Celebrating Thanksgiving with friends and family is fantastic. Actually getting to the dinner --not usually so much fun. Facing congestion, delays, and traffic with toddlers in tow takes a lot of the joy out of anticipating the family gathering. But we've asked Jeanne Muchnick, travel expert extraordinaire, for her best advice for successful travel with young kids. Here's what she had to say.--Diana
As a mom, I don’t have to tell you how frantic holiday travel can be. Heck: often just getting out the door in the morning is stressful enough. Add to that the nearly 63.9 million Americans that will be joining you on the roads and in the sky and you’re bound to be anxious.
But you don’t have to be. Yes, the holiday season means crowded airports and traffic-clogged roads and yes, flying isn’t what it used to be, with security tighter (no wrapping presents for carry on luggage!), longer lines, less helpful personnel, and very little if any amenities (don’t get me started on the rude personnel who make young mothers completely unwrap their baby slings with sleeping infants inside just to go through security!), but it’s do-able provided you prep yourself in advance, maintain a sense of humor and above all, pack your patience.
Whether you’re driving or flying, the reality is, you need to prepare for delays. That means a change of clothes for everyone, food (including fruit so you can avoid carb-loading), medicines, and electronic chargers (heaven forbid your DVD player or cell phone lose its juices). Here, some tips from travel experts as well as the REAL pros: moms just like you!
If Flying:
Fly direct so you don’t have to hassle with changing planes. By flying nonstop you’ll not only avoid getting stuck at one of your connections with your tired and cranky family but your luggage with all your holiday presents won’t end up at the wrong airport. If you do have to make a connection, avoid hubs like Chicago, Denver and JFK that get frequent weather delays. Getting stuck in an airport for hours, let alone a night, is bad enough, but add kids to the mix and it’s a nightmare. If that’s not possible, try to have your stop-over at an airport that, in the worst case scenario, is within a drivable distance to your destination. That way, if you get stuck, you always have to option of renting a car and driving.
Fly during off- peak days and times (ideally a Tuesday or Wednesday). All of life is timing. Don't travel when everyone else is. Go to Disneyland or Las Vegas after Thanksgiving and before Christmas. Not only will the flights be cheaper but the lines shorter. Or fly on Christmas day when everyone is there already (and the flight attendants are extra nice).”Dead times" vary by route (early morning and late night are good for leisure routes, mid-day is best for business routes). I’m a big fan of the first flight of the day. That way, in case of a delay, you have more time to figure out your new itinerary and get on another flight.
Select seats when you make the reservation - this is the only way to ensure that your entire family will be seated together. Print boarding passes before leaving for the airport. If you have booked online, this option is generally available 24 hours in advance of the flight and will save standing in a check-in line at the airport.
Travel with your child’s safety seats and strollers whenever possible. Each airline has a slightly different ruling on traveling with gear, so check the airline’s website in advance to avoid surprises at the airport.
Think location, location, location. If you’re looking for a less expensive flight, look into carriers that fly into alternative airports (like Burbank or Long Beach instead of LAX or Westchester airport instead of JFK) and what they save in airport fees. You may also appreciate the added benefit of less traffic, cheaper rental cars and fewer people at the airport. Compare inexpensive flights at www.kayak.com and www.insidetrip.com.
Pack a carry-on bag with lots of extras: extra clothes, snacks, water, diapers, wipes, and lots of toys, books and the godsend of all godsends: the DVD player (just make sure it’s charged!). If you have an infant bring double the amount of diapers and formula you think you will need. I always carry enough supplies in my bag for at least 24 hours and check a bag containing other child items and non-essential items. For more packing tips, go to www.smartpacking.com.
If possible, choose an airline with seatback entertainment options (i.e. JetBlue, Virgin America, British Airways, and AirTran). Nothing beats these electronic babysitters. Heck, you might even get to close your eyes for two minutes!
Get to the airport at least two hours in advance so you’re not stressed about getting through security (your kids feed off your stress). This also gives you time to get something to eat and get everyone to the bathroom before take-off. Make sure you have plenty of little toys and activities to keep them entertained. Store your phone with photos they can look at of their destination or of the relatives they will see. Don’t forget the travel stroller! If you have a long time to wait, you can always explore the airport.
Prepare your kids for the security line. Explain to them that everything - including their favorite stuffed animal, security blanket or new toy - will have to go through the x-ray machine. Ideally, if you can, send one parent first through security, then the kids, then the second parent last. This is a good way to ensure you don't lose any luggage, or any kids. Don’t wear complicated clothing. Belts with large buckles, shoes that have to be untied, chunky jewelry, etc.—all can cause delays at security.
Don’t wrap gifts, especially those that will be packed in carry-on bags. Even with checked baggage, if a security officer needs to inspect a package they may have to unwrap it.
Pre-ship luggage. It may sound decadent but it’s a real stress-saver. Plus, it cuts down on additional luggage fees and it enables you to travel light (er). FedEx offers a service where you can pre-ship your luggage for basically the same amount the airlines charge. Plus, they come and pick the luggage up at your house. You can also use a service like JetSetBabies which ships ahead (worldwide!) all the heavy, bulky items such as diapers, wipes, formula, and baby food both to hotels, condos, and even grandmother's house. Go to www.jetsetbabies.com.
Keep your cool. Delays happen. But stressing out about it doesn’t help anyone – least of all your kids. Traveling can fray your nerves; people are rude, flights get cancelled, luggage gets lost, drinks get spilled, and kids get cranky. If you’re organized and mentally prepared to go with the flow, your kids will (hopefully!) follow your cues.
