I watch my youngest jump up and down as she pulls another sticker off our “Countdown to Spring Break’ chart and think I really need to figure out a way to bottle some of her excitement. I always enjoy our family vacations once we have reached our destination but, honestly, the planning, the packing, the getting there, the fact that I am not really on vacation from being ‘Mommy’…well, it’s all a bit exhausting.
I really want to enjoy this upcoming vacation and stress a whole lot less than normal so I decided to ask some other moms and Macaroni Kid readers for their best advice for making travel and vacations easier, less work and more fun.
After many family trips, I thought I was pretty much a travel and packing pro but here are eight mom-approved travel hacks that gave me aha moments:
1. Zip it to stay organized. Many moms shared that they pack kids’ outfits in individual zip-top plastic bags. Each bag includes underwear, socks, shirt, bottom and even accessories. The bags keep outfits together and, for kids, it’s much easier for them to pull a bag from luggage or a hotel drawer and have everything they need to get dressed for the day at hand. And, of course, the zip-top bags come in handy for countless things while traveling. You can squeeze the air out of the zip-top bags which will save space but if you still find them too bulky, thin trash bags for small wastebaskets work as well, just tie the tops closed. They are also a bit bigger and tend to fit outfits for older kids or even adults.
2. Ship it and save. With many airlines charging for checked bags (and even for carry-ons in some cases) packing becomes even more stressful. How in the world are you going to pack for four people for a week in your allotted one piece of luggage? Kelly Schneider says that when her family takes vacations, she sometimes mails her luggage. It saves lugging and can prove less expensive than checking bags. Renee Kettelhut from Nebraska likes to ship items too. “I’ve ordered baby items (diapers, wipes, etc.) on a website and had them shipped,” she adds.
3. Novelty is nice. Nothing is harder on vacation than whiney, bored kids. That DVD player in the mini van will keep them entertained only so long. Head to the local dollar store or second-hand store and stock up on some novelty items to help keep a lid on boredom. Maine mom Kimberley French suggests to parents: “Purchase some new (at least to your children) toys/books/puzzles/games beforehand and don't show them to the kids. When they are getting restless or tired of something they're used to playing with, surprise them with something new! Wrapping makes it even more fun!” Stephanie Egee from Virginia saves up trinkets from birthday party goody bags, fast food joints and fairs to whip out during those bored moments. Mary Monahan from Nebraska says: “I bring gel clings and my kids play with them on the plane, putting them on the window and pulling them off again. We have never been on a flight where a flight attendant hasn't asked us to leave them for the next kids coming on.”
4. Separate suitcases are saviors. If you are taking a road trip with multiple stops or staying for just one night someplace, pack separate bags for each night (rather than for each person) as well as a ‘family bag’ with all the toiletries, toys, books, personal care items, etc. Barbara Evangelista from Massachusetts has learned after many family trips: “When you get to the new hotel, grab that night's bag and the family bag and you're good to go. I learned this after way too many times dragging in 5 separate huge bags (one for each of us), then dragging them all back out the next morning!” Separate bags based on nights, not people, can also save the day if a piece of luggage is lost; no one person is out their entire vacation wardrobe.
5. Snack savings. When traveling, food costs can really add up. An easy way to save is on snack cravings. If you are traveling by car, it’s easy to pack full size boxes and bags of family snack favorites. Then, bring along small disposable cups or plastic bags to fill up throughout your trip. If packing snacks isn’t an option but your hotel is one of the many that offer free breakfast, Rhode Islander Amy Gaskell suggests grabbing a few pre-packaged dry cereal bowls or fruit and putting them in your bag for quick and no-cost snacks later in the day.
Water purchases can also add up but you don’t want to forgo hydration while traveling. Jamie Clark of Virginia says “When flying I always pack empty water bottles for everyone in our carry-on. As soon as we are through security we fill them up at the water fountain. It saves a ton on buying drinks. I love that a lot of airports even have a spot for filling water bottles at the water fountain now.” New Jersey mom Stacey Jones agrees that water purchases can be expensive and suggests that “Most amusement parks will offer you free tap water if you go up to a counter service area that has fountain drinks; so save some money on buying bottled and just ask politely for a cup of tap water.”
6. Think outside the luggage. Sometimes the best bag for travel may not be a bag. For road trips, a laundry basket or folding hamper may be the best best. Pennsylvania mom Nicki Brown says that for family road trips, she always packs a laundry basket. “I pack my household goods, laundry, snacks, paper towels and more in a laundry basket. Then, throughout the vacation as our clothing gets dirty, we throw them in there, slip them in a trash bag for the ride home and repack the basket. It’s easy to pack in the car too!” Laundry baskets also make great containers for beach toys. You can sift the sand off the toys through the holes before putting them back in your vehicle. Foldable laundry hampers are perfect for fitting into a suitcase and then can be used in hotel rooms for dirty laundry and more.
7. Save on souvenirs. Florida mom Jessica Dyrmishi says with a little bit of prep work, you can search out some popular souvenir items for your destination and purchase them in advance for much less than you will likely pay at resorts, theme parks and tourist traps. “A little research, and you know exactly what are popular souvenirs at the location. amazon.com, eBay, even stores like Target are great places to score budget souvenirs,” she says. I especially love the idea of purchasing some light-up toys or glow sticks if you plan to be in theme parks after dark. Theme parks always bring out the glow kiosks at dusk and you can avoid pricey purchases or disappointment if you plan ahead of time. If you haven’t been able to purchase souvenirs ahead of time, Joyce Shulman of New York suggests giving each child a set amount of money to spend and sticking to it. “I got so tired of my kids asking for souvenirs and things when we travel and always having to say "no" that now we give them a souvenir allowance when we go on vacation,” she says. “We give them a set amount to spend how they wish. It is amazing how much more discriminating kids are when they feel it is 'their' money they are spending.”
8. Macaroni makes it easy. As you can see, moms have great advice and Macaroni Kid Publisher Moms are no different! Count on one of the over 500 Macaroni Moms throughout the U.S, to help make your next vacation easier with Macaroni Kid. Use the 'Find Your Town' tab our site to search for the Macaroni Kid closest to your travel destination. There you will find the 4-1-1 on all things family-friendly in the place you are visiting. You can even click the handy contact tab and reach out to the local Publisher Mom in your vacation destination. She will be happy to tell you all about the not-to-be-missed hot spots, the best restaurants for family dining and she may even have the scoop on where kids can eat free or burn off some pent-up energy.
So now you know a few of our favorite mom-approved travel hacks. Macaroni Kid wants to know: What are your best tips for family travel?
