For families with young children and babies, traveling can be an incredibly stressful process; no matter how much you’re looking forward to a relaxing vacation, you’re no doubt dreading the juggling of passports, luggage and little ones. The best way to minimize stress is to be very organized and plan, plan, plan, so check out our handy family travel to-do list to keep on top of things.
12 weeks before travel: take passport photos
It can be tricky to get a good child passport photo that passes all regulations, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get the right shot. You can submit your passport pictures to us at Paspic and our innovative technology will tell you if they’re likely to be approved. If they’re in good shape, you can have them printed and delivered straight to your door.
10 weeks before travel: submit passport application
It takes around six weeks for passport applications to be processed but during busy periods it can take longer, so be sure to get yours in within plenty of time – we recommend around eight to 10 weeks before you travel.
6 weeks before travel: plan your packing checklist
This may seem a little early, but by planning what you’ll need to pack now, you can ensure that you purchase any missing essentials well before you actually start to pack. Consider clothes, sunscreen, medications, first aid supplies, electronics and even things such as snacks, toys or games to help keep the kids occupied on long journeys.
2 – 4 weeks before travel: confirm travel arrangements
Many travel agencies will require the payment of any remaining balances around one month before your vacation, so this is a great opportunity to double check all your travel arrangements and itineraries, submit any forms and documents to them and provide emergency contact information if necessary.
1 week before travel: start packing
If you planned well ahead, you should have everything you need to hand in order to make packing a breeze! We recommend getting the majority of your belongings packed up to a week before and having a list of last minute items such as phone chargers that you’ll be using right up until the day of travel. Decide what will be in your main luggage and what you’ll need in hand luggage, such as passports, travel documents, cellphone, wallet, and keys.
Vacation day
The big day has finally arrived, and all you need to do is throw those last few essentials into your suitcase, gather up your hand luggage and be on your way, feeling as relaxed and in control as possible!
