After all, you want to make sure the trip you plan will pay off for everyone in terms of the needed rest and relaxation, fun factor, and great memories you want from the investment of your vacation dollars (and time!).

Truth be told, it’s all too easy for many of us to feel exhausted just from planning the trip — let alone executing it (moms on family vacations are still moms, after all!).

Not to worry. Here are some easy ways you can help make sure you get your own vacation needs and desires met during the trip–so when you get home you can feel like you had a vacation, too!

This post contains affiliate links which help maintain this website at no cost to you. Opinions are my own.

Assign a Morning to Sleep In

Few are the parents of young children who would not LOVE the opportunity to sleep in during a family vacation. If you are blessed with early risers, make a plan with your partner to let each other sleep in (at least) one morning of your vacation.

Just be sure to agree on your designated days ahead of time so you can fully plan on, look forward to, and enjoy your late-morning snooze. (And don’t forget your sleeping mask and ear plugs! That’s my favorite one shown here in 100% mulberry silk.)

Give Yourself a Mini Facial

Even in a crowded hotel room with your favorite people piled on a bed watching a movie, you can still treat yourself to a mini facial.

Take a hot, steamy shower or soak in the tub with aromatic bath salts brought from home. Then put on your favorite P.J.s and apply an easy-packing sheet mask (they take up virtually no room in the suitcase!). Prop your feet up, take a deep breath, and put in those ear buds with relaxing sounds from nature or your favorite tunes.

But why stop there? Don’t forget there are also nourishing sheet masks for your hands and feet that are just as easy to pack and apply. Amazon and Sephora both have a great selection of sheet masks for hands, feet, and face.

Bring a Journal

Just letting your family know you want to write in a journal during the trip can help build in “mini mental breaks” for yourself — and time to step out on your balcony, go sit on the beach alone (or at the less-crowded end of the pool), or have a coffee in the hotel lobby.

And here’s a fun secret: While you might aspire to write a gratitude entry each day, chronicle your family’s vacation so far, or record the funny things your kids said along the way — you don’t have to!

It’s your journal. If you just feel like doodling while you people watch or listen to a favorite podcast, it’s all good (and good for you!).

Now, to help make the vacation PLANNING a lot easier on yourself, be sure to use the resources on this website and our sister website TravelswithBaby.com. Here are links to some of our most popular posts. And you can also use the drop-down menu for help planning family trips to Destinations around the world.

From Family Travel 411:

How to Build a Budget-Friendly Maui Family Vacation

Ten Unforgettable California Family Vacation Ideas

Six Amazing Ireland Family Vacation Ideas (with Tips from an Expert)

Six Great Mexico Family Vacation Destinations

Three California Desert Family Vacations for Spring Break

Five Great National Park Vacations for Families

From TravelswithBaby.com:

The 6 Best Places to Visit California’s Giant Redwoods and Giant Sequoias

Seven Easy Ways to Get Your Car Seat Through the Airport

How to Travel with a Car Seat (Without Losing Your Mind)

The Best Tips for Flying with a Baby or Toddler (start here!)

The post Three Easy Ways For Moms to Build Self-Care Into a Family Vacation appeared first on Family Travel 411.

Your daughter can nearly look you in the eye. Your son begins to ask details about the next trip you never had to explain before (or defend) as Chief Family Travel Officer.

But time is flying. Before you know it, they’ll be out the door on adventures without you–or perhaps, your high-school student is preparing to study abroad?

In any case, if there’s a new passport application or renewal on the horizon for your teen, here are some important details you may want to consider.

Tweens and early teens getting U.S. Passports:

What a difference 5 years makes – for a passport

Kids and teens applying for new U.S. passports through 15 years of age still receive child passports. Though $30 cheaper than adult passports, as you may know, child passports are only valid for five years (ugh!).

And when you consider that most countries don’t allow entry with fewer than 6 months’ validity on your current passport, you’re child’s passport may technically only work for international travel for 4.5 years . (Remember this when booking your next trip abroad!)

