parents travel interest

Where to Travel with Your Parents (and Why You Should)

Traveling with parents.

If you’re planning a trip in the near future, don’t knock the idea of recruiting a new set of traveling companions: the people who raised you. Traveling with your mother and father as an adult provides the perfect opportunity to reconnect with them or — if you’re the one footing the costs — a memorable way of saying “thank you” for all those years that they supported you. 

Plus, traveling with parents allows you to experience the world at a more leisurely pace. And if you take your kids, you'll be able to secure free babysitting, while enjoying the incredible experience of multi-generational travel.

With that in mind, here are the best destinations to take an excursion to with your ma and pa — places with plenty of culture and activities to offer that are also accessible, relaxing and fairly laid-back. 

Who knows, you may even learn something new about the people who know you best.

Napa Valley, California

When road tripping with retirees, be aware that a few too many hours packed together in tight quarters might cause everyone to become a little testy. Luckily, after arriving in Napa Valley, a bottle (or three) of Cabernet from the nearest winery you come across will soothe everyone’s nerves.

In fact, the hills and golden fields of Napa Valley are home to nearly 1,000 wineries, which you can explore by tour bus, train or even a private chartered limousine if you’re looking to drink in style. In addition to an assortment of fine wines, including internationally-acclaimed Cabernet, this destination also boasts award-winning restaurants, spiffy boutiques, and quaint orchards and farms.

Just remember: Reading a book by the hotel pool with a drink in hand is also a totally reasonable choice. (And as a bonus, it will give you some time to decompress after hours with the folks.)

Tulum, Mexico

Not everyone gets the opportunity to travel with their parents, so consider making it a trip to remember by heading south to Mexico. Tulum, situated on the Caribbean coastline of the Yucatán Peninsula, is a tropical, warm paradise where resort-dwellers can spend their days moving from lounge chair to poolside bar and back again.

But since you’re here, consider picking up on the local hippie vibe and sign mom and dad up for a yoga class, meditation session on the beach or visit to one of the many cenotes — natural swimming holes. Later, follow the crowds and try some of the popular local restaurants.

While the touristy joints may serve mostly American fare, authentic places offer unique options like fresh-squeezed coconut water, handground coffee, hot servings of huevos rancheros, jicama salads and even cocktails crafted with housemade mescal.

Williamsburg, Virginia

Many children across the country dread the prospect of being dragged by their parents to the old town of Williamsburg — a place most known for its American revolution museums, historical reenactments and restored battlefields. But as an adult with aging parents, this beautifully-preserved city near Virginia’s coast is worth every minute spent waiting in line during peak season.

In fact, this destination seems to always surprise people of any age with its diverse array of activities. History buffs could ostensibly spend several days stopping at historic sites and slow-walking along the shady cobblestone streets of Colonial Williamsburg. Outdoor enthusiasts will encounter a range of accessible and not-too-strenuous activities, such as kayaking and biking. The area is also home to lovely bed and breakfasts, elegant restaurants, and stores that sell far more than typical tourist fare.

Playa Herradura, Costa Rica

At first glance, Central America might not seem like a go-to choice for those vacationing with older family members. Yet travelers who are looking for a unique and exotic location will be rewarded for their efforts with this location.

Playa Herradura — a coastal town on the Pacific side of Costa Rica — is best known for its well-preserved black sand beaches, turquoise water and lush rainforests. There are plenty of opportunities here to treat your parents to luxuries, such as the all-you-can-eat seafood buffets or fruity cocktails served poolside.

In order to make lasting memories, take some time away from the modern amenities and sign up for one of the many daily tours. Sports enthusiasts should check out the deep-sea fishing boat excursions or snorkeling sites. Or, see if you can talk your parents into strapping up and ziplining through the trees. Just remember to bring your camera.

Tuscany, Italy

The charming region of Tuscany is one of Italy’s best destinations for stunning scenery and excellent food and wine, making it an obvious choice for travelers of all ages. As the countryside is only a short bus or car ride away from the city of Florence, Tuscany is also an accessible option for those looking to avoid long hours spent en route.

And while napping the day away at a bed and breakfast overlooking a vineyard (or at a private villa settled amongst rows of cypress trees) will certainly be delightful, Tuscany also allows for a range of experiences. For instance, consider spending one or two days exploring the neighboring medieval towns. Day trips to wineries can also be arranged through one of the dozens of tour groups in the area.

Just be aware of the summer heat — that’s what all the shady plazas and cool cafés are for.

Montreal, Canada

If it’s your parents’ dream to visit Europe, but the distance and/or cost makes it impossible, look no further than Montreal. Once they’re strolling along the cobblestone streets, your mother and father will soon forget (or just not care) that they’re not in France.

Montreal also has excellent public transportation, meaning you can park the rental car or forget the taxi fare. But after exiting the subway, the city is best seen on foot. With character-filled neighborhoods bursting with restaurants, bars, cafés and art galleries, Montreal’s atmosphere is distinctly old-world-feeling.

The Notre-Dame Basilica adds to that vibe and is a necessary visit for lovers of architecture and history. Mont Royal, which offers a breathtaking view of the city, also belongs on the to-do list — and there are buses for those unable to make the climb.

Also take time to indulge in Montreal’s culinary fare. The local bagels, poutine and espresso drinks are famous for a reason.

Provence, France

If your mom and dad have romantic ideas about France, here’s a suggestion: Avoid the wild, stressful and sometimes smelly streets of Paris.

With its olive groves and lavender fields, France’s southern region of Provence is idyllic enough to melt away any regrets about not snapping a pic near the Eiffel Tower. For those interested in a little adventure, the limestone canyon — Gorges du Verdon — offers affordable boat rides across its sparkling, aqua green waters. Or, for a family of art and culture enthusiasts, drive down to the harmonious city-commune of Aix. Here, you can trace the steps of famous creators who lived in Provence, such as Albert Camus, Émile Zola and Paul Cézanne.

It’s also easy to book day trips to nearby medieval abbeys or easygoing port towns. Then again, with the quality of coffee and cuisine in Provence, you may be tempted to spend all day at the local café.

Palm Springs, California

Napa Valley may have rolling hills and wine tasting, but Palm Springs has something else unique to offer. It’s a really relaxed resort town, making it a great choice for later-in-life parents.

Historically referred to as an “oasis,” Palm Springs is graced with warm weather and frequented by celebrities. If you grow tired of the pool or lavish hotel brunches, hot springs and spas are in abundance. Moreover, most businesses are catered to seniors, so any one of the excellent restaurants downtown will likely be quiet and free of long waits, but without feeling like an old folks’ home.

Note: Staying out past sunrise is rewarded with jazz music emanating from laid-back clubs. Or, consider calling it a night so you can all make your tee time in the morning at one of the area’s lush golf courses.

Edinburgh, Scotland

For those with parents who prioritize history when choosing where to travel, the UK’s medieval city of Edinburgh has all the offerings of other European capitals, but without the elbow-to-elbow tourist traffic and astronomical high-season hotel rates.

The city’s most popular destination is Edinburgh Castle — its grandiose stone walls are visible from nearly every neighborhood. Moreover, museums, ancient ruins and architectural masterpieces are in abundance here.

If your parents grow tired of climbing castle steps, Edinburgh is also home to a few different whiskey distilleries, as well as popular Victoria Street, perfect for a shopping spree.

Plus, if you’re in need of some alone time, you can send your parents off for tea and head toward the city’s massive public park — The Meadows — for a jog, walk or nap.

Granada, Spain

A week away in Spain may sound like the perfect excuse to party until sunrise, night after night. But visiting this European gem with your parents may help you experience it in a new (and less mojito-fueled) way.

Granada, located in Spain’s Andalusia region in the south, is graced with stunning views of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Perhaps even more awe-inducing is the Alhambra, the 14th century Islamic palace and gardens. As this site sometimes receives thousands of visitors a day, make sure to book tickets ahead of time, or, better yet, treat your parents to a day of no waiting by paying extra for a private tour.

Beyond the palace walls, there are numerous other citadels, basilicas and patios to visit. And, although they’re not as grand as the ancient Moorish architecture, the hotels and restaurants in the area are often opulent and inviting.

Bar Harbor, Maine

If your parents are hoping to get in touch with nature, think about Bar Harbor. Full of rocky shores and pine-covered mountains, Bar Harbor is adjacent to Acadia National Park, which is comprised of more than 47,000 acres that run along the Atlantic Coast. While most swaths of wilderness this size require at least a moderate level of physical fitness, Acadia can be accessed with a single day pass via bus, trolley or boat, all of which leave from town.

It’s also possible to do a little wildlife watching without walking too far — the park is home to bears, moose, seals, whales and seabirds. Plus, upon return to Bar Harbor, there’s plenty of whimsical shops to explore and restaurants to try. Ask for recommendations if you like, but any local will tell you to try to the rich and buttery lobster.

Sicily, Italy

For any seasoned traveler, it’s probably no surprise that Italy graces this list twice. From the food, wine and diverse landscapes to the architecture, museums and shopping, Italy is a go-to destination for travelers young and old.

The island of Sicily, located at the southern tip of Italy in the Mediterranean Sea, is a particularly smart choice for those seeking both sun and substance. Depending on mom and dad’s mood, you could conceivably laze on the beach all day picking at plates of grilled swordfish, freshly made ricotta and tomatoes the color of Chianti wine. Or, if everyone is feeling adventurous, lace up your walking shoes and explore the abundant historical sites, which include ornate Catholic cathedrals, Greek temples, baroque palaces and Arab domes.

Sicily requires a bit more effort to get to than, say, Rome or Florence, but if your parents are up to it, this island won’t disappoint.

Jerusalem, Israel

Depending on your home base, flights to many parts of Asia, Africa and Australia might be too long and difficult for those with older parents. Yet Jerusalem is a good compromise on distance; it’s also possible to get one-stop flights to Israel from some U.S. airports.

Given that this deeply important city is sacred to Christians, Jews and Muslims, Jerusalem is an excellent destination for those deeply interested in religion and history. While it may be difficult to pry your parents away from the magnificent holy sites, remember to rest and seek relief from the heat. Israel boasts many modern destinations, like posh rooftop restaurants and quiet cafés.

If you’re a family of shoppers, set a self-imposed limit on your credit card: Israel is not only home to bustling markets, but to massive, multi-level (and air conditioned!) malls.

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30 Family Travel Tips From Jet-setting Parents and Industry Experts

Here are our top tips for traveling with kids.

Lindsay Cohn is a writer, editor, and avid traveler who has visited 45 countries across six continents — and counting. She contributes to Travel + Leisure, Hotels Above Par, InsideHook, Well+Good, The Zoe Report, and more.

Rudi Suardi/Getty Images

Kids change everything. Even just going to the store requires more planning, with nap schedules and snack preferences to consider. So you can imagine how that translates to travel, whether it’s a short weekend away, a road trip , or a glamping getaway. As someone with a vested interest in this topic, I used this opportunity to tap industry experts and fellow mom travelers (and pull together the lessons learned on my dozens of trips with a little one) to create a list of the top family travel tips. These clever tips and tricks for every stage and age will have you prepared for anything that comes up when traveling with kids and prove once and for all that it’s possible to take a relaxing family vacation . 

1. Get kids involved in the planning process.

I’m not suggesting that you give your kids a globe and ask them to point to your next vacation destination (although, that sounds pretty cool to me), but rather get them involved before jetting off. That might look like creating family flashcards with fun facts about the places you’ll be traveling to or cooking a recipe from that place together. 

