| 41
FA M I LY T R AV E L
Five Tips for Traveling Internationally with Kids JENN ALBRECHT
contributing writer
Now that the COVID pandemic is coming to an end (fingers crossed). Many of you, like us, might be considering international travel as a family. Traveling internationally not only builds relationships as a family, but also opens kids’ minds to new cultural experiences and builds confidence. Yes, traveling with kids — especially internationally — can be overwhelming. I often find myself asking questions like, “How far can the kids walk?” “Where are the nearest bathrooms?” “What if we get lost?” and “Will the kids enjoy cultural activities, such as museums and historical visits?” All of these questions and more often keep people from venturing too far out of their comfort zones, and sometimes keep us from traveling altogether. However, working through these worries is well worth the effort. The Albrecht family in France in 2020.
Over the last decade, both for work and for
pleasure, our family of seven has had the opportunity to travel to South America, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and Europe. Here are a few tips and tricks that we have learned along the way: JUST DO IT Sometimes the hardest part is just doing it! Buy the plane tickets, reserve the VRBO, and get the ball rolling. That first step is often the hardest, but for our family, once we sit down and set a budget, plan the dates, and purchase the airplane tickets there is no going back, which is a good thing because it forces us to get out there and start making memories! KEEP IT SIMPLE — YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO IT ALL As parents, it’s important to not get caught up in what we CAN'T do on the trip and instead … continued on next page