Proof of parental awareness and consent for the child passport

Also, in the children’s passport application process, both parents or guardians must authorize the issuance of the child’s passport. Generally this means both parents must appear in person at the passport acceptance facility with the child.

What if both parents or legal guardians cannot appear together at the passport acceptance facility? You must submit a signed and notarized letter of consent from the absent parent or other eligible documents with the child’s passport application (proof of sole legal custody, etc.).

For more information, you can see all requirements for kids under 16 here or follow this link to the official parental consent form.

HOWEVER, all of this changes once the child turns 16 years old.

If you’ve got a 15-year-old in the house, you may want to rethink the timing of your travel plans (especially if they are flexible) and whether or not you can postpone that next passport application until after that 16th birthday.

Teens 15, 16 and 17 years getting U.S. Passports:

Once kids turn 16 years, they receive an adult passport instead. The difference? Just like yours, that grown-up version is valid for 10 years instead of a mere 5. (And at time of writing for only $30 more.)

The process of applying for a passport for kids 16 and 17 years is a bit simpler, too. As long as the teenager has proof that at least one parent is aware of the passport application, both parents—and possibly even either parent—needn’t be present when the teen applies for the passport in person.

The TSA accepts “proof of parental awareness” in this case as either:

• One parent appears with the teen when applying for the passport in person and signs the from DS-11 in front of the agent assisting.
• A signed, notarized statement of consent for the teen to apply for the passport from at least one parent or legal guardian is included with the application. In this case a photocopy of the consenting adult’s photo ID should also be included.

And at 16 and 17 years old, kids receive a full 10-year adult U.S. passport with future passports renewable by mail. For additional information, follow this link to information from Travel.State.gov.

Where you like to travel with your passports?

Get inspired by these vacation guides or SEARCH our site for the destinations that interest you most.

Nine Amazing Family Vacations Abroad + Tips for When You Get There

Six Amazing Mexico Family Vacation Destinations

Six Amazing Ireland Family Vacation Destinations

Kyoto with Kids – Japan Family Vacation Guide

Cordoba with Kids – Spain Family Vacation Guide

Morzine with Kids – France Family Vacation Guide

Jerusalem with Kids – Israel Family Vacation Guide

Puerto Vallarta with Kids – Mexico Family Vacation Guide

More posts to help planning travel with teens:

Ten Things You Should Do When Planning College Visits with Your Teen

Ten Ways to Live Like a Local Family During Travel

Ten Things You Should Always Pack for Travel

Great Travel Toys for Tots to Teens

How to Build a Budget-Friendly Maui Family Vacation

California with Kids: Ten Unforgettable Family Vacation Ideas

The Best Travel Purse for a DSLR Camera I’ve Found

Reader note: An earlier version of this post first appeared September 13, 2018. It has since been revised and updated.

The post Tips for applying for U.S. passports for teens at 15, 16 and 17 years appeared first on Family Travel 411.

MAUI, HAWAII – With long flights to get there even from the West Coast, and an average daily room rate of $350*, Maui may be one of the last places a budget-minded traveler would think of spending vacation time. And it may seem an especially daunting destination to the frugal traveler with a family in tow.

But while it may feel effortless (though painful) to plan an expensive Maui family vacation, planning one that would cost only half as much–or less–may be easier than you think. Here are a few tips to help your family get the most Maui for the least moolah.

Take advantage of spring airfare sales to Maui.

When you’re buying tickets to Maui for four or more people, a difference in $100, $200, $300 or more per ticket makes a huge dent in your travel budget’s bottom line. Just consider the difference in total airfare between a family of four that travels over their President’s Week school vacation (AKA ski week) or spring break, and the family of four that waits until summer vacation:

Summer vacation for 4:       

RT San Francisco/Maui @ $700   = $2800 total airfare

Spring vacation for 4:            

RT San Francisco/Maui @ $350   = $1400 total airfare

By taking advantage of Alaska Airline’s spring fare sales, we were twice able to fly round trip to Maui from the Bay Area for less than $350 per person (including taxes). In fact, the savings of $1400 illustrated here may actually pay for a 1-week stay in a 1-bedroom Maui vacation rental!

