My Journey To The Land Down Under: An Experience I Will Forever Cherish

I’m back! I took the summer off from writing to spend time with family, friends and to travel – and what a great summer it was!

My first trip this summer took me to a bucket-list destination. I’ve dreamed of going to Australia since the first time I saw a photo of the Sydney Opera House as a little girl. Seeing this majestic building with my own eyes alone was worth the 20+ hours of travel.

This trip was unplanned and completely spontaneous. The company I work for recently announced our expansion into Australia, and while I thought it would be nice to go one day, myself and three other colleagues decided – why not now?! So, off we went to travel to the other side of the globe to meet our future teammates and have a little fun along the way!

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My first leg of the flight was easy as it was from ORD to SFO. One movie and a glass of wine and *poof* we were there. The next leg was from SFO to Auckland. We flew air New Zealand as they have the sky couch upgrade, and it’s an upgrade that doesn’t break the bank. The extra room and ability to prop your feet up was completely worth it! The airline was very nice, I highly recommend them.

Halfway into the twelve hour stretch to New Zealand, the turbulence became pretty intense. Being a light sleeper and an anxious flyer, this was by far the worse part of the trip. I ended up taking a “relaxation” pill (we will call it), and finally was able to sleep through the bumps. Once we arrived in NZ, we had a brief layover, and started our last 2 hours of the journey to Sydney.

Sydney is 15 hours ahead of my time zone, CST. I thought sleeping on the plane would help the jet lag, but I have to admit it hit me hard. REAL hard. Once we arrived, I ate then drank several bottles of water to hydrate and passed out for a few hours. We stayed at the Westin Sydney, which is in the CBD (Central Business District), so a few z’s on the heavenly bed was just what I needed. After that, I was ready to go!

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Sydney, just as I imagined it, is absolutely stunning. It reminded me of Europe and San Fransisco combined in one. Architecture, the water fronts, and the combination of new and old made Sydney a fun city to explore. The best part of Sydney, however, was the people! Everyone is very friendly and gracious, even when marching through the busy streets during rush hour. Also, I will add, if you’re a single woman I would recommend moving there immediately. The men were all VERY nice on the eyes. Very nice. Trust me.

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The first night we arrived we attended the yearly festival, Vivid Light Festival. Vivid Light Festival is a major event in winter and is recognized as the largest event of its kind in the world combining light, music and ideas. Vivid Sydney is owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency. A must see for yourself.

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The festival just enhanced the beauty of Sydney and was truly amazing to witness. Once I saw the Sydney Opera House in person, I linked arms with one of my friends and whispered, “Can you believe this? Here we are. And there IT is. We made it!” It was one of those moments where I was completely taken over with emotion and gratitude for the opportunity to be there, one I thought would never be possible.

Indescribable. Truly, no words.

The next morning we were off to watch the sunset before grabbing breakfast, which is a meal the Aussies take very seriously. Their breakfast is on point. Once we made it to the bay, the views were more than worth the 24 hours of travel the day before. Just see for yourself.

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“We’re the Queens of the World!” Just kidding, we didn’t say that – but it was exactly how we felt when we snapped this photo.

The first stop of our food exploration was a little breakfast spot in a boutique hotel, QT Sydney, called Gowings Bar & Grill. The food did not disappoint and I completed the meal with a traditional Flat White.

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After breakfast, we were off for more exploration. During the week we packed in as much as we could. We explored Darling Harbor, which if you’re there with your kids, is a great place to take them. We did a red bus tour to see the botanical gardens and different neighborhoods in the city. We traveled to Manly Wharf to have lunch, drink some champagne (because why not in the middle of the day?) and explore the beaches.

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Touring around by boat is the way to go in Sydney. How else would you get these beautiful views?

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Or get the chance to take this cool selfie!

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Our next beach tour was of Bondi, where you can take a coastal walk along the shore line. Again, pictures cannot do this place justice. Along the beach are cool eateries and shops to pick up some local favorites and souvenirs.

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Back in the city, we walked around The Rocks, which is a historical part of Sydney. The Rocks provide an opportunity to experience an environment where buildings and public places of the eighteenth, nineteenth and early twentieth-century still remain. We ate at Saké, which is a popular sushi place in The Rocks. The food and overall environment was a great experience. Highly recommend.

