After 15 years of navigating the London Underground with a stroller (an Olympic sport, truly), I thought I was a travel pro. Then I moved to Southeast Asia. Suddenly, “traveling light” took on a whole new meaning when faced with humidity, long-tail boats, and the realization that a double-decker bus doesn’t go to the islands.
Traveling with a family is less about a “vacation” and more about “relocating the chaos to a prettier zip code.” But with the right strategy, you can move from surviving to actually savoring the journey.
Here is the NN Creative Atelier manual for the traveling family.
1. Plan Ahead (But Leave Room for the Magic)
In my London life, everything was scheduled to the minute. In the tropics, the sun and the local pace dictate the day. My first rule? Book the big stuff, but breathe through the small stuff.
The Kitchen is Queen: Always look for stays with a kitchen and laundry. Being able to wash the sand out of a favourite teddy or make a 6:00 AM grilled cheese is the difference between a tantrum and a triumph.
Book Early, Stay Late: Secure your flights and family-friendly villas months in advance to avoid the “last-room-available” stress, which usually involves a view of a brick wall.
The “Atelier” Travel Hack: I never travel without a [Stasher Silicone Reusable Storage Bag].
- BETTER SILICONE BAGS & BOWLS: Made with platinum food-grade silicone and a leak-free Pinch-Loc seal, these reusable food…
- REUSABLE, REWASHABLE CONTAINERS: Stasher silicone reusable storage bags make it easy to ditch single-use plastic and mee…
- NOT JUST LUNCH: Whether utilizing for sous vide, meal prep, packing snacks on the go, or keeping your makeup from explod…
$9.99They are perfect for damp swimsuits, snacks that can’t leak, or keeping passports dry during a sudden tropical downpour.
2. The Art of the “Smart Pack”
Image 3 says it all: keep it close, keep it handy. If you’re digging through a suitcase on a moving plane for a specific Lego piece, you’ve already lost the battle.
Packing Cubes are Not Optional: I spent years resisting them. I was wrong. They are the only way to keep “Global Girl A”’s socks away from “Global Girl B”’s sunhat. The “Sanity Kit”: This lives in your day bag. It contains: specialized kid vitamins, enough snacks to power a small village, and a portable charger.
My Amazon Essentials for the Pack:
- Shacke Pak Packing Cubes]: Use a different color for each family member. It’s visual organization at its finest.
- Bentgo Kids Leak-Proof Lunch Box]: The only way to ensure the mango stays away from the crackers.
- Anker Portable Power Bank]: Because a dead tablet at 30,000 feet is a domestic emergency.
3. Capture the Small Moments
As a photographer, I used to focus on the “Perfect Shot.” Now, I focus on the “Real Shot.” Use your journey to teach your children about the world. Those polaroid-style moments in Image 3? That’s where the education happens.
Bring a small camera or a portable printer so the kids can start their own travel journals. It turns a long wait at an airport into a creative workshop.
[HP Sprocket Smartphone Photo Printer]: This is a permanent resident in my travel bag. Print photos directly from your phone so the girls can stick them into their journals in real-time.
- Instant photos on the go – Easily print your favorite adventures on 2×3″ sticky-backed photo paper with this blush pink …
- Get the print party started – Now you can connect multiple devices so you and your friends can print at the same time – …
- Augmented reality fun – Scan your Sprocket using your smartphone and the Sprocket app to view a virtual photo queue of p…
4. The “Flexibility” Mindset
If motherhood is a marathon, traveling with kids is the steeplechase. Things will go wrong. You will lose a shoe. You will find sand in places sand should never be.
The trick? Dress for the aesthetic you want, but prepare for the reality you have. Linen for the photos, but pack an extra set of everything in your carry-on for the “unexpected.”
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