2. Leverage travel as an opportunity for education.

Journeying to new places opens our minds — and the minds of our little ones. The educational travel trend has skyrocketed in popularity with hotels, resorts, and tour companies realizing the value in presenting experiences that teach visitors something new. “Allowing children to let their interests guide activities and excursions improves their engagement and energy level while increasing the educational component,” explains Tom Marchant, founder of Black Tomato . 

3. Consider using a travel company. 

It takes a lot to organize a trip — and that workload grows exponentially when kiddos are involved. While some parents excel at arranging every last detail, it's a source of stress for others. Using a travel company can help alleviate the burden of coordinating everything, freeing up time for the myriad of other things families need to do leading up to a trip.

4. Encourage little travelers to pack a bag.

This obviously doesn’t apply to babies, but it will bolster excitement for everyone from toddlers to teens to pack a bag with stuff they want — even if it’s just a tiny backpack with a few toys and a coloring book for youngsters. Their favorite travel-sized game will help keep them — and you — busy during lulls in the day or evening.

5. Get yourself a great travel stroller. 

You will absolutely not regret buying a compact travel stroller like the Bombi Bēbee Lightweight Stroller that’s lightweight, breaks down with the push of a button, maneuvers easily, and does triple duty as a mode of transport, snack station, and place to nap on vacation. 

6. Take advantage of kids under two flying free in the U.S.

Infants and tots under two years of age can fly on the lap of an adult for free within the United States — a huge cost savings and a cozy way to introduce little ones to flying. (Keep in mind that while international flights allow lap infants, it typically comes at a small cost.) 

7. Book bulkhead seats.

Bulkhead seats are great for families with lap infants since many airlines actually provide an in-flight bassinet for babies. Even as kids get older, just having the extra space to spread out and access bags and not having to worry about little legs kicking other passengers are reasons enough to reserve these seats. Quicker deplaning is a bonus. 

8. Make use of priority boarding with little ones.

Most airlines allow parents traveling with young children to pre-board the aircraft (typically after first-class passengers and elite frequent fliers). This allows families time to get settled before the busy and sometimes chaotic general boarding.  

9. Gate-check car seats and strollers for free.

Rather than checking your stroller (or car seat, if you choose to travel with one) at the baggage drop off, hold onto it to wheel tired little ones around the airport. Then simply gate-check it for free before boarding the plane. You can pick it up before leaving the plane area when you land. 

10. Carriers come in really handy.

While a stroller certainly has a ton of selling points, sometimes a carrier reigns supreme — especially for really little bubs. It’s nice for infants and babies to feel close to trusted caregivers in busy, crowded settings like airports and train stations. It also gives parents two hands free to carry bags, pull out passports, show boarding passes, etc. 

11. Pack snacks, snacks, and more snacks.

Think you have enough snacks to feed a football team? Then you’re probably good for one kiddo on a short plane or car ride. Jokes aside, hunger can lead to crankiness (in all ages), so you definitely want to avoid that. Because little palettes can be finicky with food on any given day, it certainly never hurts to bring extra options — especially for opinionated toddlers. ( Peter Rabbit Organics pouches , Serenity Kids grain-free puffs , and Cerebelly granola bars are our current two-year-old-approved favorites.)

12. Always carry reusable water bottles.

This is a tip for every traveler, but it's particularly important for little ones who may need special kid-friendly bottles and can’t just grab something out of a cooler case. It’s better for the environment (and for hydrating the whole family) when you bring a reusable bottle that you can refill at clean water stations as you travel.

13. Prepare a first-aid kit.

That old expression, “prepare for the worst, hope for the best” definitely applies to family travel. Of course, we all hope everyone will stay healthy and uninjured the entire time, and that’s likely to be the case. But should something happen, you want to be prepared. That means putting together a first-aid kit with age-appropriate medicine, electrolyte packets, syringes, and a thermometer as well as bandages, gauze pads, and antibacterial ointment.  

14. Ring Pops are the best plane treat.

On the theme of plane snacks, Ring Pops actually make the best sweet treat — and here’s why:  Sucking on them is good to help alleviate ear pressure during take-off and landing, and they take a while to finish, so it will keep kiddos busy and stationary for a little while. (Credit for this tip goes to my friend who is an amazing, ingenious mom of five boys.)

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15. Screen time doesn’t count on airplanes.

Yes, there are going to be some people who disagree with this point. But for the vast majority of parents, giving the kids an iPad or letting them pop on a movie is a small price to pay for peace and quiet — for themselves and other passengers.  

16. Grab some sticker books.

Reusable sticker books such as the Melissa & Doug Reusable Sticker Pad are great because kids can use them on paper and also put the stickers on plane, car, and train windows.  

17. Get creative with entertainment.

Kids need a lot to keep them occupied on long-haul (and, who are we kidding, even short) flights, trains, and car rides. Besides stickers and screens, create an entire entertainment arsenal with age-appropriate activities — whether that’s busy boards or doodle kits .

18. Download music, podcasts, audiobooks, and shows before you go.

This may seem obvious, but I can’t tell you how many times I show up to a flight only to discover I forgot to download a podcast. The simple act of downloading playlists of music, podcasts, or audiobooks before your flight means you’ll always have that entertainment available regardless of whether your devices are offline.

19. Always bring a change of clothes.

It doesn’t matter the age of the kid (well, maybe teens should do this for themselves) but it’s always smart to bring along a change of clothes for each child in case someone spills, gets sick, has a blowout, or just feels “icky.” 

Thomas Barwick/Getty Images

20. Create a calm sleep environment.

We’ve all heard stories about parents putting pack-and-plays in hotel room walk-in closets or bathrooms to create a dark, quiet place for little ones to snooze. But that’s not always feasible depending on the setup of your accommodation. Buying a SlumberPod — which, as the name would suggest, is a sort of tent-like dome that goes over a crib to blackout all the light — and a portable shusher allows you to turn any corner into a cozy, tranquil sleep space. 

21. Rent big baby gear at your destination.

Rather than traveling or even shipping big, bulky stuff like high chairs, car seats, and cribs, just rent it through a company like BabyQuip , which is available in most major U.S. cities. You can even pre-order diapers and wipes and have everything delivered to your hotel or vacation rental ahead of time.

22. Use packing cubes wisely.

Another great idea from my mom friend of multiples is to use a different color set of travel cubes for each kid, so there’s no confusion and everyone has easy access to their clothes. 

23. Take a road trip. 

Having more family members means having to book more plane tickets, and that adds up fast. A road trip is a great alternative that allows you to explore destinations with more flexibility, which works really well for families. There’s something to be said about driving by versus flying over a place. See something interesting? Just pull over and check it out. Plus, a lot of kiddos nap better in the car, so that opens up the possibility of a few hours without Cocomelon playing on repeat. 

24. Give glamping a go.

Struggling to get the kids off their screens? Re-introduce them to the great outdoors with a nature-filled holiday that includes hiking, stargazing, s’mores, and snoozing in a glamping tent with the whole family. 

25. All-inclusive resorts are awesome.

Many parents love the ease of an all-inclusive, where they can slap on a wristband and have everything from food and drinks to activities covered from check in to check out. Beaches and Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts , for example, have created an entire business out of catering to families. 

26. You don’t have to give up luxury.

Many parents assume that their days of five-star luxury are behind them, but that’s not true. Tons of super high-end hospitality brands such as The Peninsula , Rosewood , and Four Seasons actually roll out the red carpet for kids with dedicated programming, special food menus, and fun in-room amenities. 

27. Choose your room wisely.

If you’re traveling with a kid who needs to nap, aim for accommodations with outdoor space if possible. “Since you’ll be so tethered to the room for at least a couple of hours, it’s great to be able to escape to a terrace or patio for some fresh air,” says travel writer and new mom Katy Spratte Joyce .

28. Bring a Haaka if you’re breastfeeding.

If you’re breastfeeding or pumping, bring along a Haaka or hand pump as a backup. “I’ve heard horror stories about electronic pumps dying or malfunctioning and chargers being left at home, so it’s always good to have a plan B in that situation,” notes Joyce.

29. Travel slower.

Traveling will likely look a lot different than it did before kids. And that’s okay! The beauty of a family vacation is getting to explore somewhere together at whatever pace feels right. It’s about the experience. That might mean doing one planned activity and leaving the rest of the day for free-range wandering.  

30. Go with the flow.

While research shows that children thrive on a routine, there's also something to be said about spontaneity and adventure. Years from now, your kids won’t remember skipping that afternoon nap, but they will remember how vacations were always really special family time — and that will become a core memory.

A Complete Guide To Traveling Abroad with Your Parents (2023)

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This is your guide to traveling abroad with your parents, whether it’s their first time out of the country or just their first time traveling internationally with you. Many people wait until they retire to start traveling the world, but then find that they aren’t entirely sure how to plan a trip or navigate things like creating itineraries, finding great hotels, or choosing fun activities. 

Over the past several years, I have traveled with my father to Ecuador, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, and Mexico. We’re planning another trip to Italy in the coming weeks, where we’ll start in Milan and then head south on the high speed trains. I’ve learned several lessons while planning trips with my dad, and I wanted to share them in the hope that you’ll consider taking your parents abroad.

Like me, I have friends who became World Travelers as adults, seeing new places and countries while on vacations from their jobs. After a trip or two, my friends have felt compelled to take their parents abroad, but they’re not always exactly sure where to go or how to plan the best experience. No trip will ever be perfect, but there are some common pitfalls that I’d like to help you avoid. If the travel bug has bitten you and you want to help your parents cultivate a sense of wanderlust, here are some tips that can help! 

Why you should travel with your parents

Travel is a powerful experience; one that can open your eyes to new ways of operating and seeing the world. Travel can stoke our sense of curiosity and creativity, expanding our worlds and helping us to contextualize our own existence. Taking a trip with your parents also gives you the opportunity to create lifelong memories together ; what a wonderful thing to share with your parents! 

If your parents travel often, you may not need the tips in this post. I’ve written this guide mostly for people who are trying to navigate the landscape of international travel with their parents for the first time. 

How to travel with your parents

If you’d like to travel abroad with your parents, a great place to start is to check that everyone has a current passport . It’s possible that your parents’ passport will have expired, or maybe they’ve never had one. Be sure to leave enough time for their application to be processed, you can read more about applying for a US passport here . 

Next, you’ll want to choose an itinerary and travel plan that will support everyone’s needs. Choose a destination country that is exciting for your group while fitting into your budget. I’ve included several countries that are great for visiting with your parents, as well as some overall tips for making the most of your trip. 

Which country is best to visit with your parents?

As you may have guessed, there is no single “best” country to visit with your parents. In fact, if your first trip goes well, you may want to plan more travel to different countries! The best country to visit on your trip will depend on a variety of factors, including budget, interests, preferences, and time constraints. Simply put, the best country to visit with your parents is going to be the one that meets the most requirements for your trip. 

There are destinations for every sort of traveler. For the purposes of this guide, I compiled a list of places that are generally safe, relatively easy to navigate, and where you’ll find plenty of activities to occupy your time. Though it’s always a good idea to learn some basics in the language of the place you’re visiting, these destinations should be relatively easy to navigate largely in English. 

Of course, if there’s somewhere that your parents have always wanted to visit, don’t feel constrained by this list! 

Mexico is a wonderful place to visit because it’s budget-friendly when traveling from the US, has plenty of resources for tourists when visiting popular destinations, and it’s typically pretty easy to find locals who are able to speak English. 

