spots they like.
I just got back from austin and san marcos, and 4 days ago i was in galveston
As a flight attendant who's done lots of vacation time abroad, my fav idea was when packing clothes for myself was that everything had to match. For instance, I spend a month in Greece (LONG ago, when I had money) that I packed only red, white, black and denim clothing. That way, everything could be interchanged. Also, take 3 tops to each bottom. Not sure if this would help in your circumstance as much but it's a great packing tip! Have a great time!
Night lights, when you are in a strange room and wake up in the middle of the night for a potty call it helps to have a night light or two.
Since our weather has been so crazy this year I would take at least one sweater/sweatshirt and jeans, with socks and sneakers. The temps could drop at night.
Clothes pins for the curtains at the hotel.
For kids I would wrap a present (or now a days with all the issues put them in a gift bag). When the kids had had a enough I would give it to her and say surprise. It have me that extra time while she opened and played with her new toy. Also as much other passengers do not like it schedulle every half hour to walk up and down the cabin a bit so they strretch their legs
Love your ideas.
For my girl I bring favorite toys and a couple new things. Read toys/things as books.
I bring favorite healthy snacks so when we slurge on treats, I can feel better knowing for the most part she's eating healthy.
We are usually beach bound so two plastic toys that can double as bath toys.
For me, my advice has to do with my own attitude. I can do a lot with less when I make everything (trip to airplane restroom) an adventure.
You do not say how old you kids are. I flew with my 2 and 5 year old to Europe on an 8 hour flight. They each carried their own little backpack with blanket, stuffed animal and a toys or 2. I carried a backpack and bought a bunch of party-favor type new toys (magnetic Barbie, a few little plastic animals, small coloring book and crayons, travel Magnadoodle, colored pipecleaners for craft, stickers) so I could pull out something new to entertain them occasionally. I also bought a small handheld DVD player (now we have an iPod Touch with tv episodes and a movie loaded). Now they would also probably bring handheld games. A deck of cards (we have the Breyer Horse Card game and Uno) is always good too.
I would lay out an outfit per day on the bed and try to make sure the tops and bottoms mixed and matched. I packed in packing cubes, so when you get to your destination you can put packing cubes in drawers and be done unpacking (one for tops, one for bottoms, one for underwear). Wherever we went in Holland I had my kids wear a home made bracelet with their first name and my cell phone number, in case they got lost and explained to them to show an adult the bracelet if they could not see me. We also had a suitcase that had the 2 normal wheels, but had 4 extra wheels on the bottom (the way the suitcase lays flat) so if they had to walk lots through the airport they could actually ride on the suitcase. A travel double umbrella stroller also came in handy at those ages.
But it sounds like you have the right idea: plan ahead. My dad travelled a lot and always said that if you have your ticket, passport and money you are all set because you can always buy anything else if you were really stuck.
Enjoy the trip!
The Handiest thing I've found to take and use on vacations with my kids is a One Trip Tote! It's awesome! Check it out online!! I think it's at
www.onetriptote.com. I've heard a lot of moms talk about it and love mine. Happy travels!
We always fly to our destination, so we pack a lightly as possible...
1.I will typically purchase little necessiaites when I get there
2. We usually stay at some Hilton Resort when we go and we get a suite which has a small area for my daughter and a friend, small fridge, microwave, etc.
3.If needed I will ship something to the hotel so it will be ready for us.
Other than that, we pretty much wing it and relax. No super planning goes into our trips other than the air travel, rental car and hotel.
