First Travel Abroad With Your Baby

International travel with toddlers and babies is a great way to treasure your memories. Friends and family members may discourage you from travelling with your baby. However, you should definitely do it. While your baby will not recollect any of the sights and sounds or experiences, you will cherish each of the moments spent together. Travelling with a baby means being prepared for jet lag, blowouts, tantrums, travel sickness, and more. 

When travelling with a baby, you will have several things on your checklist. By the time you decide to travel, you should have added immigration solicitors in Liverpool to your list. When shifting from one country to another, you need to have all the paperwork, documentation, visas, and other essential legal issues wholly sorted. You must also ensure all the documentation and paperwork ready for infants and children shifting with you. 

When you are travelling abroad with your baby for the first time, you should consider a few things. 

 

Schedule Flights At Convenient Times:

Finding the most convenient flight time can be challenging. Instead of picking whatever is available, you should opt for a flight time when your child will probably be fast asleep. Nap times help ensure your child is free from the stress of boarding, seeing too many people, and waking up startled or surprised. If your child gets alarmed, you may have to calm them down during boarding or immigration. Doing this will create utter chaos and cause you to lose concentration during immigration and boarding times. 

An early morning flight when your baby is asleep, or a late-night flight would work in your favour. These flights are readily available and sometimes may cost lesser than ones during the day. 

 

Carry Medication:

When you’re travelling with a baby, you never know which medication you may need. Babies can have all sorts of issues at the most unexpected times. Small things like a tummy ache, headache, cold, cough, or even gas can cause discomfort to your child. When you are in the process of moving to a new place and are travelling with a tiny baby, you would need to have all emergency medicines on hand. You should also keep the prescriptions, refills, and other medical insurance information within reach at all times. 

If you do not have the medicines available, you may spend several hours frantically finding the correct medication for your baby. To avoid all this chaos, it is best to be prepared for all medical emergencies. At the minimum, you should keep a baby thermometer, ibuprofen, cough drops, and a few more. You should also keep some extra medicines for yourself. 

 

Arrive At The Airport Early:

When travelling with a baby, it is best to arrive at least an hour before the scheduled arrival time. It reduces the stress of missing the flight and allows your baby to run around the airport, expend some energy, and get ready for sleep. If your baby is too small to walk around, you should not get to the airport too early. Airports can be boring for little children, and your little one may sleep before it’s time to board the flight. 

Arriving early also allows you to get your bearing, and check where the departure gate is, and get through immigration and customs. Having enough time on hand enables you to ensure that all your documentation is in order, you have everything on hand and you haven’t forgotten anything. 

 

Pack According To Your Destination:

While it may seem like a good idea to overpack, you should only pack what you need. If you’ve planned a summer holiday, ensure you pack enough baby-safe sunscreen, baby wipes, hats, and protective clothing. If travelling to a cold place, you should carry enough sweaters, warmers, full-sleeved and hooded onesies, jumpers, and gloves to protect your baby from chills and colds. 

If you are travelling to a destination where you will walk around a lot, you should ensure you check in the baby stroller. You should also have a foldable umbrella that can be attached to the stroller to protect the baby. Apart from this, you should always have a baby carrier to ensure your arms are free to care for luggage and other necessities. 

When travelling, carry additional baby formula, wet wipes, diapers, clothes, snacks, and more. 

Apart from these tips, something you should always do when booking flight tickets is purchase an extra ticket for the baby. Reserving bulkhead seats for the baby can help with extra storage for the bassinet.

Best Tips for Relocating with Kids on a Private Air Charter

Relocating with your children is quite a difficult task. They’ll have so many questions, some of which you either may be unable to answer or they might not find the answers satisfactory. The trip itself can be quite a chore, seeing how it may take hours and the conditions may be less than ideal.

This is why a lot of people, when traveling with children, find that hiring a private air charter might be a great idea. The logic behind this is following:

  • This is a one-time trip, not your regular commute. This can offset a higher cost of travel than you would face when traveling by other means.
  •  The journey itself would be so interesting that it would take some edge off the entire process. So, instead of a major change, your kids would face an adventure.

While they may not seem major, these two advantages alone are enough to persuade parents who already have so much on their plate. With that in mind and without further ado, here are several tips that will help you get even more out of your private air charter relocation with kids.

