7 Tips on How to Enjoy a Family Vacation

Now that summer is almost here (we have 29 degree weather tomorrow!), it's time to think about vacations. And with kids in tow, here's some ways I found you can completely enjoy a vacation with toddlers and infants.

0. Start rested and excited.

I put this at number 0 as this is something you need to do before your trip. Finish your packing one day (or even days) before, NOT the night before. Take a deep breath and relax, before your trip. And start to read up on things to do or what to see, and get excited! You can even involve your kids in this activity. Before we visited UAE, I saw a few things on YouTube with my son, and some interesting facts about them, so when we were there he could get excited about seeing it in real life.

1. Make the journey enjoyable.

Half the hassle of vacationing with kids is the journey to get to the destination. I shared 7 tips from my experience on how to ease this "pain". Another tip many people share is that don't go too far, but far enough to feel you have gone somewhere. I don't share that view - we have gone halfway across the world with our kids and they have been fine.

2. Rules are meant to be broken on vacation.

Before kids, we always thought we would be the ideal parents: give our kids proper, nutritious food like broccoli, restricting their screen time, making sure they go to bed on time, and so on. Of course, reality means at some times we are just happy if they are eating anything ... ANY THING ... and I don't care if they need an iPad to eat. But, generally, we have SOME rules. No watching TV at this time. Bedtime is strict. Mobile screen devices are restricted, etc.

When it comes to vacations, relax those rules. Kids don't really care if they are in Bali, Miami or Bluffer's Park, Toronto. A beach is a beach. Similarly they are not really interested in the delights of Barcelona's unique architecture. Let them also enjoy they way they want.

3. Travel within your budget.

A family vacation is expensive. Tickets are now not just for two, but more. Kids need their own beds, food. If, on the top of that, you are stressing about money, you won't enjoy your vacation. Unexpected costs come up during trips, like the $15 collectible drinking cup your child HAS to have at Universal Studios. So go somewhere you can afford to.

4. Co-operate with the "Planner" and be flexible.

Any vacation has to have a planner (unless it's just a beach vacation). In my family, I like to plan things and outline a vacation plan. When everyone co-operates with that plan, things go like clockwork. Of course, as planner, I also have to be flexible. I would LOVE it if everyone is up by 815 am and ready to go out by 930 am, but it's not going to happen.

5. You don't have to see everything.

This is something I realized even when we were just a couple. There are always too many things to see and too little time. Highlight the priorities, do what you can, and if you can, leave extra time that is unplanned so you can fill it as you need.

6. Document happy memories.

One of the best ways to make ourselves happy in the present is to recall happy times from the past, so making the effort to take pictures and videos, keep trip books, or gather souvenirs. I collect fridge magnets and souvenirs from every new destination I visit, and take pictures of every thing. I also found out that it's not the perfect picture of the sunset on Miami Beach that you will cherish, but the funny faces your children are making as they are running around on the sand.

7. Recognize your limits (and your kids).

Right now I am planning a vacation for visiting Canada's eastern coast. While it looks on paper that I can do a 8 hour drive every day, I know that once our trip is underway, after 2 hours I would be thinking "are we there yet". Learn from past experiences and recognize your own limits, and realize kids get sleepy or tired before you do. And they are less likely to be tolerant and adjustable.

Happy Vacationing!

7 Tips for Handlings Kids on Long Flights

Having recently travelled between Canada and India, with two toddlers, here's seven my tips to keep your kids entertained (and yourselves sane) during long haul flights.

1. Travel as light as possible

This is a general advice, but particularly suitable for travelling with kids. Just because you get two suitcases per person, doesn't mean you need to take two suitcases per person.

Remember, one parent will be taking care of the kids. The other parent will be taking care of the luggage. If you have ten suitcases, good luck. Our rule for four people was that we would take two suitcases full of our clothes etc. to India, and also carry two additional suitcases (empty) to bring stuff back. Everything (and that includes hand luggage, strollers etc.) should fit on two trolleys. We basically took half our quota and it made life so much easier.

2. Check everything in

When you have a screaming baby upset at something or the other, with the older brother angry because the younger one has taken his toy, and you are trying to go through security and taking your belt and shoes off, you don't want to deal with three carry-ons and two backpacks. Whatever you can, check it in. Obviously this is easier if you have less luggage over all to begin with (see #1).

3. Make sure to have extra set of clothes on you in the cabin

This would be in the backpack or carryon you took on board. There should be one extra set of clothes for everyone. For kids and for yourself as kids can pee on you (don't ask).

4. Dollar store sticker books are your friend

We took lots of activity books such as sticker books and colouring books that we bought from the dollar store. Kept the kids engaged for hours and you can throw way the book when done. We also took a few of their favourite toys, as well as loaded up the tablet with their favourite movies and TV shows. Bottom line: you have to keep your kids busy.

5. Bassinet seats are great

Try to get the bassinet seats (I called up Emirates to book seats on phone) even if you don't need the bassinet, as you still get the extra leg space. This is particularly useful if one of your children is under the age of two and doesn't have a seat of their own.

6. Snacks and Biscuits are meals too

Children usually don't like plane food (heck some adults don't either, and I don't blame them if it's Air Canada). So even if you ordered the special child meal, don't be upset if your child takes a bite or two and then proclaims "I'm done". Have lots of snacks, crackers, chocolates, Kinder Surprise etc. whatever junk foods the kids love. A Kinder Surprise (or called Kinder Joy in India) has the additional bonus of also being a toy. #keepthembusy

7. Relax

Remember, despite all of your best efforts, there will be a time they will cry and shout. Don't worry about it and don't worry about what anyone else things. Just try and tell yourselves "five more hours" and relax.