As I update this in early May 2023, Hawaiian Airlines is still promoting spring fares through end of May/early June, including one-way fares from San Francisco OR Oakland to Maui from $129 each way. Click here to check Hawaiian Airlines’ latest special offers.

Tip: Use www.Fly.com to find out which airlines serve Maui from your nearest airport and sign up for their promotional emails. You’ll be the first to know when they offer a fare sale to Maui—which is important when the number of sale seats per flight are limited and you’ll be buying four or more of them. By subscribing, you may also get special offers, promotional codes, or perks others don’t.

Bypass the resorts and book a Maui condo instead.

It goes without saying that a family equipped to cook at least some of its meals during a Maui vacation will save money over the family stuck with eating out in restaurants the entire time. But having a kitchen, which may be included in many resort rooms as well, is really just the beginning of the financial advantages you’ll have by renting a fully-equipped Maui vacation rental.

Privately owned Maui condos and vacation rentals often come stocked with extras you’d have to pay additional fees for at a resort—like boogie boards and beach chairs—or conveniences you’d pay resort fees for such as beach towels to use during your stay.

Maui vacation condos and rentals usually provide more square feet per dollar than resort rooms, too, and with a 1-, 2-, or 3+ bedroom vacation rental, large families and those vacationing with grandparents or extended family can more affordably accommodate the group without the financial burden of having to pay for a second hotel room for extra children or additional hotel rooms for extended family.

And in a best case scenario, your vacation rental will even include a washer and dryer in your unit, which can not only save you over exorbitant resort laundry fees (or trips back and forth from a coin-op shared laundry) but it may even save you on checked baggage fees when you can get away with packing fewer outfits (x 4 or more people!).

Shelly’s pro tip: Search family-friendly and budget-friendly maui vacation rentals through VRBO

Or… consider camping on Maui!

Yes, you can fly your camping gear over to Maui, but for a family of four, you might really want to consider a campervan rental instead. A VW Westfalia campervan rental from Maui Westy Campers for a van sleeping 4 runs $140-$160 per night in mid season or $160-200 per night in high season —and that covers both your car rental and lodgings!

Note: That doesn’t include additional insurance (optional) of $15 a day, or campground fees—which range from $5 per adult (and $2 to $3 for children) at some camp sites up to $35 per night for a family. But what else does it include? All of the bedding and towels you’ll need, a kitchen kit, French coffee press, ice chest, flashlight, and other helpful items (www.alohacampers.com).

Having a campervan also gives you great advantages on Maui. You can continue exploring the island without constantly back-tracking, and every time you go to the beach you’ll have everything you might possibly need, including all of your food, a stocked ice chest, and mobile changing room!

Rent your snorkel gear or paddle board by the day or week (not by the hour).

Even if you’re staying at a resort, renting snorkel equipment on your own by the day or week will save you money over renting it from a beachfront resort. For example, you can pay around $35 an hour to rent a snorkel set at most Maui beachfront resorts, or stop by Snorkel Bob’s dive and snorkel gear rentals to get fitted for you complete “Ultimate Truth” premium snorkel & fin set for the week at $45 for adults—and lower-priced packages for kids. And you’ll be able to snorkel wherever and whenever you want during your stay.

Paddle boards rented from beachfront resorts may cost you from $55 an hour and up (they usually include a quick lesson with that). But if you pick up a rental board en route to the beach instead, you’ll get the board for the entire day for around the same price. If you’re wondering how to get a paddle board from a rental shop in town to the beach of your choice, it looks something like this (yes, those are foam noodles on the roof–and they’ll show you how).

Or if you prefer, some board shops in Maui like 808 Boards offer affordable day rates of around $50/day or $200/week WITH free delivery and pick up in the west end included.

Skip the spendy luau and get your Hawaiian entertainment for free.

It’s not to say that an evening of feasting, fire dancers, and world class hula performances is anything to sneeze at. But the family on a budget doesn’t have to spend the $80 to $100 per adult (and child over 12 years) or $30 to $50 per child 6 to 12 years, to enjoy Hawaiian culture and entertainment. Especially when there are plenty of opportunities around Maui to enjoy it for free. Here are some places to start.