 

Think About the Schedule

Sure, you’re traveling privately, so you don’t have to worry about the other passengers, but you still don’t want your toddlers to get grumpy during the flight. Provided that you notify the charter company in advance, you may receive a more favorable flying schedule. When traveling with kids, this can make all the difference in the world.

As a parent, you should know the biorhythm of your kid the best, and this is something that you should base your organization on. Seeing as how a private air charter gives you more flexibility, you won’t have to book a flight day in advance. In fact, the chances are that you can book a flight anytime tomorrow. In some cases, and with some companies, you can book a flight that is in 4-6 hours.

 

Carry-on Luggage

Even though a charter flight has everything organized for your own convenience, it’s still not your own home. This means that your access to your kid’s stuff and your regular inventory will be restricted. So, you need to have well-packed carry-on luggage at your disposal at all times.

While traveling on a commercial flight, your carry-on bag size would be restricted. The size of your carry-on bag should, by default, fit in the overhead bin. There are some who suggest a 24-inch suitcase as a good solution, but the experiences of the majority of parents agree that this is just too small. Fortunately, on a private air charter, this shouldn’t be that much of an issue. This is especially true since you’ll have a staff to help you both load and unload.

Naturally, relocating with your kids means taking care of the rest of your stuff, as well. This is done best in two stages, even if you’re determined to do it all by air. So, start by looking for a private air charter for you and your kids. Then, proceed to find reliable air freight shipping for the rest of your inventory. As we mentioned in the previous section, start scheduling in time in order to ensure that it all arrives on time.

 

Play It Safe

One of the most important things when traveling on a private air charter is that you learn how to manage your expectations. What does this mean? Well, for starters, while this sort of trip is more convenient, it’s still not perfect.

For instance, while it’s easier to use the toilet on a private air charter, it’s still better to just avoid this altogether. Making your kids go to the bathroom before you take off is always a better choice.

Moreover, while you have the option to order a gourmet menu (the majority of private jet charters offer catering services), it’s probably better to play it safe. In other words, get yourself whatever you want but get your kids something you know they’ll eat 100%. Taking risks here is definitely not wise. Also, keep in mind that a healthy diet is a key to boosting your child’s gut health, and this is not something you should deviate from during this flight.

When it comes to the temperature on the flight, let’s just say that this wouldn’t be an issue during a commercial flight either. Now, seeing as how you’re the only traveler, it’s even easier to negotiate its adjustment. The thing is that it’s still better to have an immediate solution, like dressing your kids in layers. This way, you are more self-reliant.

 

Stay In Control

A lot of parents choose private air charters so that their kids can have more freedom on the flight. Others aim for a scenario where there are fewer judgmental looks directed their way.

So, does this mean that your kids can do whatever they want on a private air charter?

Well, not really!

You see, the problem is that these flights are not arranged to be completely safe for children – no flights are. So, if you think you can just let them run around without any risk, things might not end so great for anyone. Also, keep in mind that the doors to the cockpit are not locked and that the rest of the flight staff will probably not expect your kids running around (tripping them in the process).

Sure, you paid for the flight, but the staff is still responsible for all your safety, which is why it’s important that you follow their instructions and respect their authority.

 

In Conclusion

While the cost of relocating with kids on a private air charter is one of the most expensive ways to do so, the cost is not everything. Also, this is a one-time thing, and since the event may already be a huge thing in your kid’s life on its own, why not make an extra effort to put a positive spin on it. With the above-listed tips on your side, you can go above and beyond to optimize this trip and make it into one of their earliest adventures.

5 Simple Hacks to Make Travel to Another Country Hassle-Free

Travel is exciting! The thing is, it can also be a hassle if you aren’t prepared with the information and items you need. If you want to make it more enjoyable, you’ve come to the right place. Here are a few hacks that will make it just that.

 

Money Stuff

If you’re planning on buying things wherever you might be going, check out things like duty-free items. Make sure you know the rules where you are going. For instance, if you’re traveling to Mexico, read section 321 to ensure you know what you will and won’t have to pay taxes on at customs. You should also consider the current exchange rate so you can deal with that. Before heading out, also ensure that your credit and debit cards will work and be accepted at your destination. 

 

Destination Info

The more that you know about where you’re going, the more enjoyable your trip will be. For example, if you’re planning on going to China, it might help to know a few words of the predominant language of the area you’ll be visiting, along with a bit of the cultural norms and expectations. 

