Bonjour, lecteurs! Nowadays, we are constantly connected. From mobile phones to tablets, tech can be your biggest headache, even on holidays. But it does not have to be! As a mum who’s juggled family trips across the world, I’ve got the best tips to keep the family connected and entertained without losing sanity. From kid-friendly apps to battery-saving hacks, here are the essential tech tips you need to know for family travel.
1. Don’t Stress About Screen Time
Many parents worry about limiting screentime for their children. We tend not use it when we are on holiday. But we pack it for the flight. It can be long and boring, and I don’t want to have to entertain him for hours during the journey.
As long as he does something educational or practical, I don’t mind him using his tablet. When you travel, in the air or on the road, you don’t know what the internet will be like. So I suggest you download the kids’ favourite educational shows to be available on the tablet. Or you can also pack your Chromecast. It easily plugs into any HDMI port in most TVs and laptops.
2. Take Regular 20-Minute Tech Breaks
While devices are handy during the journey, it’s always une bonne idée to have a regular break from them.
So I also pack with games, books, crossword puzzles, or toys to keep everyone entertained. L’avantage? You can tailor it to whatever your children like, depending on their age. A card game such as Top Trump always does the trick. But I also love miniature versions of board games like Guess Who.
Just make sure what they pack can’t make a mess, is compact, and easy to play, so it’s car and plane-friendly. Add a few extra snacks as well.
3. Pack Your GPS Tracking Devices & AirTags
I usually keep an eye on Stanley at all times. But if you are staying in a big resort, or you plan to visit many places, you could consider packing a Bluetooth-enabled tracking device.
Kids get excited in new places, especially in theme parks or museums. So it gives you some peace of mind to have a tracking device. Plus, it’s easy to add it on their tee, bags or even shoes!
I think it works very well with teens. They might not want to hang around with you at all times. But it’s good that you can follow their location in real time on your phone. This way, you know exactly where they are is there is any issue.
These devices usually have batteries that last for weeks and are waterproof for beach days. AirTags are also great for keeping track of your valuables, so it’s definitely worth looking into them.
4. Get a Travel eSIM Before You Leave
The first thing parents should be mindful of is internet safety, especially when using public Wi-Fi. Using digital travel eSIMs, like those from WonderConnect, helps you connect to local networks without losing your number or paying roaming bills after you’re back home.
Travel eSIMs offer country-specific and regional packages. You can also set up an eSIM for travelling abroad before you fly, taking a lot of the anxiété over your connection status when you land out of the equation.
You can then add a portable hotspot to your eSIM and use a VPN for easy family sharing. This way, you can browse worry-free and keep your family’s data safe.
5. Have Backups for Your Backups
We always pack an extra portable charger handy. You never know and dead phone batteries are such a drag! I would also suggest to pack a universal power adapter in case your devices and power banks are low on power. Plus, if you travel a lot with your family, you’ll end up using it quite a lot.
You can plug your device anywhere anytime: in your hotel, in a café, and even restaurants while you chill.
If you pay for streaming services, make the most of them by downloading content to your devices for offline use. This is a particularly useful tip for long plane rides or road trips. You can also download games to keep the kids busy and engaged for extended periods.
6. Bring Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Noise-cancelling headphones are a game-changer for family travel! They block out chaotic airport sounds, droning plane engines, and screaming toddlers on flights. This helps the kids (and you!) relax, nap, or enjoy audiobooks without meltdowns.
Perfect for sensitive little ears, kid-friendly models limit volume to a safe 85dB while offering 20+ hours of battery life. You can get “me-time” too, using them to tune out the chaos and focus on podcasts or ambient noise.
Plus, the cancel noise from their tablet. So you can read your fav book in peace while the kids are entertain. Pack foldable, durable pairs for the whole family.
7. Stay Flexible
One thing I learnt very quickly when traveling to the UK with young kids is that you can’t plan every second of your day. It’s worth staying flexible when you explore. Idéalement, holidays should not involved any screentime. But I don’t mind so much when it’s educational. We’ve been to many exhibitions that include VR bits and it was really good. Par exemple, we recently checked out Pompeii London: The Immersive Exhibition and we leaned so much there, even though it was with virtual reality.
Here are my essential tech tips for family travel. Personnellement, I am not a big fan of devices when we go abroad. I think children can play on their tablets at home and they should explore the area, learn new things etc. But we usually pack the tablet for the flight. At the end of the day, do what feels right for your family.
Modern travel includes new technologies, whether we want it or not. It’s just about find the right balance for you. What are your views on the subject? What devices can’t you leave behind when you travel the world? Let me know your thoughts.
Take me back to Rhodes already for some sunshine and beautiful memories with my tribe 🙂
Collaboration
