Planning your first international trip with kids? It can feel exciting yet overwhelming. These tips for traveling internationally with kids come straight from our first family trip abroad, including what actually helped, what we would do again, and what we learned along the way.
We just got back from our first big international trip as a family, and I keep coming back to the same thought: I am so thankful we did it.
The time together was priceless. More than that, there is something deeply meaningful about doing hard things together, navigating the unknown, and seeing the world as a family. It stretches everyone in the best way.
Before this trip, we went back and forth about what the “right age” was for international travel with kids. After doing it, I’m not convinced there’s a perfect answer. Our son did great at 8, but I think it has less to do with age and more to do with personality, flexibility, and your family’s timing.
On the flight home, somewhere over the ocean, my husband and I started talking through everything that made the trip easier, what we would absolutely do again, and what we had learned the hard way.
This is that list. The things I would text a friend if she said, “We’re thinking about taking our kids overseas… what do we need to know?”
Why International Travel Is So Valuable for Kids
There is something different about stepping into a place that doesn’t feel like home.
Kids notice it right away. The language is different. The food is different. The pace is different. Even the small things, like how you order food or use the restroom, feel new.
And that’s where the value is.
It builds awareness. It builds confidence. It helps them see that the world is bigger than what they know and that they can handle it.
We saw it in real time. Our son began recognizing historical names from books he had read. He asked better questions and paid attention in a different way because he had context.
It doesn’t mean every moment is magical. There were plenty of “I’m bored” moments, but even those are part of it. Learning to move through discomfort in a new place is part of growing up.
Tips for Traveling Internationally with Kids
- Bring more “just in case” items than you think you need
Ziploc bags and hand wipes have saved us more times than I can count. Leftovers, snacks, random items we needed to carry, and quick cleanups. I always keep a couple of gallon- and quart-sized bags in both our backpack and suitcase. But having these items was helpful along the way, and we didn’t have a Walmart on every corner we could just pop into.
- Pack wipes. Yes, still.
Bathrooms are different in other countries. Public restrooms can cost money, may not have toilet paper, and are not always ideal. In my opinion, having wipes in your bag is not optional. You’ll use them more than you expect. (even when your kid grabs the gum off the subway handrail…what in the world!)
- Keep chapstick everywhere
For whatever reason, kids seem to constantly lick their lips while traveling. We kept a regular chapstick in our bag and a large Aquaphor repair stick at the hotel. It made a difference, especially after long travel days.
- Talk about safety before you leave
Have these conversations at home, casually, at dinner, in the car, or over ice cream. Give them time to process.
They don’t need to feel scared, but they do need to understand body awareness. Staying close. Not wandering or kicking up their heels all the time. Seeing things that might feel unfamiliar, like police presence or busy waterways. And understanding a code word when mom means business.
- Read books about your destination before you leave
Books helped us understand context and learn about our trip destinations. We grabbed a mix of kid-friendly history books and familiar series set in similar places. When we got there, our son already recognized names, places, and ideas. It changed how engaged he was.
Options like Boxcar Kids, Magic Tree House, and Geronimo Stilton were easy places to start. I also went to the country section of the library and checked out non-fiction books for kids’ research that were helpful for exploring major sites, discussing food, and discussing language.
- Watch shows or videos about your destination
Even short YouTube clips can help. Seeing places in advance reduces anxiety and gives kids something to look for upon arrival.
- Give them a journal or sketch pad
This was one of my favorite things we did. During downtime, instead of defaulting to screens, he had something to draw, write, or observe. It kept him engaged without needing constant activity. When he was bored in a museum, I encouraged him to get out his notebook and draw what he could see, or pretend he was Leonardo da Vinci!
- Plan around your child’s natural rhythm
Travel doesn’t magically reset your child’s personality. If they crash at home in the afternoon, they will likely crash in another country, too. Plan your days with that in mind rather than fighting it. If they always want a snack at a certain time, plan for it!
- Expect jet lag and give it space
The first few days can feel off. Kids may wake up early or have trouble falling asleep. Do your best to align with the local schedule, but give everyone grace while you adjust.
- When you arrive, go with the day
If you arrive in the morning, stay up and get moving. If it’s afternoon, ease into it. Let your arrival time guide your first day rather than over-planning. (See my London plan to learn more about how this worked for us)
- Pre-select kid-friendly airplane meals
This is an easy win that people often overlook. Most international airlines let you choose meals ahead of time, including kid-friendly options. This usually means food they will actually eat, plus snacks they recognize.
