Travelling Tips

Cope with flight delays
How to keep kids happy when you're stuck at the airport:

• Book a nonstop flight or one that doesn't require a change of planes. Fly as early in the day as you can.
• Pack plenty of diapers, baby food, and formula—hard to come by in an airport or plane.
• Pack an insulated lunch box, and let kids help choose what to include. Bring water bottles and sandwiches for grownups.
• Pack overnight essentials in carry-on in case checked luggage gets lost or the flight is canceled. Bring sweatshirts for warmth.
• Stash a deck of cards in your bag, along with CD or tape players, read-aloud books, games, disposable cameras, and "surprises" for when the going gets really rough.
• Stage a scavenger hunt. Divide the family into teams and send them around the terminal looking for purple suitcases and Yankee baseball caps. Be ready to spring for prizes for the winners.

Help for fear of flying
Before you travel, talk to your children about their safety and yours:

• Encourage kids to talk about their feelings and fears, giving them truthful and realistic reassurance. Answer patiently, no matter how many times they ask.
• Let older youngsters feel more in control by giving them some say in your travel plans. Would they rather take a driving trip?
• Give lots of reassurance. Point out extra security measures at airports, on ships, and in big cities.
• Assure kids that many people of all nations are working to prevent violence, and avoid blaming any particular ethnic, religious, or cultural group for terrorism.
• Show kids how you cope with your travel anxiety, and find a coping strategy together, such as listening to a CD when the plane takes off.
• Stay in closer touch when traveling on business. Call every morning and night. Have older kids call you on your cell phone if they get anxious.
• Give young ones a calendar to mark off the days you'll be gone. Ask if you can "borrow" something theirs for the trip.

Car trips
Make sure your road trip is safe and comfortable:

• Bring along toy "surprises," magazines, portable tape or CD players with earphones, and favorite recordings.
• Take plenty of snacks, treats, and a water bottle for everyone.
• Dress children comfortably and in layers so that you can add fleece vests or jackets as you head into a cold climate or peel off sweatpants as the temperature climbs.
• Buckle kids safely in the back in their safety seats, or in their seat belts.
• Get out periodically and toss around a football or switch seats.

Pack smart
How to lower the stress of packing for a family trip:

• Get a bag on wheels for everyone. Even preschoolers can wheel their own small bag through the airport or from the car to the motel room.
• Make a list and check it twice. Some parents hand older kids a list of must-haves (dress shoes, for instance) and let them pack on their own.
• Use oversized Ziploc bags for food, dirty diapers, toiletries, and more. Use an old duffel to stash towels, T-shirts, and bathing suits in the car. Large plastic containers are great on car trips for storing art supplies, toys, and CDs. The tops make good travel desks.
• Choose items wisely so there's less to misplace, wash, and cart around.
• Double your chances of remembering where you stashed sunglasses, sunscreen, and Band-Aids by packing identical sets in different places.
• Bring batteries, tape, scissors, and pencil sharpeners.
• Leave room in suitcases for souvenirs.

Moms-to-be
If you're expecting, here's how to travel comfortably:

• Discuss your travel plans with your medical professional.
• Travel during the second trimester—the easiest time, according to doctors and veteran pregnant travelers.
• Check with your airline about their restrictions for pregnant passengers in their third trimester.
• Request an aisle seat, which makes it easier for you to get up to exercise and walk to the lavatory.
• Stash healthful snacks and plenty of water in your bag.
• Choose a destination where you can quickly access first-rate medical care for your baby and you. Bring a referral to an obstetrician in the city you're visiting.
• Keep your plans as flexible as possible. This makes it easier to return home or cancel the trip if necessary.
• Wear loose-fitting shoes and clothing.
• Get up every hour or so to reduce swelling in your legs and to keep blood circulating.
• When driving, always wear a seat belt. Don't spend more than 5 or 6 hours on the road a day—counting bathroom stops.
• Build enough rest time into your schedule.

Travel with teens
Use the trip to tune in to your teen's world:

• Find out where your teens like to go and what they want to do. Incorporate their picks into the itinerary.
• Tune in to their favorite radio station while driving.
• Throw out the itinerary and tack on extra days. It's much easier to talk when you're not trying to rush around.
• Share a new adventure. Whether it's trying a sport or exploring a new place, experience it together.
• Splurge. Kids appreciate a taste of luxury, especially because you think they're worth it.
• Linger over dinner. Who knows where the conversation will lead?
• The entire family doesn't need to be in lockstep the whole trip. Take the chance for some rare one-on-one time with your teen.
• Leave the emotional baggage at home. You don't want to be nagged on vacation, and neither do teens.