Free family fun in the Kihei, Makena, and Wailea area:

Check the schedule of free entertainment and activities including Polynesian dance performances, Papa Hula dance and ukulele lessons, lei making, and more. You can view upcoming events at The Shops at Wailea website.

Free family fun in the Ka’anapali area:

Take a look at the current schedule of events at Whaler’s Village, where you may find hula lessons, lei-making classes, ukulele lessons, and even a free movie night.

Free Friday town parties all around Maui:

Plus, each week Maui has a rotating “Friday Town Party” with free live entertainment, food trucks and vendors, and local arts and crafts on display. Here’s the schedule:

• First Friday of the month – Wailuku
• Second Friday – Lahaina
• Third Friday – Makawao
• Fourth Friday – Kihei
• Fifth Friday – Lana‘i

Kihei’s Friday town parties, which happen every 4^th Friday of the month at the Azeka Shopping Center, are known to be particularly family friendly, with face painting, animal rides, and now “human hamster balls” on water. You can visit the Maui Fridays site to see which parties are coming up next.

Plan ahead—or plan last minute for Maui.

Planning your budget-friendly Maui vacation well in advance will enable you to jump on those best airfare specials when they surface, and also to reserve one of the best-value vacation rentals before someone else gets it for the dates that you want.

Destination Residences, for example, will even reward you for booking from at least 60 days up to 120 days in advance with discounts up to 40%. That can bring the cost of a 1-bedroom garden view condo at Grand Champions Villas in Wailea down as low as $143 per night, or a 1-bedroom ocean view at Wailea Ekahi Village down as low as $269 per night (prices will vary by season, date, and individual unit). Click here for more about these offers from Destination Residences.

But if you’re too late to be early, there’s no reason to despair. Many vacation rental owners will drop prices on certain dates if there is a cancellation or an odd number of days to fill between other stays (keep checking Vrbo).

Save like a local on groceries.

Yes, there is a Costco near Maui’s main airport, and you and 100 of your closest friends from your flight may all be headed there as soon as you pick up your rental cars. But before you load up on more short ribs or cheese doodles and jumbo-size condiments than you may be able to consume during your stay, consider whether or not this is the most cost-effective way to go about grocery shopping for your vacation.

You might fare much better overall by shopping at a grocery store nearer your accommodations on an as-needed bases. Safeway has multiple locations on Maui, including Kihei, Kahului, and Lahaina, and if you already have a Safeway Club Card, you can use it to get the sale prices when shopping at any of these.

Foodland, which also has locations in Kihei, Kahului, and Lahaina, is rumored to have better prices than Safeway, especially when you take advantage of their Maika’i Card savings program (similar to the Safeway Club Card). You don’t have to be a local to join; just ask a cashier for the quick form to fill in on your first visit and the “instant savings” prices will apply to you at checkout.

Better still, Maui has farmer’s markets all around the island and all through the week. In fact, central Maui and south Maui (Kihei) have farmer’s market three days a week, making it easy to buy the freshest, local produce you could hope to get your hands on (unless you want to go pick your own…). Click here to see the full list of Maui’s farmer market locations and dates.

You might also like these other Maui family vacation features:

My Six Picks: Great Maui Vacation Rentals for Multi-Gen Family Vacations

Of Pirate Ships and Paddle boards: A review of Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas

East Maui Escape: My Review of Travaasa Hana for Families

Inspired yet? For more tips, ideas, and inspiration for your Maui family vacation, see my “Maui with Kids” board on Pinterest. And if you get a great budget-friendly Maui tip, please share with the rest of us it in a comment below. Mahalo!

You might also like:

Kauai with Kids – Hawaii Family Vacation Guide

The Ten Best U.S. Vacation Destinations for LGBTQ+ Families

Ten Things You Should Do Before Booking Family Vacation Rentals

California with Kids: 10 Unforgettable Family Vacations

This article was first published September 25, 2015. It has since been revised and updated.

The post How to Build a Budget-Friendly Maui Family Vacation appeared first on Family Travel 411.

