Traveling with kids is great, without any doubt! However, not without restrictions. Anyone who tells you that they travel with their children just as they did alone and that it’s always easy is lying (or at least talking themselves into it). Because the truth is: There is a perfect age to travel with kids – and that depends on your travel style. Check out my list with the age groups, the fitting vacation types, and tips on what you should look for when planning your trip.
The Best Age to Travel with Kids
Age 0 – 1
My absolute favorite age to travel with kids! If your child is still a small baby, then you have many advantages: Airline tickets for babies are extremely cheap, under one-year-olds sleep a lot, and are fully supplied with milk and baby food (so you don’t have to be afraid of low hygiene standards). On top, young babies are easy to carry, and have no urge to move yet. For us, it worked best to avoid a stroller and keep it as simple as possible!
Best vacation types:
- Hiking vacations
- Camping trips
- City trips
- Long-haul flights
- Adventure trips
Age 1 – 2
Attention, attention! This is the most difficult age to travel with kids, in my opinion. Because now the little ones are big enough to run around (or even run away), they already eat real food, are no longer so easy to carry, and have an enormous urge to move. Now you need to choose a vacation that suits the needs of the child and at the same time does not restrict you too much. Try not to have the expectation of experiencing big adventures together. Focus on the small, beautiful things and situations. Sometimes a coffee break at a playground gives you more peace than a visit to a museum or fancy cafe.
Best vacation types:
- Beach vacations
- Camping trips
- Family-friendly resort vacations
- Short flights
Age 3 – 5
A wonderful and sweet age! Now, the little ones can already communicate very well, walk safely, and have the desire to discover new things. Everything that you now experience together, they can already remember really well. So you create childhood memories together!
Best vacation types:
- Beach vacations
- City trips with child-friendly activities
- Camping trips
- Easy hiking vacations
- Short and long-haul flights
Age 6 – 8
Welcome to the age at which your child can already experience really cool “grown-up” things with you! You can go on longer hikes together, explore new places, go snorkeling, discover cultures, and learn things. On top, kids this age often still pay half price for activities.
Best vacation types:
- Beach vacations
- City trips
- Camping trips
- Medium-level hiking vacations
- Resort vacations with kids animation (that they can do alone)
- Adventure trips
- Short and long-haul flights
Age 9 – 16
Now your child is almost an equal travel partner. You can evaluate together where you want to travel next, what is important to you, and what you want to experience together. Best of all, your child is now old enough to do things on their own. They would rather attend a (supervised) surf course while you go diving? No problem!
You should enjoy your time together. It won’t be long before your child wants to travel on their own.
Best vacation types:
- Everything you want to do together (and that’s safe enough in your eyes)
What are your experiences with traveling with children? What is your favorite age? Let me know in the comments! Thank you for reading!