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Whether you\u2019re getting ready to <\/span>explore the country in your RV<\/span><\/a> or you\u2019re flying out of town for a much-needed getaway, traveling with kids can be great fun, but equally hectic! Getting the whole family packed and ready to go can try the patience of even the most even-keeled parents, sometimes detracting from your enjoyment of the experience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re already frazzled thinking about navigating the family from Point A to Point B, here are 19 ingenious travel hacks to help make your next family vacation smooth and seamless.\u00a0<\/span>Without further ado, let\u2019s dive right in.<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re planning to be away for more than a few days and are feeling stressed about fitting all your daily essentials from snacks to diapers to baby food in your suitcase, there\u2019s another way. Instead, order these items ahead of time and ship them to your final destination, so they are ready and waiting when you arrive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This will be particularly helpful if you\u2019re renting a house and want to have everything you need at your disposal once you get there without needing to take time away from your vacation to shop.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re going away on vacation and know you\u2019ll likely be picking up plenty of souvenirs on your trip, save yourself a headache. Send those bulky items home through a shipping company instead of trying to fit everything in your luggage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Souvenir stores don\u2019t typically have an issue wrapping up and shipping your items to your home. Some may even put them in the mail for you so your goodies are ready and waiting when you get back from your trip.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Make wardrobe planning for the kiddos 10 times easier, and use ziplock bags to put all their outfits together ahead of time. Each day, they can simply grab a fresh bag with shorts, a shirt, undies, socks, etc. No need to worry about mismatched socks this time!<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>#4 \u2013 Stockpile Games and Activities\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Whether you\u2019ll be going on a short or long trip, always plan ahead by bringing a bunch of games and activities to keep the little ones occupied\u2014at least for a few hours. Check out the dollar store before your trip for things like coloring books, craft supplies, puzzles, card games, and other fun activities you know your kids will love.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A special way to commemorate your vacation is to mail postcards or notes to yourself back home as you travel to various destinations. Just throw some envelopes and stamps in your suitcase before you go.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019ll be flying anywhere on your trip, whether domestically or abroad, scan and copy your driver\u2019s license, ID card, passport, itinerary, and so forth. Email yourself a copy of everything and print out one of two paper copies of each (one to store in your luggage and the other to keep with you). That way, if luggage gets lost or someone steals your purse, all your essential documents will be safe.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Don\u2019t stress yourself out trying to remember every little thing you need to bring in your luggage. Instead, make your own ultimate packing list, print it out, and keep it with you to use for this trip and ones in the future. If you do forget something one trip, be sure to add it to your list so you remember it for the next vacation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re traveling with kids, particularly young ones, one simple safety measure is to write out your name and number on a piece of paper, business card, etc. and put it in their pocket. You can teach your little ones to show that card or paper to a law enforcement officer or another dependable adult.<\/span><\/p>\n Staying at a hotel on your trip? Take the hotel\u2019s business card at the reception desk and write your contact information on the back. In the event you and your child get separated, they\u2019ll not only have your name and number but the hotel\u2019s contact details.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Don\u2019t lug big bottles of shampoo and tubes of toothpaste on your next trip. Instead, purchase travel-size hygiene and personal items ahead of time (i.e. mouthwash, body wash, shampoo, toothbrushes), that you can easily throw away when you\u2019re done and ready to go home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re going on a road trip, whether for a few days or a week, backseat organizers will be your (and your child\u2019s) new best friend. Organizers like <\/span>this one<\/span><\/a> are a great way to keep everything from snacks and drinks to games and tablets easily accessible and orderly.<\/span><\/p>\n Just in case anyone gets any scrapes along the way, put together your own <\/span>first aid kit<\/span><\/a> with all the essentials like bandaids, antiseptic wipes, Tylenol, etc., to ensure you\u2019re prepared for any unanticipated boo-boos.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Listening to audiobooks is a fantastic way to keep everyone in the car occupied on long road trips. From gripping stories to educational content, books on tape can be a dual-purpose learning and entertainment experience for the kids.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019ve listened to your favorite book for a few hours and the kids need a change of pace, pull out your laptop and play their favorite show or movie. You can set up your laptop on the car console so everyone can enjoy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re catching an early morning flight or hitting the road before the sun comes up, plan to download and pack up your kids\u2019 game and movie entertainment the night ahead. You\u2019ll likely be running about the morning of the trip attending to last minute details.