• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Because the Family that Skis Together, Enjoys Life Together.
  • Home
  • About
    • Awards
    • Featured Author
    • Brand Ambassador
  • Brave Ski Mom Stickers
  • Contact Me

The Brave Ski Mom

Building a new generation of skiers and snowboarders.

  • Skiing
    • Skiing With Kids
    • Ski Racing
    • Learn to Ski
    • Cross Country Skiing
    • Telemark Skiing
    • Snowboarding
  • Ski Resort Reviews
    • United States
      • Alaska
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Connecticut
      • Idaho
      • Maine
      • Massachusetts
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Montana
      • Nevada
      • New Hampshire
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • North Carolina
      • Oregon
      • Pennsylvania
      • Utah
      • Vermont
      • Washington
      • West Virginia
      • Wisconsin
      • Wyoming
    • Argentina
    • Australia
    • Austria
    • Bulgaria
    • Canada
    • Chile
    • France
    • Finland
    • Greece
    • Italy
    • Japan
    • New Zealand
  • Ski Gear Checklist and Recommendations
    • Equipment and Gear
    • Product Reviews
    • Brave Ski Mom Stickers
  • Hiking
    • Camping
  • Biking
    • Downhill Biking
    • Mountain Biking
    • Road Biking
  • Good Stuff
    • Parenting
    • Health
      • Getting in Shape
    • Reflections

International Travel With Kids, Part One: Yes, You Can

July 7, 2011 by braveskimom

Not much to do with skiing, but hey, it’s summer and summer is all about vacation. And, you never know, 2012 might just be the winter you decide to take the family to Les Trois Vallees or St. Anton. You never know when this information might come in really handy.

From the moment our boys were born it seems as if we’ve been traveling. My husband often jokes that he doesn’t know what we’re running from, but we’re running pretty darn fast. He’s right. We exist in a near constant state of departure and arrival, traveling and returning. We travel to ski, to visit family and friends, to pursue adventures, to broaden our knowledge and to embrace the world.

When I tell our friends that we took our sons to the U.K. for three weeks when they were just 3 years old and 14 months old, respectively, they are often shocked. At the time, we didn’t think twice about it. We had friends to visit in London and a family reunion in Yorkshire. There wasn’t really any reason not to go. This summer, we are returning to visit the same friends in London, this time with a 14-year-old and a 12-year-old. Since I have travel on the brain, I’ll be sharing what we’ve learned during 11 years of international travel with kids in three posts over the next three weeks.

No Child Is Too Young To Travel

In fact, younger is sometimes better. It certainly can be easier. An infant won’t fight you about staying in a car seat on a long-haul flight. A toddler will. An elementary school age child probably won’t fight you for control of the itinerary, a teenager might. On the flip side, your baby won’t remember a thing, but you will. Our youngest son took his first steps toward the shark tank at the Plymouth (England) Aquarium. He doesn’t remember, but we have a good story to share.

Choosing A Destination

The best tip I know for choosing a destination is choose somewhere you (the parents) want to go and feel comfortable taking your kids. If you feel comfortable and safe, your kids will feel comfortable and safe. Aside from one restaurant in rural Yorkshire that had a sign in the window (no service for children), we’ve never felt unwelcome with little ones in tow.  And we really weren’t that unwelcome. While the owner of the restaurant wouldn’t let us in, he did seat us in his lovely garden and provided service to us al fresco.

Mooch Off Friends and Family

Since we’ve had kids, we’ve only traveled internationally one time to a destination where we didn’t have friends or family. Why? Because hotels, children and jet lag don’t mix. At least they don’t mix very well. If you can, choose a destination where you will stay with friends for the first several days and nights. Having a home to spread out in means that your children can catch up on sleep and so can you.

Making new friends a la Plage Minerale. Nyons, France.

Live Like A Local

Even better, if your friends have children, your kids immediately have someone with which to play, hang out and bond. Not only that, but these children will provide your children with a window into their culture that no amount of books, tours, movies or museums ever could. Stay with locals and live like a local. There is no better learning experience for kids.

Home Sweet Home Base

If you don’t have friends or family with which to stay, try to choose destinations where you can rent a cottage or villa for a week. Pick a place where you can immerse yourself in local life, be it a big city or a tiny village. Choose somewhere central to activities you love and make it your home base. Figure out where the local kids hang out and take your children there too. Swimming pools, parks, and beaches are good places for your kids to blow off pent-up energy and maybe make some new friends, too.

Mix It Up

If you can travel for more than a week, mix up your journey with a home base and then perhaps a week traveling about. I don’t ever recommend rapid country-hopping (it’s too exhausting), but it is fun and easy to choose a region of one country and explore several towns.

Next: Getting There


© 2011, braveskimom. All rights reserved. Any use or publication of content, including photos, requires express permission.

Spread the Love (thanks!)

  • Email
  • Print
  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr

Related

Filed Under: Outdoor Adventure, Travel Tagged With: travel

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alesia says

    July 11, 2011 at 12:33 pm

    Tips may be for international travel, but several could be used for domestic travel also! Some nice tips.

Primary Sidebar

2023-2024 Partners

FERA
World Snow Day
FERA

Welcome

I'm Kristen, a western Colorado mom, wife and trail boss in a busy outdoor family. Our family has a passion for skiing and my goal is to provide information to help other families enjoy their skiing adventures. Whether you have tiny toddlers just learning to slide or grown children with whom you're planning a reunion, you're in the right place. Cheers!

Never Miss a Post

Enter your email address to subscribe. You'll receive notifications of new posts by email.

Follow Me

FacebookInstagram Pinterest Twitter

Today’s Most Popular Posts

  • No Snow? No Problem: Summer Skiing in North America
    No Snow? No Problem: Summer Skiing in North America
  • Creature Comforts: Good Stuff From CalNaturale
    Creature Comforts: Good Stuff From CalNaturale
  • The Portillo Experience: Tips for Your Best Ski Vacation
    The Portillo Experience: Tips for Your Best Ski Vacation
  • Paka: The Best Base Layers?
    Paka: The Best Base Layers?
  • Summer and Fall Skiing on Neveplast at Buck Hill
    Summer and Fall Skiing on Neveplast at Buck Hill
  • Keep Looking Ahead: Family Biking at Crested Butte's Evolution Park
    Keep Looking Ahead: Family Biking at Crested Butte's Evolution Park

Categories

Footer

Recent Tweets

My Tweets

Featured In

snowlink world snow day snowkidz
liftopia mtn town learn to ski and snowboard mom trends
Copyright © 2025 · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · Affiliate Disclosure · Product Review & Giveaway Policy · Guest Post Policy · Privacy Policy · Login
 

Loading Comments...