By 
We recently experimented with traveling abroad with our 4-year-old and 14-year-old sons. We got a lot right, but there are many things we could have done differently.
I’ve always loved to travel and try to take a trip outside the country at least once or twice a year. However, I often leave my kids behind with friends or in-laws while my husband and I embark on new adventures. But leaving them behind comes with some guilt.
This year, we thought it was time to start building unique experiences with them, show them the world, and help them become curious, culturally global citizens. It also happened that we didn’t have childcare and were tired of asking for help each time we went on a trip. We made the brave decision to travel as a unit — 4-year-old and 14-year-old in tow — to Stockholm and London in April this year.
Surprisingly, it was easier to travel with our then-4-year-old than with our teenager. The little one was easily pleased; the plane rides excited him. Docked boats made him squeal. Towering ancient architecture made him crane his neck in wonder. The teenager initially resisted the idea of traveling, but we convinced him it would be worth it. Plus, we didn’t want to risk leaving him alone at home to set the house on fire.
My husband and I knew we had to prepare for a different kind of trip. We wouldn’t have much couple time, our walking tours had to be shorter, we’d rely more on public transport, and we needed to pack plenty of snacks. We also knew we’d have to take took turns going on tours while the other stayed with the boys.
One thing we did right was asking each family member for their one or two must-do activities. For me, it was Abba The Museum (if you go, I highly recommend doing the ABBA karaoke— you’re welcome) and meeting for the first time an Instagram friend who would be flying in from Germany. My husband wanted to enjoy a local breakfast and reconnect with a childhood friend who lives in Stockholm. Our 4-year-old wanted to see a Viking ship and go on a boat. Our 14-year-old had a simple request; a visit to a music store for a guitar pedal souvenir. He was also the first to order Swedish meatballs, of course! We got lucky and walked into Twang Guitars and Cafe just after closing. The owner, Jorgen, very kindly let us in and with no one else around, my usually reclusive teen came alive; he was in heaven with full access to Twang’s line of musical toys. He found a pedal and bought a cool t-shirt to show off to his band.
A few things that worked for us
- Snacks, snacks, and more snacks: We brought plenty of snacks for the flight because airline food can be tricky for kids. And we were lucky to have them since — to our surprise — Icelandair only serves inflight meals to children under 12. Teenagers need to eat too. Packing our own snacks saved us from spending on pricey, bland, airline food.
- Fanny pack: They may be old-fashioned, but a fanny pack is one of my die-hard travel hacks. It makes for easy access to documents, hand lotion, tissues, and small snacks during our travels. You don’t want to be digging through a backpack while trying to keep a rambunctious child from running off.
- Bucket lists: Each family member had at least two things on their bucket list, ensuring everyone got to do what they wanted. Everything else was a bonus. But we all enjoyed lots of trips to Stockholm’s 7-11’s that are waaaay fancier and cleaner than the ones in the U.S.
- Travel gear: We invested in items that made travel easier for the kids like straps to attach our luggage, a portable toilet seat cover, a mini electric kettle (we’re a family of tea drinkers — read about it here), an inflatable travel footrest to help the little one sleep, and of course a selfie stick for family photos.
- Family suite: We chose a hotel with a family suite so we could all be together. Separate rooms weren’t an option with two young children. We considered that for a second but realized we’d my husband and I would each have to sleep in one of the rooms with one child. Nope. Plus a family suite was more cost-effective. Can’t say enough good things about Hotel Frantz. See the next point.
- Breakfast included: Booking a hotel with breakfast included is a must when traveling with kids. It saved us money and the trouble of having to think of where to get food in the morning. Our hotel had the most decadent selection of Swedish pastries, fruit, jams, meats, and more. We couldn’t have asked for a better menu. Ask if you can take some pastries and fruit to your room for when the kids get hungry in between meals.
- No rushing: We intentionally avoided timed tours or strict schedules. Our trip was laid-back, allowing the boys to sleep in if they wanted. We skipped morning alarms, did self-guided tours, and took naps whenever we wanted. I — of course — wanted to take photos of Stockholm’s beautiful metro rail stations that are covered in art, so I snuck out real early to get there before morning rush hour traffic. Take a look here.
- Taking turns: We took turns to stay with the kids so each of us could go sightseeing when the kids needed a break. There were moments when the 5-year-old said his legs hurt, threw a mid-street tantrum or got overcome by jetlag. And then there were moments when the teenager preferred to stay in the hotel room.
- Fancy family dinner: We planned one special family dinner to wrap up our trip. While we’re not (yet) rich, we wanted the children to dress up and experience a nice dinner that served local cuisine. Of course, Swedish meatballs had to be on the menu.
What we could have done differently
- Morning flight: We made the mistake of booking a flight that would leave at 8 p.m. The ill-advised reasoning was that we could all sleep in-flight. Wrong. Excitement kept the 5-year-old alert and talking the entire time, thus keeping us all awake. Plus the first leg of the flight was only five hours, followed by a brief layover and a short final leg. Booking a morning flight would have ensured the kids started the journey rested and arrived on time to go to bed.
- Avoiding unnecessary gear: We over-shopped and over-packed for convenience items we didn’t need, like a stroller and the kettle we never ended up using. The hotel had a generous supply of hot drinks.
- Post-travel recovery time: We should have allowed more than two days post-return for the kids to recover from jet lag. We took the trip during the one-week spring break so there was not much time left before they returned to school. In retrospect, they could have skipped the first day of school to rest rather than be sleepy in class all week.
- Jetlag relief aids: We should have started taking jet lag relief medicines before leaving to minimize fatigue upon our return.
- Fiber or stool softener: Carry extra fiber or stool softener for children, as travel can sometimes lead to constipation. We had to work extra hard to get the little one back to regularity when we returned.
- Antiseptic wipes: Always have antiseptic wipes on hand; we didn’t carry any but a friendly fellow passenger came to our rescue during an unexpected in-flight incident when the little one suddenly threw up.
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