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What do you do when you start planning a trip, what do you look at? I look at blog posts, at reviews, at websites, at tripadvisor, at other peoples holidays photos on facebook (often enviously). Aims and ambitions may change when you become a parent, but that doesn’t have to mean your holidays have to be boring, they are just different. I wrote a post about Adjusting your Expectations some time ago, but we do have a Toddler Bucket List and we have started to tick off some really exciting things on that list!
I also wrote a post about what Mum’s do when Planning a Holiday and what Dad’s do – can you see any comparisons with your trip planning?
I was recently sent this lovely book by Lonely Planet called Travel with Children. Depending on your experience of travelling with children some of the information in the front may be a little basic, but the ideas throughout are fabulous.
Would you have thought about Romania, Morocco or Vietnam with kids?
The book sets out the things children will love, the things you need to know like when to go, how hot it might be, what kind of money you will need to spend and what food your kids might end up eating. I also love the additional books they suggest might introduce your children to that area. For Morocco it is The Storytellers by Ted Lewin.
I really do love the book and it’s now next to my bed for flicking through for ideas before bed.
When I’m planning a trip I also like to make notes. I use pinterest, I use bookmarks, I save ideas on my blog but I also write notes. In an actual book. I love this notebook/diary a friend sent me by TOAD. You can customise them to start in the month you want them to start in, rather than buying one have way through the year that you can’t use, or having to wait until January. Again this is by my bed, with notes in about where we want to go, when and what we want to do. I have a whole section dedicated to what we want to do at Disney next year, as I also have a copy of the pocket Guide to Orlando and Walt Disney World to take notes from.
What do you use when you’re planning your trips?
I can’t wait until the kids can get properly involved in trip planning, and starting influencing where we go by taste and knowledge. Until then I’ll let them play with this little book from Quilty all about exploring and see if they can get themselves out of the maze by teatime.
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I love the idea of that book and will definitely check it out! I browse a lot online – mostly blogs and travel magazines – when planning a trip and check TripAdvisor and Foursquare for reviews on restaurants and hotels. I also love travel writing – fiction and non-fiction – to get into the spirit of a place, read other people’s experiences or learn more about the history of the region/country. Daunts Books has an excellent selection of travel writing and resource books sorted by country. And I can’t wait for my little one to start planning with me too!
I love this idea of a book purely for travelling with kids! Sometimes it is hard because not a lot of places are kid friendly, so they have done all the research for you which I love!
It’s always nice to be fully equipped with ideas when planning a trip especially with kids. Sometimes when we thought we have prepared all, we still missed something and we got frustrated about it. Great Tips here! #SundayStars
That looks so great need that guide to get inspiration for our trips Karen x
I love the idea of a Toddler Bucket List! Think I’m going to start writing mine now! Book sounds fab too, thanks for the tip 🙂 I have a dedicated Disney Pinterest board if you fancy a nose (username @hatchlighty) 🙂
This book sounds great- something I need to purchase when my baby arrives!
I love planning our holidays and always google any and every guide to the areas we’re travelling to, to make sure we eat at good restaurants and visit all the nearby attractions. These guides sound great, I’m now in full on Disneyland Paris research time!! Thank you for linking up to #SundayStars xx