Spend a bit of time before the trip learning about customs, dining traditions, and culture as well as any other types of info that could help on the trip. It also pays to be respectful of local traditions so you don’t unintentionally insult anyone.

 

Weather

Most of the major cities and even many of the smaller, more rural areas across the planet have installed weather cameras that allow you to view the weather in real-time. There are also apps and websites you can check. 

Start checking these out a few weeks before you head out so that you can kind of get a feel for what the weather is like and pack accordingly. If there is a webcam that allows you to view it in real-time, make use of it because it can tell you more than news sites typically do 

 

Documentation

Before you leave for your trip, it’s very important to have all of your travel documents and other paperwork ready to go. Print out everything you need, such as itineraries, reservations, and anything else you may need. It’s always much better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. 

E-reservations and tickets don’t generally lead to any sort of issues, but you never want to be THAT TRAVELER. You know, the one who stands at the counter arguing with whoever happens to be working because they’ve lost the reservation. It only takes a few minutes to print out everything you need and stick it in an envelope to take along. Also, ensure your passport is up to date and that you have any necessary visas or documentation for the countries you’ll be visiting. This can ease stress and expedite your travel time in the process.

 

Cell Phone

Today, most of us rely quite heavily on our cell phones. Most of the larger carriers work in other countries, but not all of them, or they might, but at exorbitant rates. Many carriers just won’t work at all in certain countries. You might be better off just getting a throw-away phone to use for your trip and then can get rid of once you return home. Call your carrier before deciding and find out if they work in your destination and what the rates are so that you know what your best option is.

Following the hacks you’ve just read about will help make your trip more hassle-free. You’ll be able to travel with peace of mind knowing that you’ve prepared and planned for a trip that goes as smoothly as possible.

The Most Iconic Road Trips in Australia You Should Try This Year

From pristine, glistening beaches to lush green forests, including the dusty red outback, Australia truly offers some of the most beautiful and unique landscapes you can hardly come across anywhere else in the world. For this reason, adventurous road trips are among the most popular activities in Australia, especially during the time when holidays aren’t such an attainable goal, and you might want to enjoy your travel experience more, while you’re still able to head out and explore.

If experiencing the gorgeous sceneries and unique adventures is on your radar, here are some of the most iconic road trip routes in Australia you should definitely try this year:

The Great Ocean Road

Often described as an incredibly pleasant and picturesque experience, the Great Ocean Road is arguably the most popular, as well as the most famous drive in Australia. The road stretches nearly 250km through the windswept coastline of the Southern Ocean, providing some of the most beautiful sea sceneries and a number of charming coastal towns to visit along the way, representing the ideal drive to take regardless of the season. When planning a trip down the Great Ocean Road, it’s recommended to choose a route from Torquay to Port Fairy, stopping at destinations like Apollo Bay, Lorne, and the famous 12 Apostles sites, a gorgeous drive that’s suitable for family travel as well.

The Gibb River Road

Ranging over 660km, the Gibb River Road takes you from Derby to Kununurra, and is often touted as being one of the most legendary outback drives. With rugged ridges, hidden gorges, and that incredibly liberating feeling of the open road, this route represents the perfect road trip for the more adventurous at heart. Requiring a 4WD vehicle, the Gibb River Road is a bumpy ride, but it makes for quite a unique experience once you spot a bulging boab tree or the rocky Cockburn Range. However, the drive isn’t entirely deserted, as it also offers the opportunity to explore the Aboriginal culture, take a dip in a glassy waterhole, or even swim in the popular infinity pool at Lake Argyle while overlooking the surging islands.

The Grand Pacific Drive

Although a bit shorter at just 140km, the Grand Pacific Drive is still one of Australia’s most iconic routes, which makes for a brilliant day or weekend-long road trip. Starting in the Royal National Park just outside of Sydney and taking you down to the Shoalhaven region, the only thing this drive truly requires is for you to find a great car and truck rental option in Sydney, and hit the open road. The winding yet pleasant Grand Pacific Drive will take you through some of the region’s most popular holiday spots, such as Kiama and Wollongong, but if you give yourself an extra few days, you might be able to explore all the wonders that the South Coast has to offer, including pristine beaches, great wineries, as well as the well-known Kiama Blowhole.

