It does not matter if it’s your first trip with your kids or your third or fourth, family travel with kids can be daunting and overwhelming especially when unpredictable situations happen.

Family travel can be more fun, enlightening, and a memorable lifetime experience for children. However old your child is, a little preparation will go a long way. Making pre-trip research on your destination and kid-friendly activities that the whole family can enjoy is the first and foremost thing to do when planning for a family journey.

Family travel is quality family time. What makes it more enjoyable is experiencing new foods, enjoying sights, fun activities and a different ambiance sleeping in a home away from home.

Here are simple tips on how to make traveling with kids a breeze.

Plan ahead, pre-book wisely

When traveling with the whole family, everything will take longer than you expect. Even though it gets easier the more you do it, you’re going to run into a few challenges any time you travel with kids, thus it is important to plan the best destination for your family vacation and schedule things ahead.

Decide where to stay, either you book a hotel accommodation or scout for a vacation rental. Depending on the number and age of your children, it will be wise to opt for a rental home as it comes with a full kitchen so you can cook your own meals for your picky eaters. It is also roomier and has a homey feel for everyone. You can further your travel savings to buy other things you’ll be needing for your trip. As we all know, lodging is generally the expense that takes the biggest bite out of a vacation budget.

Before pre-booking, consider also the facilities nearby like child-friendly activity areas, grocery stores, restaurants, sight-seeing sites, and a vehicle rental.

Do a practice run

A practice run can be of big help if you will be traveling with your kids the first time. A weekend away like a staycation can be a good trial trip or overnight camping will introduce your kids to staying on a different place. You will be aware of some concerns or worries you will encounter by doing a dry run.

Pack as little as possible

Being a mom, we tend to overpack everything our children use at home. Well, this is a terrible idea. Just bring the most important items that will keep your routines consistent. In the first place, you do not want to be carrying a lot of bags when you have children to tend to.

Always have snacks ready for your kids

Unlike adults, children become cranky when they are hungry. It will be wise to bring along sandwiches and snacks in case the time between meals will get extended due to unexpected traffic, delayed flight, or taking an afternoon museum tour that takes a bit longer than you thought it would.

Bring Electronic Devices

Keeping kids entertained is important when traveling. Let them use their tablets or mobile phones and play free online video games that will surely hook them up during downtimes. Playing video games like arcade classics, simulation games, or base defense games depending on their age and interest can make the difference between a great trip and an unhappy one.

Playing can keep kids quiet and cheerful for long periods, traveling is the time you may want to let gadget rules slide in the meantime.

Bring small Toys and Books

Small toys for toddlers and a book that is haven’t seen by your pre-schooler will get even more of their attention. It will keep them busy during long trips or while waiting for a delayed flight.

Bring Basic Medicines

A bumpy ride can get your child an upset stomach, or an allergic reaction to a new kind of plant pollen in a new environment. It is important to bring along over-the-counter medications like headache medicines, allergy medicines, motion sickness prevention medication for emergency quick relief and make a sick family member feel better as quickly as possible.