Comments on: Big Trips with Little Kids: Yes, it can be done http://simplemom.net/big-trips-with-little-kids-yes-it-can-be-done/ Live intentionally. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:56:57 +0000 hourly 1 By: tracey davis http://simplemom.net/big-trips-with-little-kids-yes-it-can-be-done/comment-page-1/#comment-102816 tracey davis Mon, 22 Nov 2010 13:43:24 +0000 http://simplemom.net/?p=4666#comment-102816 We have lived in Asia and are now living in Europe with 3 young children. These are all very good tips - we practice all of them. I can't say enough about staying in an apartment vs hotel - often apartments are cheaper, and with fire code rules in Europe, we couldn't all stay in one hotel room anyway. Thanks for sharing - I cannot imagine giving up travel just because we have kids. The experiences they get from traveling are unparalleled. I hope your travels with your kids are just beginning. We have lived in Asia and are now living in Europe with 3 young children. These are all very good tips – we practice all of them. I can’t say enough about staying in an apartment vs hotel – often apartments are cheaper, and with fire code rules in Europe, we couldn’t all stay in one hotel room anyway. Thanks for sharing – I cannot imagine giving up travel just because we have kids. The experiences they get from traveling are unparalleled. I hope your travels with your kids are just beginning.
tracey davis´s latest post: Food Rules

]]> By: Jenn @ Beautiful Calling http://simplemom.net/big-trips-with-little-kids-yes-it-can-be-done/comment-page-1/#comment-71742 Jenn @ Beautiful Calling Sun, 28 Feb 2010 01:25:26 +0000 http://simplemom.net/?p=4666#comment-71742 Will definitely keep these in mind since our family will be traveling to Paris, London and then Africa this spring! .-= Jenn @ Beautiful Calling´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.beautifulcalling.ca/2010/02/beware-comparison-results-in-discouragement-or-pride.html" rel="nofollow">Comparison = Discouragement or Pride</a> =-. Will definitely keep these in mind since our family will be traveling to Paris, London and then Africa this spring!
.-= Jenn @ Beautiful Calling´s last blog ..Comparison = Discouragement or Pride =-.

]]> By: Anna http://simplemom.net/big-trips-with-little-kids-yes-it-can-be-done/comment-page-1/#comment-71074 Anna Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:16:25 +0000 http://simplemom.net/?p=4666#comment-71074 We have the summers off and instead of putting our traveling off for yet another year until our kids get older (that is always the excuse) or cutting the trip short and leaving the kids behind, we are convinced it is time to live in the now and are considering spending the summer of 2011 in Europe. Our kids will be 6 and 4. We have considered Spain, France, Italy or Italy, Switzerland, Austria over the course of 2.5-3 months. We'd like to go to Greece but it's so far from the stuff we'd like to see in western Europe. Is there a way to plan Greece and western Europe? Would you recommend any books on traveling with kids? Not so much about how to do it although that would be helpful too, but what sorts of things to see and do that would be fun for everyone. Do you have any other recommendations on finding lodging for 2week + time periods? My husband has been trying to convince me but you have inspired me further. Thanks. We have the summers off and instead of putting our traveling off for yet another year until our kids get older (that is always the excuse) or cutting the trip short and leaving the kids behind, we are convinced it is time to live in the now and are considering spending the summer of 2011 in Europe. Our kids will be 6 and 4. We have considered Spain, France, Italy or Italy, Switzerland, Austria over the course of 2.5-3 months. We’d like to go to Greece but it’s so far from the stuff we’d like to see in western Europe. Is there a way to plan Greece and western Europe? Would you recommend any books on traveling with kids? Not so much about how to do it although that would be helpful too, but what sorts of things to see and do that would be fun for everyone. Do you have any other recommendations on finding lodging for 2week + time periods? My husband has been trying to convince me but you have inspired me further. Thanks.