The Seafood Frontier

If you want to learn about Australia as much as possible during your travels, the Seafood Frontier might be your best option. Following the breathtaking coastline of the Eyre Peninsula, this drive represents a true seafood safari where you could eat your way along the shore, from the incredible oysters in Coffin Bay to the delicious tuna in Port Lincoln. But apart from an incredible cuisine, this road trip will also offer a number of interesting activities you could try out, whether it’s simply walking along the stunning beaches, swimming with charming sea lions, or even going on a cage-diving adventure with great white sharks if you’re brave enough for such an undertaking. Although a bit different from other typical road trips, the Seafood Frontier truly combines the best Australia has to offer.

The Great Alpine Road

Taking you through the Victorian High Country to the Gippsland Lakes region, the Great Alpine Road stretches around 500km, and makes for a slightly different road trip experience. The drive winds through deep valleys, stunning mountain ranges, glistening waterways, as well as fantastic wine regions. Including charming historic towns, this route encompasses the best of Australia, and is a brilliant road trip option no matter the time of year. Whether you wish to try the famous lamingtons in Beechworth, taste incredible local wine in King Valley and Rutherglen, go on a hike through the Mount Buffalo National Park in the summer, or even opt for downhill skiing at Mt Hotham in the winter, the Great Alpine Road always makes for a unique and unforgettable adventure.

 

As a vast country offering some of the most incredible sceneries in the world, Australia is filled with beautiful road trip routes, and you surely won’t make a mistake no matter which one of these iconic drives you opt for.

Fun and Stress-Free Tips for a Road Trip with Kids

Today, the safest and most practical way to travel with your family is to organize a road trip. You will get to avoid crowds, practice good hygiene habits, stop whenever you want and enjoy all the comfort of your dear car. However, long drivers are notorious for making kids cranky, so in order to have a successful family trip, here are some ideas that will ensure everyone is having fun.

Safety first

As always, safety of your family comes first, so make sure you have a fully-equipped first aid kit in your car. Double-check your kit and make sure you have everything you need. Remember to stock up on things like band-aids of all sizes, gauze, tape, tweezers for things like thorns, and plenty of medication like Benadryl and Advil. Since the pandemic is still raging, always pack enough wet wipes, hand sanitizer and masks.

Download apps

While you can take the old-school road and write everything on paper, you can also reduce the amount of work and download apps. Notes will come in handy for packing, while traffic apps will provide you with information regarding the road conditions. There are also food apps that let you eat like a local and gas apps that will save you money on fuel.

Check your car

You don’t want to find yourself in a sticky vehicle situation that will get you stranded and behind schedule. So, make sure to schedule an appointment at your local service center to ensure your car is safe and ready for the road. Additionally, for extra comfort of everyone in the car (and outside of it) you can do some tuning on your vehicle. If you want to provide your kids with a quiet ride, yet don’t want to sacrifice that sporty sound you enjoy on solo drives, you might want to install new and better mufflers that allow you to set the optimal sound level according to your desired preference. This way, you can turn heads when you want or stay incognito at other times.

Pack lightly

Kids often require a ton of stuff, but a cluttered car can cause anxiety and moodiness. It’s better to pack on a minimalist side and only opt for bare essentials. If you stick to items designed for travel, you will have a clean and safe car throughout your trip. Another benefit of packing light is that you won’t have to pay exorbitant hotel charges for a short trip. All you’ve to do is place your bags at luggage storage in manchester while you head to explore the city with ease. By doing so, you’ll be able to save enormous costs on accommodation, especially if you don’t want to clutter your car with bags.

Stock up on snacks

Hungry kids are naughty kids, so make sure to pack plenty of snacks to use as a distraction until you find a restaurant or a good spot for picnic. A small cooler filled with healthy snacks will make sure your family is satisfied and healthy, and you will even save money on those overpriced gas station snacks. Most coolers fit perfectly between seats and can even be used as tables or chairs during breaks.

Plan for stops

While mapping your journey, make sure to look for practical stop opportunities on your maps or mapping apps. Pitstops are essential when it comes to safety and comfort, and they can make your road trip so much more interesting. The least you can do is stop at a park or two during your trip to stretch your legs, grab some food and let kids have some outdoor playtime. Make sure to pack a ball, a Frisbee or no-spill soap bubbles in case the parks you come across don’t have any playground equipment.

