Guest Post: Summer Travel Tips

I am hosting a guest post from Kendra Thornton today with some great travel tips.  I also added my tips for traveling with an Infant at the end.

Summer's Not Done...The Fun Has Just Begun

Although it is getting late into the summer season, there is still plenty of time to get away from the chaos that is life and create some family memories.  In order for your family vacation to be a wonderful experience for everyone, it helps to prepare in advance.

1. Packing

There is nothing worse than arriving at your destination and realizing you forgot the sunscreen or your baby’s diapers.  To ensure this doesn’t happen to you, make a thorough list ahead of time with everything you need for a comfortable vacation.  If lists aren’t your thing, try an app like Packing Pro to help guide you in the preparation process. 

2. Make Proper Accommodations

Be sure to make the proper accommodations for your trip.  The best way to do this is to research places that everyone in your family can enjoy.  Look for hotels that have things like a pool that the kids, and you and your spouse, can have fun at together.  Also, find out ahead of time if the hotel rooms have refrigerators or microwaves—this will help you save money by bringing food you can keep cold or heat up for a quick, easy meal.  I used Gogobot to find a great Orlando hotel that had all the amenities my family needed.

3. Document the Vacation!

Family vacations are a time for great, lifelong memories to be made—why not let the kids document these memories forever?  Let the kids create some great memories by providing them with disposable cameras.  Once the vacation is over and the pictures get developed, you will see how much fun everyone had and these photos will last forever.  Further, you can have some tremendous bonding time with your children by scrapbooking the photos!

4. Keep a Normal Schedule

Vacations can be a whirlwind if you don’t take the time to schedule out your days.  While there are going to be lots of fun activities you want to take part it, try to keep your schedule as close to normal as possible.  If you have children that typically take two-hour naps, make sure that they get that rest time or you will pay for it later.  Also, always make sure that you have some healthy snacks to give the kids that will hold them over until your next meal.  Stay with your daily routines as much as possible to keep everyone calm and happy.

5. Survival Kit

When traveling, whether by car, plane, train, or bus, be sure to have a readily accessible bag with all your essentials in it.  They should be easy to pack, and should be a sort of “survival kit” in case anything goes wrong while traveling.  Pack some healthy snacks for your kid, or a favorite toy in case your trip gets delayed at any point.  This will help keep delays or long drives from turning sour.

I hope these tips will help your family plan a vacation this summer!  Have fun, and safe travels!


My tips for traveling with Infants:
-Always nurse or have a paci/bottle ready for take-off and landing.  This will help with the pressure changes.
-Have several changes of clothes for baby and yourself in your carry-on (you never know when those blow outs will get you)
-Travel with a stroller that you don't mind if it gets damaged (preferably a light weight one)
-Take the canopy and any inserts off your car seat (and toys) before gate checking it (we have lost both on a trip before)
-If your baby sleeps with a sound machine at home you don't necessarily have to pack that.  They have noise machine apps that work great.

Kendra Thornton: Travel advocate, TV spokesperson, PR businesswoman, proud wife and mama of 3. I am a long time travel expert who has been packing my bags and traveling the world since I was 3 months old! I've found my utmost desire in life is right here in my own home. I have taken my excitement for travel and brought it to you with some of my favorite travel tips and tricks. Enjoy!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KendraThornton

Website: http://www.thorntonpr.com/