Want to see the world with your kids in tow? These are the short-form Rules for traveling with the minimum of headache and drama. Click any rule to read the full post. Happy traveling! Rule #1: This is Not Their…
Rule #14: The Detour Can Be the Adventure
Hopefully by now, readers have taken our advice to heart and realized that there will always, always be something that will go wrong on any trip. Usually, all you can do about it is laugh. But sometimes, if you are…
Rule #13: Eat This (and That)
One thing many parents worry about when traveling overseas with their kids is the food. Will they eat it? Will they hate it? Will we end up eating at McDonald’s in Paris? The answer to these questions is yes. Your…
Rule # 12: Start a Travel Tradition
One of the easiest ways to build some continuity into your family travels is to start a travel tradition. Because you are visiting new places each trip, it’s easy for some kids to feel anxious in the face of…
Rule #11: You’re Not the Boss of Me
Planning a vacation is exhausting. By the time you have all the details nailed down it can feel like you’ve done enough research to live successfully in your destination for several years. One of the unfortunate side effects of…
Rule #10: It’s Not Worth It
March 2013, Monteverde, Costa Rica. We had driven the death-defying mountain pass after spending several fabulous days in the rainforests of Fortuna and were now ready to start exploring the Monteverde Cloud Forest. Matthew and I were excited to see…
Rule #9: Your Kids Are Your Passport
One concern I hear from many parents planning a trip overseas is that taking kids along will cut them off from any “authentic” experiences and doom them to a vacation full of children’s museums and swimming pools. This couldn’t be…
Rule #8: You DO Need All This Stuff (aka What to Pack)
Now that I’ve told you what NOT to bring, it’s time to help you figure out what you SHOULD bring on your next trip. First of all, the same rules apply. Pack light. You do not want to be…
Rule #7: Jet Lag, Baby.
You might think you know about jet lag. You may have traveled a lot, and you may feel you’ve got a handle on how you react to it and how best to combat it. But I submit that you have…
Rule #6: Not All Friends Are Travel Friends
We’ve all seen those movies where a group of friends go on a life-changing, outlook-altering trip together. They sit in cafes eating incredible food, ride in convertibles down scenic highways and achieve deep spiritual insights in remote temples, and their…