While traveling with your family can appear intimidating, don’t let that intimidation deter you from going on vacation. There are plenty of ways to travel, so before you say that traveling with your family is too stressful, look into different travel opportunities to find one that is the perfect fit for your family.
Before traveling to your destination, be sure to research the location which you would like to visit. Whether you’re planning on visiting a foreign country or just traveling within the United States, you should make sure you’re going somewhere that is child and pet friendly. You don’t want to go through the stress of traveling just to find out that your destination has limited activities for children or doesn’t allow pets. Conducting the proper research on your desired vacation is the best way to start off your trip, as you will be able to be prepared and avoid any unnecessary cancellations.
While flying with kids can be extremely stressful, being properly prepared can ease some of the stress. Since children can be irritable on flights, it’s important to bring plenty of activities and snacks to keep them occupied. If your child is busy during the flight, they are less likely to become bored and fussy. Be prepared with coloring books and toys, as well as movies and games downloaded to a tablet or phone.
Keeping your child entertained during the flight will help prevent them from noticing how long the trip actually is. In addition to these activities, make sure you have plenty of snacks for your kids, as they will not be satisfied with any activity if they are hungry.
It’s important to research airlines and their policies on traveling with pets before booking your flight. Most airlines have rules and restrictions regarding traveling with pets—some airlines will allow your pet to travel in a crate along with the rest of the baggage at an additional cost, while others don’t allow pets at all. Some airlines; however, will allow you to bring your dog into the cabin with you for an additional fee. If you know that your pup would prefer sitting with you as opposed to traveling in their crate, you should make sure to book your trip with an airline that will accommodate your preferences.
Traveling with children is never easy, so having travel insurance is a smart investment for parents. Children are highly accident-prone, and the last thing you would want during your vacation is to have your child require medical care and have to deal with unreasonable medical expenses. It’s unlikely that your regular medical insurance will cover medical care while you’re on vacation outside of the United States, so having the guarantee of medical coverage through travel insurance is a smart move when you’re in a foreign country. If you don’t already have a travel insurance plan but are interested in getting it before your next vacation, then you can compare international travel insurance with iSelect.
Similarly, travel insurance is also a good idea if you’re traveling with your pet, as it will help cover any accidents you may experience during your trip. Since dogs are often boarded along with the baggage, it is unfortunately not uncommon for the airport to make a boarding mistake or for your pet to require medical care as a result of traveling. It’s a good idea for pet owners who plan on traveling to invest in the best pet insurance to make sure that their pet will have the best possible care if something unforeseen happens.
If flying isn’t for you and your family, and it could be worth it to take your family for a road trip. This way you can have your kids and pup safely in your own car as you travel at your own pace. A road trip can be a short trip to a nearby state or a week leisure trip across your home country.
If you choose the road trip option, it’s important to keep your kids and dog safe with the proper car seats and pet crates. Plenty of dog owners choose to opt-out of a travel crate and strap their dog in with a dog seat belt and a safety harness. This way your pup can travel safer and more comfortably, while also allowing you to eliminate the bulky pet crate.
It’s important to make sure your dog has a harness to travel with, as it’s one of the safest options since they prevent too much pressure from being applied to your dog’s neck, especially in the event of a car accident. Joy Ride Harness sells some of the best harnesses, including the no pull dog harness. The no-pull dog harness is a good choice for travel, as the front clip on the dog’s chest is much safer than having the leash attached to a standard collar around the dog’s neck.
No matter how you choose to travel, make sure to be as prepared as possible so you can get the most out of your trip. Traveling with the kids and dog can be stressful, but if done properly it can provide some of the best family memories you’ll ever have.
