THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO INTERNATIONAL FAMILY TRAVEL: HOW TO TRAVEL ABROAD WITH KIDS
Travelling internationally with kids can sound amazing when you’re picturing gelato in Italy, exploring a Spanish castle, eating sushi in Japan, exploring the rainforest in Costa Rica or watching your kids experience a different culture for the first time.
Then the practical questions start.
Will they handle the flight? Are we trying to see too much? What if they’re exhausted? Is it worth spending the money when they might not even remember the trip? Will it be family friendly?
And maybe the biggest question: Will this actually feel like a vacation?
Travelling internationally with kids is different from travelling as a couple or backpacking before little ones. You’re still parenting, just in a different time zone, possibly with jet lag and a suitcase that somehow became overweight between your bedroom and the airport.
But, different doesn’t mean it isn’t worth doing.
Before having kids, I spent almost three months travelling through Southeast Asia. I loved having enough time to experience a destination rather than rushing from one highlight to the next. Having children hasn’t changed how much I value that slower style of travel, but it has changed what I consider when planning a trip.
Now, both as a parent and when thinking through travel for other families, I look much more closely at where a family stays, how often they move, what their days actually look like and whether your schedule gives the kids enough opportunities to be kids.
Because I don’t think successful international travel with children comes from finding the most “kid-friendly” country.
It comes from intentionally planning a trip that works for your family.
IS INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL WITH KIDS ACTUALLY WORTH IT?
One of the biggest reasons parents put off international travel is completely understandable:
What if we spend all this money and the kids don't remember it?
I look at that question a little differently.
Sometimes the memories are for the parents, but the moments are for the kids.
Your four-year-old might not remember running through a park in Barcelona when she’s 20. But she can still have an incredible afternoon there when she’s four.
And you get to remember watching her experience it.
That doesn't mean every family needs to take their preschooler to Europe or Asia. International travel is an investment, and you need to feel comfortable making that investment knowing the trip may look very different from one you'd take without children.
An Italian vacation with young kids might not include long wine tours, hours of historical sightseeing and elaborate dinners every evening.
Instead, it might include a museum in the morning, gelato afterwards and an afternoon at a park where your kids can run around while you sit nearby and take in the fact that you're actually in Italy together.
Is that a lesser trip? I don't think so. It's your family's version.
And being comfortable with that before you leave can completely change how you plan the trip.
HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION FOR YOUR FAMILY?
Parents often start by Googling something like, “What are the best countries to visit with kids?”
There’s nothing wrong with getting inspiration that way, but I don’t think there’s one list of destinations every family should visit.
I actually think most destinations can work with kids.
The bigger question is: What would travelling there look like for your particular family?
Before choosing a destination, I’d think about the bigger picture:
What will the journey there actually look like with your kids?
How easy will the destination be to experience as a family?
What kind of pace will work for your kids at their current ages?
Does it fit the experiences your family wants from this trip?
A destination can be great for families and still be the wrong fit for your family right now.
AMANDA'S ADVICE - When I’m helping a family narrow down destinations, I look at all of these pieces together rather than individually. A destination might have incredible family-friendly hotels, but if getting there requires multiple connections and the family only has eight days, I may recommend saving it for another trip.
On the other hand, somewhere parents initially assume will be difficult with kids can become a great fit when we choose the right neighbourhood, accommodations and pace.
And this is where expectations matter.
If you picture yourself exploring a city from breakfast until dinner every day, but your preschooler realistically needs time to run around, snack and decompress, there’s a misalignment before you’ve even booked the flights.
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO TRAVEL INTERNATIONALLY WITH KIDS?
Before you commit to flights or accommodations, check the entry requirements for every traveller, including the kids.
Depending on where you're travelling, that may include passports, passport-validity requirements, visas or electronic travel authorizations, documentation for children travelling with only one parent and destination-specific entry requirements.
Requirements can change, so I always recommend checking official government sources for your destination rather than relying on an old blog post or social-media post.
You'll also want to consider travel insurance and make sure you understand what coverage you have before leaving Canada.
And think about your family's health needs before departure too. Depending on where you're travelling, there may be recommended or required vaccinations, and some may need to be given in advance. Talk with your family doctor or a travel health professional about your destination and travel plans so you know what may be recommended for each member of your family.
GOOD TO KNOW - Don't assume that because your child's passport is valid on the day you're travelling, you're automatically good to go. Some destinations require passports to remain valid for a certain period beyond your travel dates. Check the requirements before you book.
