10 Can't Miss Tips for Traveling w/ Kids: Summer 2021 Edition
The summer travel season is upon us and, after an oh-so-uncomfortable hiatus for travelers, families will be heading back to the airport and jetting off for some family fun.
As you start planning (or even daydreaming about) your upcoming family trip, it's important to remember that this travel season is unlike any other. Travel restrictions and requirements are strict and change every day.
In this article we’ll share 10 tips so you don’t have to worry about having a “I didn’t think about that” moment on your next trip.
By being prepared for what’s to come you can double down on the fun knowing that you’re virtually guaranteed to avoid those awkward or uncomfortable situations when en route.
Keep these things in mind to keep your stress low and enjoyment high…
10 Can't Miss Tips for Traveling w/ Kids: Summer 2021 Edition
1. Practice wearing masks
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Children over the age of two are required to have their own masks on hand during air travel. That said, most toddlers aren’t very keen on wearing masks for hours on end. Practice with a mask so your child is more inclined to wear it for extended periods.
Pro Tip: Keep more than one close by just in case they lose one - or three!
2. Get your documents in order
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Make sure you have the right documentation for traveling abroad. Passport and visas, of course! But now you may need a specific (negative) Covid test or vaccination cards - make sure you know what you need and have ample time to prepare.
Pro tip: Rules and regulations change frequently. Even if you’ve done your research, check government sites again 7 days before departure and 24 hours before the flight just to be sure.
3. Expect the unexpected
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With the volatility of current international regulations, rules can change while you're in the air, and suddenly you might find yourselves launched into a quarantine or lockdown when you land. Be ready with extra clothes, chargers, medications, diapers, and wipes. Especially if traveling internationally, try to keep 2-3 days of everything you might need in your carry-on bag. We highly encourage you to keep your travel spirits high and rest easy knowing you’ve got all your bases covered.
Pro tip: Pack smart and prep your carry-on with everything you may need during the first couple days at your destination.
4. Fly direct when possible
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Layovers can add extra time, coordination, and stress to a family travel day, especially when airports are enforcing strict regulations re: Covid. If possible, fly nonstop flights. Everyone in the family will feel better if you can arrive hours earlier and without having had to slog from one gate to another. Plus, you’ll all have less jet lag when you finally arrive at your destination.
Pro tip: Consider the overall cost to your family and well-being versus strictly the cost of direct flights. Happy families are worth their weight in gold.
5. Bring your own food and snacks
This year more than ever, pack what you want to eat during your travel day. If you normally depend on airport shops and restaurants to feed the fam, be aware that many airport food vendors are still closed. If you don’t pack something you want, you may end up eating from a place you would normally avoid at all costs or, worse yet, go hungry for the duration of your travel day.
Instead, pack a little heavier to ensure the family has healthy food that they actually want to eat and keep a “hangry” kid (or mom) from ruining an otherwise flawless travel experience.
6. Car seats = a familiar place to fly
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Holding the baby the entire flight? Not this time. One of the hardest parts about flying with little ones is figuring out where to put them in order to keep them from getting into trouble for five hours straight. Bring your children's car seats on the plane so they can be secured in-flight and even sleep in them. Hands-free never felt so good!
Pro tip: Unless you’re a SkySquad client and have extra hands to the gate, limit carry-on luggage (check all the bags you can!) so you can get the car seat through the airport without too much trouble.
7. Be prepared to sanitize
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Hand sanitizer, wipes, gloves, oh my! Airports and airlines are going above and beyond to sanitize surfaces these days. That said, nothing feels quite as clean as when you’ve done it yourself. Bring travel sized hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, and even some gloves (if it helps) to put you at ease. You know you’re never going to keep your kids from touching things on travel day. Instead, focus on what you can control.
8. Print out your “what to pack” list
Passports… check! Boarding passes… check! Coloring books… check! Facemasks… uh, shoot. Nothing puts a damper on an otherwise smooth and happy travel day like realizing you forgot something you really needed. While it might not be as obvious as face masks, it’s just too easy to miss mission critical family travel items. Click here to get our foolproof parents checklist for traveling with kids this summer!
9. Have fun!
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Sure, you need to be especially prepared this summer travel season, but that shouldn’t overshadow the most important item on this list - enjoy your travel time with your family.
Whether you’re an avid traveler eager to get back on the road, or simply making sure you don’t miss the annual family trip this year, focus on what matters. You and the ones you love most get an opportunity to have some serious fun and soak up some uninterrupted quality time.
Get out there and TRAVEL!
Whether you are flying domestically or abroad, these 7 pandemic travel pro tips can help make this experience easier on both you and your family!
Travel this summer will be different from any other. Of course you need snacks, toys, and a phone charger to keep the kids entertained during boring airport waits and long flights, but now you need a few pandemic related extras.
The better prepared you are, the more fun you'll have. Remember, getting there is half the fun!
Bonus Tip #10 - Hire some extra hands
Just when you thought we were done, we’re dropping what may be the most important tip of the bunch. No matter the time of year, pandemic or not, traveling with kids typically leaves you with two hands fewer than what you really need.
Fortunately, SkySquad is ready to support traveling parents in getting from the car to the gate on departures and gate to car on arrivals, all with the ease and grace that you had pre-kids. For more, check out TheSkySquad.com and above all, enjoy your trip!