Another place, I would highly recommend is Mr. Wong. Do yourself a favor and fit this dining experience into your itinerary. Make a reservation because it’s almost impossible to get in without one, and the wait is hours long, even on a Tuesday! The food and service were phenomenal and dining in a timeless colonial atmosphere was an experience in and of itself.

After you finish up your delicious meal at Mr. Wong…. head down to the super secret prohibition setting bar, Palmer and Co, located under the restaurant down the alley. We shared after dinner drinks with some new friends and soon-to-be partners, and it was a perfect setting for intimate conversations and relaxation.

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To top the night off, our new friends took us to see the best views in the city where we shared a toast to our lovely and successful trip to Sydney – at 360 Bar. Talk about having the best seat in the house! Check out these views!

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One of my last restaurant recommendations is Bambini Trust. Again, great food, service, setting and wine. My only complaint of this night was that I dropped my iPhone in the toilet after forgetting it was in my back pocket! Don’t worry, a bag, some rice and 24 hours later – it worked again! Phew. Total buzz kill.

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My only wish of this extraordinary trip was that I could have stayed longer. Or, if I had built up the courage in time, to conquer the bridge climb. One week was just not enough time to take in this remarkable city.

We ate, drank, made new friends with future colleagues, and left a piece of our hearts in Australia. The moral of this story – dreams do come true when you have the courage to chase them.

I encourage you to lace up those running shoes.

Until next time, Sydney – because we WILL be back!

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Fort Lauderdale Spring Breakin’ – Family Style

Spring Break looks a little different these days. Long gone are the days of parties, day-drinking on the beach, and pulling all-nighters dancing on bars and stealing kisses from strangers. Okay, I never participated in the last part – or at least that’s what my selective memory tells me.

Fast forward ten years and now Florida is one of our favorite places to take our kids.

Ft. Lauderdale is usually where we go as it’s close to Miami for a nice day trip, too. My husband lived there for several years in college. Besides the bonus of familiarity, there are lots of fun beach activities for kids, and the college kids tend to hang out further down the beach. We’ve also stayed in Hollywood, Marco and Sanibel Islands, which are great family getaways, too.

Our favorite hotel in Fort Lauderdale is the Westin Ft. Lauderdale. I worked for Starwood for most of my adult career so I’m a little biased. There’s a nice consistency across the brands, so you always know what to expect. They are kid and pet friendly and have a great rewards program, too.

Pro Tip from an ex-hotelier: After I left the hotel industry my hook-ups faded, so now to get an upgrade I give the front desk agent a $20 and 9 times out of 10 that gets you an upgrade to a nice room and many times a floor with free breakfast access, internet, etc. Take care of them and they will take care of you. 

A major bonus of staying at the Westin Fort Lauderdale is there is a sky bridge with direct access to the beach and the pool deck provides food and beverage service chair side. We never had to fight for a chair or go down and save seats ahead of time either. There is a Starbucks located in the hotel, which for an addict like me is important. I didn’t have to go far for my morning latte.

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(Photo credit: Westin Ft Lauderdale Beach Resort)

We spent the majority of our time on the pool deck and hunting for sea shells on the beach. My kids loved this and it was a fun little competition to find the perfect shell. My little guy liked to nap by the pool and that gave me time to sip on a margarita and read a book in the shade as I held him. I know one day soon he’ll be too big to nap on my lap – so I loved every minute.

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(“Mommy, look at this shell!”)

 

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(Can this moment last forever?)

For most meals we traveled off the strip as hotel meals can get rather pricy. I’d recommend renting a car so you’re able to do this, too. If you head north from the strip and make a left on Sunrise Blvd, there are several less expensive hotel options and some great restaurants. There is also a large mall with shops and dining options right after you cross over the Coral Bay. For lunch we went to Burgerfi, I had the veggie burger and it was delicious! If you stay on the strip and want to splurge on a nice dinner and need a kid-friendly place, Sun, Surf & Sand (located in the Hilton) is the perfect mix. They have a great outdoor area facing the ocean, the service was great, and there are many options for kids.

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(Say Cheeeessseeee!)

 

(Brotherly Love)
(Brotherly Love)

 

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The only negative experience I had during our trip was when one spring breaker called me “ma’am” and suddenly made me feel really old. Am I really a “ma’am” now? Other than that we made some great memories and enjoyed the sunshine. If Chicago doesn’t knock it off with the April snow showers, we may head back to Florida sooner than later.

