I’ve done plenty of solo travel with kids when Hubs isn’t able to join us. His work schedule isn’t quite as flexible as mine, and I’m not content to stay at home just because traveling with kids without my husband is a little more challenging.

You can solo travel with kids, too. Whether you’re a single parent or want to explore when your partner isn’t able to, these tips are a must-read. Below, you’ll read how to fly alone with kids, keep kids entertained en route, avoid meltdowns and take care of yourself when you travel solo with kids.

I’ve used all these recommendations with my own family. My girls and I take day trips (“Girls road trip!” we all shout in my mommy minivan), flown cross-country and even traveled internationally. You can master solo travel with kids, too.

Become a master of solo travel with kids

Before you leave on a solo trip with kids

Planning a family trip soon? With a little advance thought, you can make your solo travel with kids much smoother. Here’s how.

Mail your luggage

You know that sweaty, overwhelmed feeling of trying to pull several suitcases through the airport while keeping track of your children? Yeah, me too, which is why I now mail clothes, diapers, snacks and everything I’ll need on a family vacation directly to my destination.

The postage fees are about the same as a checked bag, and you’ll save TONS of hassle.

With a little advance planning and a trip to the post office, you can avoid checking a bag and hauling luggage through the airport. Just let the hotel know you’re sending a package their way, or if you’re staying with family, give your loved ones a heads-up.

Pack for yourself, too

If you’re like me, you consider every possible need your children might have while traveling. But you totally neglect yourself!

Case in point: When I flew to Detroit alone with my older daughter when she was 1, I brought snacks galore for her but nothing for myself. Then when the snack cart came by, they were all out of vegetarian food. I ended up eating one of her squeezie pouches—which I don’t recommend, btw.

Now I make sure to pack for myself, too. I include healthy snacks, lip balm and something to keep me entertained for the off-chance my kids nap and leave me with free time. Do yourself a huge solid and keep your own needs in mind, too.

How to fly alone with kids

Avoid short layovers

I’m a budget traveler, so I totally get searching for the cheapest flight. After all, buying less expensive flights is even more important when you have kids who are over the 2-year lap infant cutoff!

Before you click confirm, though, double-check your layovers. You will not have time to deplane then hustle your kids across the airport in 40 minutes. So make sure your itinerary has long enough layovers to safely get from one gate to another.

Book aisle seats

If you have kids in the squirmy wormy age range, sit in the aisle. You’ll be up and down with them, and it’s easier to get up if you don’t constantly have to bug your seat neighbors.

Splurge on extra leg room

Yeah, it’s totally obnoxious how much airlines charge for the luxury of a few extra inches of legroom. But that cost is totally worth it if you have a toddler. You won’t worry about your kids kicking the seat in front of you, and they’ll be able to stand/wiggle/do the hokey pokey in the extra legroom.

Check bags at curbside

If you do have checked luggage, paying a few extra bucks for curbside check-in is worth it when you travel solo with kids. You can just get dropped off right there, get rid of your suitcases and then focus on your littles—not your luggage—as you maneuver through the airport.

Find a family restroom

Ever tried to cram a roll-aboard suitcase, a diaper bag and 3 humans inside a bathroom stall? I have. It’s not fun.

Luckily, airports have family bathrooms (though they can be hard to find). Keep an eye out for signs for a family bathroom. It’s a big room that includes a diaper changing station, a toilet, a sink and lots of room for kids to wait while you finally empty your bladder. Plus, the family bathroom is big enough that they can stand in the middle of it and not. touch. anything. (I know I’m not the only parent who repeats that a million times in a public bathroom!)

Use the pre-boarding option

You know the announcement when it’s time for passengers who “require a little extra time” to get on the plane? When you have kids, that’s you.

Take advantage of pre-boarding if your airline offers it. You can use the time to board the plane at your kids’ pace, get your carry-ons in the overhead compartment and get settled without a huge audience.

Introduce yourself to your seatmates

Sitting next to strangers can be awkward, but break the ice by introducing yourself and your kids. Seatmates are much more likely to be friendly if they know your name. You’ll also stress less about your kids bothering them if they’ve already gushed about their own grandkids.

Ask your seatmate to watch your kids while you pee

If your partner isn’t there to hold your baby or watch your kids while you use the restroom on the plane, ask your seatmate. Even if you’re nervous about leaving your littles with a stranger, know they can’t get far. They’re just as trapped on the plane as you are!

Also, there is literally no room in those teeny tiny lavatories for you both. So trust in humanity and pee solo.

