Trendy Travel for Jazz-It-Up Moms

As you all know I recently took a 1200 mile road trip which landed me in my new home of Houston. I documented much of it on Instagram. After my journey the lovely Kendra Thorton contacted me about doing a guest post on traveling in style. She is super well qualified to write on the subject so I agreed! 

A little about Kendra Thornton: Travel advocate, TV spokesperson, PR businesswoman, proud wife and mama of 3. She is a long time travel expert who has been packing her bags and traveling the world since she was 3 months old! She's found her utmost desire in life is right in her own home. She's taken her excitement for travel and brought it to you with some of her favorite travel tips and tricks. Enjoy!

Photo Credit: Amy Dianna via Compfight cc

Does the thought of planning a family vacation stress you out? If you want to travel in style with your kids this summer, make sure to plan ahead. With a few helpful tips, you can make your next family trip stylish and hassle free!

Travel Tip #1: Create Your “To Pack” List Early

For a truly great vacation, preparation is key. Make yourself write that list. In addition to things like clothes, diapers, medication, hygiene supplies and snacks, you’re going to want a list of “must dos” as well.  Having your mail held and arranging for a pet sitter are not things to be left to the last minute.  Part of traveling in style is making sure you feel great as well, which won’t happen if you’re stressed or anxious. Putting the work in early will ensure a relaxing and memorable vacation.

Travel Tip #2: Select a Family-Friendly Hotel

Don’t just book, research your options when it comes to hotels in your destination city. Savvy moms know the secret to a hassle free vacation is allowing the hotel to do some of the work for you.  Look into family friendly resorts and hotels that have pre-scheduled entertainment and fun planned for your whole troop.  Kids camps and family snorkeling or ski lessons are great activities offered by many resorts that won’t leave you having to locate a reputable third company.  At Walt Disney World they have a variety of family friendly resorts and hotels that offer many different amenities.  Try using a social site like Gogobot to find the best recommendations for your Orlando hotel from your personal network of friends and family.  

Travel Tip #3: The Perfect Footwear Adds Style to Your Vacation

To look great while on vacation, treat yourself to a pair of cute new sandals.  Since new shoes can hurt your feet, buy your new sandals a few weeks before your trip so you can break them in before you leave.  Check out Travel Fashion Girl for some cute new styles that are comfortable to wear when you’re on the go.

Travel Tip #4: Research Flights

Research flights to find the most inexpensive tickets…but always read the fine print. Some discount airline sites include hidden fees so always read before booking. Then, select the best rates that correspond with the best flight schedule. Sometimes that will mean purchasing a non-stop flight for a bit of higher price to keep everyone happy and to allow for more naptime on the plane. Although traveling in the morning is typically the cheapest, weigh the pros and cons for your family.  If a 5am wake up will result in tantrums for the duration of your flight, it’s probably not worth the money you’d save. 

Travel Tip #5: The Backpack Essential

All moms know that two hands are simply not enough – so why limit yourself when traveling by tying them up with bulky hand bags?  For your carry-on look into a trendy backpack to carry all of your essentials.  Most backpacks have a lot of pockets for easy compartmentalizing and will leave your hands free for hand holding or carrying little ones. Check out Polyvore for an assortment of women's backpacks in a variety of styles and sizes.

With a little planning, you can get rid of summer traveling woes and really experience a fun time wherever you land. Just because you are traveling with your children does not mean you can’t look great as well. Plan ahead, take a deep breath, prepare for the unexpected, and most of all, enjoy your time together. This is a family vacation, after all.