These details aren't super exciting, but they're the kind of things I want sorted out before we start focusing on hotels, tours and everything you're excited to experience.
And once those pieces are in place, we can get into the part that can make or break the actual trip, your itinerary.
HOW DO YOU PLAN AN INTERNATIONAL ITINERARY WITH KIDS?
This is where I see families getting themselves into trouble.
You've flown all this way. You've invested a significant amount of money. There are 27 things you want to see.
So naturally, you want to fit them all in.
But more activities don't necessarily equal a better international family vacation.
When I'm looking at a family itinerary, I don't just count how many activities are scheduled each day. I look at how much we're asking of the kids.
Someone may wake up exhausted. The museum may take longer than expected. Your child may suddenly need a bathroom at the least convenient possible moment. Or you might find a park everyone loves and decide you'd rather stay there than rush to the next thing.
That doesn't mean the plan has gone wrong. Sometimes that's the trip working exactly as it should.
I want enough planning that the important pieces are taken care of, but enough flexibility that one tired afternoon doesn't derail the entire vacation.
The Maps & Memories Travel Co. Green, Yellow & Red Approach to Family Itineraries
One way I evaluate the pace of a family itinerary is by thinking about activities in three loose categories: green, yellow and red.
This isn't about whether an attraction advertises itself as “family-friendly.”
It's about how much that experience asks of your child.
Green activities give kids freedom to move and generally require very little from them. Think parks, gardens, beaches, pools or simply wandering around a neighbourhood and getting your bearings.
Yellow activities are more structured. They might be designed for children or simply work well for the whole family, an aquarium, boat ride, interactive museum or shorter sightseeing experience.
Red activities require more patience, structure or attention from a child. Visiting the Louvre could be a red activity for a young child. So could a long historical tour or another experience that primarily appeals to the parents.
The goal isn't to schedule one green, one yellow and one red activity every day.
It's about being mindful of the balance. Because after all, it is your vacation too.
If you're asking a lot from your kids with a red activity, you might surround it with green experiences before and afterwards. A more structured day might be followed by a green day where nobody has to be anywhere at a particular time.
This approach also helps me spot travel plans that may be too ambitious before a family is actually living it.
Three activities can look perfectly reasonable on paper. But if all three require your four-year-old to be quiet, attentive and on someone else's schedule, that's a very different day than three activities that include plenty of freedom to move.
That's why I look beyond how much is planned and think about what the day will actually feel like for your family.
And those green days can become especially important when you first arrive.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO ON THE FIRST DAY OF AN INTERNATIONAL TRIP WITH KIDS?
You finally arrive in Europe or Asia. You're excited. You've been planning this trip for months. And you want to get started.
Your kids' bodies, unfortunately, may have a very different plan.
Jet lag is real, and arrival day isn't where I'd schedule the experience everyone has been looking forward to for six months.
I'd rather use that first stretch of the trip to get settled.
Find somewhere to eat. Walk around the neighbourhood. Go to a park. Spend time at the beach if you're somewhere that makes sense. Let everyone get their bearings.
In other words: go green.
When I'm building an international itinerary, I want to protect that time adjustment rather than immediately filling it because technically there's room in the schedule.
You can start the bigger sightseeing once everyone has had a chance to adjust.
That doesn't mean the first day is wasted. Wandering through a new neighbourhood, finding your first local bakery or watching your kids discover a playground somewhere completely new is part of experiencing the destination too.
The big sights will still be there tomorrow.
HOW MANY DESTINATIONS SHOULD YOU VISIT ON AN INTERNATIONAL FAMILY TRIP?
If you have two weeks in Europe, it’s tempting to look at a map and start adding cities.
If we’re already in Paris, shouldn’t we add Amsterdam? And maybe London? And couldn’t we squeeze in Barcelona?
You can... but should you?
Before kids, moving frequently can feel exciting. With children, every move comes with packing, checking out, transportation, checking in, figuring out a new neighbourhood and getting everyone settled again.
And if you’re travelling with sleep gear, favourite toys and all the other things children somehow require, you really notice those moving days.
That doesn’t mean you need to stay in one place for your entire trip. Sometimes a shorter stay makes perfect sense, while other destinations deserve much more time.
That’s why I don’t like rigid rules about how many destinations a family should visit.
When I’m planning a trip for a family, I look at what each move actually adds to the experience, not just whether another city happens to fit on the map.
Because the cost of moving isn’t only financial. It’s also the time spent packing, transferring, checking in and getting everyone settled again. Sometimes adding another city can take a surprisingly big chunk out of the vacation.
