Family travel doesn’t fall apart because children “can’t handle it.”

It usually falls apart because we underestimate timing, sleep and pacing.

I’ve learnt this the hard way.

Over the years, I’ve realised that it’s rarely the destination that determines whether a trip feels magical or exhausting. It’s the small decisions we make before we even leave home — the flight time we book, the schedule we build, the sleep setup we ignore.

If you want a smoother, more enjoyable trip with your kids, start by avoiding these five rookie mistakes.

1. Booking the Cheapest Flight Without Checking the Time

On paper, that 6am flight looks like a win.

It’s cheaper. It gets you there earlier. It feels productive.

Until you realise it means waking your children at 3am.

You start the holiday already exhausted. The kids are overstimulated before you’ve even boarded. By the time you land, everyone’s running on fumes — and you’re wondering why tensions are high on Day One.

I’ve learnt that sometimes the slightly more expensive flight is actually cheaper in sanity.

Mid-morning departures. Reasonable wake-up times. Arriving with some energy still in the tank. These small adjustments can completely change the tone of your first day.

The goal isn’t just to get there. It’s to arrive well.

2. Planning Every Minute of Every Day

When we travel without children, we maximise.

We fit in the landmarks. The tours. The restaurants. The experiences.

So naturally, we try to do the same with kids.

Stacked itineraries. Back-to-back activities. Zero buffer.

But our children don’t know (or care) how much research we’ve done. They don’t see the Google Doc. They don’t feel accomplished because we ticked off five attractions in one day.

They just need space to enjoy where they are.

One main activity per day is more than enough. Everything else is a bonus.

When we build in margin — for snacks, rest, wandering, spontaneous playground stops — the whole trip feels lighter. Less rushed. Less pressured.

The magic often happens in the in-between moments anyway.

3. Ignoring Sleep Setup

Sleep is the invisible foundation of a good family holiday.

And yet, it’s often the last thing we plan.

No blackout solution.
No white noise.
No real thought about where everyone is actually going to sleep.

Then Day Two arrives — and so do the tears.

Overtired children struggle to regulate. Overtired parents struggle to cope. And suddenly what should be a beautiful experience feels overwhelming.

Protect sleep like it’s part of the itinerary.

Think about:

• Room layout
  

• Cot availability
  

• Familiar comfort items
  

• Ways to darken the room
  

• Bedtime routines you can realistically maintain
  

You don’t have to replicate home perfectly. But you do need a plan.

When sleep is steady, everything else feels easier.

4. Not Planning the First Six Hours After Landing

This is one of the biggest mistakes I see — and one I’ve made myself.

You arrive tired.
The kids are overstimulated.
There’s no clear food plan.
Transport is unclear.

And suddenly, chaos.

The first six hours set the tone for the entire holiday.

Instead of thinking only about the trip itself, think about arrival day.

Where will you eat?
How are you getting to your accommodation?
Can you access groceries quickly?
Is there space for the kids to decompress?

Having a simple, calm plan for those first few hours makes an enormous difference. It removes unnecessary stress at the most vulnerable point of the journey.

Start well, and everything flows better.

5. Trying to Travel Like You Did Pre-Kids

This one is more emotional.

Before children, travel was fast-paced. Late dinners. Early starts. Back-to-back exploring.

When you try to recreate that rhythm with young kids, it rarely feels the same.

And sometimes, there’s a quiet sadness in that realisation.

But here’s what I’ve come to understand:

It’s not worse. It’s different.

Family travel is slower. Softer. More interrupted. But it’s also richer in ways you don’t expect.

You notice more.
You pause more.
You see places through your child’s eyes.

A hotel pool can become the highlight of the trip. A simple ice cream can feel like an event. The small moments matter more.

When we stop comparing it to the past, we start appreciating what it is now.

Final Thoughts

Family travel isn’t about doing more.

It’s about planning smarter.

When we respect timing, protect sleep and build in breathing room, everything shifts. The trip feels less like survival and more like connection.

The goal isn’t perfection.

It’s creating experiences your family can actually enjoy — in the season you’re in right now.

And sometimes, avoiding a few rookie mistakes is all it takes. ✈️