Find the lavatory with the changing table

I learned—the hard way, aka with a child and a poopy diaper—that not all plane lavatories have changing tables. So ID it before you sit down (or ask a flight attendant which one has the changing table). That way you won’t be unpleasantly surprised when you have to change your child mid-flight!

How to rock a family road trip by yourself

Create a passenger seat staging area

When you don’t have another parent with you on a road trip, it’s up to you to manage your tiny (and demanding!) passengers. If you’ve magically trained your kids to be self-sufficient on road trips, congratulations. For the rest of us, turn the passenger seat into a staging area to entertain your kids on a road trip.

When I set out on a road trip by myself, I set up everything I’ll need on the passenger seat: snacks, toys and books. That way I can grab whatever I need without taking my eyes off the road and pass it back to my children in the back seat.

Plan your route first

When you have another parent in the passenger seat, you can rely on him or her to give you directions. But if you don’t have a navigator, make sure you know where you’re going before you even turn on the car.

Enter the addresses of all your destinations, and look at the overview so you have an idea of where you’re headed.

Tips for all solo travel with kids

No matter how you’re getting from Point A to Point B, these ideas for solo travel with kids will help make it a smooth trip.

Ask for help

It’s easy to forget that sometimes humans need a hand. Jostle yourself out of your self-reliance zone when you travel solo with kids—chances are, you’ll need some help, and that’s ok.

Whether it’s figuring out how to pump your own gas if you’re used to full-service gas stations or finding a water fountain in an endless airport terminal, ask for help. Strangers are almost always happy to assist.

Pull the mom card

Yeah yeah, you don’t always want or need special treatment. But if you’re traveling alone with kids, you deserve it.

So if you’re in a desperate situation—your kid’s about to wet himself or you’re pregnant and about to faint from hunger—ask to skip to the front of the line. Other people are usually decent human beings and are more than willing to make exceptions, especially for supermoms like you.

Pack surprise goodies

I always get a few special toys and treats when I travel solo with kids. A brand-new activity or usually off-limits snack can keep kids entertained on the plane or head off a back seat revolt.

I wrote about DIY travel activity kit ideas on my other blog—take a look for ideas to keep entertained on the go!

Prioritize self-care

If you’re traveling alone with kids, you’re focused on them—are they too hot or too cold? hungry? bored? about to pee their pants? It’s easy to forget yourself.

So make sure to take care of yourself. Go to bed early before you leave on your solo trip with kids. Drink tons of water. Eat well. Text your best friend about how you will never travel with kids again. Whatever it is you need to stay sane, do it. That way you’ll be there for your kids.

Baby wear

Even if your kid is 35 pounds, baby wearing can be a life-saver when you travel alone with kids. (I still wear my 3.5-year-old, especially on solo travel trips!) Babywearing leaves your hands free to pull luggage, hold the hand of another child, give boarding passes to flight attendants or the million other things you’ll need to do when you’re traveling with kids.

Stretch it out

If you’re carrying all the bags and all the kids, you will get sore. Avoid a tweaked muscle by stretching before and during your solo travel with kids.

Pack light

Edit your bags so you’re not lugging around 47 pounds of just-in-case gear.

Do I need a parental consent form?

Maybe. When you travel solo with kids, a parental consent form documents that you have your partner’s approval to travel with your children. You do not need this document while traveling within the US or to most countries. (Double-check if you need one if you’re traveling internationally; rules vary by country.)

That said, having a parental consent form isn’t a bad idea, just in case. There isn’t an official form here within the US, so you can just write one yourself. It should include:

• your and your partner’s name and contact information
• your children’s names and birth dates
• your destinations
• a statement saying that your at-home partner is aware and approves of the travel

For good measure, you can have the form notarized.

How about you? Do you have any tips to make solo travel with kids easier? Don’t forget to pin this for later and share with a friend who’s traveling alone with kids!

The post Solo travel with kids: You can do it! appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

As a matter of fact, when I booked my flight from Paris to Bari, Italy, I had no idea the Beauvais-Tille airport was so far from the Paris city center. It’s a very good thing I looked into it before the morning of my flight!

So if you’re considering flying Ryan Air from Paris Beauvais-Tille, read this post first. You’ll learn the pros, the cons and all the logistics details you need to decide to fly Ryan Air from Paris Beauvais-Tille.

The pros and cons of flying Ryan Air from Paris Beauvais-Tille

Pros of flying Beauvais-Tille:

Tickets are cheaper. Ryan Air is known as Europe’s cheap airline for a reason: You save beaucoup euros.

The airport is tiny. Beauvais-Tille is itty bitty, which means short security lines and zero confusion. It took me about 5 minutes to get through security there.

Most Ryan Air flights are short. Personally, I don’t need luxury when my flight is less than 2 hours long. I can get by just fine with the basic airline amenities. I’d rather save some money.

