There are many top ten type lists of tips for traveling with children: how to ensure they eat well and drink enough, how to dress them for weather forecast variances, how to provide the stimulation they need, how to make sure they don’t drive off with the family car and leave you stranded in the Mojave Desert, etc.

This list is how to travel in comfort – without tying the children to the roof rack — which hopefully will reduce your stress.

Make sure you have plenty of room while traveling.

This is easier said than done. On a plane, everybody is cramped. On a train, everybody is cramped, although a little less so. On a bicycle… don’t even try it.

If you are driving, get a mini-van. Sure, you might be more of a “car” type, and you might have resisted buying a mini-van so far. But pick up a rental van for the vacation just to give the kids a little more room for fighting. (Make sure it has a roof rack, just in case.)

Reality check: Cram enough people into a tiny space and watch everybody get stressed and enraged. See my humorous but true article on hippo rage.

Accommodations along the way can be tricky. Usually it involves a cramped motel for just long enough to sleep, then back in the cramped car (or somewhat cramped mini-van). This is not anybody’s idea of a home away from home. An accommodation alternative is to camp. When not sleeping, you have all the space in the world (unless you have to huddle under the tarp while the storm passes through). I love camping, but not everyone enjoys a good early morning wake-up wrestle with a grizzly as much as I do, so a motel might be required.

Make sure you have plenty of room when you “get there”.

My childhood vacations, often involved wandering around lost. Assuming you are actually heading for a destination, make sure to have lots of room when you get there. This part is easy. But it requires thinking outside the box. Forget hotels, motels, and inns. Look for private rental homes.

Probably the biggest destination for families is Walt Disney World in Florida. Good news – Orlando, Kissimmee and the surrounding area is just teeming with private vacation homes for rent. In Florida they call them vacation villas, and they offer all the space of home (without having to fix a leaky sink or oil the door hinges or mow the lawn.) Here are some examples of vacation home rentals in the Disney area.

Sharon Baillie is a private villa owner in the Kissimmee area outside Orlando, just a few miles from Disney World. “Our guests enjoy the spaciousness of our 6-bedroom home. They love the private pool and the private yard in which they can relax,” she says. “Parents love the space for children to run around outside, and we leave a box of toys in the garage. So while the parents rest, the children play – and let their parents rest!”

Be prepared for “children being children” events.

Sometimes, stress hits you from behind when the unexpected happens. Like a cut or a scrape … or a child getting sick. Sharon Baillie told me that is why she tells all her villa rental guests where the first aid kit can be found, and exactly where to go for medical attention. This is particularly helpful for her many guests from abroad, who are unfamiliar with the US healthcare system.

She also makes sure her guests are informed about local pollen and viruses in Florida, so that parents can be prepared. Stress is so much more enjoyable when you are prepared for it, don’t you think?

Booking tickets to theme parks and making reservations for just about everything in advance makes the trip less stressful. There is little more difficult than managing young children while trying to get into a theme park or show that requires prior booking.

And to prevent wandering around lost, pick up a AAA Triptik in advance – not that it ever helped us.

Try having your children baby-sat. This might mean bringing along a nanny, such as a grand parent (It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it.). The car might be more crowded, but if you’ve rented a spacious home for the week, it could just be doable. The other option is to hire a local baby-sitter once or twice. Vacation Home owners can set this up for you, and some hotels might be willing to, too.

When you are single, you can go on adventure vacations. When you are a parent, you get little vacation adventures. Here are three of my family vacation adventures.

So there you have it. Three ways to reduce the stress of traveling with kids, so you can actually relax on vacation. After all, isn’t that what vacations are supposed to be about?

One of the ‘rules’ that I try to abide by when travelling with my kids is to have enough essential supplies* to get us through the first two days after arrival at our desination - I call this the “two day rule”.The first two days of any trip are probably the most stressful. Once you have survived the plane trip you need to re-orientate yourself and your baby to your new environment. If you have flown to a new time zone then you also have to deal with the effects of jet lag. The last thing that you want to be doing is looking for a store that sells baby items while feeling you are about to drop off to sleep at any moment.

By having enough supplies you can ease yourself into your new environment - find out where the stores are, get used to communicating in a different language and hopefully not be too stressed out.

* Essential supplies include nappies/diapers, wipes, baby food and formula, juice or UHT milk boxes and any special snack foods.

By Eriani Doyel

Once you start making preparations for traveling with a baby, you may begin to have second thoughts about the trip. But, do not despair! Parents have been traveling with a baby in tow for thousands of years, and that experience is available to help you now. Here are some of the simplest tips for traveling with a baby:

1. Get a passport. You may not know that if you are traveling with a baby out of the country you need a passport. The baby cannot travel on your passport. You will need documentation such as a certified birth certificate to get the baby a passport, but the baby will not need to be present in person at the passport office to apply. You will also need proper identification for yourself to get your baby a passport. Alternative identification methods are listed on the government’s passport website.

