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First and foremost, traveling with ankle-biters can be horrible, but you have to do it anyway. So, in an attempt to make things a little more enjoyable (or to just let you know what you're in for), here are the top 10 things we've learned about traveling with a toddler and preschooler in 2012:
10.) Research everything before you go. Read about the sights you will be seeing and plan out which hotel and restaurant you will be eating at. Asking your hotel for recommendations will not guarantee a smart place to eat. Example: While traveling in Austria with a group (including 5 children - three ages 3 and under) we asked the desk clerk where a child friendly place to eat is. Instead of sending us to the beer hall or tavern around the corner (which would be loud and casual enough that kids wouldn't be a nuisance), he sent us to an Italian restaurant down the street. It had a lovely ambiance, low lighting and was VERY quiet. Not to mention it was super fancy, expensive, and had no kid menu. This turned out to be a disaster, to say the least, and the women ended up leaving early with the kids and taking dinner home in a box.
9.) Pack everything you think you will ever need. Then pack more.
8.) Pay for the extra bag and the reserved seating on RyanAir. It's worth it when traveling with kids.
7.) Learning to change a diaper with the child standing up is essential in Europe.
6.) Never let your diaper and wipes supply dwindle down to less than a quarter full. There are no 24 hour stores in Europe and you never know when a sudden case of "you-know-what" will occur and use up the last of your stash. Be prepared.
5.) Spend a little extra money and get the hotel with a nice view, good location, or a pool. You'll be spending more time in it than you think.
4.) An IPod or LeapPad with headphones can be a lifesaver: in the car, on a plane, at dinner, on a bus tour, in the stroller.
3.) People are rude. They don't care that you are dragging around two kids or trying your best to push a stroller on the cobblestones. Don't wait for them to let you in to a crowd because it will never happen (just like they will never politely let you in when you are trying to enter a different lane of traffic on the autobahn). Work as a team in a crowd. One person leads and the other one follows with the kids/stroller. If the bystanders get run over, say sorry later. Americans are supposed to the be rude ones, right?
2.) Do not plan on spending much time anywhere. Hit up the main sites, snap a picture, and go.
1.) Patience. When things get stressful you may have a tendency to snap at your kids. On the other hand, I usually snap at my spouse. Doing either can really put a downer on the trip. You'll feel guilty and eventually have to give an awkward apology. Accept the fact that things aren't going to go smoothly. Even if they start out great, it will eventually go downhill (if not, consider that an unexpected bonus and celebrate!) You are going to miss that turn and get lost. Pushing the stroller will make you tired and frustrated (take breaks or trade with your spouse). Your kids will be loud, cry, whine, and drop things. When that happens and you feel yourself on the edge, take a deep breath (or two) and count to ten. It will be OK. Life is an adventure. Embrace the craziness, laugh instead of cry, and keep moving forward.
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