]]> By: Jane http://simplemom.net/big-trips-with-little-kids-yes-it-can-be-done/comment-page-1/#comment-66752 Jane Thu, 07 Jan 2010 04:14:24 +0000 http://simplemom.net/?p=4666#comment-66752 Hi! I've loved reading about your adventures with young children. I have nine children and have shared many travel adventures through the years with them. They are great memories for them and as my youngest are both 8 now, our travel has changed from taking preschoolers and toddlers to 5 teens and and 3 others, 11 and two 8's. Paris has always been an interest for three of them, we'll have to explore our options there! When I first started "mom's adventures" as the kids call it, I had three preschoolers and was expecting, I was traveling from Oregon to Idaho, a 12 hour drive, on my own to see family. My husband, had to stay in Portland and work and I had decided to make little craft kits for the three in the back, one boy and two girls. They were all three very accomplished at preschool crafts, scissors, drawing and such. I put in the ziplock baggies, one mini stapler,(they loved to staple paper),washable markers, one pack of yellow sticky notes, stickers etc... along with some other snack kits they could enjoy. We left early in the morning as I was hoping to drive basically straight through to arrive around supper time. The first few hours with the craft kits went well, lots of fun and a quiet morning. We stopped at a playground for lunch, reorganized and headed off again. Three hours later, another stop, then off again. On about the ninth hour, we stopped with three hours ahead of us and I realized when getting the kids out of the car, that they had all given each other hair cuts! The daughter in the middle received a complete right and left, and the two on the outside, they had the asymmetric style. There were staples in the car-seats, lots of washable marker tattoos and sticky notes everywhere! We were a sight when we showed up! A beginning of a continued adventurous life with a load of kids and a naive young mom. ( I'm a bit wiser now.) Hi! I’ve loved reading about your adventures with young children. I have nine children and have shared many travel adventures through the years with them. They are great memories for them and as my youngest are both 8 now, our travel has changed from taking preschoolers and toddlers to 5 teens and and 3 others, 11 and two 8′s. Paris has always been an interest for three of them, we’ll have to explore our options there!
When I first started “mom’s adventures” as the kids call it, I had three preschoolers and was expecting, I was traveling from Oregon to Idaho, a 12 hour drive, on my own to see family. My husband, had to stay in Portland and work and I had decided to make little craft kits for the three in the back, one boy and two girls. They were all three very accomplished at preschool crafts, scissors, drawing and such. I put in the ziplock baggies, one mini stapler,(they loved to staple paper),washable markers, one pack of yellow sticky notes, stickers etc… along with some other snack kits they could enjoy. We left early in the morning as I was hoping to drive basically straight through to arrive around supper time. The first few hours with the craft kits went well, lots of fun and a quiet morning. We stopped at a playground for lunch, reorganized and headed off again.
Three hours later, another stop, then off again. On about the ninth hour, we stopped with three hours ahead of us and I realized when getting the kids out of the car, that they had all given each other hair cuts! The daughter in the middle received a complete right and left, and the two on the outside, they had the asymmetric style. There were staples in the car-seats, lots of washable marker tattoos and sticky notes everywhere! We were a sight when we showed up! A beginning of a continued adventurous life with a load of kids and a naive young mom. ( I’m a bit wiser now.)

]]> By: Making Financial Goals for 2010 — Bija Talks Blog http://simplemom.net/big-trips-with-little-kids-yes-it-can-be-done/comment-page-1/#comment-66374 Making Financial Goals for 2010 — Bija Talks Blog Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:48:38 +0000 http://simplemom.net/?p=4666#comment-66374 [...] this fall, we saved up enough cash to take our first family vacation in years, and it was such a blessing to celebrate together.  And so for 2010, we’re turning the page and [...] [...] this fall, we saved up enough cash to take our first family vacation in years, and it was such a blessing to celebrate together.  And so for 2010, we’re turning the page and [...]

]]> By: Kerry http://simplemom.net/big-trips-with-little-kids-yes-it-can-be-done/comment-page-1/#comment-66282 Kerry Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:59:36 +0000 http://simplemom.net/?p=4666#comment-66282 These are all great tips. One of my additional favorites is to educate the kids about your spot before you go. Get books from the library (fiction and non-fiction), look up pictures on the internet, visit museum websites and tell them wheat you are going to see. They will be so much more engaged and get so excited when they recognize things they learned about before going. We even did this with Disney so they knew what to expect and had pre-picked the rides they just couldn't miss. Happy Travels! These are all great tips. One of my additional favorites is to educate the kids about your spot before you go. Get books from the library (fiction and non-fiction), look up pictures on the internet, visit museum websites and tell them wheat you are going to see. They will be so much more engaged and get so excited when they recognize things they learned about before going. We even did this with Disney so they knew what to expect and had pre-picked the rides they just couldn’t miss.

Happy Travels!

