Family Travel Tips

Lessons We Learned on Our First International family Trip

We recently returned from our very first international family trip! After almost a year of planning, we spent two and a half weeks overseas — and I can happily say it was a success! Along the way, we picked up a lot of valuable lessons that I see as helpful to share.

If you’re planning a family vacation abroad, these tips for family travel might save you time, stress, and maybe even a few tears.

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Seating Strategy on Flights

Our go-to formula was: one parent, one teen, and one younger child. This worked especially well on flights with three seats in a row.

👉 Super tip: Always separate the two youngest kids. Trust me, everyone will be happier.

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Keep Kids Busy with Surprise Travel Packs

Before we left, we gifted each child a carry-on sized LEGO suitcase and matching backpack filled with new goodies to keep them occupied: reusable sticker books, kaleidoscopes, travel themed colouring books, washable markers, pop-it, and water ring games. These little surprises were lifesavers during long waits or flights.

Another must-have? Plug-in, foldable headphones. The airline’s free ear buds weren’t great, and the kids loved choosing their own movies on the plane.

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Pack Light and Smart

We travelled with just one carry-on suitcase (with retractable handle and wheels) and one backpack per person — no checked luggage. This was a game-changer! Not only did it save us time at baggage claim, but our 5 and 7-year-old proudly pulled their own suitcases most of the time.

I can’t imagine wrangling full-sized suitcases for the kids (plus our own) when little legs got tired. Packing light kept us sane and mobile.

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Rethink Overnight Flights

We thought an overnight flight was clever… until we lost five hours crossing time zones. That meant only four hours of sleep before landing to a jam-packed day. Ouch.

Next time, we’ll book daytime flights so we’re not starting our adventure exhausted. And on arrival day? We’ll schedule light activities instead of cramming in too much too soon. Everyone needed time to recover.

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Stay Safe with AirTags

One of my biggest worries was losing track of the kids in busy places. My solution? AirTags with wristband holders for each child. Whenever we left our home base, the kids wore them. It gave me huge peace of mind in crowded areas. Thankfully we never had to track anyone down.

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Share Accommodations with Family

This trip doubled as a family reunion in the UK. Fourteen of us rented a big shared house — and it was surprisingly smooth! The best part? Watching our kids bond with their cousins for two weeks straight.

An unexpected bonus: instead of the kids waking me first thing every morning, they headed to the kitchen to start their day with family that were already up and at it. That little break felt like a true gift for my husband and I.

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Always Pack a Family Day Bag

Every outing, we carried a backpack stocked with:

• Filtered water bottles (having even one for when you have to use local tap water is a good idea)
• Healthy snacks (high in protein, our family loves these)
• Chewing gum (works well as a small reward with the younger kids)
• Umbrellas (good quality and compact)
• Wipes and a dry bag (for wet and dirty items you don’t want touching other things in your day bag)
• A mini first aid kit (remove scissors from kit as these are not permitted in carry on)
• Light packable jackets (these doubled as cosy blankets on the flight)

This became our family travel essentials kit and saved us more than once.

(P.S. Neck pillows? We brought a few but barely used them — they just took up precious souvenir space on the way home.)

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Teach Kids to Manage Their Own Money

One of my favourite parts of this trip was how we handled spending money. Each child saved their birthday money, babysitting cash, or part-time job income, and we exchanged it for UK currency before leaving. I carried reusable snack size bags in my backpack containing each child’s money and name to ensure nothing got lost or mixed up.

The kids loved having this independence, and it cut way down on constant “Can you buy me this?” requests. They also learned valuable lessons: currency conversion, budgeting, and deciding if something was worth the price. Total parenting win!

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Final Thoughts on Family Travel

Looking back, I feel so blessed that we could share this adventure as a family. It wasn’t always easy, but the memories we made are priceless. If you’re planning a trip with your crew, I hope these tips for family travel make your journey smoother and even more enjoyable.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about the destination — it’s about the quality time spent together.

Do you have any awesome family travel hacks? If so, I’d love for you to comment and let me know!