Within Mexico, the Yucatan Peninsula is a wonderful destination for a trip with your parents. Try to stay away from the mega resorts that line the beaches of Cancun and explore places with more local flavor and exciting activities. Great activities to consider in the Yucatan include Uxmal, Merida, and Isla Holbox. 

On a recent trip with my father and grandmother, we stayed in Tulum and explored the surrounding area. We explored cenotes, wandered around Chichen Itza, and swam in the ocean. Tulum was a wonderful spot for our single destination trip, as we found plenty of activities without having to spend a night in another city or town. 

Ireland as a country is safe, beautiful, and English-speaking, with a robust tourist industry that can support many types of trips. Throughout Ireland, you’ll find activities that are accessible to people of varied fitness and activity levels, from a leisurely stroll through Dublin to hiking Carruntoohill, Ireland’s highest peak. As a bonus, most of the people you’ll encounter will be very kind and welcoming, which always helps to make a trip feel special. 

If the primary destination of your trip is Ireland, I suggest that you get out of Dublin and try to see some of the countryside. Glendalough is a lovely day trip from Dublin , or its own destination if you’d like to rent a cottage and spend a bit of time in the Wicklow Mountains. If you decide to take a road trip south, be sure to visit Cork, Ireland’s second largest city .

Although Ireland is a safe and lovely place to visit, it’s not a great fit for a trip with a very tight budget. Prices in Ireland are relatively high, and you won’t find many deals on accommodation, transportation, or activities. This is especially true during the country’s peak tourist season from May to October. 

Known for its stunning architecture, renowned cuisine, and world class museums, Italy is a great choice for a trip with your parents. If you stick to the larger cities and tourist hotspots, you’ll find plenty of tourist infrastructure in Italy. Unlike Ireland, it’s possible to travel through most of Italy by train, eliminating the need to rent a car. 

In the northern part of the country, expect to find beautiful cities and higher prices. By contrast, southern Italy is a bit more rustic, and offers more budget-friendly accommodations and activities. I fell in love with Naples when I first visited, and I think it would make a great trip for anyone who is interested in Italian food and life slightly off the beaten path in Europe. 

Be sure your trip to Italy includes time to try local foods, admire the stunning coastline, and take in some incredible architecture. 

Peru is perhaps best known for Machu Picchu, the incredible ruins that lay deep in the Andes mountain range. This country is generally safe, with ample tourist infrastructure to support the millions of Americans who travel to Peru each year. In addition to Machu Picchu, most groups make some time to visit Lima, Cusco, and the Amazon rainforest, all of which are sure to make for an incredible trip. 

Peru will likely require a bit more physical activity than some other countries on this list. To see Machu Picchu, for example, many people choose to trek for a few days with a group and they may also complete a hike while at the site. It’s important to note, however, that the ruins are easily accessible by public transport if you’d prefer to travel directly there. 

A great book to read before you go is Turn Right at Machu Picchu by Mark Adams. 

Paris is a common staple on many traveler’s bucket lists, and it is a wonderful place to visit. In terms of this list, I would consider France to be an intermediate destination, appropriate for groups who are comfortable navigating both public transit and social interactions in another language. Though Paris can be an adventurous city, there are still plenty of relaxing things to do to keep your trip fun without being overstimulating. 

France is renowned for its architecture, food, and culture, and you can easily spend a week or two exploring the cities and countrysides of this wonderful country. Be aware that prices can get steep in Paris, especially during the peak tourism months from June to October.

Here is my list of the top budget-friendly hotels in Paris .

Determine the best type of trip   

Deciding early on the type of trip you’re targeting will make it easier to manage the expectations of everyone in your group. There is no type of trip that is “best” when traveling with your parents, but you will want to be sure that it accommodates the pace you’d like to set for your itinerary.

Single destination

In this option, you’ll go directly to a single destination and likely stay in one hotel for the duration of your trip. This type of trip gives you maximum control over how hard you push each day, as taking a break is as simple as not leaving your hotel. 

To make the most of this style of trip, choose a comfortable and clean rental property with a kitchen where you can prepare simple meals . Stay somewhere close to the action, ideally where you won’t need a car to access a few fun activities. 

Beach trips

A beach trip is a great example of a single destination trip because you’re likely to find a rental near the water and stay put for several days. If you’re intending to spend your time relaxing by the water, be sure that there is a stretch of beach nearby that will be accessible to you. You’ll also want to be sure that you can wash your clothes, since they’re likely to get sandy during your long days at the beach. 

Multiple destination

This is a broad category that encompasses essentially any trip where you’ll be traveling from one place to the next. My upcoming trip to Italy is a great example of this style of travel, as we’ll fly to northern Italy and then take trains and ferries through the country until we fly home. Another example would be a trip where you fly between destinations, say spending a few days in Mexico City before heading onto the Yucatan. 

Multiple destination trips are a great way to see many different places, but this style of travel typically necessitates a set pace. If you have flights from one place to another, it’s unlikely that you’ll have the flexibility to move the flight if you’re feeling worn down and want a day off. So, be careful that you set a reasonable itinerary with enough time for rest and relaxation for your group. 

A road trip can be a great way to see a new country, but it’s definitely going to be a better fit in some locations than others. If you’re planning a trip to Ireland, a road trip is a wonderful option because it’ll allow you the flexibility to see a variety of landscapes and attractions. Conversely, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend a road trip around Peru, where the tourist attractions are quite far apart and may take you down dangerous roads. 

If your group is particularly adventurous, you might enjoy car camping in a new country! It’s a great way to spend time outside while saving money on accommodations. 

Cruises 

Cruises are popular ways to travel, especially if you want to see several places and don’t mind short stays at each shop. A cruise will take care of most, if not all, of your itinerary planning, and it will allow your group to have a “home base” that they can return to whenever they start to feel fatigued. 

I wouldn’t recommend cruises for most groups because they’re not a great way to experience connection to a new place or cultivate curiosity . 

A tour can be a great option if you don’t have time to plan and you’d like to get to know some other people while you’re traveling. Although tours fell out of favor for a while, you can now find all sorts of tours online, many of which are led by knowledgeable locals who love to share the history of their home with visitors. 

You can always incorporate a tour into part of your itinerary, which will give some of the benefits of a group experience while also making time for independent exploration. 

Create your itinerary

Once you’ve determined your destination and trip type, it’s time to start creating your itinerary. I suggest that you work in a Google sheet, making note of anytime you’ll be in transit, where you’ll be staying, potential and scheduled activities, restaurants you’d like to try, and anything you’d like to remember closer to your trip.

Trip length

If you travel often and know how long you like to be gone for, then you can certainly use your best judgment here. As a general rule, I’d suggest starting with a trip that’s between 7 and 10 days, erring towards the longer side of that if you’ll lose a day or two to jetlag. 

You should set a budget for your trip as early as possible. Keep in mind that your flights, accommodations, local transportation, food, and any tours will likely be the most expensive parts of your trip. The more that you can do to try to find estimates for these expenses, the better. 

If your trip is starting to look like it will be too expensive, the earlier you catch the problem the easier it will be to solve. Say you pitch a trip to Italy, but after doing a little research you decide it’s going to be too expensive, you could always pivot to another country or destination. If you already have your plane tickets, perhaps you take a train down to southern Italy and spend your time in Sicily instead of Florence. 

If you’re willing and able to get creative, you can usually find a solution!

Be sure to include activities they’re excited about

As you build your itinerary, be sure that you include several stops and activities that will be exciting for your parents. This will ensure that everyone has something to look forward to, and it’ll help balance out the trip. If you’re not sure what would be exciting, ask! 

If your parents learn a bit about the destination before you go, it will naturally pique their interest. Ask them to keep you informed as they research fun things to try or places to visit so that you can keep them in mind as you set the itinerary. Netflix and YouTube documentaries are great starting places for this research. 

Give your parents a full itinerary

Once you create a full itinerary, be sure to share it with your parents. This will help to keep you from fielding endless questions about where you’re going or what you’ll be doing, and it will help them to feel some ownership over the trip. 

Tips for traveling with your parents

After several trips abroad, I’ve collected some tips to help make traveling with your parents easier and more fun. Read on for some of my top tips for having a great time with your parents on their first trip abroad. 

Teach them common travel tech tools

You may not think about it, but you probably use a number of apps and other travel tech tools when you travel. If your parents don’t travel much, you may want to make sure they download and know how to use the following applications: Google Maps, Spotify, Google Photos or another app to backup their photos, WhatsApp (if you’ll be communicating with locals when you arrive), Uber/Lyft, Google Translate, and Venmo/Cash App.

Spending a little time getting their phone setup before your trip will help to prevent a situation where you’re desperately searching for McDonald’s WiFi in order to download an app you urgently need!

Be patient and kind

Travel already takes people out of their comfort zone, so you’ll want to do your best to stay positive, patient, and kind with your parents. It’s possible, maybe even likely, that they will trigger you during your trip together. Practice self-care while you’re traveling to help regulate your emotions. 

Remember that it can be hard to travel with other people even under the best of circumstances. Traveling with friends can come with intense highs and lows, and the same is true of traveling with a family member. Do your best to take care of yourself and create the most space possible for you both to be imperfect as you navigate the trip. 

Encourage them to learn about the place

Even if you’re happy to do most of the trip planning, your parents will probably enjoy the experience and get more out of it if they spend some time learning about the place you’ll be visiting. This can be simple and fun, something like watching Rick Steve’s Europe or a Netflix documentary can give some context for your destination. 

Context makes everything more interesting; if you have a sense of the art history of the place you’re visiting, it’ll make art museums more accessible. There are so many interesting documentaries, so don’t settle for one that’s boring and drolls on about facts that aren’t exciting. Keep looking until you find one that holds your interest and makes you feel like you can’t wait for your trip. 

Warn them about cultural differences

If this is your parents’ first trip out of the country, or if they haven’t been abroad in many years, you may need to warn them about potential cultural differences. If there are ways you’ll need to modify your behavior before your trip, be sure to communicate those with your parents so that they have time to prepare. 

In Paris , for example, it’s considered quite rude to skip the customary, “ bonjour ” when you greet them. A smiley English, “Hello!” is likely to bristle your average Parisian. After a few negative interactions like this, it can start to feel very personal and really take a toll on you and your parents. 

Be realistic 

On the spectrum of under-planners to over-planners, I tend to fall on the under-planning side. This isn’t super common–many people err on the side of creating rigorous itineraries and scheduling every moment of their trip. 

It’s perfectly fine to have an itinerary, but take care not to over plan . Instead, make a list of things you’d like to see while being sure to schedule some downtime and even a few days off on your trip if you’re taking an extended trip. 

An ounce of realism and restraint during the planning process can be worth a pound of relief once you actually leave home. Be measured and aim to plan about half of your days, then plan some backup activities that you’d love to try if there’s time. 

If it works for you and your group, it could also be helpful to plan to spend a few days or partial days apart. Maybe there’s a hike you’d like to do but you know your mom won’t be able to tackle the mountain. If she’s comfortable, she may prefer to spend a day wandering the town you’re staying in and reading a book instead of exploring the trails all day. Try your best to make sure that everyone has a chance to take a few days at their preferred pace, if at all possible. 

Accept their limitations

No one wants to feel left out on their vacation, so be sure to have fun activities planned that take into account your parents’ limitations. You may need to explicitly ask how many hours per day they can be on their feet, which is valuable information as you decide activities. If you’re going to a large historic site, you may even call ahead to reserve a wheelchair, if that’s needed for your family member. 

Being accepting and kind towards your parents will go a long way towards ensuring that everyone has a great time on your trip. Even if your parents are able to push really hard for a few days, they may eventually be too tired to keep up the pace. Aim to keep your itinerary and travel plans manageable and sustainable for your group. 

