Is traveling with toddlers worth it?

[Anonymous]

We have two kids under 3, a year and a half apart in age. I miss traveling and like the idea of a family trip somewhere nearby for a few days, either in April or this summer. However, every time I start researching places I think about all the things we would have to bring, how the kids’ routines would be disrupted, nothing would be baby-proofed, etc, and it just seems overwhelming. We’ve done two road trips to Upstate NY to visit relatives, and those trips were exhausting. Is there any way to make a vacation with toddlers pleasant? Or better to just wait and save money for a trip when they’re older?

[Anonymous]

I think it’s worth it. Go somewhere easy like Puerto Rico. You still deserve to travel! Just have low expectations. And do what you can to make it easy for yourself.

[Anonymous]

I have 3 kids and honestly travel between about 15 - 36 months is fairly unpleasant. We just put a pause on things when the kids were around that age unless it involved traveling with helpful grandparents so we could get a real break. Or I know some friends who would take their nanny.

If you are going to do it, then you need either a 3 hour or less drive, or direct flight. If flying, ideally go somewhere walkable so you don’t need to worry about schlepping car seats. Get a house rental or suite with closed off bedrooms (hopefully that has a pack n play so you don’t have to bring one) so you can chill in the main area once the kids go to bed.

Or take time off to do day trips while the kids are in childcare (only works if you have set up childcare).

It gets a lot better though, my kids are elementary age now and super fun to take places. Also once they are 3+ you can use melatonin to help them adjust to being off schedule/time change differences. Mine don’t need it anymore, but between ages ~3 to 5ish it was a godsend to avoid little kids bouncing off the walls or melting down and unable to sleep in a new place.

[Anonymous]

Nope. Not worth it.

[Anonymous]

Not worth it.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely worth it but expect to pay more.

Really good family-friendly resorts with internationally vetted childcare. Play on the beach with them, spend the afternoon being adults/taking a “rest”/getting a massage, take them to see a fun evening show and dance to the music, babysitter puts them to bed while you have an adult dinner.

It’s pricey but for a few weeks a year it’s absolutely worth it

[Anonymous]

It was worth it for us, though my kids are further apart in age than yours. Sure, it’s inconvenient, but if you’re flexible, it can be really fun. We did everything from local camping to travel to Europe with a toddler.

[Anonymous]

When all is said and done, I’m very glad we took some trips with those ages. It was not easy or relaxing, but it was still worth it. Tips: Try to stay within a 3 hour flight or 5 hour drive; don’t get your heart set on seeing anything specific; book flexible and refundable plans (Airbnb with cancelation or book using a credit card that has travel insurance); think through how things like sleeping and naps will work. We used airbnbs for this phase so we could have more rooms, making napping easier, and so we could do laundry throughout the trips.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have two kids under 3, a year and a half apart in age. I miss traveling and like the idea of a family trip somewhere nearby for a few days, either in April or this summer. However, every time I start researching places I think about all the things we would have to bring, how the kids’ routines would be disrupted, nothing would be baby-proofed, etc, and it just seems overwhelming. We’ve done two road trips to Upstate NY to visit relatives, and those trips were exhausting. Is there any way to make a vacation with toddlers pleasant? Or better to just wait and save money for a trip when they’re older?

This is why we started going to Disney World...

[Anonymous]

I have family that lives abroad. Traveling is a lot easier after 3 and very doable then. But travel with younger is a lot harder. Because I was going specificity to a place where I had family I did have someone who took the load off a bit because they wanted to see the kids. And taking the flight with a relative (like a sibling) helped. My Kids seeing their cousins and building the relationship was nice but you definitely sightsee differently and your hours are much more constrained, unless someone can babysit.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, that sounds awful. It won't be relaxing at all. We only traveled to see family when my daughter was young, and even that was exhausting. These years will fly by and travel will be more fun when they're a bit older.

[Anonymous]

Exactly how old would the kids be when you do the trip?

[Anonymous]

My kids are now young adults and teens, and I've spent many years on DCUM reading how vacations with kids are merely "trips", and how toddlers are the worst, etc.

So maybe I'm lucky to have generally undemanding kids (despite one's anaphylactic reaction to nuts and the other not sleeping through the night for 2 years), but we went on vacation to our home countries in Europe and Asia multiple times in my kids' lives, including when they were babies to preschoolers, and we loved it. We were highly motivated and baby-centric in our approach, and we enjoyed our travels with our young children.

[Anonymous]

Only have one DC by we did Montreal at 2 and Hong Kong at 3.5. The trans-Pacific flight was a wildcard but he did great and no regrets. If you have a grandparent available, bring them.

[Anonymous]

Wait until they are 3 and then do cruise which has kids club.

You don’t have to plan anything and ship takes you to all your destinations so no need to pack/unpack.

Put kids in kids club if you want to do only adult dinner, excursions, etc… and take kids on family friendly ones.

My son loved the kids club and still does. Sometimes he did not want to do the shore excursions and we had to convince him to go.