Don’t forget entertainment

There are so many activities your kids can play in the car alone or with you, and they will come super handy during your trip. Cards, story book puzzles and coloring books are just some of the toy choices you can pack. You can also look up fun car games or just organize car concerts and sing your favorite tunes.

Many parents choose to limit screen time when traveling since family road trips are not everyday occurrences. However, you can always expect boring parts of the road with nowhere to stop and nothing to look at—this is where your kids will get bored. So pack some electronics and play a movie or allow them to play educational games.

If you’re aiming for a relaxing yet fun family vacation, follow these road trip tips and you’ll come back home full of amazing memories and souvenirs. And all that without any tears and tantrums!

5 Must-Haves for Family Camping

Going on a camping trip is an ideal place to spend some quality time connecting with your family. It’s also an opportunity to rekindle the spark of being out in the open and reestablishing your lost connection to nature. From the perspective of a survivalist, it’s a chance for a person to test their capability to make it out there in the wild. All of this, however, is done in controlled circumstances and is mostly fun-oriented. It is fun for the whole family and here are five things you need to bring in order to ensure the success of this trip.

1.      A proper tent

The first requirement for a family camping trip is definitely a proper camping tent. This will ensure that you’re protected from all sorts of weather occurrences. Still, there are two more things worth taking into consideration. First, the size of the tent needs to be big enough for the entire family. Second, the poles should be color-coded so that the setup is easy and it doesn’t take too much of your time. Including your kids in the setup process is another underestimated family camping activity.

2.      Automatic knife

Another thing you need is a reliable camping knife. The best thing to look for is an automatic knife, seeing as how they’re safe, portable and quite efficient. Regardless if you need to cut or pierce something, there is a series of camping tasks that will be on your to-do list. Ideally, you would buy quality OTF automatic knives that can last you a lifetime. Remember, you buy a knife for the first camping trip and have it for every subsequent one. Moreover, there are so many household DIY repairs where an automatic knife could come in handy.

3.      Portable cooler

Depending on when and how you intend to go camping, the quality of the trip itself may be affected by your ability to keep your beverages cool. This is where a portable cooler is a must-have. Keep in mind that this is an inexpensive investment, seeing as how you can find coolers for as little as $30. However, make sure that the one that you’re buying has enough space. Also, look for coolers with positive reviews in order to ensure that you’re getting your money’s worth instead of making an investment that you’re going to regret.

4.      Camping grill

Technically, you could just start a fire and make the food in improvised conditions. A rock can serve as an oven panel and a pot could technically fulfill the purpose of a deep fryer. Still, getting a real camping grill can help you make a world of a difference and prepare proper gourmet meals for your entire family. This way, you could elevate the quality of the camping trip in question by quite a margin. Keep in mind that you have so much to do around the campsite. This means that making just one of the tasks easier might help you enjoy camping a lot more.

5.      Camping chairs

Sitting on the grass, earth, or even a blanket definitely has its merits but by bringing some camping chairs, you will opt for a simpler, safer option. The most important thing worth keeping in mind is the fact that camping chairs are foldable. As such, they’re easy to fit in the trunk and transport for miles and miles. Camping chairs come in various colors, shapes and folding mechanisms. Therefore, some shopping around might be a good idea.

Conclusion

One of the most important things worth keeping in mind is the fact that each of the above-listed purchases needs to be done once. You buy all of this once and have a suitable inventory for each subsequent trip. This alone makes buying quality an even greater priority. You should also look at this as a way to customize your camping trips in an easy and simple manner. Overall, you have a lot of maneuvering space and so many options to choose from.

Road Trip! 5 Sun Protection Tips For Travelers

If traveling to a sunny and warm place is on your to-do list, you should be aware that scorching temperatures and intense sunlight can be detrimental to your health. While extreme temperatures can expose anyone to heat illnesses, health risks are greatest for infants, young children, those with chronic ailments, and older travelers.

Dealing with overexposure to UV radiation is simple and should not hinder us from enjoying the beach during the summer season. Whether touring around in a city or lounging about outside, it is essential to protect yourself and your loved ones from the sun’s piercing effect.

Wherever your travel escapades take you and your family this summer, ensure that these tips are followed to remain safe.

 

1. Drink A lot of Water

Most people enjoy packing their vehicle’s roof rack store with stuff they’ll need to spend time outdoors on sunny days. While outside during the hot sunny weather, always keep in mind that too much sun exposure can have serious consequences. This could range from potentially life-threatening sunstroke to painful sunburns.

