Fifteen countries in, Ben and Claire share the honest do’s and don’ts of travelling Europe with young children, the things that have really made a difference, and the things they’d do differently.
Do: keep a consistent bedtime routine, wherever you are
This isn’t about sticking to a fixed time, plenty of nights have run later than usual because of something fun going on. It’s the wind-down itself that stays consistent: dinner, shower, pyjamas, a settle-in ritual, regardless of the country, the accommodation, or what time it actually happens. It’s done more for our children’s sense of stability than any single destination ever could, and it’s the one thing we’ve never let slip on purpose.
Don’t: assume a new place will feel like home on day one
It won’t, and that’s fine. Unpacking properly, even for one night, setting out the same nightlight, the same teddies, the same small comforts, helps far more than waiting for a place to feel familiar on its own.
Do: give them their own case to pack and unpack
Each of our children has their own travel case, and unpacking it themselves at every stop, even briefly, gives them a sense of control over a life that otherwise changes constantly around them.
Do: expect real growth in confidence, language, and friendship-building
This one surprised us. Our children have picked up basic phrases across multiple languages, started ordering their own food, asking strangers for directions, and making friends with kids who don’t share a word of English between them. None of it was something we specifically set out to teach, it’s simply happened through repeated exposure, and it’s been one of the most rewarding parts of watching them travel.
Don’t: over-schedule every single day
Especially after a run of city breaks. We’ve learned the hard way that children hit a wall with constant sightseeing, and building in real unstructured time, a pool, a park, a day doing nothing, matters just as much as the big attractions.
Do: let them make some of the decisions
What to eat, which activity to do first, whether to walk or take the tram. Small choices, handed over regularly, have made a noticeable difference to how willingly our children go along with the bigger decisions we make for them.
Don’t: expect a kids’ club to always deliver
Standards vary hugely. Some have been brilliant, truly interactive, well-run, worth every minute. Others have felt like a room of toys with no real engagement. Check reviews specifically for the kids’ club itself, not just the resort in general, before relying on it.
Do: build in real alone time for the adults too
Even short stretches, an hour here or there, make a real difference to everyone’s patience and mood. In multi-room accommodation this is easier, everyone finds their own corner for a bit. In smaller spaces it takes more deliberate effort, but it’s worth prioritising.
Don’t: ignore the signs when a child (or you) is overtired
Overtired children get harder to reason with, not easier. We’ve learned to build in downtime before things reach that point rather than pushing through “just one more thing” when everyone’s exhausted.
Do: let them build friendships in the moment, even briefly
Some of the best social moments our children have had came from campsites and resorts where they met other kids for a single evening, no shared language required. These fleeting friendships have done more for their confidence than we expected.
Don’t: assume every country eats, sleeps, or moves on your schedule
Mealtimes, quiet hours, even what’s considered a “late night” for children vary by country. Getting caught out hungry, with nowhere open, has happened to us more than once. A little research before arriving saves real frustration.
Do: talk to them honestly about the hard days
Homesickness, tiredness, missing friends, these are real, and pretending they’re not happening doesn’t help anyone. We’ve found being open about it, and giving them space to say when something’s hard, builds more resilience than brushing past it.
What else is possible when you stop expecting every day on the road to be a good one, and just prepare for both kinds?
FAQ
What’s the single most useful routine for travelling with young children? A consistent bedtime wind-down, wherever you are. It’s the one thing that’s genuinely travelled well with us everywhere.
How do you handle kids getting overtired or overwhelmed while travelling? We watch for the early signs and build in downtime before it becomes a problem, rather than pushing through and dealing with the fallout afterwards.
Is it worth trusting hotel kids’ clubs? Check specific reviews for the kids’ club itself rather than assuming a good resort automatically means a good club, standards vary far more than you’d expect.
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