Five Rookie Mistakes Travelling Kids in Europe

We have traveled to Europe more than twenty times with kids from age 13 to 1 month. Learn from our dumb mistakes to make your trip easier.

1. Failing at the flight plan

Most flights to Europe from the US are evening flights which should be an easy win for the first part of the trip. Arrive at the airport, put on pj's, grab your seat and go. However, far too many parents either over compensate with a backpack full of flight time distractions or worse yet, nothing at all. Check out my full sheet of flight preparation tips. The most important thing to do is treat the flight like a bedtime routine. Have the kids wear pajamas. Let them watch one movie or cartoon and then its bedtime.

2. Bringing too much stuff

Thanks to the global economy there is nothing that you can forget on any trip. Don't overload yourself or your bags with excess toys and clothes. We try and limit the kids to one plush and two books per trip. They always find stuff to buy and I try to keep to the "if you want it you have to carry it rule" for souvenirs.

3. Diaper dandy freak out.

You don't need to pack diapers for the entire trip. Most every grocery in Europe carries diapers and they often cheaper than in the US. Don't over stuff your suitcase going outbound and worry you won't find them overseas.

4. Too many checklists

Traveling with kids in Europe requires pacing and patience. Even the most well planned itineraries can fall apart because of a hangry child or missed nap. Avoid the checklist mentality of trying to "do it all" on any given day or entire trip itself. You will still love Paris even if you miss the Louvre. Slavish dedication to a checklist of must-do's might be good for avoiding FOMO, but it can run kids ragged and turn your most angelic offspring into cranky little hellions.

5. Mis-timing nap time

Leveraging naps is a skill that seasoned travelers learn quickly. Don't look at naps at downtime for the entire family, but quiet time for mom and dad. We regularly plan museum visits around a nap so that we can enjoy a solid 90 minutes or more of history and art while the kid is sleeping in a stroller.

Nap time is also a great time to relax in a park or enjoy an extended stroll through local neighborhoods. If your little one won't nap in a stroller then divide and conquer with one parent in the room and the other with a few quiet moments for sightseeing or shopping.

So just like being at home in the USA, making a great trip sometimes requires outsmarting your kids.