Don’t assume they’ll know things about traveling

If your parents haven’t traveled much, consider that there may be things about travel that seem simple to you that haven’t occurred to them. Things like how to pack for a trip, what types of accessories you’ll need to bring, and what should go into a carry on vs your checked bag all may be new to your parents. 

If, on the other hand, your parents have traveled a lot on their own or seem resistant to help, you might stay hands off here and just bring a few extras of things they might forget. The goal is to be helpful, not to micromanage the situation. 

Make a pre-travel checklist

If you think it would be helpful for your parents’ trip, you can make a pre-travel checklist for them to follow. This is a particularly good idea if you’re going somewhere where you’ll need special visas, equipment, or vaccines, as you won’t want anything to get missed in the whirl of travel planning. 

Be sure they’re be comfortable in your accommodations 

Choose places to stay that will be accessible and comfortable for everyone in your group. For example, if you’re going somewhere with a warm climate, consider ensuring that your flat will have air conditioning. If your dad has a bad knee, see if you can find somewhere with an elevator or minimal stairs. If your parents have trouble sleeping, try to choose a room that doesn’t face a busy street. 

The easiest way to find this information is by closely reading the listing and the reviews before choosing your rental. Here’s a guide to finding budget-friendly accommodations anywhere the world. When reading reviews, you’ll want to be particularly conscious about things like: is the shower easy to access? Are there a lot of stairs? Do people say the beds are comfortable? Is there an elevator? 

Buy travel insurance

Travel insurance is important for everyone, but it’s an even bigger consideration for your parents. Be sure to include coverage for medical care and missed connections, as these can cause quite a headache if something goes wrong while on your trip. I use SquareMouth , a tool that lets me compare different types of coverage for every trip.  

Remind them to discuss the trip with their doctor

Your parents may have health considerations or conditions that you aren’t aware of, and that’s OK. Remind them to talk to their doctor about the trip and ensure that they will have plenty of their necessary medications before you leave. Do not take pills out of their bottles if you can help it to avoid any confusion or questions by border control. 

Your parents may need to update their immunizations before your trip, depending on where you’re going and the local requirements. Their doctor will have a more holistic understanding of their health status, so just be sure they are able to discuss their itinerary. 

Slow down 

Try your very best not to overwhelm your group with an aggressive itinerary. If you can, plan several days with significant downtime to allow them to rest and recharge. It’s perfectly fine for you to go off and do a few activities on your own, just be sure that your parents are able to get the rest that they need to enjoy their trip. 

Choose convenient flights

If you can help it, don’t send your parents on a flight with three layovers and an overnight in a country they’ve never visited. You might be able to roll with it and sleep on the floor, but your parents probably won’t be able to, and it can tire them out unnecessarily before their trip. 

This is an example of a great place to spend a little extra for your comfort, the cheapest flight simply might not be the best option. 

Be flexible

As much as you can, try to be flexible on your trip. Especially if this is your parents’ first trip abroad, it could bring up emotions that they weren’t expecting or require them to be extra vulnerable. The more that you’re able to remain flexible and unattached to outcomes on your trip, the better. 

Remember that you’re traveling not just to see a new place, but to have a set of new experiences with someone you love. 

Make time for self-care

The key to a great trip and remaining patient and calm is for everyone in your group to make plenty of time for self-care . Drink water, eat some veggies, and generally be conscious of your mental and physical well being while on your trip. It’s OK for a trip to be a bit of a stretch, but you shouldn’t be feeling wrecked at the end of each day. 

Final Thoughts: Traveling abroad with your parents

This can be an extraordinary chance for you to spend time together that you wouldn’t normally get. Sharing with others helps to bond you together, and it offers a chance to create memories that will last a lifetime. 

Do your best to laugh at the circumstances when things go wrong, to be as present as possible, and to find joy wherever you can. The world is full of wonderful, beautiful places with delicious foods to try and fascinating people to meet. 

Have you traveled abroad with your parent? If so, where did you go? Do you have tips for other travelers who might be considering a similar adventure?

What to read next

How to travel with your parents as an adult (and keep your cool)

Travelling with one or both parents as an adult is a special experience. I’ve done it a fair bit in the past few years  –  me living overseas has meant that we’ve had about half a dozen trips together, ranging from one to three weeks. We’ve been everywhere from Japan to Morocco , and they’ve been pretty awesome experiences that I’m incredibly grateful for. 

But, like any family, the dynamics can get intense when you’re in each other’s faces and space constantly. Small, unimportant things can suddenly become super annoying, such as the way your mum loves a blindingly bright phone screen when it’s dark, or when your dad insists on seeking out a special kind of Japanese ice cream after every single meal in Tokyo, and it’s mid-winter. 

But when you think about the decades of your drama that your folks have dealt with, it’s only fair that you should avoid sweating the small stuff (especially if you came on this trip of your own free will). 

Here are my tips on how to have a good time and be the nicest possible human while travelling with your parentals. These rules can apply to travel with any relative (like a sibling or extended family member), colleagues (who are a sort of family given the amount of time you spend with them) or even on a group tour with a variety of ages present. 

Do: factor everyone in

Riding the rails to Paris with mum.

It goes without saying that there will be different fitness and energy levels when people travel together. Add to that different personality types (outgoing vs introverted), different priorities (sightseeing vs relaxation) and different budgets (tight vs unlimited) and you’ve got a lovely big melting pot of differences in any given travel party. 

Especially when travelling together for the first time, it’s a good idea to try and suss out these things in the early trip-planning stages, so the trip will cater to everyone. You might be happy to brave an overnight train in India because it seems very adventurous, only to realise that your mum would not cope well with the ultra-basic train bed because of her bad back. Or maybe you’ve got your heart set on a tropical island vibe , but you forgot that your dad hates the sun. Get these wants and needs out on the table before you lock anything in. 

Being considerate to others also applies to eating while on the road. If you’re like me, good food is important. But getting a seat immediately is also very important for people in their 60s and up. So if you see a cool spot that your friends back home would love –  loud music, dim lighting, standing-room only at the bar as you wait for a table for an hour  –  keep walking! 

LOVE FOOD? CONSIDER TRAVELLING WITH YOUR PARENTS ON ONE OF OUR REAL FOOD ADVENTURES – VIEW OUR RANGE OF TRIPS HERE

Do: embrace new friends   

Iceland adventures with Dad

It’s perfectly normal for conversation to run out of steam after the first few days of travelling with your folks. This may lead to a blissful silence, or an increase in dad jokes that you haven’t found funny since age 11. 

So, when your mum gets chatting about knee surgery with a lady at the breakfast buffet or your dad starts talking about Swiss watchmakers with a guy on the bus, let them. Making friends on trips can help lighten the mood or diffuse any potential tension, and also lead to unexpectedly delightful connections. 

Once on a trip to Iceland , my dad and I were on a puffin-spotting boat tour in Reykjavik (as you do) and he struck up a conversation with a guy from London. This not only gave me some contemplative moments admiring the cutest birds on earth, but we also ended up hanging out with this family for the rest of our time in Iceland. After five weeks on the road with just us, it was nice to have some fresh dad jokes brought into the mix. 

RELATED: WHAT IT’S LIKE VISITING THE MAASAI PEOPLE ON INTREPID’S KENYA FAMILY SAFARI

Do: laugh about it 

My brother’s an adult, but here he is acting like a child.

Yes I know, what a cliche. But short of being physically hurt or in danger, it’s amazing how almost any travel mishap you survived will later become a hilarious story. 

Take, for example, the time that I lost my passport in Spain . It happened on a flight from Bilbao to Barcelona, and as they don’t do customs between the two, I was able to get to our hotel before I realised that I’d left my passport on the plane. My mum is an incredibly strong woman, and I’ve only seen her cry twice in my life. One of those times was in the next 24 hours, as she begged an airline staff member to help us track down my passport. 

RELATED: THE MID-TRIP CRISIS IS A THING. HERE’S HOW TO AVOID IT WHEN YOU TRAVEL.

Do: take a back seat  

Mum and dad with a few new friends in London…

If you’re a travel nut like me, you might have a research spreadsheet going just 24 hours after someone even mentions the idea of a trip. But something that I’ve only just discovered is the unexpected joy of taking a back seat in travel planning, and trusting pros to do it for me. 

The thing that’s well hidden on Instagram is the sheer effort it takes to always be switched on while on the road  –  planning the next steps, navigating around cities, trying to communicate, staying safe and healthy, and having a good time on top of that. So on a recent trip to Vietnam with Intrepid , I was happy to experience a new kind of pleasure with group travel, where pretty much everything was planned for me. 

RELATED: HOW INTREPID CONVERTED THIS PROUD SOLO FEMALE TRAVELLER INTO A GROUP TOUR FAN

There are big benefits in choosing group travel for trips with your parents. Being in a group situation takes the pressure off you to always be chatty, because you’ll likely make new friends (for life, in my case). And having a tour leader running the show means you can take a back seat and actually enjoy more of what’s going on around you, rather than being glued to the maps app on your phone trying to navigate a maze of unfamiliar streets. Plus, it’s so nice to have someone on hand who’ll share their local knowledge and answer your questions  –  things that you can’t always get by Googling it yourself. 

Don’t: stinge on comfort 

Boating around in Thailand.

Like me, you may have reached an age in life where a hotel pillow menu is far more exciting than the room service menu. That’s because when you get older, things like neck pain can make you a horrible person to be around. 

When travelling with people in the 60+ bracket, you’ll generally need to take that and double it, in terms of comfort needs. What may be ‘super cute’ to you and your mates  –  aka an AirBnB apartment with all its original, cramped, low-lit charm in Paris  –  might be a parent’s literal nightmare and a minefield of meltdowns waiting to happen.

Investing that little bit more in accommodation will always pay off, in my experience. Separate hotel rooms are of course the dream, but budget doesn’t always allow it. This is where apartment rental comes in handy, but do try and find a place that’s central, with lift access, proper beds and, if possible, central heating/air conditioning. 

If none of these are an option and you find yourself trying to sleep on a single bed ‘cot’ jammed next to your parents in your pokey hotel room as they snore loudly, read on.  

PREFER YOUR TRAVEL A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE? CHECK OUT OUR RANGE OF COMFORT TOURS HERE

Don’t: forget ‘you time’

Snapping pics at Mont Saint-Michel.

If there’s one thing I’ve learnt about travelling with the fam, it’s that we all need our alone time. I spent years thinking that doing this would offend my travel companions, but nowadays I view it as a necessity. This also applies for when you’re on a group tour and sharing a room with someone. 

It may be as simple as going for a walk before breakfast, or tuning to a podcast while on the road to your next destination. Or maybe on a free day you’d like to go and see a sight or visit a museum that no one else is really into. Try and find a little bit of you time every day you’re on the road  –  it’ll give you space to breathe, switch off, and come back into the group feeling more refreshed and relaxed. 

HEY PARENTS! TRAVELLING WITH KIDS UNDER 18? CHECK OUT OUR RANGE OF FAMILY TRIPS HERE

Don’t: plan every single minute   

Hanging out in Tokyo.

When travelling with family, there are things that you should scope out in advance, like how you’re going to get from the airport to your accommodation. Researching if local taxis are the go, checking if they have Uber in that city, or organising a transfer to your hotel will help those first few moments in a new place feel as calm and composed as possible.

