8 Tips on Traveling with Teens

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It was all well and good when the kids were little, to pack for them and take off for a family vacation! But now that they are teens, you may want to take a different approach. Here are some things that may help you have a smooth vacation, one that your teens will enjoy and remember!

Involve your teens in the planning process. Maybe you’ll get a “whatever” response when you ask where they want to go, but maybe not! The more they are involved from the beginning, the less likely they will complain during the trip.
Use packing to teach accountability. It’s a great time to teach your teen about planning and making lists. Have them create their own packing list. If they add too much, remind them that they are in charge of their own bags and make note of the over the limit charge for heavy luggage!
Plan for downtime. Even though you may be fine with being constantly on the go, seeing and doing as much as you can, your teen may not be. Teens like to have their space, so they will be happier if there is a time when they can just “chill.” They may prefer to hang out in the room for an hour or two while you’re down by the pool. Or they might like hanging out with other teens at the resort’s teen club.
Make a deal with screen time. It can be frustrating to be on a tour and see your teenager’s face buried in their phone, but work out when screen time is okay. Encourage them to take pictures, use their phones while waiting for something to begin, and of course on the plane. You’re not going to convince them to ditch the phone completely.
Photograph like a teen. They may like to take 20 selfies in 5 minutes, but not want to pose in front of a sunset. So ask them to take a selfie of the family. Think about the kinds of pictures they would like to take and they will be more receptive to saying, “Cheese!!”
Avoid repetition. Teens don’t always appreciate history and culture so you may be met with some resistance with another ruin, castle, or church. So change it up a bit. Throw in activities like snorkeling, ziplining, jeep explorations, etc..
Compromise with food. We may be looking to experience new tastes and local favorites when it comes to food, but your teen may just want the usual mac-n-cheese or chicken fingers. It’s okay to let them enjoy their comfort food. Just make sure they notice you enjoying your escargots! Better to both enjoy a meal than to battle at the table.
Expect post-trip abandonment. This is probably the toughest part of traveling with teens. Just when you think you have really connected, you come home and they become a hermit. It’s okay – you did connect and they will always remember the great time you had together, it just might not be in the first 15 minutes of being home. It doesn’t mean they didn’t enjoy the trip. At this age, the world revolves around their peers, so they may not thank you ’til they’re 23. But it will happen!