No one’s grave stone says, “I wish I worked more.”

 

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Baby’s First Flight: How to Get Through Air Travel With Your Sanity

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The night before our flight to visit relatives in Michigan – I couldn’t sleep. My baby was up all night as per usual, but more so because of teething and a growth spurt. My insomnia, however, was caused by trouble shooting and running through a mental checklist of what to do if my son has a full blown melt down in the middle of our first flight together. That’s right – me flying alone, with a baby. I was scared sh*tless. Thankfully we had a nonstop flight, which cut down the amount of time Baby B would have to turn into Oscar the Grouch. The next morning I took a deep breath, loaded up all our things, and said a prayer. Off we went.

Related post: Traveling With a Toddler: Cruel and Unusual Punishment


Luckily I made it through the flight and lived to tell about it. My son was so intrigued by everything, which held his attention. I will add that he also wanted to play with our seat mates and hug them a lot. They didn’t mind. Thank goodness. Overall it was a lot easier than I thought.

Here are some survival tips when traveling with infants that worked for me. Adjust as necessary for your little one:

Fill Them Up. Start them on a full stomach before you leave for the airport. Especially if you have a hike to get there.  By the time you get through ticketing and security, your LO is going to be hungry and antsy. Try to mitigate that and get them through until you can stop for a snack or lunch.

Bring Snacks, Sippy Cups/Bottles.  Even if you’re nursing like I am, bring them.  You can have them already full of milk, formula or juice. Security will do a quick dip (if at all) to test and make sure you aren’t bringing anything dangerous through. I highly considered eating a ton of poppy seeds to see if the drug compound would show up in my milk, just to mess with them. Maybe next time. Or not.

Have the Umbrella Stroller and Carrier Handy.  I brought both my sling and the folding stroller. Not only did I use the sling at our destination, but it made it much easier to get through ticketing and security. I had both my hands free to maneuver and take things in and out of bags for the screen. This also freed up the stroller to place bags in and give my shoulders a break. Word of advice: Do not take a carrier that has a metal ring on it like I did. You WILL have to take it off, however lame and obvious it is – or the detector will go off.

Play Around the Waiting Area.  Seriously. People were extremely understanding. And if they’re on your flight they’ll be grateful you’re trying to expend any extra energy out of your kid prior to takeoff.

Nurse on Takeoff/Landing. The whole “putting cotton in their ears” thing doesn’t work. I checked – with an actual medical professional. However, nursing has the same motion for baby as chewing gum, or yawning repeatedly does for us. Baby B, as hyper as he was, hunkered down for some cuddles and nursing as soon as we gathered speed, and woke up with just enough time to latch on as we started our descend. If you’re not nursing, bring a bottle with milk or formula, or a pacifier.

Let Them Down on The Floor.  Ok, maybe not if you’re on the aisle seat, but having a window seat meant I could let B down off my lap to explore, get a little distance from mom, and pull things out of his diaper bag.  Sure I had to stop him from crawling under the seat to the next row a couple times, but all in all it was a great way to keep him entertained. It also allowed me a few seconds to breathe and shake my arms out before the next round of him spinning in circles on my lap.

Related post: Seven Survival Tips When Traveling With Small Kids


Sit Near The Loo.  Each area on the plane has it’s advantages and disadvantages, but I made the mistake of sitting over the wing. Great for minimizing noise, but not so great when he had a blow out on our return to Texas! I had to lug the diaper bag through half the plane. Do yourself a favor and sit either up front or in back.

Benadryl.  Yup, I did it. It helped. Check with your pediatrician first, of course.

Trust In Your Baby.  I kept telling myself to have faith in B to be calm on the plane and not cause a ruckus. If you think they will scream the whole way, they probably will. Usually your LO picks up their parents’ vibes, so try to remain calm.

Most importantly don’t forget to bring toys, snacks, more toys, more snacks, and lots of diapers. You’ll make it through – and so will they.

Happy Travels!

Need more tips for traveling with little people? Check out the FLYING WITH KIDS App. Clever, easy to use, and everything in one place to prepare you for flying with kids. You’re welcome.