Here are six important things to know about the Every Kid Outdoors pass — including how to get yours!

1. How long is the pass valid?

Your FREE 4th grade National Parks pass is valid from the September you start fourth grade through the end of the following summer. Those in fourth grade this school year can use it now through August 31. And yes, home-schooled fourth graders are included!

Follow this link to go to the official Every Kid Outdoors and get your free National Parks pass! Once you’ve answered a few fun questions (kids click the “Play” button) to earn it, you’ll need to print your redeemable paper pass right from your own computer.

2. Can we just ask for the pass at the park when we visit?

No, so don’t show up at a park without your printed pass! Digital versions of your pass (eg. just filled out on a parent’s phone) cannot be accepted. You can view the complete rules for using your Every Kid Outdoors pass here.

3. Who exactly gets in free with the Every Kid Outdoors pass?

At National Parks where admission is charged for private vehicles (eg. Arches, Yosemite, Yellowstone, etc.), the entire carload of friends and family members accompanying the pass-holding fourth grader gets in free! Show your printed pass to the ranger at the park entrance, or where there is no ranger, you can simply leave it displayed on your dashboard.

4. How do we get the plastic pass instead of just our paper print-out?

You can, and will even need to, trade in your paper Every Kid Outdoors pass for a commemorative credit-card style pass at certain National Park locations. Here is my son Every Kid Outdoors pass at Joshua Tree National Park.

“This is worth a lot of money, kid,” the ranger said. “Be sure to keep it in a safe place, won’t you?” Follow this link to see if a National Park you’ll visit offers these special passes.

5. Are there any extra costs the pass won’t cover?

Your pass doesn’t cover everything at national park and historic sites. Be aware that the Every Kid Outdoors pass will not cover ferry or boat admission to National Park sites, nor private tours, campground fees, or other activities that cost in addition to park entrance fees (eg. Alcatraz Island transportation and tour, or Dry Tortugas National Park ferry service).

6. Is there a limit to how many times we can use it, or how many places?

There is no limit to how many National Parks, Lands, or Monuments you can visit with your valid pass, so get planning, get packing, and get going! For help picking an ideal park for your family to visit, you can use the Every Kid Outdoors Trip Planner here, or get all the details on a park of interest on the official National Park Service site.

7. Can we earn a badge to go with that?

Yes! Possibly several! Don’t forget that many of our U.S. National Parks offer Junior Ranger educational programs and the chance to earn Junior Ranger badges. Ask for your booklet at the Visitors Center upon arriving at your next National Park.

How  many badges will YOU earn before fifth grade? Don’t miss our linked features with tips for visiting national parks with kids below!

8. Where do we go to request our Every Kid Outdoors Pass?

Click here for more information about the Every Outdoors pass and to get your own pass today. And for tips and inspiration in planning your family’s National Park vacation, don’t miss these helpful guides that follow below!

You might also like these U.S. National Park features:

This is a revised and updated version of an article which first ran in September of 2015.

The post How Can Fourth Graders Visit U.S. National Parks for FREE? appeared first on Family Travel 411.

Before I had kids, I tended toward quantity over quality, often lugging an extra four or five extra pairs of shoes and a different jacket for every weather eventuality, from gale to blizzard to sandstorm, no matter what the destination. In short, it was a disaster.

In nearly eighteen years of traveling with three kids, I was forced to pare our clothes and supplies down to the bare essentials. These days, if it there’s even a chance that it will not get worn, it no longer gets packed. I’ve also learned that maybe packing skills are not genetic after all. I may never reach the packing prowess of my packing guru (have you seen this video of how she packs 100 items in a carry-on?!), but I’m getting there.

Here are ten things, in no particular order, that I never leave home without when traveling with my family.

Travel packing cubes

I resisted these for years, just as I didn’t believe that rolling your clothes when you pack them actually lets you cram way more into your suitcase (it does). But it’s true. Packing cubes work. When you’re traveling as a family, they let you separate everyone’s clothes in your large suitcase, making it much easier to unpack when you get to your destination. You can also bring extra cubes for dirty laundry, wet swimsuits, etc. Click here to see loads of packing cube options at eBags (pun intended and affiliate link–thank you for supporting this site with your clicks!).