Buses don’t need reservations. The shuttle bus leaves 25 minutes after each arriving flight, and there are multiple buses, so you don’t have to worry about being left behind.

It’s easy to find the shuttle. If you’re flying back through Beauvais-Tille, it’s super-easy to find the shuttle back to Paris. It’s about a 5-minute walk from the baggage claim to the bus.

Level 10 travel tip: There’s a Starbucks where the bus picks you up at Beauvais-Tille. I was thrilled to see it and order a 20-ounce hot tea. (Why is it so hard to get decent tea in Paris?)

Cons of flying Beauvais-Tille:

There’s no direct public transportation to Beauvais-Tille. You can take the metro directly to Orly, but not so for Beauvais-Tille. You’ll have to take the metro (or a taxi/Uber) to the Beauvais-Tille shuttle bus stop, then ride the bus the rest of the way.

Beauvais-Tille is far from the Paris city center. It’ll take you about two hours to get to Beauvais-Tille, as opposed to about 30 minutes to Orly. (Make sure to look up directions and time estimates early, as trip times will vary depending on where you’re staying in Paris.)

Ryan Air charges for everything. There’s a reason Ryan Air is cheap: they’re cheap! You won’t get snacks, drinks or water on the flight, and you’ll have to pay for any carry-on bigger than a day backpack.

If you’re late, you’ll pay a fortune. If you miscalculate and end up having to take a taxi, expect to pay between 150-200 euros for a cab ride. It’s far!

Beauvais-Tille is bare bones. As I mentioned before, this Paris airport is small, so don’t expect a ton of services, shops and amenities. There was one cafe and one duty-free shop next to my Ryan Air gate and that was it.

How to make the most of flying Ryan Air from Paris Beauvais-Tille

Now that you’ve researched if it’s worth it to fly Ryan Air from Paris Beauvais-Tille, you might have decided to do what I did and click “buy” on those cheap flights! If that’s the case, follow these tips to make the most of flying Ryan Airport from Beauvais-Tille.

Watch out for upcharges on Ryan Air

When you check in, Ryan Air wants to charge you for all sorts of extras: picking your seat, walking through priority lines, an extra carry-on, etc etc etc. If you choose all these add-ons, your flight will be just as expensive as other airlines.

Be mindful of your carry-on

Ryan Air has strict rules about carry-ons: You can bring only one carry-on bag for free. And these are not American-sized carry-ons; they’re talking about a backpack or purse. If you want to bring two bags on, you have to pay extra.

Know where you’re going to catch the airport bus

I didn’t know exactly where the pickup spot for the Beauvais-Tille bus was, so I ended up wandering around with my roll-aboard for a while. Use this address in your google maps on your phone: 22-24 Boulevard Pershing, Paris. Or download this image onto your phone and navigate from there. The bus stop is within easy walking distance from the Porte Maillot stop on the metro and the RER.

Budget time to arrive to Beauvais-Tille

Plan ahead to figure out when you should leave for Paris Beauvais-Tille. Start at the time you want to arrive at the Paris airport and work backwards from there. Build in a time cushion for any hiccups (like the metro stop that stopped service without warning when I was headed to my Ryan Air flight).

Buy your shuttle bus ticket

There’s no need to buy your shuttle ticket ahead of time; you can buy your ticket from the automatic kiosk at the bus stop. When I arrived at the shuttle stop, there was quite a long line to buy a ticket from the cashier, who accepted cash, so pay with a card instead at the automatic kiosk. You’ll save a ton of time.

Level 10 travel tip: You can buy a round-trip ticket if you like, though you won’t save any money. (It’s the same price as two one-ways.) If you don’t buy a round-trip (which I didn’t—I was afraid of losing the paper ticket by accident), you can buy your return bus ticket in the baggage claim at Beauvais-Tille when you land.

Use free public wifi

The Beauvais-Tille shuttle bus doesn’t have wifi, but the airport does. I was able to log on to the free public wifi and work for a bit before flying Ryan Air from Beauvais-Tille.

Bottom line: Beauvais-Tille saves money but not time

The beginning of this blog post was a spoiler alert: I did end up flying Ryan Air from Paris Beauvais-Tille. I was traveling solo, and Ryan Air had a cheap direct flight to Bari, where I was meeting my friend. That doesn’t mean I’d recommend this route for everyone.