AMANDA'S ADVICE - Spain is high on the list for our own family, and when we eventually go, I’d love to spend around five weeks there rather than trying to race through the country. I want enough time to actually experience it.
That’s how I loved travelling before kids, too. I spent almost three months travelling through Southeast Asia, and having that extra time meant I could experience destinations rather than only seeing the highlights.
Travelling with kids hasn’t changed that part of how I travel. If anything, it’s reinforced it.
Sometimes the better family trip isn’t the one where you fit in the most places. It’s the one where you give yourselves enough time to enjoy being there.
WHERE YOU STAY MATTERS MORE WHEN YOU'RE TRAVELLING WITH KIDS
Before kids, I might have looked at a hotel and focused mostly on whether I liked it and whether the price made sense.
With a family, location and room configuration can dramatically affect the trip.
Imagine two hotels.
One is a gorgeous five-star property, but every time you want to explore the city, you're looking at a 30- or 40-minute journey.
The other might be slightly less elaborate, but you're staying in a suite in a walkable neighbourhood, close to transportation, restaurants and the places you actually want to visit.
For my own family? I'm probably choosing the second one.
Being able to walk back to your hotel when someone needs downtime can be far more valuable than a beautiful lobby.
A separate sleeping space can also mean parents don't have to sit silently in the dark at 8 p.m. because the kids are asleep.
And easy access to transportation can save an enormous amount of energy over the course of a week.
AMANDA'S ADVICE - This is why I don't recommend hotels based on star rating alone. When I'm comparing accommodations for a family, I'm also looking at room configuration, location, transportation, the surrounding neighbourhood and how the hotel fits into the itinerary we've planned. The “best” hotel on paper isn't always the hotel that will give your family the best trip.
This is what luxury family travel often looks like to me.
It isn't necessarily about choosing the most expensive option. It's about investing in the parts of the trip that make your family's experience noticeably easier.
And accommodations are only one place where that matters.
HOW DO YOU PLAN INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS WITH KIDS?
So… How Do You Actually Survive the Flight?
There is nothing quite like navigating an airport with children, carry-ons and luggage that you know was under the weight limit when you checked it at home.
Our bags somehow always seem to be too heavy at the airport, even when they weren’t fully packed when we weighed them.
Part of the reason is that we intentionally travel with things that help our kids sleep, including SlumberPods and inflatable mattresses. They take up room and add weight.
Would travelling lighter be easier? Maybe.
Would having overtired kids who didn’t sleep well make the trip easier? Not for us. That’s the trade-off we’ve chosen.
And that’s another reason I don’t think there’s one perfect packing or flight strategy for every family. What makes travelling easier with your children might be completely different from what matters to mine.
We’ve also learned not to underestimate connections.
On one trip, our first flight was delayed because of a wildfire in West Kelowna. Suddenly, what had looked like a reasonable connection became very tight, and we still had to get through immigration.
By the time everyone had gone to the bathroom, our next flight was already boarding. We ended up asking probably 30 or 40 people whether we could move ahead so we could make the flight. Thankfully, everyone was incredibly kind when they saw us rushing through the airport with our kids trying to get to Disney World.
But it’s not an airport experience I’d intentionally recreate.
These days, I’d much rather have some breathing room during a connection than spend the entire time watching the clock and sprinting through a terminal with two kids.
AMANDA'S ADVICE - When I’m comparing flight options for a family, I’m not simply looking for the shortest travel time on the screen. I’m looking at how the journey fits together and what that travel day is realistically going to feel like with kids.
Sometimes the flight that looks best at first glance isn’t necessarily the one I’d choose.
What Actually Helps Us on Flights
I don't expect young kids to sit quietly for hours simply because they're on an airplane.
Instead, I try to make the whole experience interesting. Look at the menu. Find the seatbelt. Look out the window. Talk about what's happening. Even the safety information can become something new to explore.
We also bring their loveys from home because they're part of their normal sleep routine. On our last flight, we used an airplane canopy/sling-style product and the kids actually slept, which was a win.
And, of course, we bring snacks. Lots of snacks.
HOW DO YOU HANDLE FOOD WHEN TRAVELLING INTERNATIONALLY WITH KIDS?
Trying food can be one of the best parts of international travel.
That doesn't mean your child will suddenly become an adventurous eater because you've crossed an ocean.
I like packing familiar snacks so I know there's something the kids will eat if we get caught somewhere without a good option for them.