Books set in your destination

One of our favorite things to do in preparation for a trip is to read a book set in our destination (not just the guidebook). We loved reading Gennifer Choldenko’s Al Capone Does My Shirts before our outing to Alcatraz on a recent trip to San Francisco (see The 411 on San Francisco if you’re heading that way, too).

If your travels include a long road trip, get the audio book. You can get them for free at your local library and many are available on Audible (click here for more info about the Audible Membership). Just make sure you don’t leave library CDs in your rental car!

A travel scarf or pashmina

It’s inevitable. You’re either going to freeze or broil on your airplane ride. There is no compromise and seemingly no temperature control. The best way to deal is to dress in layers (yes, mom was right—she is always right) and bring along a large travel scarf or pashmina.

This will not only keep you toasty on the plane when temperatures dip below zero but will come in handy as an extra layer or even a blanket for anyone in your party if you’re headed somewhere chilly or you need to spend time in transit in an overly air-conditioned airport. Better yet, consider a travel scarf with benefits–like this infinity scarf with a concealed pocket.

Easy-packing reusable shopping bag

Not only do folding reusable shopping bags save our oceans and wildlife from long-term damage caused by plastic bags, they come in handy when you find yourself in a local grocery stores or market stocking up on snacks to bring back to your rental or hotel room.

Many cities (San Francisco) and even states (Hawaii) along with some European countries have already banned single use plastic bags and even disposable bags so it may in fact be your only option. Look for compactly folding reusable bags that pack into their own pouch and make sure to tuck one into your travel purse or day pack to have when needed during travel.

Travel-friendly foldable raincoats

The European child in me has fond memories of my foldable K-Way navy windbreaker/rain jacket (I grew up in Belgium). You can fold it up and wear as a belt around your waist, ready for whatever the weather may bring. It was the perfect thing for vacationing on the windy and sometimes misty Belgian coast. I’ve bought them for my own children and they’ve traveled with us to Maine, Peru, and Scotland, saving us during many a sudden rain or wind storm.

The best credit and ATM cards for traveling abroad

Imagine arriving in Istanbul off a red-eye from the U.S. All you need to do to start enjoying this new city is get some local currency from the ATM and hail a taxi. Except the ATM machine won’t dispense any cash. Odd, you think, and you try the next machine. You won’t try a third because you’re afraid your card will get eaten, and so you spend the next forty-five sweaty minutes on the phone with your bank, assuring them that you are, in fact, you, and you really are in Istanbul.

To avoid this scenario when traveling abroad with your own family, make sure you call your bank and your credit card provider to alert them of when and where you’ll be traveling. Also, make sure you’re packing an ATM card with no foreign transaction fees (click here to see some of the best-rated credit cards with no foreign transaction fees). Then determine which ATM network your bank belongs to–PLUS, Cirrus or Maestro–so you can determine which bank ATMs at your destination won’t charge extra (or at least not outrageous) fees (more helpful info on this here).

More tips: You can also use the International Mastercard ATM Locator or the VISA Global ATM Locator to help find ATMS as you travel. And if you’ll be using credit cards in Europe, read this helpful post by Rick Steve’s on what you need to know about the European chip + PIN system.

Tide or other laundry spot cleaner

It’s hard enough to find laundry facilities when you’re traveling domestically. When you’re traveling abroad, it can be a real adventure. This is why you should never, ever leave the country (or really your home) without a good spot cleaner. Stuff it in your backpack or purse and you’ll be ready when the inevitable happens and the gelato/street taco/red wine spills on your favorite clothes. Because who knows how long it will be before your next load of laundry.

A universal adapter

A couple of years ago, I took a ten-day trip to three different countries, which, while not too far in distance, each had a different electrical outlet. Rather than fussing around with different adapters and transformers, I purchased a universal adapter which worked seamlessly in each country.