- Start your day with a solid breakfast
Protein matters here. Fill them up, and if you can, grab something small for later. An apple, a piece of bread, a packet of crackers, peanut butter, or something simple to keep in your bag. This helps prevent anyone from hitting a wall mid-morning when snack options may be scarce.
- Pace the sugary treats
Yes, enjoy the gelato, but maybe not three times before lunch.
We tried to set expectations. “We’ll get something later.” It helped avoid sugar crashes and constant negotiating. This approach was helpful for the kids and grown-ups.
- Use bathrooms when you can
If you’re in a restaurant or museum, go ahead and use the restroom. Don’t assume you’ll find another one easily or that it will be free. Everyone stopped to use the restroom before we left the hotel and whenever we were near a free option.
- Give everything a “home” in your room
Hotel rooms can be tight, especially abroad.
Have a designated place for bags, snacks, receipts, and daily items. It prevents you from wasting time searching for things and helps everyone stay more organized.
- Help kids connect the dots
Sometimes kids get bored because they don’t understand what they’re seeing, and tour-guide headsets aren’t comfortable for little ears.
Give them something to investigate, something to look for, and a question to answer or research during your tour. It makes a big difference in how they engage. When the guide mentions something they would know, point it out or call out the connection.
- Keep comfort items in your carry-on
We almost packed our son’s favorite stuffed animal in the suitcase, but we kept it in the carry-on. That was the right call.
It helped for overnight sleep on the plane and made bedtime in a new place feel more familiar.
- Highlight your priorities
Call out your non-negotiables for this trip – and find out what they are for the others you are traveling with. If nothing else, what is everyone most looking forward to?
For me, it was sitting in a piazza at golden hour or taking a quiet morning walk with coffee and no plan. I didn’t want to manage anything in that moment, so I didn’t. My husband was the navigator, and I just walked around and looked.
If you have something on your mind that feels important, make it happen.
- Communicate with your travel partner often
This is not the time to assume you’re on the same page.
We checked in at breakfast about each day’s plan and again at night before we went to bed. Talk about priorities. Adjust expectations or the original plan if you found something else or heard a kid mention something they would or would not like to do. That kept us from getting frustrated with each other.
- Share the load
Don’t let one person carry the entire trip – planning, navigating, and decision-making. It’s a lot. Share it. And remember, the kids don’t have to run the day, but they are part of it. Share the focus and the types of activities.
- Handle schoolwork on the front end.
If you’re missing school, get ahead on schoolwork. Ask teachers for assignments before you leave so you can come back with less to do. Use airport time or early travel days if needed. Do not save it for the flight home. You will all regret that decision.
On our first set of flights, we worked on homework for an hour and then had screen and game time. We had to do this in a couple of segments to finish early, but it was way too hard to save for the trip home, when I’d already lost all my patience.
- Talk to each other
Use meal times or sitting and waiting as opportunities to connect with each other.
At dinner, we would each share our favorite part of the day. Sometimes we mixed it up by naming something unexpected or something we would eat again. It created a connection and helped us see what stood out to our son.
We put our phones down, too. It felt like a place not just to set expectations for teens and kids but also for ourselves.
- Plan for your return home
This might be one of the best tips we received from our travel planning team.
Before we left, I planned meals for the week we would return and saved everything to my grocery cart. On the flight home, I scheduled a delivery, and the groceries were waiting for us when we returned.
I had completely forgotten to schedule the plan, so it was such a relief when we walked in the door to find the meals ready for the week.
- Leave your calendar light after your trip
Coming home was harder than going. It’s an America thing with time zones and going backward in time. Keep this in mind when planning your return flight times.
The jet lag hit differently, and we were all tired in ways we hadn’t anticipated. Give yourself a few days to reset before jumping back into a full schedule. Leave your evenings open, and recognize that when you pick up kids from school, they are exhausted. Keep them up until 8:00 pm, and do the same for yourself!
A Few Final Thoughts
Here’s the truth: travel can be stressful.
Things go wrong. People get tired. You fall out of rhythm.
But you chose to do this.
So give yourself some grace, communicate often, and lean into the experience. The hard parts are part of it, but so are the moments you’ll talk about for years.
And if you’re on the fence about taking your kids on an international trip, I would say this without hesitation:
Do it. Full throttle, no regrets!