Go ahead and fly Ryan Air from Paris Beauvais-Tille if:

• you’re on a tight budget
• you’re flying alone or with a small group of other adventurous travelers
• Ryan Air offers a better, more direct route to your destination
• you have time to kill or can use the transportation time well, e.g. by working

But don’t fly Ryan Air from Paris Beauvais-Tille if:

• you’re on a tight timeline
• you’re traveling with young children
• you can get a similarly priced flight from Charles de Gaulle or Orly
• you have a lot of luggage

Regardless of how you fly, travel safely, and bon voyage!

Have you ever flown Ryan Air? What did you think about the European discount airline?

The post Flying Ryan Air from Paris Beauvais-Tille: Is it worth it? appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

I have experienced this trade-off plenty of times on my own family trips, and science agrees: Spending money to save time makes people happier, according to research from Canada. 

The concept makes even more sense when you think about family vacations. After all, taking a trip is all about spending quality time together—and stress-free, relaxed time is worth a lot to you. So budgeting for some time-saving extras on vacation can be a much better use of your money than, say, a fancy dinner (which your kids might not eat anyway) or a few new DVDs for the road trip. Research shows it’ll make you all happier, too.

Paying a little extra money to save time—and save your vacation

Take, for example, a call I got from my husband one day: I was in Detroit for work, and he and the kids were joining me there for a quick family vacation. (Yes to mixing business and fun!) But he did not sound relaxed; in fact, he was calling me to say they might not make the flight.

In fact, he was driving down the freeway toward the airport and didn’t think he’d have time to park in economy, unbuckle the car seats, wrangle three suitcases, board the bus to the terminal, check in, go through security and make it to the gate.

A bit of quick googling on my phone led me to a solution: airport valet parking. Eric was completely skeptical, and I’m pretty sure he felt a hefty dose of guilt when considering paying more for parking when there were plenty of spots in the economy lot. But, I reasoned, paying for valet parking was way cheaper than rebooking three flights.

In the end, he did opt for airport valet parking—and loved it. The folks there not only parked the car for him, saving loads of time and hassle; they also helped get the suitcases and car seats inside the terminal. Eric and the kids not only made the flight; they had a few extra minutes to play in the PDX airport playground and grab a snack.

Sure beats running through the airport with two kids!

Ideas to invest extra in your family vacation

You totally don’t need anyone’s permission to spring for a slight upgrade like airport valet parking—but if spending a bit more to save your vacation is still giving you a hangup, hear this: You’re worth it. Your family vacation is worth it. And the memories you’ll make together are certainly worth it.

So take science’s finding that spending a little more to save time and upgrade your fun will make you happier (on vacation and every day!). Here are some ideas to do just that.

• Stay in a prime location. You’ll pay more for hotel or house rental, but you’ll spend less time driving to all the fun things you’ve planned for your vacation.
• Pay for better parking. See my example above if you don’t believe me that a little extra money can make a big difference in enjoying your vacation.
• Get grocery delivery. If you’re staying at a house for an extended time, you’ll want to stock the fridge—but going to the grocery store is a drag when there are fun vacation activities you’re dying to do with the kids. Instead, buy staples online and have them delivered to your rental house.
• Order ahead. You can call a restaurant (or room service) on your way so you don’t have to wait for the kitchen to make your food. This one actually doesn’t necessarily cost money, but it will save you from distracting hungry kids while you figure out your order!
• Fly direct. Sure, you may pay a bit extra for fewer layovers, but think of all the stress you’ll avoid on your family trip.

We’ll be spending the money to save time—and have a more relaxed vacation—from now on. How about you?

Has spending a little extra money ever helped save your vacation? What extras do you budget for on vacation?

The post Spend a little, save your vacation with this science-based travel hack appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

PDX is consistently voted the country’s best airport, and it’s not just because of the carpet. The Portland airport is great for adults (breweries! whiskey flights! wine bars! mimosas at the Country Cat!), but it’s also wonderful for kids. Between the kid-friendly restaurants, family entertainment and smart design, PDX is my favorite kid-friendly airport. If you’re flying through the Portland airport with kids, take advantage of the airport’s kid-friendly features.

Getting to your destination can make anyone cranky—and little kids have even less patience than us wise, calm, serene adults. (HA!) So a kid-friendly airport like PDX makes life a little easier on us parents. In fact, my kids now actually like hanging out at the airport!

Next time you’re flying through the Portland airport with kids, then, seek out these family-friendly perks.

Why flying through the Portland airport with kids WON’T make you swear off family travel

1. Log on to free wifi

If your kids are approaching a post-TSA meltdown (and I can’t say I blame them), save your data and log on to the PDX free wifi. The wifi in the Portland airport is famously fast—and good enough to stream Puffin Rock, Paw Patrol or whatever uber annoying show your kid is obsessed with this week. 