]]> By: Courtney http://simplemom.net/big-trips-with-little-kids-yes-it-can-be-done/comment-page-1/#comment-65854 Courtney Sun, 20 Dec 2009 11:08:02 +0000 http://simplemom.net/?p=4666#comment-65854 Great tips! We recently traveled to Italy and Greece for 10 days with our 9 month old and she did really great. We planned down time for sure but I also took lots of freeze dried fruits for snacks on the go. This really helped when we were out exploring all day and I could just pull out something that was clean and easy for her to eat. .-= Courtney´s last blog ..<a href="http://brianandcourtneyholmes.blogspot.com/2009/12/thanksmas.html" rel="nofollow">Thanksmas</a> =-. Great tips!

We recently traveled to Italy and Greece for 10 days with our 9 month old and she did really great. We planned down time for sure but I also took lots of freeze dried fruits for snacks on the go. This really helped when we were out exploring all day and I could just pull out something that was clean and easy for her to eat.
.-= Courtney´s last blog ..Thanksmas =-.

]]> By: Sara http://simplemom.net/big-trips-with-little-kids-yes-it-can-be-done/comment-page-1/#comment-65780 Sara Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:04:50 +0000 http://simplemom.net/?p=4666#comment-65780 I have to concur regarding the laundry. We stayed in Maui for 10 days with a 10 month old....and having our own laundry SAVED us! You can pack less, and kids are always getting dirty some how! We also stayed in a house, which was so much more comfortable.....kitchen to eat in, seperate bedrooms, close to a grocery store......definitely the only way we would travel with children for more than 2 nights again. I suppose it depends on where you are traveling too....but I just bought diapers and wipes, etc.....at the destination. Saved on packing. Make sure your destination has the products your children usually use before you plan on that. I have to concur regarding the laundry.
We stayed in Maui for 10 days with a 10 month old….and having our own laundry SAVED us! You can pack less, and kids are always getting dirty some how!

We also stayed in a house, which was so much more comfortable…..kitchen to eat in, seperate bedrooms, close to a grocery store……definitely the only way we would travel with children for more than 2 nights again.

I suppose it depends on where you are traveling too….but I just bought diapers and wipes, etc…..at the destination. Saved on packing. Make sure your destination has the products your children usually use before you plan on that.

]]> By: Jen http://simplemom.net/big-trips-with-little-kids-yes-it-can-be-done/comment-page-1/#comment-65777 Jen Fri, 18 Dec 2009 04:36:45 +0000 http://simplemom.net/?p=4666#comment-65777 Have to agree, renting a vacation apartment or house is the way to go when traveling with kids. It's a great option, too, for large families who otherwise would need to get two hotel rooms. I find that usually the nightly prices are less, plus, as you mentioned, you can bring food in and save money that way too. It's also a lot more relaxing for everyone to unwind in their own little spot than making do in a cramped hotel room. When we road trip somewhere, I usually bring my crockpot so that after a long day of seeing the sights, we've got dinner waiting for us. Jen .-= Jen´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.3boysinsandiego.com/kid-restaurants-san-diego.html" rel="nofollow">Kid Restaurants San Diego | Where to Eat with Children</a> =-. Have to agree, renting a vacation apartment or house is the way to go when traveling with kids. It’s a great option, too, for large families who otherwise would need to get two hotel rooms.

I find that usually the nightly prices are less, plus, as you mentioned, you can bring food in and save money that way too. It’s also a lot more relaxing for everyone to unwind in their own little spot than making do in a cramped hotel room.

When we road trip somewhere, I usually bring my crockpot so that after a long day of seeing the sights, we’ve got dinner waiting for us.

Jen
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Kid Restaurants San Diego | Where to Eat with Children =-.

]]> By: Maria Urdinarrain http://simplemom.net/big-trips-with-little-kids-yes-it-can-be-done/comment-page-1/#comment-65773 Maria Urdinarrain Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:22:36 +0000 http://simplemom.net/?p=4666#comment-65773 Oh, thank you for this post! We have a friends wedding in Scotland in June and I've been stressing the cost...wondering if we could go. Well, your post gave me the idea to look for a cottage/flat with self catering and sure enough I found a great flat at an AWESOME price. Thank you! .-= Maria Urdinarrain´s last blog ..<a href="http://queen-sabrina.blogspot.com/2009/12/smackdown.html" rel="nofollow">Smackdown!!!</a> =-. Oh, thank you for this post! We have a friends wedding in Scotland in June and I’ve been stressing the cost…wondering if we could go. Well, your post gave me the idea to look for a cottage/flat with self catering and sure enough I found a great flat at an AWESOME price. Thank you!
.-= Maria Urdinarrain´s last blog ..Smackdown!!! =-.

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