But when it comes to how you spend your spare time, I can personally recommend going with the flow. Perhaps it means exploring two out of the thousand temples at Angkor in Siem Reap , because it’s just too hot for your dad to stay out any longer. Or maybe you’d hoped to conquer at least five wings of the Louvre, but your mum is totally knackered after exploring one. At moments like these, it’s important to step back and remember that quality over quantity should take priority over bucket list-ticking, especially when you’re travelling with other people. 

Also, I’m a big believer that that some of the most memorable travel moments happen by chance. Unplanned wandering can lead to unexpectedly beautiful moments, like passing a joyful wedding party in Jodhpur or stumbling upon a busking trio down a laneway in Venice. None of which would have happened if you’d been more set on ‘the plan’ than looking up and taking in what’s around you. 

Leave your next family adventure to the experts. Join us on a small group adventure – from Argentina to Zanzibar  – now. View our range of adventures here . 

Feature photo by Ben McNamara. All other images by Anne Verhoeven. 

Feeling inspired?

Anne Verhoeven

Anne is a writer from Sydney, living in Berlin. A diagnosed travel addict, some of her biggest accomplishments include: travelling peacefully with coeliac vegetarians around Italy for 2 weeks, successfully haggling down the price of a scarf in Jodhpur by showcasing her Bollywood moves, being mistaken for a Frenchwoman at a party in Lyon, and attending yoga classes in Rio without understanding Portuguese.

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My Top Tips for Traveling With Your Parents as an Adult

Created On: May 5, 2019   |   Updated: May 3, 2019   |   Leave a comment

Not sure how you feel about traveling with parents as a post-grad? Here’s how to make the most of your family trip and have an incredible time together!

I’ve had the idea for this post wriggling around in my brain for a while now. I’ve traveled extensively with my parents over the years, both as a child and now as an adult living my best post-grad life. But I put off writing this post for a few weeks, because when I looked online to see what others wrote about traveling with parents a lot of results to the tune of “family trip survival guide” and “how to keep your cool with your parents” popped up. I’m sorry, but what? I know that not everyone has the best relationship with their parents, but it seems kind of absurd to me that that’s how so many people are framing their tips about traveling with parents. To me, that type of attitude is setting people up for a less than enjoyable trip with their family.

I’ve always loved traveling with my parents and genuinely look forward to vacationing with them (and no, it’s not just because they pay for a lot of my meals!). But as much as I like seeing the world with them, there are a few things I keep in mind when planning a trip with them. So no, this isn’t a “survival guide,” but rather a list of helpful tips that will make traveling with your parents even better — tips that both you and the parentals will benefit from. My goal with this post is to not only have you look forward to the upcoming trip you have planned with your parents, but to be excited to plan another vacation together as soon as that trip is over!

Read more:  5 Reasons I’m Glad My Parents Prioritized Traveling

Before Traveling Together

If you want to have a truly spectacular trip with your parents, you’ve got to put in the work ahead of time. Ask lots of questions and over communicate with your parents about what you  want out of the trip, what they  want out of the trip, and what you all want out of the trip for each other. It may seem like a lot of talking to you, but if your parents are anything like mine they’re probably thrilled that you’re so involved in planning your family trip. Whether your parents work full-time or are retired, this is probably one of only a handful of trips they get to go on this year, so get excited with them. Here are a few things you should do before your trip to ensure it goes smoothly:

Pick a location that everyone agrees on

You’d think this would be a no-brainer, but so many of my friends have overlooked this crucial step in the family trip planning process. It’s crucial that you and your parents are all super clear about a) where you want to visit, and b) the types of activities you’re interested in. After a lifetime of living together, you likely have an idea of what each of your parents will want to do, but it doesn’t hurt to write things out so you’re all 100% clear about the expectations of this trip. Pick a location that has a few activities you’re all interested in doing together, plus a one or two things that can be reserved for “mom’s afternoon,” or something similar. This way, everyone will look forward to the trip and there won’t be any one day that you’re dreading.

Discuss who’s paying for what

My mom and I have taken a lot of girls trips over the years, and I’ll admit it took me a while to realize that my mom wanted me to pony up more cash once I started working full-time. I’d been stuck in the “I’m still a kid” bubble for so long that I didn’t understand why my mom seemed annoyed when she paid for both of our dinners every night of the trip (sorry, Mom!).

We now make it a point to ask what each other’s budgets are and chat through what I’m expected to pay. My mom is usually okay with me paying for my own flight, and I’ll usually give her whatever cash I have left from my personal spending budget near the end of our trip. If she wants me to pay for anything else (like lodging, etc.), I usually ask her to give me a number far in advance so that I can pay for things before the trip. That way, I can plan an exact budget for the trip and not spend more than I can afford. Obviously, you’ll need to work things our with your parents however you see fit, but this is what works for me and my mom!

Read more:  10 Easy Ways I Save Money While Traveling

Book lodgings with separate rooms

I know booking two separate hotel rooms isn’t within everyone’s budget (I know it isn’t in my family’s!), but if possible book separate rooms for you and your parents. And if two rooms isn’t feasible, try to book a room with separate beds at the very least. My dad and I can share a bed since we both sleep like the dead, but my mom and I don’t sleep well together (she hogs the blankets). If I know I’ll be sharing a room with one of my parents, I’ve started bringing an eye mask with me to block out their reading light if they want to stay up later than me. Little things like this make such a difference when it comes to traveling with family!

Make an itinerary

Again, the clearer the expectations for this trip are, the more everyone will enjoy traveling together. I’m the trip planner of the family, and as soon as we pick a location and set our travel dates I’ll throw together a Google Doc and share it with my parents. I only give them the ability to comment on the doc so that I can keep it as streamlined and user-friendly as possible. On the itinerary, I’ll jot down each day’s activities in the order I think we should do them, along with any ticket fees or tour times that the group should remember. If your family needs extra structure, go ahead and write down a few restaurants in the area you’re interested in trying as well as their addresses. In my experience, picking a place to eat can quickly become a point of conflict when the whole family is hungry and has been on their feet for a while.

While You’re Traveling Together

Planning your trip and researching activities ahead of time is vital, but as I’m sure you already know you simply can’t plan for everything. As your trip draws nearer, maintain a positive mindset about traveling with your parents. I love traveling with my parents, especially now that I live out of state and only see them a few times a year. But I know that many people have complicated relationships with their parents, so it might be tough to be truly excited to travel together. If that’s the case for you, do your best to not talk negatively about the trip and don’t dwell on all the things you think you won’t enjoy about your family time. I know it’s easier said than done, but if you go into your family trip with a negative attitude, I guarantee you won’t enjoy traveling with your parents. With all that said, here are some actionable tips to keep in mind when traveling with family:

Adapt to your parents’ schedule

Whether or not you travel well with your parents, a good rule of thumb is to go with the flow and stick to their schedule. Yes, you’re young and would probably like to enjoy a city’s nightlife, but if your parents are tired and want to go back to the hotel room just do what they want. Odds are, your parents are footing most of the bill for this trip, and you can always return to wherever you’re visiting and do all the things you couldn’t on this trip. If there’s something you feel really strongly about doing that’s at a less-than-ideal time of day, add that to the itinerary ahead of time so your family can plan for that late-night show or sunrise yoga session. Whatever it is, I’m sure your parents won’t mind as long as they have a heads up and can plan for it.

Get alone time each day

I know this trip is supposed to be filled with quality family time, but if you try to spend every minute of every day with your parents you’ll all go crazy. Carve out 30 minutes to an hour every day of the trip to do something on your own, whether that be going for a walk or grabbing a morning coffee sans mom and dad. Alone time doesn’t have to mean peacing out for an entire afternoon; just do something by yourself to clear your thoughts.

Visit different attractions when necessary

Chances are good that you and your parents have different interests. While I think it’s important to have shared experiences, sometimes it’s best for everyone if you take an afternoon to do different things. Again, plan for your afternoon apart and choose a time to meet back up for coffee or a meal. You’ll each have so much to talk about, and you’ll enjoy your time together more because you recognized the need to fly solo for a bit. With that said, use your best judgment about splitting up. I know my parents really appreciate when my brother and I go along to things they really want to do, so I do my best to go along with my parents’ plans if I know that deep down they want me to go with them.

Take things slower than normal

It’s strange to realize that as I develop and become more confident as an adult, my parents are getting older. For so many years, I was the baby who couldn’t keep up with my parents and who needed to be carried when I got tired. But now it’s my parents who need more breaks and time off their feet to recharge. Be cognizant of your parents’ needs and plan for more breaks during the day. If you know mom and dad will need to rest midday, try to scope out a nice park or a pretty café ahead of time. This way, your midday break will be enjoyable for you as well, and your parents won’t feel rushed to get back to the day’s activities before they’re ready.

Read more: 15 Common Travel Mistakes and How to Avoid Making Them 

Take a guided tour or class

One of my favorite things to do with my parents is take a walking tour or class of some kind. It gives all of us time to switch off our brains for a bit and let someone else hop into the driver’s seat, so to speak. My mom and I especially enjoy going on walking tours together, and we always have so much to discuss afterwards about the places we visited and the pieces of history we learned. It still feels like family bonding time, only neither of us had to plan anything. A win-win for everyone!

Traveling with parents should be fun, not something you dread! I hope these family travel tips are useful and encourage you to plan more trips with your parents. If there are any tips I’ve forgotten, please leave me a comment below.

Tell me: What’s the best trip you’ve gone on with your parents?

More posts you’ll love:

• 27 Questions to Ask Your Friends Before Vacationing Together
• How to Travel with Friends as an Introvert 
• How I Practice Self-Care While Traveling (& Why You Should Too!) 
• My Top Tips for Dealing with Airplane Turbulence 

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9 Fun Reasons to Travel With Your Parents

This post (probably) contains affiliate links, including Amazon Associates links, and I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking through one. This is at no extra cost to you and allows the site to keep running! Thanks for understanding.

Right, before anyone jumps down my throat about how not everyone gets on with their parents, allow me to clarify. Obviously if your parents are serial killers or not-so-nice people or just HATE travelling, then you should not travel with your parents.

BUT for those of you that are lucky enough to have decent parents, or one decent parent, or decent parent-like figures in your life that enjoy travel, then this article is for you. Here are all the wonderful reasons why you should try travelling with your parents.

9 Reasons to Try Travelling With Parents

• Money. Let’s be honest, parents will buy you the odd meal at least when you’re travelling. I’m not being mercenary, but it’s definitely a plus. When I asked my mam for suggestions for this list she literally said “Walking ATM Machine”. I would just like to say, in my defence, that I do bring my mam on the occasional press trip . That kind of balances it out right??

There’s something comforting in knowing that your family will be OK with you while you travel, because they know all your not-so-nice habits. They know you’re just tired or hungry or too hot ( OK maybe that’s just me), that you’re not actually some sort of demon.

They’ll forgive you and you’ll forgive them and when you get home you’ll have incredible memories that you can bring up at family dinners for years to come.

** READ ABOUT OUR FAMILY TRIP TO LAS VEGAS – 3 Days in Las Vegas + The Grand Canyon . **

My Travels With My Mam

Travel with your parents or your family in general is something that I feel very strongly about. I have been travelling with my mother ever since I could walk.

My first flight was from New Zealand to America when I was 2 years old, with my mother. After that my mother made a habit of flying around the world with my sister and I.

*Note:   My mother worked hard for all of this. We didn’t win the lotto or come into money. My mam loved travel and worked hard to fund her love of travel. This is something I inherited from her. 

Most of the countries I’ve been to in my life have been with my mother. And it’s not just my mother, sometimes my sister, aunt, granny or cousins pack their bags and join the party too.