2. Do not get caught without diapers when traveling with a baby. Whatever number of diapers you think you will need for your trip, add 3 per day more. It will not hurt and it can be a lifesaver. Bring several changes of clothing when you are traveling with a baby-both for the baby and for yourself-because accidents happen. You should also bring some plastic bags to put soiled clothing and diapers in until you can take care of them. Bring lots of wipes and hand sanitizer for diaper changes and other messes as well.

3. Bring plenty of food when traveling with a baby. You should bring formula, finger foods, etc. in individually packaged portions so that they are easy to use and accessible. Again, bring more than you think you will need. You should also bring any medication that your baby needs with a dosing spoon or dropper.

4. It is always a good idea to have some new toys or books to bring out at stressful or boring parts of the trip.

5. You can buy a seat for your infant on an airplane at up to a 50 percent discount. Although this is not required for children under two, it is highly recommended. Make sure the seat is rated safe for air travel.

6. There are many companies which will deliver diapers, strollers, wipes, etc. to wherever you are staying on your vacation if you don’t feel like packing yourself.

Eriani Doyel writes articles about Leisure and Travel. For more information about traveling with a baby visit ubetraveling.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eriani_Doyel 

Getting ready for a family vacation with a baby? Many things can make the trip a more enjoyable experience, depending on the age of the child. Of course, if the baby is still in diapers then having a good supply of diapers and baby wipes is a necessity. Bottled water for drinking and for rinsing out cups is a plus. Snacks, the healthy sugar free variety are also a necessity, and pillows and blankets to make the child comfortable during the long ride.

If your baby is old enough to pay attention, then travel games, coloring books, and toys that are quiet enough to avoid driving you crazy can be helpful. Also a travel DVD player that plugs into the car’s cigarette lighter for power will allow the child to watch a favorite video, keeping him or her occupied and more comfortable. Read along books for children are handy as well. These books have recordings the children listen to while looking at the pictures and the words underneath, teaching reading skills at a very young age.

Possibly the most important tip would be making a schedule and setting realistic driving times each day. Adults can handle longer spans of time in the car than children can, and especially babies. Try not to spend more than eight hours a day driving, and have rest stops every couple of hours to stretch legs, and get outside in the fresh air.

Jill is a mother of two who has fond memories of traveling with her children as babies and toddlers. She tells many stories of trips to the lake, the park, the beach and even to Disneyland, bringing her small children along and says that the experience wouldn’t have been nearly as enjoyable for her or her husband if the children had stayed home.

She does however, recommend thoughtful planning. “Story books were great. I read to the kids while my husband drove, and that kept them occupied. It also often makes them sleepy and led them to frequent nap times.” Jill also recommends coloring books so that the kids can amuse themselves. Ditto for the sugar free snacks. You won’t want to get the children running in overdrive on a sugar rush. But children do get hungry frequently, so keeping a good supply of crackers, fruit snacks and other things the kids enjoy will make the trip more enjoyable.

It helps travelers, that so many rest stops these days, have baby changing stations in both men’s and women’s rest rooms. This allows both parents to handle the child changing chores, and eases traveling tensions.

Jill’s friend and neighbor Sally also remembers traveling with very small children, and offers this advice: “Baby wipes. Have lots and lots of baby wipes. You never know when you’ll need them. And be sure that you make rest stops every hour or two. The kids will get a bit cranky and stopping for fifteen minutes can make a world of difference. Also, be sure to bring animal crackers, graham crackers or some other sort of snack, and bottles of water or fruit juice to wash it down with. Keeping a child fed with keep a child happy.”

Traveling with a very young child can be a challenge. If you have friends with older children, ask them what they did to ease the stress of the rip with traveling with the children in earlier years. It always helps to learn from someone else’s experiences. Also, ask your own parents what they did when you were a baby, and how they handled traveling situations. It also doesn’t hurt to check out the local public library for parenting magazines and books.

Being a parent is a very responsible job and learning from others is only wise. However, traveling with your baby or other young child will provide you with a great deal of enjoyment. If you take a camera or video camcorder you’ll be able to record the trip for future memories, and have stories to tell for years to come. So enjoy traveling with your baby, but be sure to plan ahead.

Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. For a great selection of baby strollers go to http://www.babystrollersplusmore.com

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Traveling in foreign countries can be a wonderful, uplifting experience that will never be forgotten, but there are also perils and difficulties that can arise on any trip, especially those that are outside your own country. In part 2 of this article series we discussed how to prevent sickness from local foods and water while away, how to carry cash with you safely and how to use credit cards while abroad and much more. Now here are even more international travel tips that can help you have the best family vacations while you are abroad:

* As with any plane trip you take, airlines can lose the luggage that is checked in as baggage on the flight. So to counteract that possibility, be sure to take all important papers that will be needed for the trip including visa, passports, medical and insurance documents, trip schedule, lodging information, driver’s licenses and so forth in your carry-on luggage just in case. That way it never leaves you as you make the trip.

