Kids are wonderful for a lot of things, but as travel companions they leave much to be desired.
We just got back from a 10-day trip, and while I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything, I am here to tell you that traveling is not easy with an 11 month old.
Our 15-hour travel day seemed an awful lot longer accompanied by our sleepy, but nevertheless lively, son. We missed many naps, throwing any semblance of predictability and schedule out the window. The mornings, which used to be my favorite and most relaxing part of vacation, started around 5am most days. Yup, 5am. On vacation!
Traveling as a family is a whole lot different than traveling as a couple. We do a lot less hiking, snorkeling and general exploring, opting instead for long walks, pool time and even one trip to a local zoo. Unique hostels have been swapped for practical condos; economical buses and trains, for pricey (but convenient) rental cars. 
But please, don’t for a second think I’m complaining. I love my son and I love taking him with us to see new places. It’s a chance for the three of us to enjoy time together free from chores, errands, work and the distractions of day-to-day life. The memories we’ve made on vacation are ones we’ll cherish forever.
People are always telling young couples to get all of their traveling done before they have kids. By all means, travel as much as you can before introducing kids into the mix, but please don’t call it quits the moment you become parents. If you loved traveling before kids, then let me encourage you to find ways to keep traveling with your little ones. It’s not easy, it’s not convenient, but it is worth it!
Here are a few things I find make the trip go that much smoother:
- Lots of snacks in portable containers
- Travel high chair
- Sanitizing wipes
- New, never-been-seen-before toys (small and quiet are best for planes)
- Hat and sunglasses (ya, they look goofy but it’s worth it)
- Long-range baby monitor
- Compact stroller (see my City Mini GT review)
- Travel play pen
- Ground-level accommodations where hubby and I can enjoy the sun/sand/pool/etc while Grayson naps
What do you do to make travel more manageable with kids?