It's not about preventing them from experiencing local food. It's insurance against the moment when everyone is tired and hungry and the food you thought they'd love is apparently the worst thing they've ever seen.
There's also a hidden benefit to packing snacks: They get eaten. Which means all that suitcase space gradually becomes available for souvenirs.
WHAT SHOULD YOU PACK FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL WITH KIDS?
Packing light with kids sounds great in theory. But I don't think bringing less should automatically be the goal.
We bring some things other families might leave at home because I know they make travelling easier for our kids.
And that's really my philosophy on packing with children: don't pack for someone else's family.
What earns suitcase space should depend on your kids, your destination and the kind of trip you're taking.
I'd much rather carry something we'll genuinely use than leave it behind simply because someone on Instagram travelled Europe with three T-shirts and a backpack.
WHERE IS IT WORTH SPENDING MORE ON INTERNATIONAL FAMILY TRAVEL?
A bigger budget doesn’t automatically create a better family vacation.
Where you put that budget matters.
When I’m helping a family decide where their travel investment will have the biggest impact, I’m looking for the places where spending more can make the trip noticeably easier or better for their family.
Sometimes that might mean choosing the better flight rather than upgrading the hotel.
For another family, it could mean staying somewhere that makes exploring easier, having more space to sleep, or choosing an experience that gives them more flexibility with their kids.
None of those choices sound particularly glamorous. But sometimes the best upgrade is the one you barely notice because it removes a problem you would otherwise have had.
AMANDA'S ADVICE - I don’t think you need to upgrade everything simply because the budget allows for it. I’d rather understand what matters most to your family and decide where that extra investment will genuinely change your experience.
That’s where I think premium family travel becomes particularly valuable, not necessarily having more, but being thoughtful about where you have it.
Are Private Tours Worth It When Travelling With Kids?
This is one area where I’d often rather invest than spend the same money on a fancy dinner.
Group tours can be wonderful, but young children aren’t always predictable.
Your child needs the bathroom immediately. Someone feels carsick. They need a snack. They’re done with the museum 45 minutes before everyone else.
On a group experience, you’re naturally conscious of how your family’s needs affect everyone else. But a private experience can give you more freedom to move at your family’s pace.
When I’m considering a private experience for a family, I’m not looking at “private” simply as a luxury upgrade. I’m looking at what that flexibility could add to their experience.
Sometimes having the ability to personalize the day around the kids can completely change how an experience feels for the whole family.
That doesn’t mean every activity needs to be private. Plenty of group experiences work great for families.
But there are also times when having that flexibility is exactly where I’d choose to invest.
For me, that’s a much more meaningful version of luxury than adding an expensive dinner simply because we’re on vacation.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO SEE EVERYTHING FOR THE TRIP TO BE WORTH IT
This may be one of the hardest parts of planning international travel. Accepting that you won't see everything.
You may fly all the way to France and skip something everyone says you “have to” do. You may leave Japan without visiting every temple, market or neighbourhood you saved on Instagram.
Your kids might love the neighbourhood playground more than the museum you spent months looking forward to.
And that's okay.
The purpose of travelling internationally as a family isn't to prove how much sightseeing you can fit into the trip. It's to experience another place together.
That's why pacing matters so much.
A slower afternoon isn't wasted.
Staying five nights instead of three isn't falling behind. And sometimes choosing to stop for the day is exactly what allows everyone to enjoy tomorrow.
Families often overlook this: A trip can look perfectly planned on paper and still be too much once you're actually living it.
This is also why understanding what matters most to a family is such an important part of how I approach their trip.
Not every experience needs equal weight, and trying to treat everything as a must-do can quickly make a vacation feel like a checklist.
SHOULD YOU WAIT UNTIL YOUR KIDS ARE OLDER TO TRAVEL INTERNATIONALLY?
There are good reasons to wait.
Your budget may not be there yet. A particular destination may be easier at a different age. You may simply not feel ready.
But I don't think you automatically need to wait because your children won't remember every detail.
If you're comfortable making the investment now and understand that the experience may not look like the international vacation you once imagined, travelling while your kids are young can still be incredibly worthwhile.
I have also worked in healthcare for many years, and something I've heard repeatedly from older adults is how quickly the years when your children are little pass.
That has stayed with me.
There will always be reasons to wait. The kids will be easier to travel with when they're older. They'll remember more. They'll walk farther. They'll carry their own luggage, which, frankly, sounds wonderful.
But you'll never get to travel with them at this age again.
Sometimes the memories are for the parents, but the moments are for the kids.