One year I visited the Maldives and Sri Lanka with my mam and aunt. Another year my mam came to meet me in Bali for a week.

The year before that my entire family came on a trip to Prague with me. This was particularly funny as Prague was originally supposed to be a romantic weekend break for me and an ex .

My mam and sister and I even spent a weekend in Disneyland Paris a few years ago. Both myself and my sister are solidly in our twenties, we had the time of our lives.

In fact, there are some places in the world that I just would not even consider going to without my mother. I’d feel guilty and, honestly, it would be more fun being there with her.

For example, my mam has been telling me about the Galapagos Islands (her ultimate bucket-list item) ever since I was a child and I just could not imagine seeing it without her.

Mam, if you’re reading this, I hope you appreciate how thoughtful I am #bestchild.

Where to Travel With Your Parents

People always ask me “What are the best places to travel with your parents?” and the answer is simple – wherever you want to go! I will say that if your parents are older then they might prefer a quiet, adults only hotel/resort.

Obviously wherever you go on vacation with your parents is a very personal decision. But for me I like to help tick off my mam’s bucketlist. Ask your parents where is left on their list, is there anywhere they REALLY want to see and then make that happen.

If you’re hesitant about how it might go or if you’re concerned about medical conditions then it might be best to try somewhere close to home. A staycation could be a great way to test the waters.

Let’s Wrap it up

Ok, so in case you were curious, allow me to tell you about one of my most ridiculous travel moments with my mother.

My   mam, sister and I were driving around Dingle peninsula in Ireland. We stopped at a small beach with massive waves. My mam got too close to the sea and as she turned around to run away from the waves, she tripped.

Of course, her natural reaction was to reach out to my sister and I for support. But, in her panic, instead of grabbing my arm or hand or shoulder for support, she grabbed my boob. We all promptly collapsed in a fit of giggles. Luckily for her, I didn’t press charges.

ANYWAYS, if that hasn’t convinced you to travel with your parents then I don’t know what will.

P.S: Mam I know you’re probably mad at me for using these photos. I apologise. Just think of all the press trips in the future!

Tell me your favourite family travel memory! Leave a comment below.

Love this! As a matter of fact, I’m traveling in Barbados with my husband, mom and step dad and we love traveling all together. 🙂

Take care Tara!

Sounds like a fun trip! Hope you have a great time 🙂

Your article is so awesomely funny & inspirational! I hope more people go for it and travel with their parents. Hugs to your mom for being so fabulous!

I LOVE travelling with my parents! I’ve got a trip planned with them next year too!

Awww love it. Where are you off to?

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How these parents travel the world with 3 kids

Jess and Garrett Gee are parents of three who travel with their children.

Jess and Garrett Gee are the creators of The Bucket List Family . The parents of three sold off their possessions in order to travel and experience the world with their young children. Here, mom Jess shares some insight into their journey and some tips on traveling with kids.

In 2015, we sold everything we owned and set off for what we thought would only be a few months of travel, but those few months turned into three years.

When we initially left, we created a short bucket list, which has now turned into a lifelong journey. We've swam with humpback whales in Tonga, had breakfast with giraffes in Kenya , slept in castles in Ireland and lived like locals.

MORE: The Bucket List Family shares top tips for traveling amid the pandemic

We quickly learned that a bucket list doesn't have to be a list at all, it's about living life with purpose, and recognizing that there are certain bucket list experiences to be had each and every day of your life. Whether that is around the world, in your own backyard or showing something you love to the ones you love. These experiences have made us brave, encouraged us to try new things we thought we would never do, and helped us to be more open-minded and open-hearted.

Editor’s Picks

Elvis Presley’s Graceland to offer virtual live tours for the 1st time

Airline offers free rapid tests in attempt at COVID-free flights

'Schoolcations' are the latest hotel trend to attract remote learners

In the last five years, Dorothy and Manilla have been to 83 countries, and baby Calihan has been to 37. About two years ago, we set up a home base in Hawaii and truly love where we live. The kids (and Garrett) surf every day and when the right travel opportunity arises, we are ready to pack our bags again!

We've got a few travel tips, whether you're traveling with your family or on your own. We often get asked how we've managed to travel full time with our children and there's a few things we've always kept in mind.

1. Remember how much kids feed off your energy.

If you are stressed, they will feel that stress. Travel days can easily become stressful, so we think it's super important to keep yourself in check for not just the kids, but yourself as well.

Try your best to enjoy every step of the journey.

2. Tell bedtime stories

We also do something really fun the night before we travel where we tell the kids bedtime stories about what to expect and what to get excited about.

We find saying things like, "We're going on a magical plane with snacks and movies, and it's taking us to a magical destination" gets them really excited.

3. Lighten your load

Another big one is how we pack. Pack light! You can buy diapers, wipes and formula everywhere, and most hotels will set up a crib or car seat for you as long as you ask in advance.

4. Keep COVID in mind

As the world is preparing to travel post-pandemic, we recommend knowing the hotel cancellation policy ahead of time. Most destinations are transparent about their rebooking policy, but with COVID-19, best to double check.

MORE: Suite of the week: Beachfront in Mexico at Banyan Tree Mayakoba

This year especially, we will be booking places that have as few people as possible, whether that be a rental home, RV, maybe a campsite, etc.

And of course, follow the COVID testing policies wherever you're going and for when you go back home, which will make everything easier.

In figuring out where to eat or what to do, most tourism boards or resorts are on social media, so we'll check out their pages ahead of time and bookmark what interests us. We absolutely love to support local businesses, so we'll usually try to find a bed and breakfast, restaurant or activity that's really important to the community.

MORE: Here are 11 places travelers hope to go in 2021

At the end of the day, we do our best to stay present and grateful that we're able to travel together as a family, and experience a new culture and adventure.

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Millennials care about these 6 things when they go on vacation

Millennials do almost everything differently from their parents' generation, and traveling is no exception.

Drs. Kurt Stahura and William Frye of Niagara University's College of Hospitality and Tourism Management have identified the top millennial travel trends for the summer of 2016.

Here's what they found.

They want technology — like free wifi

Millennials look to stay in locations  with free Wi-Fi, fast Internet connections,  and multiple outlets for charging all their various devices, the study found. They also like places that will let them use their computers in locations outside of their rooms.

They care about the environment 

Millennial travelers look for eco-friendly places to stay, and are concerned about leaving their "carbon footprint," as the study wrote.

They're more adventurous than their parents are

Millennials love experiences — especially when they travel.   They look for places to stay that offer various activities from skiing to mountain biking.

They want to meet new people

Millennials love meeting new people, so they'll stay at places like hostels where they can meet lots of people their age from all walks off life. They'll participate in various community activities when they're traveling, too.

They're not looking for a five star restaurant

Millennials crave authenticity, so they're more likely to eat at a local, authentic eatery than at a fancy five star restaurant. They aren't going to throw down lots of money for a long, fancy meal — they'd rather go someplace that's less fancy, but maybe more trendy or health-conscious.

They're budget-conscious 

 Millennials operate on a principle of value: they try to spend as little as possible, so that they can do a lot and experience more; they want to get the most bang for their buck. Further, they try to keep cost down for where they stay, which translates into them staying at places like Airbnbs — and they'll even share rooms, too.

Watch: Millennials are willing to spend $5000 or more on vacation, making them the age group that spends the most on travel — but Gen Z isn't far behind

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Help! I Seem to Have Broken a Cardinal Rule of Going Home to Visit Your Family.

I got the mother of all guilt trips..

Dear Prudence is Slate’s advice column.  Submit questions here.   (It’s anonymous!)

Dear Prudence,

My older sister got pregnant (twice) and dropped out of school. She lives with our parents and works part-time at a fast food joint. I go to college about two hours away. I love my family but I hate visiting. The house is always a mess and I am stuck on the sofa because the kids have my room. Either the kids are screaming their heads off, my parents are fighting about bills, or my sister is complaining about how hard her life is. I juggle school, a full-time job, and my scholarship. I don’t even have time to socialize when I am there, which makes my weekends so precious.

I still have a lot of friends in town and prefer to stay and see them rather than deal with the chaos at home. My family finds this offensive. My mother claims it hurts her heart that I don’t want to “spend time” with them. And my sister makes snide remarks about me being a shitty aunt and not loving her kids. The minute I enter the door, my mother is banging at me to help clean up, my sister is shoving her kids at me so she can go out, and my dad locks himself in the garage to tinker. They don’t even ask me how school is going. I would just not tell them when I am visiting, but most of my friends either live at home or are family friends. The last time that my family found out I visited without telling them, I got the mother of all guilt trips. I love my family, but visiting them isn’t worth the gas every weekend. Help!

—Visiting Woes

Dear Visiting Woes,

I’m sure this varies based on geographic region, culture, and particular family expectations, but it is very normal to go to college and just stay there until the holidays and then again until the summer. In fact, doing so is a great experience that allows you to create an identity separate from the one you had when you were in high school and living at home, and to get input from a different group of people about how you want to live and be treated. I can see spending the majority of weekends in the dorms or campus being especially beneficial for someone like you, who comes from an emotionally volatile family. Because of the various issues they’re dealing with, your relatives don’t have what it takes to respect you as the young adult you are.

The default expectation, going forward, should be that you stay on campus. ”I’m juggling school, a full-time job, and my scholarship” is a simple excuse that will carry you through until you graduate. When you do want to go home, be intentional about it and let your family know what they can anticipate. “I’ll be coming by on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for my niece’s birthday party,” or “Mom, do you want to meet me for lunch on Saturday so we can catch up?” or “I’d love to come babysit for the evening and watch the kids hunt for Easter eggs in the morning, and then I’ll be taking off.” They may very well find it offensive that you don’t want to show up regularly to throw yourself into the chaos and be taken advantage of, but they’ll soon learn what they can expect from you—and hopefully, you can plan your time with them so that you actually enjoy some of it. With consistency, you’ll change your identity in the family from “little sister who gets pushed around” to “aunt who has her own life and pops in and out on her terms.” Also, listen to this carefully: When you graduate and get your own place, be absolutely certain that none of them have a key and that any visits or babysitting stints have a very clear end date.

Give Prudie a Hand in “We’re Prudence”

Sometimes even Prudence needs a little help. This week’s tricky situation is below.  Submit your comments about how to approach the situation here  to Jenée, and then look back for the final answer  here  on Friday.

Dear Prudence, My husband and I have been trying for a second child for almost two years and will soon begin fertility treatments. It’s been tough. I’ve got a lot of shame and embarrassment about our secondary infertility, so I’ve limited my support circle to those whose compassion I thought I could count on, including my mother. Recently, I was honest and vulnerable with her about how hard I thought the Fourth of July weekend would be—we’re spending it in a small family cabin with my sister-in-law, who recently announced that she is expecting a second child of her own, whereas I’ll need to make time over the weekend for a bunch of invasive interviews with our new fertility docs. My mom was kind and comforting. So you can imagine my shock and dismay when a technologically impaired family member accidentally made a voice note of a conversation my mom was having and dropped it in the family chat (there’s no question it was an accident). In the short clip, I hear my mother talking about my feelings re: the holiday weekend to a friend of hers, describing my situation with some detail and then saying that I’m, “sulking, wah wah wah” as she makes little noises of complaint. It comes across as more glib than mocking. When I confronted her in the chat, she immediately said that she was just describing the situation to someone who’s known me since I was born and who would be sympathetic to what I’m going through. She apologized profusely and said she would never have used that kind of language with me, which I believe, but which doesn’t actually make things better! I’m mortified that she would talk about my fertility issues with anyone, even if it’s a very close family friend. I’m heartbroken that she would use such belittling language to describe my profound grief. I’m terrified that if my longstanding anxieties and depressive thoughts have been proven right in this instance, in that my mother really does think I’m a whiny crybaby and feels inconvenienced by my feelings, then they’re right about all the other awful things they say about me and about the way others feel about me. What do I do with this fresh new hurt on top of the existing pain of my situation? Where can my relationship with my mom possibly go from here? How do I, or she and I, begin to heal? —I Would Have Called Us Close

My boyfriend is a regular weed smoker. Before we got in a relationship I told him that he smoked too much weed and that I didn’t like that. He was smoking every single day before we were together because he was in an abusive relationship and that was his way of coping and escaping. For a few weeks, he abstained from it, until we went on a trip and he wanted to enjoy us being out and in nature. I said yes and I even smoked with him as a way of bonding. From there, he slowly started to use it again, not daily but still frequently. I’m a man who grew up with bad behaviors regarding substances and abuse. His smoking habit really triggers me. I feel like I can’t be as intimate with him now as before because of it—although he’s more affectionate and loving when he smokes since he’s not anxious anymore and he’s not thinking about his past relationships.