To reduce dehydration risk, drink plenty of cold liquids, preferably water, before you feel thirsty.

 

male-drinking-water

2. Choose the Right Sunscreen

Did you know that the sun’s UV rays can harm your skin in just a 15-minute time frame? Sunscreen is one of the best ways of protecting yourself, so ensure to use sunscreen on all exposed skin.

Sunscreens are best if they can protect you from ultraviolet rays, are broad-spectrum, and have SPF 30+1. Always put on sunscreen 20 minutes before stepping out in the sun. When applying, make sure to get help for areas that are hard to reach like your back. Make sure to reapply regularly; when sweating, on cloudy days, even on days where it’s not so sunny.

Apply an ounce of sunscreen on every part of your body. One ounce is about the size of a golf ball- use more than an ounce if you’re sweating or swimming. A small tube containing three to five ounces of sunscreen might only be enough for one person, this is especially true during those days where the sun is scorching.

Never use any sunblock that you may have bought during the previous year. Sunscreen loses its effectiveness over time, and your exposure to skin damage will increase significantly.

Here are round up tips for using sunscreen effectively:

Buy a daily moisturizer for your face that contains an SPF of at least 15. Keep in mind that skin on your face is more sensitive to sun damage than the rest of your body.
Apply sunscreen every day, even during the wintertime. Ensure to reapply every two hours, especially if you’re sweating or swimming.
Buy a sunblock with Broad Spectrum protection or UVA, because if it doesn’t,  you may be getting protection from UVB rays.
If you’re planning on hitting the pool or beach, a water-resistant sunscreen would be ideal. Always reapply after swimming.
Always apply the cream 20 to 30 minutes in advance before sunbathing. Doing this will help increase the effectiveness of the cream, allowing it to penetrate skin layers with greater ease.
For best results, ensure that you follow all instructions on the product label.

3. Stay In the Shade

Whether you’re cycling around the streets or are out for a day at the beach, continually staying under direct exposure to the sun is never a good idea. According to the Cancer Council NSW, staying in the shade can reduce ultraviolet (UV) exposure by up to 75%. You will do yourself a lot of good by sheltering under a shady tree, pavilion, or an umbrella throughout the day. Doing this will help limit the harmful effects of the sun’s UV rays.

Always keep in mind that the sun’s UV rays are strongest between 10 am and 4 pm. If you’re out during that time, try and alternate between sun and shade.

sun-ptotection

4. Choose the Right Clothing

When outside for the better part of the day, the clothing you decide to put on can greatly influence your level of sunlight protection. Sure, any clothing can give you protection, but some apparels are more effective than others.

These tips will guide you on the kind of garments that can offer protection even on the brightest of days:

Always go for clothing made of dark colors or thick materials since they contain a higher SPF than light-colored, lightweight cloth.
Aside from using sunscreen, give your eyes, scalp, and face extra protection by wearing a wide-brimmed hat. Avoid straw hats with holes that let sunlight in. Instead, go for a canvas hat that is tightly woven and will go a long way in protecting your skin from UV rays. If a hat with a brim round isn’t your thing and prefer a baseball cap instead, ensure to protect the back of your neck and ears. Stay in the shade and use a sunscreen with at least SPF 15, and you’ll be fine.

5. Carry Your Sunglasses

In addition to clothing and hats, don’t forget to carry your sunglasses. They will protect the soft skin around your eyes from getting exposed to the sun. When buying sunglasses, look for the type that blocks UVB and UVA rays to get optimum protection. Wrap-around glasses would be the best choice since they block UV rays from getting in from the side.

 

The Bottom Line

Going out and having fun in the hot summer sun doesn’t have to be a risky affair. By following these tips, you’ll not only look tan but also protect your skin from the harmful effects of solar radiation as well.

7 Carry-on Hacks When Traveling With Kids

One of the biggest struggles that parents have when they’re traveling with their kids is the number of items they pack in their luggage and carry-on.

Traveling is especially challenging if you have smaller kids with you since you want to be able to get a hand on them at all times. When you’re carrying your items with you, it’s even more difficult.

Your kids are going to need specific things to travel comfortably, so you’re going to be lugging around a big bag for their needs alone.

