When you find yourself with the time and means to take a family vacation, it can be hard to decide where to go. And when you have young kids, there is so much more to think about. Here are 8 things to consider (in no particular order) when trying to pick a travel destination that is baby and toddler friendly.
1. Safety
No place is perfectly safe. But it is important to be aware of the risks of a travel destination, especially when you have little ones to look after as well. If you are an American traveling abroad, check the State Department’s country-specific travel advisories to get a sense of what safety concerns you should consider before traveling somewhere.
You and your family probably draw more attention than you realize. Whether it is the double-wide stroller, the cute chubby cheeks, or the toddler melting down, the reality is your family stands out. A solo traveler can give all their attention to their surroundings, but you will likely be more distracted by the kids. This can make you an easier target.
*** Be mindful of pickpockets and thieves as you are in transit and in crowded places. The less stuff you pack, the easier it is to keep an eye on it all as you are loading and unloading from vehicles, trains, etc. As a kid I once had a bag stolen while my family was unloading our luggage from a taxi outside a hotel in Washington D.C. While we were all busy getting the baby out of the carseat and pulling bags out of the trunk, someone walking by swiped my bag that I had set on the curb.
When you are distracted, trying to find your way and juggling a lot of items, you create an opportunity for pickpockets and thieves.
If something goes wrong, how will you handle it? You can’t predict everything, but think through basics such as emergency contacts and having backup copies of important documents like passports and birth certificates that you keep separately. The State Department and embassy websites provide Emergency preparedness tips that are helpful, even as a reminder for seasoned travelers.
US Citizens and nationals can also register travel with the State Department through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) so that, if there is an emergency, the US embassy and consulate can more easily contact you. You will also receive health, weather, safety, and security updates for your travel destination.
2. Transportation
How will your family get to, from and around the destination? One of the first things I consider when planning a trip with a baby or toddler is how we will get around.
Car seats can be quite cumbersome to travel with and if we have any opportunity to ditch the car and the car seats, we take it! If you are heading to Europe, it is totally possible to leave the carseats behind. In fact, we have never traveled to Europe with our carseats. Train travel is so easy and my kids love it.
Another consideration is the length and number of travel days once you are at your destination. Are the cities in the country(ies) that you want to visit far apart, or is it quick and easy to get from place to place? Travel days can be exhausting for families, so consider how much of your vacation you want to spend shuttling around.
The transportation element does not have to make or break your travel decisions, but it is always an influencing factor when we think about where we want to go with our kids.
3. Passport and Visa requirements
Always look into all the entry requirements for your travel destination. It can take considerable time to acquire or gather up the necessary documentation. Check embassy and State Department sites even if you have been to the country before because requirements for entry are constantly changing. The United Kingdom, for example, just implemented new entry requirements for US citizens, effective January 2025.
4. Food
Another consideration when choosing a travel destination for your young family is the food. Both the cleanliness of the food and water and the type of food. I think it is fantastic to expose kids to a variety of cuisines and we regularly do that at home and abroad. There are, however, some foods that are harder to get my kids to eat (spicy = tears in our house). Cuisine would not be a sole reason for my family to check a place off our list, but it is something to think through. What will meal times look like?
Also, consider allergens. Is the ingredient list on the food packaging going to be in a language that you can read? Or if your child has a peanut allergy, keep in mind that in some countries peanut oil is commonly used for cooking. Again, this does not have to deter you from traveling to a place you are excited to visit, but it is something worth thinking through and having a plan for.
And then there is the food safety/hygiene concern. This is an issue in much of the world. There are certain precautions that adults can easily take to avoid getting food borne illnesses. But what about your baby and/or toddler? Are they often picking up random things and putting them in their mouth? Is your little independent preschooler going to start brushing his or her teeth with the tap water? Do your research on the place and the available accommodations to figure out what the risks are and how you can mitigate them.
5. Healthcare
Everyone will have a different comfort level with taking young kids to places where quality health care is not as easily accessible. I have traveled all over the world, including to some very remote places in developing countries. We have not, however, been as adventurous with our young children. It is important to consider your healthcare options at the destination and what kind of preventative healthcare is recommended before and during your stay (for diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, etc.). Then decide what you are comfortable with.
6. Accommodations
When picking a destination think about your accommodations budget and be aware of occupancy limits. In the United States it is pretty easy to find hotel options for a family of four. It is also fairly common for larger families to get a two bed hotel room that was designed for 4 people and squeeze a couple extra kids in. Maybe someone is sleeping on the couch or armchair and another is in a roll-away or on the floor. Many other countries, however, have more strict occupancy laws that limit the number of people you can sleep in a space.
In London, for example, many of the places we have stayed in the past do not have any rooms that will accommodate even a family of four. Others have substantial fees for each additional person. The same applies to apartment style hotels and Airbnbs. This can dramatically increase the cost of your accommodations.
Some places are very strict about adhering to occupancy limits. In other places you may be able to contact the hotel to see if you can get an exception (especially if you are traveling with a baby). It is best to get any exceptions in writing. We once had trouble checking into a hotel in Amsterdam that had verbally approved our family size for the room we booked over the phone. The person working the reception desk that afternoon, however, was not aware of the conversation we had with his colleague.
7. Activities
Before booking your flight, research what activities you will be doing at your destination.
- Do the activities or sites involve a lot of stairs, making stroller travel difficult?
- Will you be touring a lot of museums? How will your kids handle that?
- When and where will your kids take naps?
- What are the parks and playgrounds like?
- Are kids free at most of the sites?
These considerations lead into my last point…
8. Know your travel goals and style for that travel destination
Know yourself and think about how you would want to explore the destination you have in mind. Are you looking for all-inclusive? Or are you looking for hiking and outdoors? What cultural or historical sites would you like to visit?
Every travel destination offers something different and you likely also have an idea of what you hope to experience when visiting certain places. Maybe the Napa Valley is on your bucket list and you dream of relaxing days spent sipping wine. Or maybe you hope to eat your way through Paris, enjoying the city’s fine dining. Consider whether your vision for how you will experience a destination is kid friendly. It is ok to save a destination for a different stage of life.
When we were picking which country(ies) we wanted to visit during a month-long trip to Europe, Italy was originally at the top of our list. Ultimately we decided to skip Italy that time. Not because it is not child-friendly. Italian culture is very family oriented. But what we realized was that my husband, who had never been to Italy before would want to be spending all of his days in art museums and churches. That is just not very realistic with toddlers. We could have gone to Italy with the kids and skipped most of the museums, but that would have really frustrated him. Instead, we decided to travel around central Europe and visit Italy another time the way he hopes to. We spent our month with the kids touring castles, hiking, and exploring medieval towns.
I hope these considerations help you narrow down your options. Once you have chosen your travel destination, check out my Packing Tips for Trips with Young Kids!
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