5 Travel Tips Every Parent Should Know

Travelling with children can be a wonderful and rewarding experience, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges. From planning ahead to keeping little ones entertained and managing their needs on the go, parents often find themselves in need of some extra tricks up their sleeves. That's why we compiled this list of five travel tips that every parent should know, to ensure your next family adventure is memorable and (at least a little more) stress-free.

Pack Smart and Light

When it comes to packing for a family trip, less is more. Begin by creating a checklist of all the necessary items, including toiletries, diapers, formula, snacks, and extra clothing. Optimise space in your luggage by rolling clothes instead of folding them, and consider packing a small first-aid kit with items like plasters, antiseptic wipes, and any necessary medications - just in case a minor emergency arises.

Centara Tip: Investing in lightweight and compact travel gear, such as collapsible strollers and portable high chairs, to help you save space and avoid migraines.

Plan Ahead and Book Child-Friendly Accommodation

Choosing the right accommodation is crucial when travelling with children. Look for family-friendly hotels that offer facilities and amenities catering to the needs of younger travellers, including swimming pools, playgrounds, or entertainment zones. Centara Hotels & Resorts is renowned for its family-friendly offerings, with an array of properties featuring exhilarating activities and dedicated kids' clubs, kids' pools, water parks, aerial ropes courses, babysitting services, and family-friendly room configurations. Booking a room with a kitchenette is another great travel hack for parents, allowing you to easily prepare meals or snacks in a pinch.

Centara Tip: Inquire about the availability of cribs or extra beds to ensure a truly comfortable stay for everyone.

Entertainment Is Key

Long flights or car journeys can be challenging for children who get bored easily, so it is always important to be prepared. Encourage curiosity and exploration by providing a variety of age-appropriate games, puzzles, books and activities to captivate their imagination. Engage their creative side with colouring books, stickers, and drawing materials, or foster interactive play with travel-sized board games. Load up your tablet or smartphone with educational apps or movies, and ask them questions about what they learned. Just remember to bring headphones to avoid disturbing other passengers.

Family holidays create lifelong memories for children, and finding ways to enhance their experience through activities like travel games or one-on-one conversations away from the distractions of daily life can have a lasting impact.

Centara Tip: Prepare a family scavenger hunt of things to look out for on your holiday – monuments, animals, road signs, etc. – and see who can find the most before heading home.

Embrace Snacks and Hydration

Every parent knows that when a child starts getting hungry or thirsty, all bets are off. Avoid a meltdown in the middle of a quiet museum or having to leave the ancient ruins you have been waiting your whole life to see, by ensuring you have snacks and drinks readily available. Take this one step further and pack a mix of easy-to-eat snacks – granola bars, fruit snacks, string cheese – just in case your little one decides to be a finicky eater that day. Having a refillable water bottle on hand for each family member, also means no one will get dehydrated throughout the day.

Centara Tip: When travelling by air, remember that formula, breast milk, baby/toddler food and drinks are allowed in your carry-on baggage and can exceed 100 ml.

Engage in Local Experiences

Travelling with children offers a unique opportunity to expose them to new cultures and ways of life. By engaging your kids in local customs, traditions, and authentic experiences, you ignite their curiosity and nurture their understanding of the world. From exploring bustling markets and tasting exotic flavours to learning indigenous crafts and participating in traditional festivities, these immersive encounters broaden their horizons and foster a sense of appreciation for diversity. By embracing other cultures, your children will create lasting memories and develop a global perspective that will enrich their lives for years to come.

Centara Tip: Let your children help plan your family holiday by asking them to choose a cultural activity or unique local destination they are interested in visiting on your trip.

With proper planning and a few savvy travel tricks, family getaways can be truly enjoyable and stress-free. Remember to be flexible and patient, as unexpected situations may arise, and most importantly, remember to make the most of your precious time together!

Check out these kid-friendly Centara hotels and resorts and discover why we are The Place to Be for unforgettable family holidays:

Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya

Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi

Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives

Centara Anda Dhevi Resort & Spa Krabi

Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai

Centara Mirage Resort Mui Ne