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The anticipation is building, and the kids are buzzing: your first international adventure is on the horizon. While the prospect of navigating Changi Airport’s four terminals, Japanese vending machines and Balinese rupiah with children might seem daunting, the truth is that your first family trip abroad will create memories to last a lifetime.
The secret to success is not about having every temple visit and snorkelling excursion planned to the minute (that never works with kids anyway). Instead, it’s about striking a balance between thoughtful preparation and the flexibility to roll with whatever curveballs travel might throw your way.
Scroll down for all the ways to ensure your family travel goes smoothly.
1. Choose the right destination, together
Get the whole family involved to choose your holiday destination, whether your priority is cultural immersion or beachside relaxation.
Balance beach with adventure in Thailand
A flop-and-drop holiday in Phuket, Thailand, offers the perfect family formula: mornings at Kata Beach’s gentle waves, afternoons exploring the Big Buddha and evenings at Phuket Weekend Market. Add the sensory whirlwind of Patong’s street food stalls serving pad Thai and you’ve got an adventure that excites everyone without breaking the budget.
Opt for all-inclusive simplicity in Fiji or Bali
Resorts like Grand Hyatt Bali or Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort offer the convenience of everything you might need onsite, with dining included so you can eat casually by the pool or sit down together in the evening to suit your own schedule. There are kids’ clubs running treasure hunts, multiple pools including dedicated toddler areas and nightly entertainment like fire dancing and live music. Parents can enjoy beachside Balinese massages while children master snorkelling in crystal-clear lagoons – all without stepping outside the resort or worrying about restaurant bookings.
Immerse yourselves in the culture in Japan
Japan delivers once-in-a-lifetime family moments, from riding the Shinkansen bullet train to exploring Kyoto’s fairy tale Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and walking through the bright orange torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine. Cap it off with Tokyo Disneyland’s unique Pooh’s Hunny Hunt ride and you’ve got cultural education combined with pure childhood wonder.
Get more bang for your buck with a cruise or villa stay
Royal Caribbean‘s short cruises from Sydney to New Caledonia pack maximum impact into minimal time. Kids will love the FlowRider surfing simulator and 12-metre rock-climbing walls, while parents can enjoy onboard spa treatments and duty-free shopping in Nouméa.
Alternatively, book a four-bedroom villa in Seminyak (which can work out cheaper than multiple resort rooms, especially for larger families) while gaining access to private pools, local warungs (local family-owned eateries) serving incredible nasi goreng, and authentic cultural experiences like sunrise visits to Ubud’s Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary.
2. Be prepared: start planning early
A little extra planning in advance will ensure things go smoothly at every stage.
Ensure you’re insured
Enjoy the peace of mind of being covered for the unexpected with comprehensive travel insurance. XCover simplifies the process through an easy-to-use online portal. XCover’s Cancellation Protection covers situations that traditional policies often don’t, such as children falling ill the day before departure or an elderly parent needing urgent care. Claims can be submitted online with instant photo uploads of medical certificates or receipts, eliminating the usual six- to eight-week wait for manual processing.
Get your documentation organised
Start your document prep well in advance. Scan passports so you have digital copies, screenshot flight confirmations and save them to your phone, and print hotel bookings in case Wi-Fi drops out. Create individual wallets for each family member, including passport photos, travel insurance certificates and laminated emergency contact cards with your travel agent’s 24/7 number and nearest embassy details.
Research your destination like a local
Download Google Translate with offline language packs before departure, research tipping customs and identify family-friendly restaurants (in select countries, you can use apps like TheFork for local favourites or HappyCow for vegetarian options). Save locations of the nearest children’s hospitals in Google Maps offline and, if necessary, learn key phrases like “my child has a peanut allergy” in the local language using Duolingo.
3. Plan for the flight & pack like a pro
Your future self will thank you for having everything at your fingertips, from the airport to the flight and on the ground.
Pack for the journey – and the destination
Pack for comfort for long-haul flights, with moisture-wicking T-shirts that transition from air conditioning to 32°C humidity, and lightweight jumpers for those overnight flights. Remember wet wipes, changes of clothes and snacks for little ones, plus chargers for all your devices. For tropical destinations, pack reef-safe sunscreen brands – it’s now a requirement in parts of Hawaii, Thailand and Mexico, to protect the natural environment. And of course, wide-brimmed hats for extra safety in the sun.
Include boredom-busting entertainment
Create an activity kit for each child and fill it with reusable sticker books, travel-sized Uno cards and magnetic drawing boards that won’t lose pieces mid-flight. Download a few episodes on your Netflix Kids profile before departure, invest in headphones designed specifically for children’s ears and load iPads with educational games like DragonBox for maths practice or Duolingo Kids for destination language learning.
Ensure you have essential items and medical protection
Ensure you have your children’s medication, electrolyte sachets for tropical destinations, character-themed band-aids that turn injuries into badges of honour and prescription medications with GP letters for customs clearance. Pack comfort items in carry-on luggage – a familiar plush toy or weighted blanket is an instant soother. XCover‘s Comprehensive Travel Protection covers prescription medication replacement if luggage goes missing, emergency medical expenses if you need treatment abroad and even emergency evacuation costs.
4. Make it fun for everyone – while staying safe and healthy
Ensure everybody gets the most out of your trip by agreeing on must-sees and must-dos, around much-needed downtime and safety considerations.
Balance adventure with downtime
Plan your days using the ‘rule of thirds’: morning adventure (snorkelling shallow reefs in Bali), afternoon rest (mandatory hotel pool time or air-conditioned naps), evening exploration (night markets or sunset watching). Build a 90-minute buffer between activities – because what looks like a quick 30-minute visit to Bangkok’s Grand Palace on Google Maps, might actually take a couple of hours with photo stops, bathroom breaks and inevitable ice cream negotiations.
Create a shared bucket list
Hold weekly family planning sessions using a shared Google Doc where everyone adds to the holiday wish list. Maybe your eight-year-old wants to try authentic ramen in Tokyo’s Shibuya district, your teenager dreams of learning to surf at Bali’s beginner-friendly Kuta Beach and you’re fantasising about sunrise stretches at Ubud’s famous Yoga Barn. Book specific experiences that cater to individual interests: Vietnamese cooking classes, Great Barrier Reef snorkelling trips, or traditional batik-making workshops in Yogyakarta.
Stay water and sun-safe
Some beaches are safe for swimming, while some aren’t, so it’s worth researching family-friendly ones with calm, shallow waters before departure. Remember to reapply SPF 50+ sunscreen regularly in tropical climates and plan any adventures outside the 11 am-3 pm sun intensity peak. And rest assured that if any medical incidents do occur, you’ll be protected with quick, reliable coverage with XCover.
