If you have a family trip on the horizon and are bringing baby along, then you may be feeling just a tad bit apprehensive. There's a lot that goes into organizing for any trip, but when a little one's involved, there's a whole new slew of things to consider. Here are five insider tips and tricks to make your journey just a little less stressful. Be sure to check out our guide to surviving your baby's first flight and how to pack your carry-on, as well!
There are hotel rooms, and then there are hotel experiences, the kinds that both grown-ups and kids dream about. Sometimes the hotel experience can be even more exciting than the destination. With that in mind, we're looking at a dozen hotel rooms truly designed with kids in mind. These themed hotel suites are nothing less than little slices of heaven for pint-size travelers and their grown-up chaperones. Case in point: the new Legoland Hotel that just opened in California. It features a full-blown pirate ship, bubble-blowing dragons, and three million Lego bricks! Sure, most of these hotels will cost you a pretty penny, but their ability to transport guests to fantasy worlds makes dreams come true. Click through for 12 of the most amazing hotel rooms for kids!
The days of a young traveler getting a set of wings and a tour of the cockpit may be a thing of the past, but that doesn't mean that travel can't be fun for tots. Armed with seatback entertainment systems, backpacks filled with goodies, and crew members prepared for pint-size flyers, several airlines are going out of their way to make travel fun for kids (and enjoyable for their parents) these days. From those that supply baby food to those that will have a birthday cake ready for your tot's big day, here are 10 airlines for families on the fly!
Traveling with kids can feel a bit like rolling the dice: what will the next turn bring? A room that somehow doesn't contain its promised crib? A 3 a.m. wake-up call from your partying neighbors? While we've detailed the most amazing hotels around, designed to impress everyone in your family with over-the-top extras, and some exciting themed hotel rooms that your kids will talk about for years to come, what about lodging for those trips when a hotel is just a necessity, not the destination? We have seven hotel chains that are always a safe bet when traveling with kids.
Offering everything from babysitting services and extra bedrooms just for little ones to kid-friendly room-service specials and check-in gifts, these chains have hundreds of locations all over the globe, all ready to make your family's travel experience a bit more like an actual vacation.
Full disclosure: many of the famous families seen here likely reached their destinations via private jet, were accompanied by full-time help, and had access to amenities that many of us didn't even know existed. Still, we can't help but be inspired by their jet-set savvy and ability to pack up the kids and go with what looks like relative ease. Read on for seven valuable travel lessons that we can take from vacationing celebs and their families. Bon voyage!
When all goes according to plan, traveling with kids can be as thrilling an experience for parents as it is for the tots who are exploring new territory for the first time. But when you're surprised with an unexpected flight delay or lengthy layover, skipped naps, fast-food snacks, and general crankiness can send your plans (and moods) into a tailspin.
While we can't control air traffic control, we can provide a bit of guidance when it comes to the most desirable destinations to fly in and out of. Here, six of the country's best airports for families on the fly!
"We're going to Disney World!" As soon as my kids heard Eli Manning utter that post-Super Bowl phrase, they couldn't wait to board the plane for Orlando, FL. Little did they know that we had booked our trip six months earlier, planning to stay at an apartment off-property (thanks, Nanna!), a few miles from the park. I loved Disney World as a kid, but back then, it was just two parks, and I wasn't the one planning the trip or paying for it! Today it is five parks, and we were planning on meeting friends there the week of Presidents' Day — the kids would be off from school, but so would thousands of other kids all with the same destination in mind.
To say I was nervous about the trip is an understatement. I envisioned waiting in long lines everywhere, being inundated with kids whining for Mickey Mouse ears and other souvenirs every three minutes, and feeling overwhelmed by the size of the parks. My vision couldn't have been further from reality. Sure, those things existed, but despite all of that, we experienced the Happiest Place on Earth. Here are my tips on how you can do that, too!
If you're up on your LilSugar, you already know our tricks and tips for flying with an infant. But before you even head to the airport, there's the all-important task of packing. Leave the diaper bag and pocketbook behind and consolidate your essentials, and your baby's, into one all-purpose carry-on. Here, the in-flight must haves that every mama needs for a successful journey with baby on board!
If your family has a warm-weather vacation planned this Winter, digging up mom and dad's swimsuits and flip-flops is the easy part. Figuring out what still fits those constantly growing little ones? A bit more of a challenge. Because they're likely to have jumped a size since you were last in the sun and surf, some last-minute shopping just may be in order. We've rounded up the best online resources for kiddie resortwear — just in time for takeoff!
If your family's holiday travel plans include time on the slopes, then you want your kids' souvenirs to be those of lift tickets and cool photos, as opposed to the bump, break, or bruise variety. To ensure a safe and fun trip for all, gear up before you go. Safety gear has come a long way, and it's easier than ever to find helmets, pads, and ski apparel that your little ones will actually want to wear. Here are our head-to-toe recommendations for safe and injury-proof shredding this season.
