International Travel with Children

Dawn Mulford – Contributing Columnist

Traveling internationally can be challenging, especially if you are going to take children.

There are some things you can do in advance to reduce the anxiety and create excitement for the whole family.

1. Involve your kids in the planning process: Are you planning to travel to a destination that is interesting to one of your children? Have they always loved everything about Greek mythology, castles, Vikings, or museums? Let them research their favorites and come together as a family as far as a destination that peaks everyone’s interest. 
2. Long flights: Be prepared, pack snacks, favorite toys, books, or electronics that will keep them occupied for those longer flight times.
3. Pack an essential first aid kit: Many of these items come in travel sizes such as pain relievers, fever reducers, antibacterial ointment, band aids, and sterile wipes.
4. Make sure of your destination’s health requirements: Some foreign countries require vaccinations (not just for children). You should check with your physician or local health department.
5. Are any of the children part of a blended family? It is important to have authorization from the legal parents/guardians (especially if one is not going) along with a current passport and visa if necessary for everyone.
6. Speaking of passports: Make sure everyone’s passport is current (not expired) and is valid for a minimum of six months beyond your return travel dates. Make photocopies of everyone’s passport in case they are lost or stolen. (It makes it so much easier to replace them.)
7. Pack light: No one wants to be exhausted dragging extra suitcases along and remember that you can buy what you forgot abroad.
8. Safety: Have a code word in case of any separated or lost children just like you would back home. Familiarize yourself with the location of your hotel and its relationship to any police as well as whether or not your location has a U.S. consulate.
9. Money: Credit cards are widely accepted, and depending on the country, you can change U.S. currency prior to leaving via a local bank (need to do this in advance) or at most major airports (there is normally a small fee).
10. The best thing to pack: A great attitude! Don’t rush, life is short, children grow up fast, and you should enjoy a great vacation together—even when there are bumps in the road, sibling squabbles, or unexpected delays. Lead by example with a great attitude, and the children will learn to follow.

Dawn Mulford has been in the travel industry for over 40 years—first in corporate and then leisure travel. For the last three years, she has been in the top two percent of travel agents out of 10,000 agents in the Travel Leaders Network group. Dawn has been blessed with a lifetime of travel, a fulfilling job, and the ability to work from home. She enjoys sharing her knowledge with great clients and friends.