“Are you really taking the kids?”
It’s often the first question people ask me when we talk about upcoming travel plans — usually followed by a raised eyebrow and a story about how they waited until their kids were older.
My answer has always been simple, of course we are. Or, if I’m feeling particularly sarcastic that day, I might reply that I’m going to leave them at home with a big box of cereal and a bucket of water for a week or two.
Travelling with kids isn’t always easy. It’s louder, slower, messier, and far less spontaneous than pre-kids travel. But it’s also more meaningful, more memorable, and — in ways you don’t expect — more rewarding.
If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s worth travelling with kids, here are 10 very real reasons why we keep doing it.
10 very real reasons to travel with your kids
1. Because you still deserve a holiday
Having kids doesn’t cancel out your need for a break. Life is busy, work is relentless, and parenting is exhausting. Travelling together lets you reset — even if “relaxing” looks different now.
2. You’re building shared family memories
Long after the toys are forgotten, your kids will remember swimming in that lake, getting lost in that market, or sharing a milkshake somewhere far from home. These are the stories that get retold for years.
3. Travel opens their minds (and hearts)
Seeing how other people live helps kids develop empathy, curiosity, and understanding. Travel teaches tolerance in a way no textbook ever could.
4. You get real, uninterrupted time together
No work emails, no school schedules and no endless to-do lists. Travel strips life back to the basics — time together, conversations, and shared experiences.
5. Everyday pressures fade into the background
Laundry can wait. Dishes don’t matter. Bedtimes loosen. When you’re away from home, the mental load lifts — and that’s a gift for parents.
6. Kids make travel more human
Children are natural icebreakers. They spark conversations, smiles, and connections with people you’d never otherwise meet. Travel feels warmer with kids in tow.
7. They learn the value of money and effort
Saving for a trip, planning it, and talking about costs helps kids understand that experiences are earned — not automatic. That’s a powerful life lesson.
8. Waiting for “the perfect time” is risky
Health changes. Circumstances shift. Kids grow fast. If travel matters to your family, doing it now is often better than waiting for a someday that may never come.
9. Everyone discovers new things to love
From foods and music to landscapes and traditions, travel expands tastes for kids and adults alike. You’ll often be surprised by what your children take to.
10. Because not going usually comes with regret
The chaos fades. The hard days blur. But the memories stay. Most families don’t regret travelling with kids, but they do regret waiting too long.
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