As parents, you’d want to make your life a lot easier all the time, especially when you’re somewhere far away from home. Hence, these seven carry-on hacks for your travel with kids should help you have an easier time:

 

Pack only a week’s worth of clothes

One of the reasons it’s so difficult to travel with your kids is because you have to bring a lot of items with you. Most of them will be all the variety of clothes and other baby clothing that you’ll need.

Therefore, the only way to have a manageable number of clothes with you would be to pack only a week’s worth of clothes.

If you want to make it easier for you, you should start by looking for ways to remove the number of clothes you bring with you. You should limit yourself only to a week’s worth of clothes.

You can always pay for laundry service or book a place that has a washing machine and a dryer. Instead of bringing your entire wardrobe with you, reduce your stress by limiting your packing to one week’s clothes.

 

Use packing cubes

When you’re traveling with your kids, you want to access the items that you need at any time. Therefore, you should be more deliberate and organized with how you pack your items, even in your carry-on.

One thing that will help you pack well would be by using packing cubes to help you pack your items.

Packing cubes are especially helpful for keeping and adequately compartmentalizing your other smaller things. You can use packing cubes to separate items based on which items are for which people.

Having one large compartment makes it a lot harder to organize several items that come in different sizes. With the help of packing cubes, you can have smaller compartments for your smaller pieces, and they’ll be easier to access and find because of that.

 

Travel size your toiletries

Travel-sized toiletries are something that you should already be doing in the first place. One tip to be able to have more toiletries is by using solid toiletries instead of liquid ones. There are even shampoo and conditioner bars that both won’t count as a liquid toiletry.

If you don’t have any specific concerns or needs, you might also want to consider not bringing toiletries with you. Instead, you can buy your toiletries at your location.

 

Wear bulky clothing items

One way to reduce your luggage’s weight is by wearing your bulkiest clothing items when you go on a flight.

Once you’re properly seated, you can start removing the bulky clothing if it’s bothering you. Doing this will help you reduce the weight of your luggage. That way, you won’t have to rush through the entire process of boarding a flight hauling a big suitcase.

 

Bring three pairs of shoes at most

Aside from limiting your clothes, it would help if you also restrained yourself by bringing only three pairs of shoes at most. Please limit that to two, if you can. Also, try and wear your bulkiest shoes on the flight.

 

Limit electronics devices

You don’t need to bring all your electronic devices when you’re traveling with your kids. You don’t need those camera lenses as much as you thought you did.

Having a tablet and a portable power bank can provide you with all you and your kid’s needs.

 

Give your kids their bag

If your kids are a little older, you should consider getting them their bags. That way, you’ll have a new place to store the items that your kids would want to access.

You can store their toys, snacks, blanket, and more. Plus, it will get your kids to feel more independent.

 

Over to You

All those horror stories that parents have when they travel with their kids might intimidate you when the time comes for you to do the same. However, the simple act of preparing beforehand will do wonders for reducing your stress on the day of your trip.

These seven carry-on hacks are just a few of the things you can do to ease some of the load that comes with traveling with kids.

As you continue to go with kids, you might find more methods that work best for you. Also, remember to have fun during your travel and to have patience with yourself and your kids.

Tips for Saving Enough Money to Go on Vacation with the Family

After a long year of working and attending school, your entire family could benefit from going on a long, relaxing vacation. Unfortunately, if you’re living from one paycheck to the next, it can be downright impossible for you to try to save up enough in order to start planning your next adventure. There are many ways for you and your family to save up money so that you can start planning ahead.

Bring in Extra Money

There are lots of ways for you to bring in some extra money that can be put directly into your vacation account. You might choose to sell some unused furniture or items that are just lying around the house. You can sell these either by holding a yard sale or selling them online to local buyers. If you don’t have much to sell off, you might want to consider taking on some overtime at work or doing some freelancing.

Refinance or Consolidate Older Debts

If you’re in a significant amount of debt, it can be suffocating to try to see the light at the end of the tunnel. If you’re trying to save up some cash for a vacation while tackling debt, you probably won’t be able to meet your monetary goals. For this reason, you need to either refinance or consolidate the debts that you have. If you have old student loans, you can refinance them to save some money and get a longer repayment term.

Set Up a Special Account

The problem with trying to save up money for a vacation in your regular checking or savings account is that you’ll be tempted to use it. Your account is running a bit low, so you simply take it out of the savings. You need cash for an emergency, so you dip into what you have saved up. It’s a good idea to create a special account specific to going on vacation. You may even want to set a restriction that you cannot dip into these funds until it comes time to travel.

