The Secret to Traveling With Kids

From Beyoncé and Blue Ivy twinning just a stone’s throw from the Eiffel Tower, to Chrissy Teigen and Luna souk-strolling in Marrakech, the mama-and-me vacation moment has some serious slay potential. For many families, however, travel comes with its challenges, from unwieldy luggage to high-altitude temper tantrums. We asked some of the most well-traveled mamas we know for their secrets to traveling with the kids, without losing your sense of style.

As the editor in chief of Condé Nast Traveler, travel is serious business for Brooklyn-based Pilar Guzmán. However, she credits her 13- and 10-year-old boys with giving her a fresh perspective. The family decided early on not to restrict their travel once they had kids, and now share favorite destinations near and far, like the Beverly Hills Hotel, where her family loves the pool and Fountain Coffee Room silver dollar pancakes, and Tokyo and Kyoto. “My kids are still talking about the bamboo forest and bowls of steaming ramen,” says Guzmán. “If you do both city and country in Japan, it’s the perfect trifecta of culture, food, and absolute foreignness.”

Travel, finds Guzmán, is a great way to connect as a family, learn about the world—and each other. “I have tried to align travel with history units in school,” she says. “Having some context can really amplify the experience greatly.” On a recent trip to Istanbul, her son taught the family about the great Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan. Another memorable trip to Paris benefited from her then 7-year-old son reading The Invention of Hugo Cabret, “which really brought so much of the city to life.”

“We just spent Easter at Hacienda de San Rafael in Andalusia, which was a kids’ heaven,” shares Margherita Maccapani Missoni Amos. “It has a homey feel, several small swimming pools—which kept the noise under control—and is located in the middle of majestic sunflower fields.” The designer—she recently launched her first collection with Pottery Barn Kids—and mother of two young boys doesn’t just bring them along on her travels, in large part they inspire her children’s clothing line, Margherita Kids, with “patterns and fabrics [that] reference our travels.” Her favorite practical tip is organizing her travel bag with lots of pouches to corral the kids’ things.

Mother of two, Over The Moon co-founder, and Vogue contributor, Alexandra Macon finds that a short domestic flight also has its charms. The New York City–based family often returns to their favorite Palmetto Bluff outside of Savannah, Georgia and along the May River, which hosts a collection of cottages. “We love going here because it’s a short flight from New York City and everything is easily accessible for everyone in our group once we’re there,” says Macon. “Our kids love the beautiful pool and roasting s’mores by the fire pit at night. My husband loves that the golf course is right on the property. And I love the spa, the sweet tea, and the shrimp and grits, which are a Lowcountry staple.”

Visits with extended family are also a great time for kid-friendly adventuring, not to mention the promise of a grandparent-enabled date night. At their family home in Sardinia, Missoni Amos says her boys get to run free. “Since it’s a small gated community, [it’s] a time for them to run around and feel independent.” Rosemary Beach on the Gulf Coast of Florida is a family favorite of Macon’s, who describes it as a relaxed place with beautiful beaches. “The small town center in Rosemary has tons of cute family-friendly restaurants and then there are nicer spots where you can escape for a date night as well.”

“Airbnb is great if you are traveling with extended family or other families,” says Guzmán. “Especially when you are in a place for more than a few days, it’s so nice to be able to make your own coffee and some eggs without worrying about exorbitant room service costs.” Sometimes the key to family travel off the beaten path, she explains, is skipping the hotel. “Airbnb gives you great access to places like the Central Coast of California, for example, where there are few hotel options.”

Though vacations with little ones poses challenges even for the most seasoned travelers. “I love traveling and I try to as much as possible, although it’s a much less relaxing process than it used to be, and can be a bit of a challenge,” shares Missoni Amos, who admits she misses the relatively uncomplicated days of traveling with infants, now that her boys are 2 and nearly 4. Her secret? Direct flights whenever possible, jaunts with “bearable jet lag”, and sourcing rooms with a playground nearby.

“I used to actually enjoy unplugging on a plane and closing my eyes for a bit,” shares Macon. “That kind of stuff doesn't happen anymore!” Her survival techniques include plenty of snacks, and small toys from the airport shop as a distraction tool. She loved the Bjorn carrier when her girls were small. And a clever travel stroller is key: “I can't say enough good things about the Yoyo stroller. It folds up so easily and compactly that you can put it in the overhead compartment if you want, which is nice as gate checking your stroller can really bang it up.”

When Guzmán finds herself at the airport or on the road with the boys in tow, her everyday rules go out the window. “We have a tradition when we fly out of JFK’s Delta terminal that we get Shake Shack burgers no matter what time of day or night. When on road trips, I will say yes to fast food and abandon my strict, all-organic, blah blah rules.”

As everyone looks forward to summer travel—when the Missoni Amos clan will be enjoying the beaches and slides at the Pine Cliffs Hotel in the Algarve region of Portugal, and Guzmán will be getting in her “no-culture beach time” on Fire Island—they maintain it’s all about starting young and having a healthy sense of adventure. After all, it is possible to maintain spontaneity with the little ones—with a little planning, of course.