Are you traveling out of town this Thanksgiving? Traveling during the hectic holiday rush can be stressful enough. If you have kids, you know that it’s even more stressful! Fortunately, there are ways to travel during the holiday season without losing your sanity. Check out these Thanksgiving travel tips with kids.
Get an Early Start
If you have children, you should probably take a few more vacation days than usual and get out of town earlier than you normally would. When you travel during the Thanksgiving holiday, you’ll find that a lot of other people are also on the road. Because of this, it can make it a bit more difficult to keep an eye on your children. Keeping your kids on their best behavior at all times can make traveling an even more stressful experience. By leaving a few days before the rush, you can reduce the amount of stress that you feel. You’ll arrive at your destination feeling less stressed and more prepared to express gratitude to those around you.
Introduce Some Distractions
Bring your children’s favorite distractions with you on the trip to your Thanksgiving destination for the best possible experience. It doesn’t matter what you choose, as long as it’s something that can keep your kids occupied for a good chunk of time. Tablet computers, books, games, toys, and coloring books are some examples of great diversions to bring along. All of these things have the potential to assist you in keeping your children seated and engaged in quiet play.
Bring Help!
It is highly unlikely that you will be able to go on a trip by yourself if you have more than one child. Consider bringing help to make traveling easier. If you or your spouse have another family member who will be traveling in the same direction, you can ask them to take the same flight as you if you choose to travel by air, or ride in the car with you. This provides you with an additional pair of eyes to assist in keeping those children in line, and it can be exciting for your children because they will get to see a beloved member of another family.
Plan Some Activities
When you reach your destination, it is a good idea to have some activities planned for your children. This can help to ensure that they are not bored, and it also gives you something to do with them if the adults in the group want to take a break. You can look online for ideas of things to do in the area where you will be spending Thanksgiving. Many cities and towns offer a variety of different activities that cater to families with young children.
Consider Your Lodging Arrangements
If you will be traveling with small children, it is important to consider your lodging arrangements carefully. It might be necessary for you to rent a larger room than you normally would so that everyone has enough space to sleep comfortably. It can also be helpful to look for hotels that offer a kitchenette. This will give you the ability to prepare your own meals, which can save you money and time.
In Conclusion
Traveling over Thanksgiving doesn’t need to be the end of the world for you. By following these tips, you can make Thanksgiving travel with kids less stressful and more enjoyable for everyone involved. Safe travels!