I try my best to not smoke weed because I’m a doctor and I need to keep my mind sharp and always ready. I feel really scared that this is going to be our downfall. He’s the sweetest man I’ve been with. I don’t want him to get numb and slowly just start to smoke every day again. I even came up with the idea that maybe every weekend we could do something like he can smoke and I can use CBD but he took it as an excuse to smoke every day of the weekend. One day, he even smoked three joints with his ex-roomie. I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to lose him. I’m scared that if I ask him to try and quit, he will react badly and decide to end the relationship. Please help!

—Too Triggered

Dear Too Triggered,

I love that you brought this up before you got into a relationship. That was smart! If someone does something you find totally unacceptable, you have to address that before you become a couple. But you didn’t take the conversation quite far enough. Did your boyfriend say he was going to be drug-free forever? Did you two talk about what would happen if he couldn’t abstain? It doesn’t sound like it. I get it—you were both in the honeymoon phase and wanted things to work. But here we are. And they’re not.

Serious question: What is the point of being in a relationship with the sweetest man you’ve ever been with if the dominant feelings you’re having are “scared” and “triggered”? He may be very sweet—I believe that he is—but this can’t be the way you want to feel.

I don’t think either of you is wrong here. Weed is legal in many places (I assume, where you live) and obviously, hating weed is legal too. You and your boyfriend both seem to be fragile people who are doing your best to cope despite the impact abuse has had on you—for him, it happened during his last relationship, and for you, it happened during your childhood. And you both seem desperate. He’s desperate to dull his thoughts and ease his anxiety, while you’re desperate to hold onto the version of him you imagine you’ll get if he puts the weed down. That’s not a good foundation from which to negotiate or compromise. I have to be honest that I don’t see a way forward here. You should tell him how awful you’re feeling and how disappointed you are that he couldn’t continue to abstain. You love him and it’s worth the tiny possibility that he’ll commit to staying sober in order to keep you. But realistically, he’ll probably try to throw out another bargain like he’ll only smoke at home, or he’ll switch to THC seltzer, or he’ll only do it every other day (unless of course he’s particularly stressed or it’s a holiday). Don’t fall for it. There’s another person out there for you, who makes you feel just as safe, happy, and relaxed as your current boyfriend feels when he’s high.

How to Get Advice From Prudie

Submit your questions anonymously here . (Questions may be edited for publication.) 

I like socks with pictures on them, (I have souvenir socks from trips, for example) and I was given a pair of red socks with pictures of Chinese restaurant items: take-out boxes, chopsticks, the words “Enjoy” and “Thank you” in mock Chinese printing, like they have at Chinese restaurants. I am not Chinese. I am Jewish, and I got these for Chanukah because Jews eat Chinese food on Christmas. Is it insensitive for me to wear them? I’m feeling uncomfortable about wearing them because I don’t want to offend anyone. Do I need to relegate them to weekends at home with slippers on?

—Not My New Year

Dear Not My New Year,

This isn’t the kind of cultural appropriation that any serious person is worried about. If you want a permission slip to wear the take-out boxes and chopsticks, print out this response and carry it with you to show it to the zero people who are going to see your footwear and go, “Wait a minute, what do you know about the over 45,000 Chinese restaurants in America?”

That said, as a general rule, if a pair of socks is stressing you out, don’t wear them. Some words to live by: If your enjoyment of something is overwhelmed by self-consciousness and angst about offending someone with the thing, make your life easier and skip it.

Classic Prudie

My husband, “David,” is amazing 85 percent of the time. He also loves to prank me. When we started dating, the pranks were small, like hiding my keys or startling me. But over the years they’ve grown meaner and scarier. I hate being pranked and have begged him to stop, but he seems unable to understand why they upset me so much.

How these parents travel the world with 3 kids

Jess and Garrett Gee are the creators of The Bucket List Family . The parents of three sold off their possessions in order to travel and experience the world with their young children. Here, mom Jess shares some insight into their journey and some tips on traveling with kids.

In 2015, we sold everything we owned and set off for what we thought would only be a few months of travel, but those few months turned into three years.

When we initially left, we created a short bucket list, which has now turned into a lifelong journey. We've swam with humpback whales in Tonga, had breakfast with giraffes in Kenya , slept in castles in Ireland and lived like locals.

MORE: The Bucket List Family shares top tips for traveling amid the pandemic

We quickly learned that a bucket list doesn't have to be a list at all, it's about living life with purpose, and recognizing that there are certain bucket list experiences to be had each and every day of your life. Whether that is around the world, in your own backyard or showing something you love to the ones you love. These experiences have made us brave, encouraged us to try new things we thought we would never do, and helped us to be more open-minded and open-hearted.

Editor’s Picks

Elvis Presley’s Graceland to offer virtual live tours for the 1st time

• Jan 14, 2021

Airline offers free rapid tests in attempt at COVID-free flights

• Nov 17, 2020

'Schoolcations' are the latest hotel trend to attract remote learners

• Aug 31, 2020

In the last five years, Dorothy and Manilla have been to 83 countries, and baby Calihan has been to 37. About two years ago, we set up a home base in Hawaii and truly love where we live. The kids (and Garrett) surf every day and when the right travel opportunity arises, we are ready to pack our bags again!

We've got a few travel tips, whether you're traveling with your family or on your own. We often get asked how we've managed to travel full time with our children and there's a few things we've always kept in mind.

1. Remember how much kids feed off your energy.

If you are stressed, they will feel that stress. Travel days can easily become stressful, so we think it's super important to keep yourself in check for not just the kids, but yourself as well.

Try your best to enjoy every step of the journey.

2. Tell bedtime stories

We also do something really fun the night before we travel where we tell the kids bedtime stories about what to expect and what to get excited about.

We find saying things like, "We're going on a magical plane with snacks and movies, and it's taking us to a magical destination" gets them really excited.

3. Lighten your load

Another big one is how we pack. Pack light! You can buy diapers, wipes and formula everywhere, and most hotels will set up a crib or car seat for you as long as you ask in advance.

4. Keep COVID in mind

As the world is preparing to travel post-pandemic, we recommend knowing the hotel cancellation policy ahead of time. Most destinations are transparent about their rebooking policy, but with COVID-19, best to double check.

MORE: Suite of the week: Beachfront in Mexico at Banyan Tree Mayakoba

This year especially, we will be booking places that have as few people as possible, whether that be a rental home, RV, maybe a campsite, etc.

And of course, follow the COVID testing policies wherever you're going and for when you go back home, which will make everything easier.

In figuring out where to eat or what to do, most tourism boards or resorts are on social media, so we'll check out their pages ahead of time and bookmark what interests us. We absolutely love to support local businesses, so we'll usually try to find a bed and breakfast, restaurant or activity that's really important to the community.

MORE: Here are 11 places travelers hope to go in 2021

At the end of the day, we do our best to stay present and grateful that we're able to travel together as a family, and experience a new culture and adventure.

Up Next in Travel—

Legoland implements dynamic ticket pricing ahead of summer

United Airlines allows MileagePlus members to pool award miles with friends, family

Sleep tourism on the rise: Luxury hotels tap into sleep trends to attract guests

How buying gift cards could help save on travel for your next vacation

Shop editors picks, sponsored content by taboola.

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• Dear Life Kit
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We asked, you answered: Parent-approved tips on traveling with kids under 2

Becky Harlan

Last month, Life Kit asked parents to share their go-to advice for traveling with babies and toddlers under age 2 as part of an episode we did on the subject. Over 200 folks responded with tips they wish they'd known before taking a big trip with a little one.

Reading through these responses, it became clear there's no magic hack that works for every kid. Some parents swore by sticking to their kid's sleep schedule on a trip, others said their vacation was smoother when they let the usual routine go. Some sang the praises of the overnight flight (so their child would sleep on the plane), others said their child has never slept more than 10 minutes on a plane no matter the timing.

I flew to Japan with my baby. Here's the travel advice that helped me survive the trip

A few pieces of advice held true throughout. A hungry kid is an unpleasant kid, and children are messy. So packing lots of snacks, extra diapers and a change of clothes ranked high on the list of must-dos. Almost 40 of over 200 responses suggested packing extra outfits in your carry-on for your kid and for you. (If your charge spits up, throws up, blows out or spills it will also get on you!)

So here's a non-exhaustive, impossible-to-be-comprehensive, but-hopefully-still-helpful round-up of your top advice for traveling with little kids. These responses have been edited for length and clarity.

What to pack

A stroller that can be stored in the overhead bin. It's a game changer to not have to check clunky strollers at the gate or check-in counters. —Amy P.

A change of clothes for yourself. If the baby spits up or has a blowout, there's a high likelihood that the mess will end up on you too, especially if you're holding them. Also, be sure to bring a bag to put messy clothes in. Reusable waterproof bags are great and they keep the smell in! —Jenna Yount

Extra diapers. You think you will be fine but if something comes up it's not a good situation to be in. —Jeanna Limtiaco

Overnight diapers. Fewer diaper changes in transit makes everyone happier. —Samantha Warren

Snacks. Remember, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration allows for any size baby food [and baby or toddler beverage], so pack those pouches! —Clara W.

Meds you and your kids might need in flight. That includes chewable Tylenol, Imodium, Dramamine, Zofran, ginger chews, Band-Aids and alcohol wipes. —Paige Ellis

A dark-colored bath towel. It's a blanket, it's for tidying up, it's a tablecloth, it's a sun cover, it shields bottoms from hot slides, it dries off swings. It's a multi-tasking powerhouse. —Judith Heise

Consider what may make sense to buy, rent or borrow upon arrival. You don't need to stuff everything into your suitcase. Buy some of your diapers and snacks at your destination. See if you can borrow or rent large, bulky items like car seats or travel cribs from Facebook Marketplace or your hotel or Airbnb. —Jocelyn Newman

How to get through the flight

Get to your gate an hour before boarding. It gives you time to feed your child, change their diapers, have a cup of coffee and fill your water bottle. It can also help your kid let out their energy before they have to sit on the plane. —Shelly C.