Send Funds Automatically to Your Vacation Fund

You can automate your savings in order to prevent forgetting to put into the account. Most banks allow their customers to set up automatic transfers that allow them to choose the amount and time to send money over to a separate account. You won’t even realize that money is being put into this fund each week, and you’ll have significant savings when it’s time to take a trip with your loved ones.

Plan Ahead

The earlier you plan for your trip, the cheaper and more affordable it is going to be. Likewise, you’ll be able to get a feel for how much the vacation will cost so that you have enough time to save up for it. You can check flights and hotel fees well in advance to actually needing them. If you have the money for it, don’t hesitate to establish some bookings while you are able to get them at their absolute cheapest and most affordable.

6 Tips to Overcome Seasickness Quickly

 

Photo by Eirik Skarstein on Unsplash

From headaches, nausea and cold sweats to dizziness and vomiting, seasickness can have a number of draining and downright debilitating symptoms that have the power to completely ruin your vacation. Fortunately, there are many ways you can help your body adapt to these atypical motions and conditions, and take back control of your stomach while you’re at sea. Here are some of the best techniques for overcoming seasickness quickly and efficiently:

1. Minimize your consumption

Even though it might help calm your nerves, try to minimize your consumption of food, drinks, and alcoholic beverages both before and during your sea travels, especially those that hinder your digestion or make you feel surprisingly full. It would also be a good idea to avoid foods with heavy spices or strong smells, as they tend to exacerbate nausea and seasickness in most people. However, don’t forget to drink plenty of water and electrolyte-laden drinks, even if you keep vomiting, in order to calm your stomach and stay hydrated during the trip.

2. Try to desensitize yourself

Desensitization therapy is arguably one of the most efficient ways of minimizing the symptoms and even curing motion sickness altogether. A simple practice you can try during the months or weeks leading up to your trip, desensitization therapy works by exposing yourself to short periods of activities that cause motion sickness symptoms, and then working up to longer periods over time. For instance, if you tend to experience seasickness, start by taking a boat out to a calmer lake or river, and then work your way up to faster sea scooters or even bigger ferry boats, in order to allow your body to adjust to these activities.

3. Take control of the experience

Photo by Oliver Sjöström on Unsplash

One of the easiest ways to minimize the amount of seasickness you experience on board is to thoroughly plan your holiday in advance, opting for a personalized experience that will suit your needs the most. For example, if you want to book a Mediterranean yacht charter vacation, choose a company that will allow you to make your own itinerary with the help of experienced specialists. That way, you can opt for routes that incorporate a number of stops and land tours, thus minimizing the amount of time you spend at sea.

4. Do your best to keep still

Although this idea might seem absurd when you’re traveling by boat or ship, do your best to stay as still as possible in order to minimize the symptoms of seasickness. What this means is to try to find an area (usually somewhere in the middle of the vessel) where you will experience the least amount of movement. Every ship needs to rotate, pivot and bounce around a center of gravity; do your best to locate it, and find a place where you can sit or lay down comfortably in that area, to feel the least movement from the ship and reduce common motion sickness symptoms.

5. Stay calm and ride it out

Photo by Philipp Kämmerer on Unsplash

Considering the fact that our bodies possess an incredible ability to adapt to any situation and accommodate their responses, seasickness tends to clear up on its own after approximately three days. If you focus on this fact and believe that your symptoms will go away sooner than you thought, you might even rid yourself of sea sickness completely. Alternatively, you can also try to distract yourself by practicing breathing techniques or counting down backward from 100, in order to stay more calm and relaxed at sea.

6. Opt for seasickness medication

If none of these techniques help you overcome seasickness and you still keep experiencing severe symptoms, then the only option left is to buy over-the-counter motion sickness medication or even talk to your doctor about prescribing stronger and more effective treatments. However, it’s important to note that most motion sickness medications are most effective when taken 30 to 60 minutes prior to sickness, and can even have negative side effects, such as dry mouth and drowsiness, which is why they should always be considered as a last resort.

As long as you care for your body well and take appropriate precautions before your next vacation, seasickness can be treated quickly and efficiently. Above all, it’s important to stay calm and remember that it’s just a passing state that will end eventually.