Travel with Kids: Tips from Sarina at Petit Verbier

Planning a family trip? It can feel like a mission, but with the right prep, it doesn’t have to be and I think it’s always worth it!

When raising kids away from home travelling with children starts at a young age. My kids have all been back to the UK or elsewhere before they could crawl and when it comes to the second or third time round, I’ve had toddlers in tow too! We’ve done flights, long car journeys and trains across Europe with small kids, and a good few journeys alone with the kids.

I can’t promise a stress- free journey but here’s some of my favourite ways to stack the odds in my favour.

Pack Smart, Not Heavy

• Packing cubes are my go to, especially as I have 3 children so each child gets a packing cube, then I can keep track of their things once we’re at our destination, or they can easily ‘unpack’ by putting their cube in one drawer and finding their clothes there each morning.

  
  

• Depending on the length of the trip I pack in outfits so I can calculate how much we need and I will likely be going somewhere with a washing machine so I pack for 5 days maximum and then wash- game changer. Going somewhere with no washing machine makes my packing a lot more stressful!

  
  

• For winter holidays with a lot of bulky stuff I would always recommend renting once you arrive. Skis, boots and helmet are a given but don’t forget you can rent snowsuits and ski wear too! If you’re travelling to Switzerland then Cirkel Supply have a great range of kids wear including gloves, hats and mid layers.

  
  

• This keeps everything in one big suitcase, or each child can have their own backpack for a shorter trip. I like to have as little as possible to carry especially when you have small kids who also need your hand to hold in busy places.

  
  

• Remember to give your kids some independence, from a young age they can collect their favourite teddy or pens to keep them entertained and once they can read you can write a packing list for kids to follow and tick off.

Keeping Kids Happy While Traveling

We all know traveling with kids can be... a lot.  Here are my  tried-and-tested tricks:

• Snacks: Pack mess-free snacks where possible, like crackers, raisins, or flapjacks. (Skip the yogurt unless you want it smeared everywhere.)

• Activities: Bring something fresh, like stickers or an activity book, to keep them entertained. Bonus points for anything that doesn’t make a mess. I like the water colouring books where the colour changes with water in the pen.

• Mindset: Don’t sweat the meltdowns. Toddlers are gonna toddler, and most people get it. Just roll with it—you’ve got this. Do not let the fear of judgement from others affect how you parent, you do you!

  
  

Balance Fun and Downtime

For holidays like skiing it’s important to find a balance for young kids. Skiing all day, every day might sound dreamy to you, but little legs (and short attention spans) might need a break. I recommend starting with half-day ski school and using the afternoons for rest or play. Nannies, like our fab team at Petit Verbier, can be a lifesaver, giving parents some much-needed slope time while the kids recharge. For children age 3-6 years old our after ski kids club is an ideal combo of skiing and play.

We know everything takes so much longer than we think with kids so why not plan in some extra down time, family time or a games night in. Children will appreciate not being rushed and your holiday will feel a lot more relaxing when you’re not trying to squeeze all the activities and sightseeing in.

Travelling solo with your kids?

I find that the idea of travelling solo can be a lot more daunting than it actually is. Maybe your partner doesn’t have the time off work but you want to visit family or friends? Why not! You’ll be so pleased you did and I find that once children can understand a bit more you can explain to them what is going to happen and why you need their help.

Make it as easy as possible for yourself and enlist all the help you can before and after, whether that means a nanny coming to play with the kids so you can pack in peace, or having a pick up booked with car seats for the other side. Maybe you’re travelling to meet family which is often the case for me, so I make sure I have time to decompress on arrival. Though one time I had an early flight and had to then land and take the Gatwick express plus two tubes and walk through London to get to my destination. I did not feel guilty for taking a break and getting an early night once I got there!

Ways to go Green

Want to make your trip a little more eco-friendly?

• Traveling by train is half the fun for the kids, so much to so, spot and the ability to move around!

• Pick accommodations with sustainable practices.

• Rent your ski gear and clothing or beach and pool toys—it’s not just easier; it’s better for the planet, too.

  
  

What a beautiful privilege to allow our children to see the world, I love taking my kids to new and old places and I hope these tips help! Petit Verbier have nannies available year round in Verbier & Zermatt, and now a travel nanny service so you can have the same standard of care anywhere in the world. Get in touch here for prices and availability