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| Image courtesy of imagerymajestic / FreeDigitalPhotos.net |
If you’re
planning to bring the pets along as well, you’ll need to be even more thorough
in your planning and increase your supplies.
Use these tips as a guideline to help you get started on
preparing for your road trip with kids and pets in tow.
1. Identify and book
pet-friendly hotels along your planned driving route in advance.
Motels and
hotels are plentiful along most heavily traveled roads, but not all of them may
accept pets. Spare everyone the pain of last minute frantic searching on your
phone when your kids are already ready for bed.
2. Group supplies by
need or function and pack each “purpose” in its own bag.
This way, you can
easily grab the bag with the kids’ snacks without having to search through
DVDs, games and the pets’ food as well. Put games in one bag, toys in another
and so on.
3. Make sure you have all your travel snacks in individual baggies for each child.
This will help prevent
fighting over food sharing and spills that come from handing a large, communal
bag of food back and forth between the seats.
4. Don’t feed your
pets while on the road.
Animals get motion sickness too and feeding them
while they’re in that state just means one more stop and delay in your trip,
and one more mess to clean up. Feed your pet(s) a light meal a few hours before
they get into the car; if you have dogs, walk them before loading them into the
vehicle and again during the pit stops. If you are traveling with cats, let
them out of their carriers in an enclosed area and provide them with a
disposable or travel litter box (one that can be closed and sealed between uses
to prevent spilling). Be sure to also bring treats to help calm the pets.
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Image
courtesy of Ross Mayfield / flickr.com
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5. Pack microfiber
towels and pet cleaning supplies.
Accidents will happen—the pet cleaning
supplies will help clean up any messes the kids may make as well, especially
with food-related mishaps. Baby wipes are also convenient to have for cleaning
up.
6. Bring plenty of
bottled water for you, the kids and the pets.
Water is a better option than
boxed juices or soda because the pets are able to drink it as well. In
addition, water spills are easy to clean up, unlike the sticky messes juice or
soda leave behind. Be judicious on how much water you provide or you will find
your caravan stopping frequently for bathroom breaks.
7. Don’t try to make a
very long drive all at once.
Breaks are necessary for kids and pets with
pent-up energy and small bladders. Find points of interest along the route to
stop at and let everyone stretch their legs.
8. Bring items that
comfort your kids and pets.
If your child needs his blankie/pillow/boo boo
bear to sleep when in a strange location or to travel, ensure he or she has it
with him or her. Do the same for your pets—put something familiar in the
carrier or crate like his/her blanket or toy.
Be prepared
for everything. All manner of mishaps can occur with kids
and pets at home—consider the extra stress and opportunities for disaster that comes with
being on the road. With extra organization and careful planning, a road trip
with your entire family, pets and all, can end up being one of the best
vacations of your lives.
Marcela De Vivo is a
freelance writer from Los Angeles who specializes in travel, marketing, and
health. She has three kids and two Great Danes, so travelling as a family can
make for challenging but fun adventures and finding a pet-friendly place to
stay is made easier with
GuestDoor.com.
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