* It is also a good idea to include a few clothing items in your carry-on bags that can get you through a couple of days in case your luggage is lost.

* To cut down on the amount of luggage that you have to carry, consider shipping the larger, more bulky items instead so that you can retrieve them at your first lodging destination and nor risk having them lost or misplaced on the flight.

* It’s always a good idea to have a small first-aid kit along with you on the trip that can be retrieved handily in the case of an emergency.

* White sneakers often brand you as a tourist in foreign countries, so try to use medium brown to black shoes that are also comfortable for the trip as they tend to blend in with almost any kind of foreign attire.

* Be sure that you know what the local taxes are that apply to any purchase made as they vary widely in foreign countries and can sometimes be more expensive than the item itself.

* Become familiar with all customs requirements regarding foods, plants and so on before you travel so you aren’t denied entry for any item that you have purchased while on your trip.

All trips require some advance thought and preparation but vacations outside your own country call for even more diligent research beforehand. By using the international travel tips and suggestions made in this article series, you should be able to be better prepared and have the perfect family vacation.

Find out more about how to find discount travel sites and cheap travel sites by visiting our Vacation Guide website.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Traveling abroad has it’s own rewards and challenges and it’s good to think and plan ahead for any trip outside the boundaries of your own country if you don’t want unpleasant surprises to crop up. In Part 1 of this article series we covered several tips on what paperwork may be needed as you travel, how to prepare for driving an auto in a foreign country, medical insurance concerns and much more. Now here are more international travel tips that can help you have the best family vacations while you are abroad:

* Most major credit cards are often accepted in foreign countries, but just be sure that the ones you have can be used successfully everywhere you intend to go. It may also be a good idea to notify your credit card companies in advance that you are leaving the country and how long you plan to be gone just so they do not flag your account and deny charges due to suspicion of fraudulent activity.

* Credit cards are also beneficial to use in many cases since the credit card companies will handle all conversion rates for you, which can save you a lot of money because of not having to make those kind of complicated money conversion calculations on your own whenever you buy anything.

* Try to drink bottled water as much as you can to avoid sickness while on the trip. Water quality can vary considerably from one country or even one area to another, so protect yourself by drinking as much bottled water as you can while on the trip. And avoid putting ice cubes in your drinks as they are usually made with local water and will melt in your drink.

* If you have some health concerns that require treatment, be sure to carry a copy of your medical history along with you in case it may be necessary to get treatment while you are away.

* If you have food allergies, find out how you pronounce the words to describe that food in that country’s language so you can be sure to avoid those foods while you are on your trip.

* Remember that Medicare and Medicaid do not pay for any treatment given outside the US, so determine in advance if additional coverage is needed and purchase trip insurance before you leave in that case.

* If you carry cash while away, it’s often a good idea to keep it in a security belt rather than a wallet that is in your pocket. There are many pickpockets in foreign countries that are tremendously skilled in separating you from your money if it isn’t well guarded.

Be sure to read Part 3 of this article series to get even more valuable international travel tips that can help you have the best family vacations.

Find out more about how to find discount travel sites and cheap travel sites by visiting our Vacation Guide website.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Just traveling anywhere presents a certain amount of challenges to make sure that all goes well, but international travel introduces even more variables into the mix that require advance planning to successfully navigate. Of course, traveling in other countries can constitute some of the most memorable times of our life so the rewards are often worth the extra work needed in preparation. Here are some international travel tips that can help you have the best family vacations:

* Find out as much as you can about what paperwork will be required of you to enter and leave the country where you are going. What passports and/or visas will be needed? Will you be required to have a copy of your birth certificate?

* Find out if any vaccinations will be needed before you travel to that country. Also if you use medications, are they considered legal there?

* If a foreign language is used, try to get at least somewhat familiar with the basics of the local language just in case it may come in handy.

* If you plan on driving while in the foreign country, find out if you will need an additional driver’s license to do so. There are international driver’s permits that are accepted in 150 countries that may be what you need, and you can find out about it at the aaa.com website. And be sure that you have adequate auto insurance that applies in that country before driving there too.

* If you plan on using your computer while traveling, check in advance for any necessary equipment such as voltage converters or electrical plugs that will be required in order to plug in and safely use your computer equipment while you are away. Also, how will you connect to the internet while outside the country?

* Will you be covered for any medical emergency that may arise while traveling in that country? Many health insurance policies do not extend beyond the borders of the US, so additional trip insurance may be required to be adequately covered.

* Try to get familiar with metric conversions or at least bring along a metric conversion table with you so you can understand what measurements actually mean as most of the world outside the US actually uses the metric system for measurement and this can be very confusing for Americans traveling abroad if they aren’t prepared.

Be sure to read Part 2 of our article series to get even more international travel tips that can help you have the best family vacations.

Find out more about how to find discount travel sites and cheap travel sites by visiting our Vacation Guide website.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com