| So, you've made it through security and are ready to | | | | eliminate most distractions. - Simple games like |
| get your vacation under way. Unfortunately, you still | | | | crosswords and sudokus can alleviate stress and |
| have a long flight to sit through. Yet, flying doesn't have | | | | exercise your mind. One of the best tips for air travel |
| to be a miserable experience - even if you are | | | | with children is to secure seats in the front row of the |
| traveling with children. Here are some travel tips to help | | | | cabin. In the front row of seats, your family will be |
| your whole family enjoy your time in the air. As "airline | | | | granted some extra space and privacy - luxuries that |
| food" isn't exactly a mouthwatering phrase, it is a good | | | | are especially helpful when flying with infants or |
| idea to pack some food in your carry-on bag. While it | | | | toddlers. If you have toddlers, you should also find it |
| may be difficult to pack an entire meal, there are | | | | easier to let your children play, stretch or wander a little |
| plenty of healthy snacks that can fight your hunger. | | | | at the front of the aircraft. When flying with children |
| Start with healthy items like dried fruit and granola. If | | | | internationally, most travel professionals recommend |
| you are looking for a little more protein, add some | | | | non-stop flights. Non-stop flights can be helpful as they |
| jerky to your bag. If you have plenty of healthy options | | | | allow your children to sleep uninterrupted and prevent |
| in your bag, you can more easily resist the urge to | | | | potentially stressful hours of flight changes. Additionally, |
| munch on the less-healthy fare aboard the flight. Keep | | | | your kids will certainly be happy to arrive at your |
| in mind that the air inside of airplane cabins is always | | | | vacation destination as soon as possible. However, |
| very dry. As a result, you might experience a thirst that | | | | there are some benefits to taking breaks between |
| can't be quenched by the irregular, less than generous | | | | flights. For instance, if you are flying to the Caribbean |
| drink service. An extra bottle of water or juice in your | | | | from the northern U.S., your children might become |
| carry-on bag can go a long ways towards eliminating | | | | impatient on such a long flight. With a brief layover in a |
| this discomfort. If you are one of the many who | | | | southern city, you can relieve some of your family's |
| experience motion sickness, consider taking a pill | | | | stress from being cooped up for a whole day. A |
| before boarding the plane. For international flights to the | | | | break between flights will also allow you to pick up |
| Caribbean or elsewhere, a motion sickness medication | | | | snacks and drinks, while your children can stretch and |
| may also help you to sleep through much of the flight, | | | | walk around freely for a little while. You should also |
| allowing you to awake rested and relaxed at your | | | | make sure that you pack all the things your children |
| destination. You have to try your best to relax. | | | | might need in a carry-on bag. This includes everything |
| Everyone has a different outlet for relaxation, so here | | | | from food and medications to extra clothing and a |
| is a list of activities to keep your stress at a minimum - | | | | blanket. Older children will probably be entertained by |
| whatever your interests may be: - If you have a laptop | | | | many of the items on the adult list above, but also |
| computer, you can easily listen to music, watch DVDs | | | | consider packing items like stuffed animals and art |
| or even get some work done. Just make sure you | | | | materials. You should try to avoid toys with small parts |
| charge your batteries before flying. - While MP3 | | | | - such as board games, building blocks and model kits - |
| players are nice, you don't need the newest gadget to | | | | and your child's noisier playthings. If all else fails, just |
| zone out airplane noise. You can plug noise-canceling | | | | remind your family that you are all en route to a |
| headphones into any type of portable music player. - | | | | wonderful Caribbean vacation. |
| Books and magazines are great ways to pass the | | | | Justin Burch writes articles about Curacao( the Marriott |
| time. If you find the noise irritating, you could even put | | | | Resorts. |
| on noise-canceling headphones without music and | | | | |