Even if it’s your first trip abroad, I would recommend the universal adapter rather than one for your specific destinations. It will save you money in the long run. Just remember that it is not also a converter, so make sure your devices you’ll be traveling with are dual voltage (most cell phones, lap tops, and even curling irons sold in the U.S. are “Dual Voltage 100-240V” these days; check labeling to be sure).

Travel lovey, travel blanket, or stuffed animal

The combination of jet-lag, unfamiliar foods, and strange new places to sleep will undoubtedly ring in a whole new level of meltdowns in your little one. One airport in particular is still referred to in our house as “the one where J had that epic meltdown.” So while it’s tempting to pare your packing down to the bare minimum, do not skimp on the comfort.

A favorite storybook, Matchbox car, stuffed animal, or blanket can really save the day. I recommend getting a new special toy/cozy a week or so before your trip and talking up the fact that they will be traveling with you on your adventure. Your child can also document the trip with photos of their special new friend on the plane, on a hike, and sitting quietly in the airport lounge visibly not having a meltdown.

Your family’s medical records

In our eighteen years of travel with three boys, we’ve never had to visit a doctor in another country—I am knocking on wood as I write this. However, if you are traveling abroad, it’s a good idea to be prepared for that eventuality. Yet if your child is over the age of six, her immunization record is probably already longer than your arm.

But I’m sure you’d be hard-pressed to tell anyone what exact shots they’ve had to date. And since immunization schedules are different in every country, you can’t assume doctors in a foreign country will know what you mean when you say they are up to date, or whether your child has a sensitivity to any specific medications or allergens.

Before your trip, ask your doctor to send over copies of your children’s records, just in case, or check if your health insurance or health care provider offers electronic health records. Having any allergies noted in the language of the destination where you’ll be visiting, along with the current weight of your children converted to kg. where appropriate, could be very helpful should someone fall ill during your trip. For simple over-the-counter medications, many pharmacists will need to know your child’s weight to help you get the appropriate medicine and dose.

You might also like:

How to Pack 1 Checked Bag for 3 Kids (Without Losing Your Mind)

Ten Ways to Live Like a Local Family During Travel

Five Travel Laundry Hacks for Families

Six Great Travel Games and Toys for Tots to Teens

Nine Amazing Vacations Abroad and Tips for When You Get There

Six Amazing Ireland Family Vacation Destinations

The best travel purse for a DSLR Camera I’ve found

Note: An earlier version of this post was published November 9, 2017. It’s since been revised and updated.

The post Ten Things You Should Always Pack for Travel with the Family appeared first on Family Travel 411.

1. Sports Equipment

Space-saving frisbees are great companions for the  road trip with kids.

If you resonate with the expression, “the journey is the destination,” your road trip style may be to take the back roads, stop at roadside attractions, and take the occasional detour. Slow, explorative travel is fantastic for families, as adults and kids need regular breaks to stay alert and interested in the local scenery.

Rest stops and parks present an excellent opportunity to do just that while tossing a Frisbee, kicking a soccer ball, or shooting some hoops. At a minimum, we always carry a tennis ball, so the dog can join us in an impromptu game of fetch.

2. Trivia Questions/Cards

Beat the Parents (or have fun trying) with the card game built for families.

When your last nerve can’t handle another “Are we there yet?,” break out a pack of Beat the Parents trivia cards. As the name implies, kids ask parents more challenging questions while they receive elementary-age questions of a similar nature. The team with the most number of correct answers wins the game.

We like trivia cards (vs. trivia games) because they eliminate the risk of miniature game pieces falling into air vents and door jams. However, you can always extract the box of questions from, say, the game of Trivial Pursuit and return it to the game at the end of your trip.

3. Travel Pillows

The 4-in-1 travel pillow for kids and adults.

When it comes to a cross-country adventure, travel pillows are a necessity for staying comfortable and power-napping as a passenger. We recently discovered this adjustable travel pillow with a belt strap that secures around your neck or back for sleeping and lumbar support (also good for driving).

As a bonus, the removable pillowcase can be removed and tossed into the washing machine. Tip: In colder months and climates, we also bring a few comfortable blankets and pass them around the car as needed.

4. Car Window Shades

Block the sun but not the view with car window shades for your family road trip.

