Avoid These Common Family Travel Mistakes: Tips From Real Experience

When we first decided to pack up our “normal” life and hit the road as a travelling family, we had stars in our eyes, backpacks on our backs, and absolutely no clue what we were doing.

Fast forward to now, and we’ve racked up some epic memories and a few “what were we thinking?!” moments. So, in the spirit of helping fellow adventure-seeking families avoid the same potholes, here’s a list of the biggest mistakes we made when we first started travelling with kids. Spoiler: We learned the hard way, so you don’t have to.

1. Packing Like We Were Moving House.

We thought we were being prepared. Turns out, we were just ridiculous. We packed EVERYTHING — toys, books, extra clothes “just in case,” and multiple types of shoes for every possible activity. We once lugged two massive car seats for 6 months without even hiring a car.

What we do now:

Packing cubes, decide a route and whether it includes public transport or car hire and car seat hire, and a few beloved items. If it doesn’t fit in a carry-on, it doesn’t come.

2. Changing Locations Way Too Often.

We had this romantic idea of waking up in a new location every few days, eating croissants in Paris and tapas in Barcelona — all in the same week. What happened? Everyone was tired, cranky, and slightly smelly. Constant moving = constant chaos.

Lesson learned:

Slow travel is family travel. We now aim to stay at least a month in one place. We unpack, breathe, and remember the name of the street we’re staying on.

3. Treating It Like One Big Holiday.

The first month, we said yes to everything — beaches, hikes, museums, activities, and late nights. And then… we all crashed. Hard. The kids wanted a routine. We wanted a nap.

Our new motto:

It’s not a holiday, it’s a lifestyle. And that lifestyle includes early bedtimes, chill days, and the occasional laundry emergency.

4. Forgetting to Make Proper Contingency Plans at Home.

Our post piled up. We got sent fines for things we weren’t aware of, which soon escalated and could’ve been avoided.

Hot tip:

Set up a home base system — a friend, family member, or even a virtual mailbox to handle the boring-but-important stuff.

5. Expecting It to Be Like Travelling in Our 20s.

I once backpacked around the world on £10 a day, sleeping in hammocks and eating noodles from bags. We thought it’d be the same vibe, just with smaller humans in tow. Wrong.

Kids don’t like hammocks or 14-hour bus rides. They want snacks, stability, and actual toilets. Whilst we could get away with this and the children would see it as an adventure, it’s no longer how we want to travel either.

What we’ve embraced:

Travelling with kids is slower, richer, and often more magical — but it’s a whole different game.

6. Underestimating Seasonal Cost Changes.

We saw a dreamy place online, budgeted based on off-season prices… and then booked in peak season. Oof. Suddenly, our budget for a month lasted about five days.

What we do now:

Always check peak vs off-season costs before booking. And build in some wiggle room for ice cream and emergencies. There’s always ice cream.

7. Ignoring the Weather.

“Oh, Montenegro will be lovely in August!” we said. Cue sweat, meltdowns (theirs and ours), and an emergency flight back to the UK to cool off.

Now we ask:

Where’s livable this season? And will we melt if we go there?

8. Listening to People Who Had Never Travelled With Kids.

“You’re brave!”
“That’s a bit irresponsible, isn’t it?”
“Kids need stability and a routine!”

Thanks, but unless someone’s done it with their small humans, their opinion gets a polite nod and a mental bin.

Our advice:

Take tips from people who’ve been there, done that — ideally while chasing a toddler through an airport at 2 am.

Bonus Mistakes (Because We Like to Overachieve)

9. Forgetting About Our Needs.

We focused so much on making it perfect for the kids that we forgot to plan in time for us. Now we schedule coffee shop work dates while the kids play Minecraft and call it balance. We’ve also had our parents come and stay with us in different countries so we can experience date nights in new places and, of course, spend time with them.

10. Not Having a ‘Rainy Day’ Budget.

Surprise emergencies, broken devices, or that time our son left his bag and all its contents on a bus. Always have a little financial buffer. Trust us.

Travelling as a family isn’t always sunshine and street food — but it is one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. We’ve learned more, laughed harder, and grown closer through the chaos.

So if you’re thinking of taking the leap, do it. Just maybe… bring less luggage.

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