Tips For Road Trippin’ With Small Kids

Recently I embarked on a 15-hour road trip with my husband, my four-year-old and my eight-month-old. Before leaving I asked all of you if I was crazy or just stupid to think this could be done while still maintaining my sanity. Most of you answered “crazy” but I have to admit it turned out to be a little bit of both. I am happy to announce that we did survive, but to call it a “vacation” would be somewhat of a stretch.  Unfortunately road trips just aren’t the same with little ones – or at least with my little ones.  In my younger days I used to love road trips. I once drove from San Antonio to Tampa non-stop. I could stay up around the clock and compete with the truckers as to who could last longer. Not so much any more.  Now I get muscle cramps, nausea and spend most of my time counting down the seconds until we arrive at our destination.

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“Are we there yet?” – me every second…

This trip we did run into a few National Lampoons moments. Our hotel had a blackout and we had to entertain our toddler in pitch dark for hours. I also had to hand-express my milk because I forgot my battery charger for my pump. After about 30 minutes of pumping my hand felt paralyzed, so I had to enlist my husband to fulfill the remaining pumping shifts. My little guy had four diaper blowouts  explosions, which in turn ruined his infant car seat.  The disaster he created could only be cleaned up by The Ghostbusters, but unfortunately they no longer exist.  Let’s just say – the reminder of the trip our car did NOT smell of roses and we had to replace the carseat as soon as we got home.

Overall, the trip was worth it because we were able to spend time with family and make some wonderful memories, however until my baby gets a little older – home is where we’ll stay.

Here’s some tips to help keep your sanity on road trips with little ones.

  • Don’t do it. Just kidding, I know they can be fun and are much more affordable than flying.
  • Plan pit stops.  Check out fun stops along your route to break up the trip and let your kids stretch your legs.
  • Add a couple hours to your agenda. Your trip will take longer than you think, so just plan on it. You’ll have to make a lot of stops with kids to use the restroom, eat, stretch, etc.
  • Research your route. Look up major highways for any construction notices. This can shave hours off of your drive if you’re able to go around all the traffic delay’s.
  • Hot Spot. Having a hot spot in the car for our iPad was a life-saver for my toddler.  We played a lot of games, but when all else failed we handed him the iPad. We also downloaded some Apps that didn’t require an internet connection in case our hot spot went out.
  • Know when to stop. Six hours seemed to be the breaking point for my little guy. After six hours he became a ticking time bomb and it was difficult to console him. Next time this will be our stopping point for the night.
  • Take lots of food. Not only does this save money – but time as well. I took a cooler with several sandwiches and fruit along with a grocery bag of dry snacks. I hate eating fast food on road trips so this was our lunch and dinner.  My digestive system thanked me later.
  • Invest in baby gadgets. Buy one of these immediately for the car if your baby can’t hold his bottle that well yet. This little contraption prevented me from having to sit lodged between two car seats for an hour. Podee Hands Free Bottle

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If you have any tips to add please share in the comments section!

Seven Survival Tips When Traveling With Small Kids

If you’re a parent you’ve probably learned by now that vacationing with kids is really not a vacation at all. As someone who loves to travel, I was blindsided once having kids with all the do’s and don’ts of vacationing as a family. Traveling is not always easy, and some trips you may find are more trouble than they’re worth. I admit in past excursions I’ve made serious rookie mistakes that cost my family’s temporary sanity, but each trip down has been another lesson learned. I’m not an expert yet, but there have been less tears and more fun infused in our recent vacations.

In lieu of summer break when families tend to go on their great adventures, I’ve compiled a list of survival tips when traveling with kids. You can thank me later.

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It’s not about you – it’s about them. Once you realize this, you’ll enjoy yourself a lot more. Kids do not understand the concept of relaxation, nor do they care about white-sand beaches and exquisite food and wine. Choose a destination that welcomes and caters to kids. I love the Apps MiniTime and Trekaroo; they give you lists of kid friendly hotels, attractions, restaurants and shopping in any destination!

Lower Your Expectations. Expect the worst, hope for the best. Many of us build up these grand illusions of our vacations, only to be disappointed when real life gets in the way. There will be delays, fights, and snags in your plans. Accept it and prepare, that’s all you can do. When you set your expectations low, everything else will seem like a bonus!

Plan Travel Times During Nap Times. If you have a three-hour flight, try to plan it when your little ones usually nap. At first the excitement will take over, but once they feel the vibration of the plane – it’s lights out. Once your kids are asleep, that’s when your vacation really starts! Go ahead and have that glass of wine or dive into your book because this peace will not last.

