Would you have the courage to travel almost nine months to 31 countries with a two year old? AJ Ratani and Natasha Sandhir did, and they have many tips and insights on traveling with children from their experience. I am a huge supporter of travel hacks, so I decided to ask AJ and Natasha a few questions that I felt would be helpful to you, my readers, for future reference.
The 2 Idiots Travel Blog
Here is my interview
What is the most stressful part of traveling with kids?
Our son is only 2 years old, and when kids are young, they cannot always communicate what’s bothering them. We found the most stressful part of our travels was figuring out what was making him upset. For example, when he was crying on one of the 39 flights we took, we had to figure out if it was because his ears were hurting, if he was scared, if he was tired… We had to pay attention to his cues to be able to help him. Some parents get stressed during these times worrying that their child is disturbing other travelers. Don’t worry about other people; worry about your own child and how to help. Other travelers have been through this and understand, and may even help if you ask for it.
Is there anything you have found that has calmed your child?
Every child is different and it for our son, it depended on the situation. Sometimes our son would need to let out his pent up angry simply by stopping for some play time in a park, where he could run around and have some freedom outside of a car seat or stroller. Other times he would be upset could be because he was tired, and we gave him some milk and would walk him in his stroller to help him go to sleep. We also carried his favorite toys and books, an emergency stash of chocolate, and devices with educational apps as a last resort.
What is the best advice you can give to parents traveling with young children during the holidays?
Our best advice for traveling with young children is to be patient and flexible. Travel is not always easy, especially during the rush of the holidays, and things can go wrong, such as flight delays and cancellations. Be prepared for emergencies by carrying what you need to keep your children entertained. Many airports offer play places, art exhibits and places to stretch your legs, so explore during long delays and stay busy.
If you could choose the best mode of travel for families with young ones, what would it be and why?
Our favorite way to travel is by train: You don’t need to show up hours in advance to take a train and jump through security hoops, they have food and shopping options, and are typically right in a city versus on the outskirts, making it easier to get around. Trains also provide more space, privacy and comfort, and for us, we loved seeing our son play with other kids while riding on trains.
What did you learn in your 9-month journey around the world that would be beneficial to other parents traveling?
We learned that traveling with kids is easier than we thought because kids are so flexible and resilient. Our son may not have known where he was in the world, but we went with the flow. For him, all that mattered was that he was with his parents every day. For us, spending so much quality time with him gave us memories we will never forget, and brought us closer together as a family.
Another Q&A: What is our favorite accommodation?
We really preferred staying in AirBnB while we traveled. They provided a home away from home with kitchens, bath tubs, living space – often at a fraction of the cost of a hotel.
BIO:
AJ Ratani and Natasha Sandhir traveled around the world with their son Aarav. Visiting 31 countries and six continents as a family, they documented their year-long travel and trips on their family travel blog. Visit their website for more tips and also follow the couple on their Instagram account.
They have more guts than I do, lol. Seriously, it's probably building a great life for the kid!
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