Check the airport for family friendly spaces. Use nursing spaces or pods and family restrooms to reset as needed. Check lounges for nursing and play rooms. —Sara Conger

Take an early morning flight. Those are least likely to get delayed, which is important when traveling with kids. —Carina Ochoa

Parenthood Is A Shock To The System. These Tips Can Help You With The Transition

Board with your partner separately. If you're traveling with two caregivers, have one go on the plane first with all the stuff and do the gate-checking of the stroller while the other hangs back with the kids until the last minute. It gives kids more time to run around! —Andrea De Francesca

Get a plane seat for your kid. Even though many airlines allow kids under 2 to fly for free as a lap baby, if you can afford to get them their own seat, it is worth it. It is recommended for safety to have them in a car seat, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, and the extra space for them to move around is nice. —Nicole Shelledy

Be ready for motion sickness. We were not prepared for how easily some little ones get motion sickness on an airplane. Have throw-up bags handy at all times. —Tiff Bankhurst

Prevent ear discomfort. Sucking during take off and landing may help relieve ear discomfort. My babies have flown with me from 4 weeks onward and never had a problem as long as they had a bottle or sippy cup or straw to suck on. —Shelly Ransom

Don't plan on them sleeping on the plane. It's great if they do, but if it doesn't happen, you'll be frustrated. —Colleen Mayerhoff

Don't worry too much about your kid "bothering" other people. The vast majority of people don't care, and many have been in the same situation you've been in and feel nothing but empathy for you. As for those who do care, they are not guaranteed a child-free existence in public. Kids are part of society too, and they are also allowed to take up space. —Jenna Yount

Make friends with the flight crew. They're going to help, they've got more experience than you, and they also want the flight to be pleasant. —April Graham

Save the screens for the flight. If you're using a screen, wait until you're on the plane. While you're waiting in the terminal, let them move as much as possible. Find an empty gate and play Simon Says, see who can jump in one place the longest, do animal charades. Let them go wild. —Paige Ellis

Download age-appropriate shows for your child on an iPad. (But know that if your kid is under age 2 they'll mostly just want to push the buttons.) —Chantel Dockstader

Travel hacks

Find a lodging close to a grocery store and a park. It makes it easy to buy last-minute things and burn off their energy easily at a park. —Gillian Molina

Dress your young kids in bright, matching shirts. I once traveled alone when my kids were 2, 4 and 6. We all wore matching yellow shirts so people could see we were together. —Emily Hernandez

If you want to let your little one crawl around , bring a pair of socks that you can put over their hands. Then you don't have to worry about dirty hands afterward. —Shannon Geraghty

Hire a photographer. You'll have photos with everyone in them, maybe get to see some scenic parts of the city you hadn't seen before. Dress up, wear matching outfits, be extra! They're only little once. —Tina Doyle

Helpful mindsets

It's not a vacation. It's a trip. You're just parenting in a new place. Set your expectations accordingly. —Laura Henriquez

The airport/train/bus/car is not the time to enforce the normal at-home rules. Do you want Doritos at 7 a.m. at the airport? OK. Do you want to watch 20 episodes of Blippi on the plane? No problem. There are no rules when traveling. This also makes traveling fun for kids because they get to do something different. —Meg Houston

Build in extra time to do things. It will decrease the chances of you and your child getting into stressful situations. —Cori DeLano

You're not going to get as much done as you think with a kiddo in tow. Think about things like nap schedule, traveling with a stroller, meltdowns, diaper changes. On my most "successful" trip with my kiddo, we planned one big activity a day and left the rest of the day open with some general ideas and left room for flexibility. —Whitney Winters

They might not remember, but you will. —Nina Hartman

The digital story was edited by Malaka Gharib. The visual editor is Beck Harlan. We'd love to hear from you. Leave us a voicemail at 202-216-9823, or email us at [email protected].

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International travel documents for children

See what documents a child needs to travel to or from the U.S. alone or with a parent or relative.

Children traveling to the U.S.

All children, including infants, must have their own travel documents such as a passport or document from a Trusted Traveler Program to enter the U.S. If you travel or are going to travel with a child, consider taking the following documents:

• If the child is traveling with only one of their custodial parents, they must have a letter of consent, preferably in English and notarized, from the other parent or signed by both parents. The letter should say "I acknowledge that my son/daughter is traveling outside the country with [the name of the adult] with my permission."
• If one parent has sole custody of the child, a copy of the custody document can take the place of the other parent's letter.
• Parents who frequently cross the border by land with a minor must always carry a letter of permission from the other parent.

U.S. citizen children traveling abroad

Ports of entry in many countries have security measures to prevent international child abduction . If you are traveling alone with your child, you may be required to present documentation proving you are the parent or legal guardian. You may also need a letter of permission from the other parent for your child to travel. 

If your child travels alone, depending on the country, they may be required to present a notarized letter from both parents or their legal guardian. If a minor is traveling abroad and is not accompanied by both parents or a legal guardian, contact the embassy or consulate of the country you will be visiting and ask about entry and exit requirements for that country.

LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023

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More From Forbes

15 affordable places to travel in 2024, ranked in a new report.

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Want to take an affordable vacation in 2024? You’ve come to the right place. Although travel costs are on the rise this year ( up 3.1% ), it’s still possible to save money in 2024—if you know where to go.

A new travel report from the U.K.’s Post Office —a British-based mail and financial services company — has just unveiled some of the most budget-friendly destinations for 2024. And although the annual report is aimed at U.K. travelers, it’s a helpful list for Americans, too.

By analyzing currency strengths, local prices and essential tourist expenses in 40 popular vacation destinations around the globe, the Holiday Money Report 2024 highlights some of the cheapest places to travel. The report ranks the destinations based on a barometer that takes the local price of eight tourist essentials into consideration—including coffee, beer, cola, wine, water, sunscreen, insect repellent and a three-course meal. And while the report doesn’t include factors like hotels and airfare, it helps give a good sense of where your dollars will stretch the furthest.

This is the 18th year that the Post Office has done this report. And the good news: Prices have fallen since last year in 25 spots on the list. (A note that the original report included prices in pounds sterling, which have been converted into dollars here, using the exchange rate on the date of publication of 1.26.)

An aerial view of Hoi An, Vietnam, the most affordable destination to travel in 2024, according to a ... [+] new report.

Leading the list as the cheapest place to travel right now is Hoi An, Vietnam. According to the Post Office report, a total estimated cost of just $64.51 a day for the travel essentials makes this charming gem the ultimate bang-for-your-buck destination that won’t break the bank. Located on the central coast of Vietnam, Hoi An entices visitors with its UNESCO -recognized Ancient Town, a picturesque spot where lantern-lit streets lead to quaint shops and street food stalls. It is also convenient to stunning white-sand beaches—some of the most beautiful in Asia .

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Best 5% interest savings accounts of 2024.

Following closely behind in the second spot is Cape Town, South Africa, where an outlay of $68.48 a day for the essentials promises an unforgettable experience against the backdrop of Table Mountain and pristine coastlines. Here, you can dive into the vibrant culture and indulge in world-class dining (a three-course meal for two people averages less than $44.140) without denting your travel fund.

The coastline of Mombasa, Kenya, with a pair of camels on Diani Beach.

Mombasa, Kenya takes the third spot on the list. This beachfront destination on the east coast of Africa beckons with its white-sand shores, vibrant markets and rich Swahili heritage, offering an immersive experience for travelers seeking both relaxation and cultural exploration.

In a surprising twist, Tokyo, Japan—a bustling metropolis where tradition meets modernity—secures the fourth spot on the list. According to the Post Office, just $74.43 a day is needed for essential tourist purchases. Helping drive this ranking was the cost of a glass of wine (an average of only $4.56) and a bottle of water (averaging 77¢).

The cliffs of the Algarve overlooking the Atlantic Ocean above the Benagil cave in Lagoa, Portug.a

Rounding out the top five is the Algarve in Portugal, which combines culture, history and natural beauty at a fraction of the cost compared to previous years. With its sun-drenched beaches, charming villages and delectable seafood, the Algarve offers an idyllic escape for travelers seeking an affordable yet enriching getaway.

Here are top 15 best-value spots from the 2024 report. You can also download the full Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer for more locations and more details.

Overlooking a pristine beach in Hoi An, Vietnam.

• Hoi An, Vietnam - $64.51
• Cape Town, South Africa - $68.48
• Mombasa, Kenya - $69.96
• Tokyo, Japan - $74.43
• Algarve, Portugal - $75.33
• Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt - $77.36
• Sunny Beach, Bulgaria - $79.73
• Kuta, Bali - $79.79
• Marmaris, Turkey - $83.27
• Paphos, Cyprus - $92.49
• Penang, Malaysia - $93.98
• Phuket, Thailand - $97.97
• Delhi, India - $98.05
• Costa del Sol, Spain - $102.67
• Montego Bay, Jamaica - $109.76

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Understanding measles and the current outbreak

Rick Thiesse

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Measles  used to be a common childhood illness years ago. At the beginning of this century, measles had been declared eliminated from the country. But now, measles, one of the most contagious diseases to spread, is returning at a  record pace  as 17 states have reported measles cases in 2024.   

"There are many viruses that are either not contagious or sort of contagious," says  Sarah Scherger M.D .,  pediatrician at Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin  and chair of Pediatrics for Mayo Clinic Health System. "Measles is aerosolized and is super contagious, and can live on surfaces for up to two hours after first contact." 

According to the  Centers for Disease Control  and Prevention (CDC), measles symptoms appear seven to 14 days after contact with the virus. Measles typically begins with these symptoms:

• High fever (may spike to more than 104 F)
• Runny nose (coryza)
• Red, watery eyes ( conjunctivitis )

Tiny, white spots known as Koplik spots may appear inside the mouth two to three days after symptoms begin. Measles rash appears three to five days after the first symptoms.

Measles is most dangerous for children up to the age of 5 and immunocompromised adults over 65.

"We talk about high fevers and rashes, and that's uncomfortable," explains Dr. Scherger. "Unfortunately, approximately 1 in 1,000 people can get encephalitis, which is an infection in your brain causing the potential for permanent brain damage."

Statistics  also show that 1 to 3 out of every 1,000 children who become infected with measles will die from respiratory or neurologic complications. 

"It's hard for physicians and nonmedical people in the United States to diagnose because we don't see many cases," explains Dr. Scherger. "We know there are circulating viruses and bacteria that we vaccinate against regularly. If we have pockets where people are not being vaccinated, or vaccine rates continue to fall across the entire country, that's when we will see more outbreaks like this occur."

Vaccination

The most effective way to prevent measles is by vaccination. The vaccine is primarily administered as the combination measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine . The CDC recommends routine childhood immunization for MMR vaccine starting with the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age, or at least 28 days following the first dose.

The MMRV vaccine is also available to children 12 months through 12 years of age. People who are born during or after 1957 who do not have evidence of immunity against measles should get at least one dose of MMR vaccine.

"We need to not go back there, so it's important to make sure you and your children are vaccinated," says Dr. Scherger. "Ninety percent of people have the potential of becoming infected if they're not vaccinated."

One dose of MMR vaccine is approximately 93% effective at preventing measles; two doses are approximately 97% effective. Almost everyone who does not respond to the measles component of the first dose of MMR vaccine at age 12 months or older will respond to the second dose.

Dr. Scherger says if you ever have any questions about measles or vaccinations, have a conversation with your primary care clinician.

"I have talked to people through various options, and I've talked to people about their concerns. I know we're all here, pediatricians and family doctors, for the benefit of your child," says Dr. Scherger.

About Mayo Clinic Health System

Mayo Clinic Health System  consists of clinics, hospitals and other facilities that serve the healthcare needs of people in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The community-based healthcare professionals, paired with the resources and expertise of Mayo Clinic, enable patients in the region to receive highest-quality physical and virtual healthcare close to home.

Media contact: Rick Thiesse , Mayo Clinic Health System Communications

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