Stay Away From Sugar. Don’t, I repeat, don’t give your kids any candy, juice, chocolate, etc., during travel times. You might think this is a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised. Once on a flight with my toddler, the flight attendant gave my son a piece of chocolate candy to try and deter him from yelling, “Wakey, Wakey” to all the sleeping passengers around us. In theory it may have been a good idea, but I still had two hours to tame the wild beast in him before we landed. I cried on that flight and luckily I had veteran parents around me consoling me. I vowed never to fly with him alone again – and I haven’t.

Pack Heavy. This mostly pertains to toys and entertainment. Young kids have the attention span of a dog. Any shinny thing in their line of sight will send them running. Take a whole suitcase of toys, extra batteries, chargers, and coloring books, really anything that fits. Don’t be the idiot who forgets to charge the iPad before you get on a plane too – like me. Download a lot of kid friendly Apps that don’t require the Internet in case your flight or car doesn’t have Wi-Fi. Some of my favorites are: Moonfrye, KidsDoodle, PBS Kids, and Puzzingo.

Make An Itinerary. Create a schedule of events and stick to it. Kids are creatures of habit; they like to follow schedules and direction. Fill their days up with activities so at night they welcome sleep. More sleep for them, more peace for you. Trust me on this – a bored kid equals a disaster.

Bring help. If possible bring guests on your trip. Parents, in-laws, friends and nannies make for great babysitters when you need a break. As much money as you spend on these vacations you deserve at least one kid-free dinner with your significant other.

Overall, the most important thing you need to remember is to let your kids be kids on vacation. Once you allow this, it might just bring out the inner-kid in you.

 

Five Reasons To Ditch Dad: Guest Post From Jennifer Coburn Author Of: We’ll Always Have Paris

Thank you so much to Jennifer Coburn for her guest post below and for being kind enough to share her book, We’ll Always Have Paris, with me. I truly loved this heartwarming yet humorous memoir about her and her daughters travels and how it taught her to live like there’s no tomorrow.

Jennifer has always been terrified of dying young. So she decides to save up and drop everything to travel with her daughter, Katie, on a whirlwind European adventure before it’s too late. Even though her husband can’t join them, even though she’s nervous about the journey, and even though she’s perfectly healthy, Jennifer is determined to jam her daughter’s mental photo album with memories—just in case.

From the cafés of Paris to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Jennifer and Katie take on Europe one city at a time, united by their desire to see the world and spend precious time together. In this heartwarming generational love story, Jennifer reveals how their adventures helped vanquish her fear of dying…for the sake of living.

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We are doing a giveaway for a free copy!  To enter leave a comment below or like the Facebook post. We will announce the winner on Friday.

You can pre-order your copy here.  All proceeds before April 8th will go to the American Cancer Society in honor of Jennifer’s father, Shelly.

You can also watch the book trailer here

 

Guest Post: Five Reasons To Ditch Dad

When I tell people I left my husband at home when I took my daughter to Europe, they assumed my marriage was on the skids. One mother even confided, “I ditch mine whenever I can too.”

The truth is I would’ve loved if William could have joined Katie and me on our overseas adventure. But when he said he couldn’t come along I had two choices: stay home or go without him. I had very little experience traveling, so the idea of being the only adult – the sole person responsible for absolutely every aspect of the trip – was more than a bit daunting.

I decided to go anyway and I’m so glad I did. Katie and I definitely had our misadventures, but really it wasn’t as tough as I thought it would be. And there were some very real benefits to traveling without dad as listed below:

Trying new roles – When one person is missing from the equation, the family dynamic changes. If William had come with us to Europe, I would have gladly handed him the map and let him assume his natural role as family navigator. Without him, I had to figure out where the heck we were going, and how to read the Godforsaken map. Know what? I can navigate. (I just don’t like it.)

Creating Mommy memories – William and Katie have very similar interests. They watch Dr. Who, Merlin, Sherlock, and Big Bang Theory together. (And now that raunchy cartoon Archer!) They run together; they take rock-climbing class together. They have discussions about science that I can’t even understand, much less participate in. I’ve got to admit, I kind of like getting rid of the competition for a few weeks so Katie and I could discover our shared interests and create our memories.