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Make sure your iPad or laptop is finished downloading and ready to go, and you\u2019ll have one less thing to worry about.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When you\u2019re going on a lengthy getaway, it can be daunting to figure out how to fit all your clothes into your luggage. This is where vacuum-sealed bags can save the day.\u00a0<\/span>Put your clothes in the bags, seal them with your vacuum cleaner, and voila! The bag has shrunk down to a minute size, giving you much more room in your carry-on and suitcase.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As fun as it is playing the waiting game standing at the luggage carousel, straining your eyes to pick out your suitcase amongst the sea of other identical baggage, why not simplify things? B<\/span>efore your trip, pick up some bright and colorful tags for your baggage to jot down your contact information on. Not only will you have an easier time spotting your luggage right off the bat, but the kids can compete to see who can find their quirky baggage tag first.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Pack a couple of empty water bottles that you can refill after you get through airport security. Not only will you save a little money, not having to purchase airport bottled water, but you won\u2019t have to worry about thirsty kiddos on the plane after the drink cart rolls off.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019ll be staying in a hotel, consider booking a room with a kitchenette featuring a few kitchen essentials that you can prepare some <\/span>easy meals<\/span><\/a> in. Not only can you stretch your budget a little further, but when the kids are hungry or in dire need of a snack, you can easily whip something up.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Check out the grocery store nearest your hotel to pick up a few favorite food items for the whole family. Your hotel room coffee maker can easily do double duty to make some instant oatmeal and ramen for those last minute snacks.<\/span><\/p>\n Need to stretch your legs after the long car or plane ride? Check out these <\/span>5 tips for family fitness<\/span><\/a> to keep everyone active and help the kids release some of that pent up energy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Okay, so this final hack is really three rolled into one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n First, if you\u2019re trying to get seats with your family on the plane and are unable to when you book the flight, continue to reach out to the airline in the week, 48 hours, and 24 hours preceding your departure. Airlines have been known to reserve seats just for families, then release them a week before the flight. Once you hit the 24 and 48-hour point, elites frequently upgrade, which opens up more seats in economy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Second, skip lengthy <\/span>airport security<\/span><\/a> waits by heading to the family lane at TSA. The majority of major airports have family lanes to streamlines the process for travelers with children.\u00a0<\/span>Finally, do yourself a favor and pre-book an airport transfer both to and from your accommodation. You\u2019ll save money on airport parking and have one less component to worry about.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 This is a guest post, the ideas and views are not necessarily those of Mommy Ramblings.<\/p>\n Rachel Warren is a Research Analyst and Writer for <\/span>CarInsuranceComparison.com<\/span><\/a>. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Paralegal Studies from the Liberty University School of Law. Rachel leverages nearly a decade\u2019s prior experience in the legal field and her diverse digital marketing background to create data-rich, informative, engaging content for readers regarding car insurance, legal, finance, career, and lifestyle topics.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n#1 \u2013 Ship, Don\u2019t Pack<\/span><\/h2>\n
#2 \u2013 Send Souvenirs Ahead<\/span><\/h2>\n
#3 \u2013 Ziplock Packing\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
#5 \u2013 Send Yourself Mail<\/span><\/h2>\n
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When you visit a museum or other nifty spot, buy a postcard, have everyone sign it, and mail it back home. Those post-vacation blues won\u2019t seem so bad when the kids have mail to return to, postmarked from all the cool places they\u2019ve visited.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n#6 \u2013 Make Copies of Everything\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
#7 \u2013 Lists Are Your Friend<\/span><\/h2>\n
#8 \u2013 Safety First<\/span><\/h2>\n
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<\/span><\/p>\n#9 \u2013 Buy Travel-Size Hygiene Items\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
#10 \u2013 Use Backseat Organizers for Road Trips<\/span><\/h2>\n
#11 \u2013 Make Your Own First-Aid Kit\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
#12 \u2013 Listen to Books\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
#13 \u2013 Movie Time<\/span><\/h2>\n
#14 \u2013 Plan Ahead<\/span><\/h2>\n
#15 \u2013 Use a Vacuum Seal Bag\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
#16 \u2013 Pick Up Some Quirky and Bright Baggage Tags\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
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<\/span><\/p>\n#17 \u2013 Pack Empty Water Bottles to Fill Once You Get Through Security<\/span><\/h2>\n
#18 \u2013 Fix Some Meals In Your Hotel<\/span><\/h2>\n
#19 \u2013 Navigating the Airport With Ease<\/span><\/h2>\n
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