Best tips for traveling with kids

If you are like us traveling with kids, chances are that you have spent quite a bit time planning your trips however it is few tricks that we have learned that helps save time, money and sometimes get you the preferred treatment.  Here are some of the tricks that we have used.

If you are traveling large metropolitan areas in the US or some of the popular European cities, Go City pass is the way to go.  Before you start planing individual activities in cities, visit Go City pass website and if your destination is covered, you can buy the pass and plan your itinerary around it.  Some of the things they cover include but not limited to:

• Entry to top city destinations while skipping lines.
• Guided tour with a small group of 15 or less
• Expert walking tour guides

Go City pass has by far the best deal because you get access to all the popular attractions with knowledgeable guides while skipping lines and saving money is the cherry on top.  We used Go City pass when we visited San Diego to cover the zoo, Safari park and Legoland and it was one of the best investments.  We will do it again.

One of the strategies that we use while traveling large metropolitan cities are to scan the top attractions at first and there are two ways to accomplish this easily.  One of the best way to do that is by using public transportations.  Another smart way to visit all the top attractions hassle free is by using the Hop-on, Hop-off tour buses.  There are so many advantages of this such as:

• Visiting major attractions with efficiency
• Your transportation is simplified
• It is much easier and fun to tour with kids on these buses with open roof

If you family is anything like us where your partner is still packing bags at 6:15 am when you should be on your way to the airport then I am sure you know exactly what I am talking about. I am trying not to get in trouble but getting to the airport on time (definition of which is often disputed) stress free had been a challenge for us. Many time we would be driving to the airport with worries that there's not enough time or when we arrive at the airport, we are running through the security desk and to the gates.... still gives me cringes. I needed to find a solution and I came across one by accident.

During one of our trips, our departure time was on a Friday evening right after work that forced everyone to have their bags packed and loaded in the car the night before. When we arrived at the airport on time, I wondered if something was different about this trip and another trip with similar itinerary; I noticed a pattern based on the flight times. I learned that since everyone was out to school or work during day time, we were all forced to have our bags completely packed and loaded the night before and when it came time to leaving for the airport, there was nothing left to do and we were all relaxed.

This was honestly one of the best things we learned about us and ever since I do my best to find flight times that meet our family travel profile. If your family has experienced any sort of stress, I would encourage you discover your family's travel profile and you maybe able to enjoy the travel more.

Looking for perfect lodging with kids can sometimes be challenging. Have you ever noticed that your search results and pricing vary when you add kids to the search query ? We have had that happen to us many times and specially with international trip. Here are some things to keep in mind, tricks to use:

• Look for Free Breakfast:  This goes a long way with savings and it also helps keep you on schedule and get you up and out the door on time.
• Lodge with recognized Brands:  When traveling international, try to stay with big brands that you recognize.  I rate the brand or company based on how they deal with an issue and quite often brands.. specially American brands always come through.
• Try searching for hotel with and without kids to see more options:  During our trip to Thailand and Singapore, we learned that hotels such as Holiday Inn were able to accommodate us but only showed up on search results when we limited our query to 2 adults.  After reading trip advisor reviews from other families; we learned quickly that rooms at many hotels were large enough to handle adults and children.  We called the hotel direct and had them update our reservation notes to include 2 children in our party.  Problem Solve.

Packing essentials:

• Reusable water bottle
• Sunscreen lotion. Sun can be really harsh in National Parks. We advice to use SPF50.
• Sun glasses
• Quick-drying travel towel is a nice to have if you are planning to go swimming in Yellowstone.
• Bear spray and/or bear bell. Bear spray is not really a must in all National Parks, although they do advice that you carry one if planning to do any hiking in the less popular areas and less popular times. You can buy a bear spray in Yellowstone as well, or you can rent one (at Grant Village and at the Canyon Village). Renting is quite expensive, however, especially if you need it for a couple of days. It’s definitely easier and cheaper to buy one in advance (just don’t pack it in your carry-on on the plane).
• Mosquito repellant. Yes, there are mosquitoes in some National Parks in summer.
• Camera gear and an extra battery pack and/or a power pack for your smartphone. Good camera gear is a must in Yellowstone!
• Telephoto lens with min. 200mm zoom is essential for wildlife photography. 
• Binoculars. I keep saying this every time – binoculars is the best way to keep your kids interested and entertained during any nature trip. And definitely in Yellowstone, where there is so much wildlife.
• Small day backpack with rain cover. Even if the forecast predicts sunny weather, you might get caught in a short but heavy rain shower, as we did. We got soaking wet, but the rain cover saved our camera gear.
• Planning to picnic in National Parks? There are many designated areas where you can picnic, so you may want to take your picnic basket or a cooler. Also camping chairs seemed to be very popular, especially with people watching wildlife in Hayden and the Lamar Valleys in Yellowstone or Arches National Park.
• First aid kit and a Swiss knife are the musts for any outdoor trip as well.

Some advice on footwear:

• Sandals will be ok for most areas in National Parks if you are planning on doing easy walks or hikes.  
• Hiking boots if you are planning on doing hikes.  
• I also suggest to pack water shoes.  If you are planning to jump in the boiling river in the Yellowstone, hike the Riverside Walk or the The Narrows at Zion National Park