Search

Categories

Word Count

Vacation with kids? Essential hacks


(NC) Going on a holiday with your little ones in tow can be a challenge, whether they’re two or 12. Make the trip a smooth, low-stress experience everyone will enjoy with these helpful tips.

Give them a job. Whether it’s packing before your flight, during a long road trip or as you wait in line for a popular tourist attraction, making sure they have something that holds their attention works wonders at keeping them happy and you sane. A goal-oriented task like “can you help me find gate 35?” will help them feel useful and important, while keeping boredom and fussiness at bay.

Find smart ways to save. Travelling adds up, but a clever way to stay on budget is by seeing which elements you can pay for with rewards points. Some programs let you redeem for experiences like zoos and amusement parks, while others offer special discounts for members. You can even use your points to pay for your hotel. If you’re a member of Marriott Rewards or SPG, starting in August all programs will be combined to offer new rewards and benefits.

Create a scavenger hunt. A fun idea is to develop a vacation-long scavenger hunt game, with a passport that you stamp as they discover the items. Some general clues you can include are a yellow tow truck, a blue sign and someone with a funny hat. Tailor it to your vacation — for example, if you’re going to California include a palm tree, someone in a bathing suit or the golden arches. You can also customize it with their favourite things and make it more challenging as they get older.  

Start a travel journal. This sweet keepsake will keep them entertained for hours, and is something they can do in the car, on the plane and at the hotel room. Artists and younger ones can keep a visual journal of drawings and sketches, and older ones can create more of a scrapbook with ticket stubs and brochures.


Media Attachments Related Posts Terms of Use

All News Canada content is provided free of charge. Any source/sponsor of the information must also be identified as presented. For articles, credit of usage must be attributed to News Canada with "(NC)" at the beginning of an article or "www.newscanada.com" or "– News Canada" at the end. Images are only to be used with corresponding editorial copy. Usage of News Canada content constitutes your acceptance of these terms and an agreement between you and News Canada.

Disclaimer: Comments and opinions in News Canada content are those of their respective contributors only. The views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of News Canada Inc., its management or employees. News Canada Inc. is not responsible, and disclaims any and all liability, for the content of comments provided by contributors.