2. See part of a movie at the Hollywood Theater

A free movie theater is just one more reason why flying through the Portland airport with kids is the best. Not all films there are family-friendly, but check the current showing schedule for kid-friendly flicks. On a recent day, short films included overhead drone footage of Oregon, a stop-motion animation about a frog and a documentary about crows.

3. Wear your Timbers jersey

If you fly Alaska, wear your Portland Timbers jersey and you get to pre-board with all the fancy first class folks!

4. Buy kid-friendly (and healthy!) snacks

Skip the sugar crash and pick healthy, kid-friendly snacks for your pre-boarding wait—and the flight ahead. Fruit bars, squeezie pouches, popcorn, cheese and protein plates and more are great options. Stock up because flying through the Portland airport with kids who are hangry is never fun!

5. Look out the window

There’s something magical about seeing gigantic planes close up. Kids also love to watch aircraft taking off and landing.

Level 10 travel tip: An enormous window at the end of terminal C gives an unobstructed view of the runways. If you are flying out of terminal C or have extra time, walk down this way for primo views. Bonus: The window is right next to a playground!

6. Take a foot selfie

PDX tore up a bunch of its legendary carpet, which oddly enough developed a cult following, but you can still take a foot selfie along with thousands of other travelers! #pdxcarpet

7. Pick a kid-friendly restaurant at PDX

If you’re looking for something fast, Cafe Yumm is my go-to. It serves kid-friendly (and customizable) bowls with a base of beans and rice. If you have more time, Portland favorite Country Cat is a fairly recent addition to PDX, and their homemade biscuits with jam are a huge hit with little ones.

Level 10 travel tip: Country Cat also serves cocktails. The 5 o’clock rule guidelines totally don’t apply when you’re flying with kids. Mimosas away!

8. Stop by an airport play place

My kids find airport moving walkways more fun than just about anything else, but when I get tired of apologizing to passengers for my girls, I steer them to an airport play place at PDX.

PDX has several play places, including one on each side of the airport. TK SPECIFICS

Level 10 travel tip: Make sure your kids wash their hands right after using the airport play places. You don’t want to start a family vacation by catching a bug!

9. Listen (or dance!) to live music

Unless you’re flying super-early or super-late, musicians perform across the airport throughout the day. I’ve seen not only people playing the piano and saxophone but also the marimba and even the African kora. A little live music is a great inspiration for your kids to dance out their energy when flying through PDX.

10. Look up at the Clock Tower

The beautiful, weathervane-like art at the Clock Tower in terminal C is a great place for kiddos to explore for a few minutes. Invite them to find the different animals and scenes atop the towers.

This light-filled atrium is also the best place to eat a meal in the Portland airport, IMHO. Kid-friendly restaurants here include Cafe Yumm, MOD Pizza (which also serves a gluten-free crust) and Mo’s Chowder (get the kid-friendly fish and chips, yum!). There are plenty of tables in this atrium to sit and have a pre-flight meal.

11. Run sprints on an out-of-the-way moving walkway

If your kids are anything like mine, they love getting on and off the moving walkway. Unfortunately, other travelers are trying to use it for its actual purpose: getting to where they’re going faster. Great news for your kiddos: The long hallway that connects the two ends of the airport has several extra-long stretches of moving walkways, perfect for letting kids sprint to their heart’s content.

12. Take a break at a nursing room

There are roughly a dozen nursing rooms throughout the Portland airport, great for breastfeeding moms or moms who exclusively pump. They’re first-come, first-served, so if the one you go to is locked, ask a PDX staff for help. They should be able to help you find someplace private and close to breastfeed or pump, like the conference center.

If you’re pumping at the airport, take a look at my post on my other blog, Ten Thousand Hour Mama, for tons of tips on pumping at the airport.

13. Watch the dogs

Also in the connector highway between the two ends of PDX, an animal relief center offers an unexpected way to entertain kids. Your littles can watch through the room’s window as dogs dart around the room. The combination of finally getting to run off-leash and all the intense smells makes dogs particularly hilarious!

Flying through the Portland airport with kids definitely isn’t at the top of my favorite family activities, but it’s not on the worst-ever list, either. So when you’re flying in or out of Portland, take advantage of PDX’s family-friendly airport perks. You, your kids, and the rest of the travelers on your plane will be glad you did!

If you’re planning a family trip, you’ll definitely want to check out my $3 hack to make packing all your kids’ stuff totally simple. After all, I swear by this trick and it has helped so much by eliminating the hassle of packing suitcases.

Do you have any tips for flying with kids through the Portland airport or anywhere else? Please share in the comments!

The post 13 must-know tips for flying through the Portland airport with kids appeared first on To & Fro Fam.