They don't need to remember every moment years later for it to matter while they're living it.
PLANNING YOUR FIRST FAMILY VACATION ABROAD?
When you're planning a bigger trip with kids, one decision usually affects the next.
The flight you choose affects your arrival day. Your arrival time can affect where you stay that first night. Your hotel location affects how much transportation you'll need. Your children's ages affect which experiences make sense, and those experiences affect how much downtime I'd build around them.
That's why I don't think of planning a trip abroad as simply booking flights, choosing a beautiful hotel and making a list of things to see.
I look at how all of those pieces work together for your particular family. Before I recommend a trip, I want to understand what that family actually wants the experience to feel like, not simply where they want to go.
Two families could take children that are the same ages to the same country and need completely different trips.
There isn't one “right” way to travel internationally with kids.
But there's a right way to plan it for your family.
Not Sure How Much Planning Help You Actually Need?
Planning the vacation yourself can be part of the fun. But when you're looking at international flights, accommodations, transportation, experiences and all the little decisions in between, it can also become a lot to manage.
My free Is Full-Service Travel Planning Right for Your Family? guide will help you decide whether you'd enjoy handling those details yourself or whether having someone bring all the pieces together would make more sense for your family.
INTERNATIONAL FAMILY TRAVEL FAQS
What is the best age to travel internationally with kids?
There isn't one perfect age. Different ages simply create different trips. Young children may need more downtime and familiar routines, while older children may be able to handle longer sightseeing days and participate more in activities.
I'd choose a destination and itinerary that work for the ages your children are now, rather than waiting for a “right” age that doesn't really exist.
How long should an overseas vacation be?
It depends on how far you're travelling and how much you want to see. For a long-haul trip, I generally prefer having enough time that travel days and jet lag don't take up a large chunk of the vacation. I'd rather stay longer in fewer places than move every couple of nights simply to add another destination.
How many countries should you visit on one trip with kids?
More isn't automatically better. Changing countries or cities adds transportation, packing and another adjustment period. Start with the experiences that matter most to your family and build around those rather than deciding you need to reach a particular number of countries.
Is Europe worth visiting with young children?
It certainly can be, as long as you're comfortable experiencing Europe differently than you might without kids. A successful family holiday may include fewer major attractions, more parks and downtime, earlier evenings and a slower pace. That doesn't make it less worthwhile; it makes it appropriate for the family you're travelling with.
And if planning a multi-city European itinerary feels overwhelming, a Disney Cruise in Europe can be another great option for families. You can experience several destinations without constantly changing hotels and unpacking your suitcases, while coming back to a ship that's designed with families in mind. For younger kids especially that mix of exploring during the day and returning to familiar meals, kids' spaces and entertainment can make a first international trip feel much more manageable.
How do you keep an international itinerary from exhausting your kids?
I look at how demanding the experiences are, not simply how many activities are planned. That's exactly why I use the Maps & Memories Travel Co. Green, Yellow & Red Approach when thinking about the pace of a family trip.
INTERNATIONAL FAMILY TRAVEL IS POSSIBLE, EVEN WITH YOUNG KIDS
You don't have to wait until your kids are older to show them more of the world. You may just have to travel a little differently.
Your days might be slower. You may spend more time at playgrounds than you expected. You might skip an attraction because everyone needs a break or stay in one place longer instead of squeezing in another city.
You probably won't see everything. And that's okay.
Travelling with kids isn't about recreating the trips you took before becoming a parent. It's about experiencing another part of the world with the family you have right now.
They may not remember every museum, meal or beach years from now, but they still get to experience those moments while they're happening. And we get to experience them alongside them.
So if there's a country you keep talking about visiting “one day,” you don't necessarily need to wait for the perfect age.
You just need to plan the trip with your family in mind from the beginning.
And if you're ready for a bigger family adventure but aren't sure how to bring the flights, accommodations, transportation, experiences and pacing together, that's where I can help.
You can see how I work with families to plan their vacations and decide whether having support with all those moving pieces feels right for you.
Because international travel with kids is possible. It just needs to be planned a little differently.
READY TO START PLANNING?
If you're ready for a bigger family adventure but aren't quite sure how all the pieces should come together, that's exactly what I help families figure out.
Book a free consultation and we can talk about where you're thinking of going, what you want the trip to feel like and whether working together makes sense for your family.
And if you're still in the planning stages, come join my Facebook group, where we talk family travel tips, travel ideas and the decisions that come up before you ever pack a suitcase.
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