If Driving:
Driving is easier, as you have more room for your stuff, and often feel more “in control” of your destiny and time….though of course there’s always weather, road construction and traffic.
Time it right. I used to plan my holiday trips from NY to Baltimore when my girls would fall asleep in their car seats and stay asleep until the car stopped. If you’re traveling by day, you may find that you’ll be up all night with a very well-rested baby! If possible, try to arrange your trip so it doesn’t mess up your baby’s schedule. Leaving in the middle of the night may not seem fun at the time but may well be worth it by the next night.
Stop and get your wiggles out. Everyone needs a stretch after an hour or so. Let the kids run around at a rest stop so they can relieve some pent-up energy.
Research the route you’re driving in advance and look for interesting places to stop along the way. Depending on the age of your kids, a 15 minute detour to somewhere other than a rest stop can save you from backseat fighting and make the drive more of a vacation than purely a how-to-get-there drive. Leave some wiggle room in your trip to let the kids do some of the planning too; that way your kids will be more engaged.
Don’t drive too many hours per day and stop at a hotel/ motel early enough for the kids to enjoy the hotel’s amenities (i.e. an indoor swimming pool, game room, etc.) before dinner. Otherwise they’ll be angry, knowing there’s a pool they can’t use because they just ate or it’s too late. Just make sure you pack bathing suits.
Go online and and/or stock up on books about your destination. It’s a way to get kids excited about where they are going. If they can’t read yet, you can read to them and show them pictures.
Think games. If you’ve packed -- or let them pack (depending on their ages) a variety of well-thought out activities for them to do in the car, chances are they won’t bother each other as much, and the cries from the backseat won’t get out of hand. If all else fails, tell them family stories about the day they were born, or start using a funny accent when you speak to them.
Pack smart: A friend of mine packs items in Rubbermaid totes as they stack nicely in the car. If you’re taking gifts, this also prevents them from becoming damaged. Most importantly, though: keep items needed during the drive sorted by day and packed in easy to reach suitcases or bags so you only need to pull out one suitcase when you stop for the evening.
Pack food. Hungry kids are cranky kids. Pack healthy snacks, along with some special treats they don’t normally get at home special treats they don’t normally get at home. It’s also a good idea (and saves money!) if you let a child pick a favorite treat for the drive- this cuts down on wants from gas stations along the way. Or do as Julie Parrish of West Linn, Oregon, does: she gives each of her three boys, ages 6, 8 and 9, an age appropriate daily budget. She then lets them spend it how they choose when you hit a gas station or other little stop along the way. Surprisingly, she says they don’t always blow it on candy. Sometimes they buy magazines, postcards to send to dad and grandma, and other little trinkets. “But giving them some control over what they spent money on gave them something to look forward to when we stopped, and the things they bought kept them entertained when we got back on the road,” she says.
Don’t forget YOU. Stock water, food, waste bags, so the car is relatively clean and everything within easy asses. Pack your favorite tapes so you can tune out the backseat if kids start squabbling (or crying or both!).
Prepare your passengers. Let children know that you’ll be in the car for X amount of hours and the kind of behavior you expect. Explain that there will be consequences at your destination for those who don’t listen.
Give yourself extra time. Always leave with more time than you think you’ll need. If you’re rushed from the get-go, you’ll be more stressed.
Don’t let other drivers get your goat. Anger can impair both your motor skills and your judgment. Detach yourself in some way and think about the bigger picture -- mainly that you want to get to your destination in one piece. It’s not worth getting upset about. If you need to, count to five or ten to calm you down.
Keep your car stocked with an emergency safety kit along with first aid supplies, water and a blanket. This ensures peace of mind in case you do get stuck. Always take your cell phone, change for a telephone call or a phone card, along with an auto insurance card.
Let others know your trip plan. Be specific with neighbors, friends or relatives about when you’re leaving town, the approximate route, and when you’ll be back. It’s also a good idea to give that person the make of your car and your license plate number.
Don’t skimp on a car seat. Having your child in the proper seat is crucial. The proper use and installation of car safety seats can reduce the risk of death by 60 percent for infants and 47 percent for toddlers.
Pack the car/van the night before you leave — it always takes longer than you think it will. This way you can actually leave first thing in the morning before everyone gets cranky.
Edit the way you load the car. Decide where things should go based on when they are needed.
Final Travel Words of Wisdom
Let’s be honest: traveling during the holidays – any holiday, is a drag. It means more traffic on the road, more traffic in the skies, possible slick with new snow roads and airport delays. Here, some ways to keep sane (or at least stay in that holiday spirit):
Expect to wait (and wait and wait). Give the kids a new game before you leave home so they’ll be momentarily occupied.
Bring a portable DVD player – and if you have old movies of the kids as babies or even you pregnant, bring them along. This kind of home video shows never cease to keep everyone engaged.
Make sure you have enough snacks and water on hand to feed everyone (in other words: expect delays and cranky kids if you can’t stop for food and that includes something for YOU!!!).
Don’t assume your youngsters will want to go to Grandma’s and Aunt Ruthie’s the minute you land at your destination. Give them time to adjust to seeing relatives they haven’t seen in a while.
Maintain a sense of humor. Repeat this mantra under your breath several times a day: A trip is never perfect. If you keep that in mind, you might just find yourself laughing instead of yelling.
How do you smooth out the bumps on your holiday travel? What's your best advice for getting your Sproutlets there safely, happily, and ready to celebrate?