If the mid-day sun is making travel hot and uncomfortable for passengers, a blanket or beach towel can be rolled up into a window to help create shade. However, when our kids were young enough to nap in the car, we used car window shades specifically designed to prevent sun glare and help block harmful UV rays. There’s no reason the family with older kids (or no kids at all) can’t take advantage of the same helpful products–especially when they lend better visibility than the old beach towel!

5. Paper Map/ Road Atlas

As the saying goes, Ain’t no school like the old school! Call me a fuddy-duddy, but believe there is merit in teaching kids to navigate with a paper map as a companion to using technology like Google Maps or a vehicle’s built-in automobile navigation system (and certainly as a backup when technology fails).

Not only does reading map help passengers orient themselves to the topography, it fosters curiosity about possible trip excursions and detours. Most US states offer free state maps at official welcome stations. We love the Rand McNally Best of the Road Atlas & Guide for the city insets and themed itineraries at the front of the book.

6. Ample Supply of Snacks

Ensure healthy snacking on the go by packing plenty of great options for any road trip with kids.

One of the biggest vacation expenses is feeding your family on the go. We’ve found a bit of advance planning and expert packing can help avoid impulse purchases from convenience stores and fast food drive through windows.

If heading out for more than a long weekend, we make a run to Costco or Sam’s Club a few days before the start of a trip (tip: travel with your membership card(s) and replenish on the road). Shop for non-perishable items you know your kids will eat, splurging for some special treats. If you’re short on shopping time, you can have Amazon deliver a healthy snack bundle (as shown).

And when it comes to washing down said snacks, traveling with a reusable water bottle also cuts down on bottled water purchases and helps foster a mindset of environmental responsibility. We invested in a set of Klean Kanteen stainless steel water bottles years ago and they’re still going strong.

7. Books on CD or Audio Books

This suggestion is for anyone who has ever traveled on long stretches of the open road with two or fewer radio stations. Available to check out or download from most public libraries, audio books can both save your sanity and increase your overall family literacy.

Subscription-based services like Audible.com and Kindle Audio Books are popular alternatives to the public library. Popular with commuters, podcast downloads can fill several hours of empty airtime on your next mega trip.

8. Gallon Size Ice Cream Pail with Lid

Sand castles, car sickness, shell collecting, soggy clothing and then some. A gallon-size ice cream pail with snap-tight lid may serve many ways on your family road trip.

From the emergency potty to motion sickness receptacle, never underestimate the utility of the common gallon ice cream pail.  And, when it comes to pail selection, a sturdy, locking lid will be the most important design consideration.

Beyond collecting bodily fluids, we’ve used ice cream buckets for spontaneous sand castle building and to carry home shell souvenirs. As a bonus, you first need to consume a gallon of ice cream! You may even want one bucket for every passenger in your car (stacked together for easy storage). Click here for a ready-to-go set of 5.

9. First Aid Kit

A road trip-ready emergency kit.

From legitimate emergencies to the occasional skinned knee, we feel every family should stock a first aid kit in their vehicle’s trunk or glove box. The most commonly used items in our family are crushable ice packs, tweezers, and scissors, but we like a kit with rubber gloves and mouth guards to protect everyone during CPR.

If you regularly camp or hike, consider an Emergency Preparedness and First Aid Kit (like this one) containing items like an emergency radio and flashlight, safety whistle, and thermal blanket.

10. A Battery Powered Jump Starter

From remote locations to your own garage, a battery-powered jump start may save the day.

Jumper cables are a must for anyone living in, or traveling through, a cold climate. A battery powered jump starter, however, is an excellent choice for anyone traveling to a remote location where they may not have access to a hot battery.

When we lived in Minnesota, a battery powered jump starter came to our rescue more than once in our own garage. A variety of choices are available in different price ranges, charging capacity, and durability. This is one purchase where you may want to read the customer reviews and consult your trusted auto mechanic. Click here to see several options with customer reviews at Amazon.

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An earlier version of this post first appeared June 8, 2017.

The post Ten Things You Should Pack for a Road Trip with Kids appeared first on Family Travel 411.