Where are you planning to spend the Memorial Day weekend? If you are like millions of Americans you will be forgoing a relaxing weekend in your backyard for time spent on the highway, in the skies, or on the water. According to the AAA, about 38 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more this weekend, a 1.7 percent increase from last year’s holiday. Roughly 83% of them will drive, with the remainder taking airplanes, trains or other transportation. Regardless of where you are going and how you plan to get there, if you are traveling with kids there are some important tips to keep in mind before you pack up and head out.
Here are some travel tips that have served me well:
TRAVELING ABROAD
If you are venturing outside of the country make sure you plan well in advance. How many of you realize it takes about two months to process a passport application? Sure, you can pay extra for the expedited two-week service, but you are looking to shell out quite a bit more for the convenience and you are still not guaranteed a passport in the time promised. Something else to keep in mind– visas can take as just as much time to process, depending on the country involved, and the number of immunizations that need to be administered.
More Helpful Info:
Passports For Children–What You Need To Know
Holiday Travel: Important Passport Information For Parents and Children
Government Giving Parents A Break On Passports For Kids
MAKE COPIES OF IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
This rule applies to prescriptions and other medical documentation as well as custody agreements if you are divorced and are taking a child out of the country. Also, when flying with a lap child under the age of 2, carry proof of age to ensure he or she can fly for free. Overall, it’s just good practice to have the documentation readily available to prevent travel delays.
CHECK YOUR FACTS
The Internet is a saving grace when it comes to locating the shortest route to a popular attraction or to find out which accommodations are located near stroller-friendly parks and malls. However, it’s not a good idea to take everything you read at face value. Before you venture out on your well-planned family vacation make a point to contact sites directly to confirm the facts so you don’t have to rely solely on printed material. For example, guidebooks don’t list construction areas nor can they tell you if a portion of the museum you are looking to visit will be closed because of renovations.
TELL THE TRUTH
When making travel plans let people know you are traveling with children, especially if you have toddlers or babies. When service personnel are informed that you have kids in tow, most often than not they will accommodate you. For example, if you are traveling with an infant, ask hotel employees in advance for a quiet room with a crib. With prior notification, restaurants can also reserve a corner table with enough room for a stroller. Such conveniences will help make travel less stressful for you and your baby.
Check back for more travel tips in my next blog.
Related Articles:
Traveling With Young Children: More Dos and Don’ts
Traveling With Young Children: Dos and Don’ts
Traveling With Children-Learn From My Mistakes
Flying with Children: Layover or Not?
Tips To Remember When Traveling With Children