An international family trip is sure to be one of your child’s favorite memories. It’s of course an opportunity to take in other cultures, bond with siblings, and ditch the homework. But just as importantly, it’s a chance for children to learn resilience and flexibility, by watching the adults make lemonade when things don’t go as planned. And you’ll learn a bit about your kiddos, too.

Here are our top tips on how to make international travel with your kids an amazing experience for everyone – without too many tears or forgotten essentials.

Get the kids excited  

Let the kids get involved with planning, whether it’s picking the destination or a few things to do. It’s a way for them to start looking forward to the trip as much as you are, and it helps them develop key organization and scheduling skills. Give them age-appropriate guidance, and they may surprise you with what they come up with. 

If you want to do all the planning, be sure to consider their interests, whether it’s theme parks or art galleries, says advice in The New York Times on traveling with kids. Families should check online reviews to ensure tours and activities are kid-friendly, says Eric Stoen, founder of the online family travel site Travel Babbo. On a trip to London, Stoen and his family took what seemed could be a promising art tour around the capital, led by a local artist. For Stoen’s son, it was a “tour that literally changed his life,” dad says. The eye-opening moment inspired his son to work toward becoming a talented sketcher. 

Keep everyone happy (Well, try to, anyway.)

The first rule about ensuring the family has a good time is to keep yourself – the planner extraordinaire – calm and having fun. Don’t get hung up on maintaining every rule and routine that was in place at home, because after all, this is a vacation. Little dude wants to eat ice cream for dinner? Ask yourself, is that so bad, once or twice? Just be sure to keep healthy snacks on hand for balance. And plan things you want to do, too. Whether you are traveling as a single parent or with your partner, hire a local babysitter one night, and explore the nightlife. Or simply sit on your hotel balcony with a book, alone, or in mutually enjoyed silence with your partner. (If you couldn’t tell, this is written by the mom of a very busy toddler.)

Now for the really serious stuff

Travel insurance is a wise choice for ensuring your family’s health abroad. In fact, “most domestic [U.S] health plans provide limited coverage overseas and won’t cover prescriptions abroad,” says Margaret Wilson, M.D., chief medical officer of UnitedHealthcare Global, part of UnitedHealthcare, the largest health insurer in the U.S.  

Allianz Travel Insurance may help you fill coverage gaps while overseas. We offer benefits for a range of budgets, some of which are critical in emergency situations. We provide medically necessary transportation to the nearest healthcare facility, and emergency medical benefits for losses due to covered emergencies.

Our Allyz® TravelSmart mobile app can assist with health needs such as providing the locations of medical facilities and the best way to get to them. International emergency numbers are easily accessed in the app. TravelSmart also provides translations in 18 languages for popular prescriptions and first aid items, and 24/7 access to on-call travel experts who can help get emergency claims started. With just a couple of thumb swipes, you can file and check the status of claims.

Make sure you have the required documents

COVID-19 has put up additional hurdles to traveling with children abroad. The U.S. Department of State provides information on country-specific requirements, such as testing for COVID-19 prior to entry, quarantine, curfew and movement restriction. And if you would like to know more about coronavirus transmission levels in your destination, the Centers for Disease Control has a ranking system that evaluates current risk by nation. 

All children, even infants, require passports for international travel. Additionally, new applications or renewals for children under the age of 16 must be done in person, at a post office or passport acceptance facility. Both guardians must either be present, or one guardian may provide a notarized letter from the parent who is absent. In many instances, a single, custodial parent can procure a court order authorizing a passport application for the child, without the other parent’s consent. The U.S. Department of State website has the needed steps for you to apply for a passport for your child. 

Keep in mind that many countries have rules for how long your passport must be valid after your trip, so if any of your family members currently have passports, be sure to check the expiration dates. The Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs details how long passports must be valid by nation. And be sure to check if the country requires visas in addition to passports. 

Get a quote to find out how we can make your next family vacation stress-free.

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