Meeting new people – People reach out to a woman traveling alone with children in a way they don’t when they see dad’s along. Sure, there are those European Casanovas who think American women are easy and make their move. And yes, there are a handful of miscreants who see a woman sans a man as an easy target for a purse snatching. But mainly people want to help a mother and children make their way through Europe enjoyably. Katie and I got more free meals and invitations than we ever do when William is with us.

Saving money – Let’s face it, dads take up a lot of space and eat a lot of food. When Katie and I travel with William, our costs don’t increase by half, they double!

Letting absence make your heart grow fonder – Katie and I have now taken four long trips to Europe together, and each time we miss William terribly. We get over it pretty quickly because, hey, we’re missing him from Paris. But we do feel his absence, which reminds us of all the things we love about him. Coming home to him is that much sweeter.

So go ahead and take that trip without him – you’ll be glad you did!

 

 

 

 

 

Traveling With A Toddler: Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Traveling with a toddler is brutal, especially alone. You would have thought I learned my lesson after this debacle, but apparently not.  That’s the thing with kids; you always give them second chances because you are blinded by love.

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The last time I flew alone with my son, I swore I would never do it again.  That was nine months ago.  So he’s changed, right? He would listen to his momma and be a good boy this time, right? Not. So. Much.  Monster Diva is officially his new name. Being pregnant doesn’t help either.  I am tired and the last thing I want to do is chase after a toddler in an airport.

I took some key mistakes on my part from last time and prepared a grand plan.  Almost as if I was writing a strategic sales plan, I carefully mapped out activities and pitches for the three-hour flight.  I listed all my collateral: Goldfish, DVD’s, Fruit Snacks, and my ultimate bribery tool: Chocolate. I also tried to pack light (which is almost impossible with kids) to prevent carrying too much luggage.  I checked the bags to free up my hands, in case I had to chase the little monster. Checking bags is very difficult for me.  I HATE checking bags.  I like to have my bag in my possession and not have to wait when I deplane.  Me, a woman, once took a carry-on to Paris for a five day trip to avoid the baggage claim. I took a stroller this time too. Why?  To lock his a** in and prevent him from chasing shinny things.

We made it to the gate relatively drama free.  I got this! Right when that thought crossed my mind… here we go. He takes his shoes off and starts trying to ‘Hulk’ his way out of the stroller. All the while he is shouting, “I wanna go on air pwanne!”  I tried to stay calm and convinced him they wouldn’t let him on if he is a bad boy.  Then, I found a TV with cartoons.  Thank you Jesus. Tip: try to not have more than an hour waiting time once you get to the gate. This is known as the witching hour.  I took notes for next time, literally.

"Only good boys allowed on plane!"
“Only good boys allowed on plane!”

Once we got on the plane, I cornered him in the window seat and apologized to all those around me in advance.  Taking off was exciting for him, he liked to count to ten and yell, “Blast Off!!”  Luckily all the people around me thought it was cute. He also bursted out in song a few times, serenading his audience with favorites such as: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Old McDonald. Just like the last flight we had together, he doesn’t like people sleeping around him and would yell, “Wakey-Wakey!”

The remaining time was challenging, but at that point I just didn’t care. After two airplane bathroom trips holding him in mid-air trying to aim in the toilet, I gave up. He opened and closed the window shade at least three dozen times, and we were the last to get off the plane because he took his shoes off and refused to put them back on. I had to use my secret weapon, the chocolate, to get the shoes back on.

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Luckily my husband met us and flew home with me.  I pawned the kid off immediately and told my husband I was now invisible. He was a trooper and kept Monster Diva in check for me. I have to fly again with the kid in two weeks….alone. Isn’t there a better way?  Should I just give in to the embarrassment?  Should I just let him be a toddler and tell all the other passengers to go screw themselves? Are there day nannies that will fly with me?

I don’t know, but I need a new plan.  If I wasn’t pregnant I would down a few glasses of wine. Either way, God help me. Prayers are appreciated.

Tips from this flight that were helpful:

  • More snacks
  • Charge computer longer
  • Put shoes on that are difficult to take off quickly
  • Sit in the back of the plane so not as many people around
  • Fly at night so he sleeps
  • Drink (if you can)
  • Don’t take any carry-on’s, it is too stressful
  • Pack light
  • Buy kid headphones (mine didn’t fit him well)
  • Remember this is temporary