How To Pack It > Travel With Children

No, you don't have to pack them (tempting though the notion may be at times), but a lot of people ask about travelling light with children in tow. With toddlers and smaller (who will need diapers, favourite toys, etc.) it's a daunting challenge. I suggest renting a car. If you have a choice of destinations, choose those where you are likely to want a vehicle anyway (Ireland, say, or the Provence region of France, where you will want to visit areas not well served by public transportation).

Note that foreign rental cars should, if at all possible, be booked in advance (from home); doing so after you arrive can be much more expensive. Your chosen guide book will often suggest lower-cost local alternatives to the major auto rental companies. Don't assume that theft and collision coverage on rentals works the same way as at home; your own policy is unlikely to be valid in foreign countries, and the automatic coverage provided by some charge cards is also very country-specific, and should be verified in advance.

If you are travelling with young children (even if only to the local market), you should know about child carriers, designed to comfortably transport young ones on your back. If you lead any kind of active life whatsoever, you'll never regret acquiring one of these. Several companies make them, but Tough Traveler® (pictured above) is the brand to beat (their contact information is on the Suppliers page); they've been building them for over 20 years.

Once the children are old enough to keep up with your walking plans, they should of course be introduced to the joys (and responsibilities) of independent travel. This means they should have bags of their own, in which to carry whatever they choose to bring along (in practice, this will primarily be clothing, as the accompanying adults will already be bringing all the communal needs). A modest daypack should suffice for this; if possible, you should shop for same with its intended user... not only will s/he be involved in the purchase, but it can be examined for proper fit.

Finally, you'll find lots of good information and products related to travelling with babies and toddlers at BabyGoes2.