Traveling Internationally with Kids

At Tauck, we've been delivering inspired family journeys around the globe since 2003––and we're happy to share our knowledge about traveling internationally with kids. Just follow our advice and recommendations below, to help your family experience an unforgettable trip to an unbelievable destination.

Cover the Must-Dos (and Maybe-Dos)

• Passports – International travel requires a passport for all members of your party — even infants. If you already have passports, check the expirations. Many nations require that validity extends at least six months beyond your travel dates. In the U.S., passports for kids under 16 years old expire five years from the issue date (not ten years, as with adult passports). Check with the appropriate governmental agency for your country to ensure your passport is in compliance.

• Travel Visas – Requirements vary from country to country, whether or not travelers must apply for a visa in advance of their visit. For U.S. citizens, the Department of State website gives full details on your desired destination. 

• Immunizations – As a parent, you're accustomed to taking your kids to the pediatrician for "shots" to protect them from measles, mumps, tetanus and other common illnesses. But there are other parts of the world dealing with diseases we don't immunize for, like yellow fever. To keep your family safe, make an appointment with a travel medicine specialist at least one month prior to your vacation, to determine what immunizations and medications are required or recommended for your destination(s).

• Consent Agreement – If you are traveling with your own children, but without their other parent, if they have a different last name, or you're taking your grandchild or a child that is not yours on a trip outside the country, you will likely require a notarized minor travel consent form. Learn more about the topic here.

Fly Cleverly

• Right-Sized Bags – Remember, most airlines only allow one personal item and one carry-on per passenger, and many charge extra fees for checked baggage (especially over a certain weight). When traveling with kids, you want to ensure you have enough on the plane to keep them happy, but not so much that you pay unnecessary fees or sacrifice packing other essentials. Check out our Family Packing Tips for more guidance on finding this balance.

• Flight Length – No one knows the limits of your family's patience better than you. When booking your flights, decide if it's best to fly non-stop or to book connecting flights with a layover in between so you have time to stretch your legs.

• Be an Early Bird – Nothing starts a journey on the wrong foot like a stressful dash through the airport to get to your gate on time. To avoid that anxiety, always check in to your flight online 24 hours in advance, and allow plenty of time to get through security, so there's no rush — only relaxation ahead.

• Or Be a Night Owl – Time zone changes and jet lag can sap energy levels, disrupt sleep patterns and make for a generally unhappy family. Consider flying out on a red-eye, so the kids snooze through the flight and awake refreshed and ready to have a fun vacation.

Embrace the Place

• Learn the Language – Before you depart for your destination, practice reading and speaking some key phrases. You won't be fluent, but you will be able to communicate with the locals — and they'll likely be more helpful, since you've shown an effort to speak their language.

• Eat Local – When traveling internationally with children, encourage them (even your pickiest eaters) to put down the chicken fingers and sample some of the local cuisine. They could find a new favorite dish that you can prepare together after your arrival back home, to relive delicious vacation memories.

• See the World Through Their Eyes – Even if you've already been to a foreign country, you'll gain a fresh — and more appreciative — perspective when you experience it with and through your family.

• Get Cultured – There are so many ways to immerse your family in a destination. Choose those that fit them best. A bike tour is perfect for an active family and still covers the same landmark sights as a bus excursion.

Set Realistic Expectations

• For Kids – Review the travel itinerary as a family, so everyone understands where they're going, how long they'll be there and what they can anticipate. This is also a good opportunity to discuss your vacation rules about screen time, souvenir budgets and more.

• For You – Every parent or grandparent envisions the picture-perfect moments when planning a family vacation. The reality is that not every moment will be one. Be patient when the little ones are cranky or the older kids are detached, and take pleasure in every shining experience that brings you all closer together as a family.