We have done 30+ countries with littles, but each time you add an additional child to the mix, the logistics get a little daunting. But in reality, traveling internationally with four kids under six wasn’t as chaotic as expected. A lot of it had to do with how intentional we were in the planning stages of the trip.
If you’re thinking about taking a big trip with multiple young kids, these are the five strategies that made the biggest difference for us.
1. We Chose an Easy International Destination
✈️ Our Approach: Keep It Simple
For our first international trip as a family of six, we didn’t try to do too much.
We chose an all-inclusive resort in Mexico with a direct, ~3-hour flight from Atlanta—and that one decision simplified everything.
✔️ Why This Worked So Well
No long-haul flight (huge with little kids)
No jet lag
No complicated transportation after landing
Food available at all times (no scrambling to find restaurants)
Sometimes the best travel decision you can make is the one that removes the most friction.
🏨 Where You Stay Matters (A Lot)
I’ve never really considered myself an “all-inclusive resort” person—I usually prefer getting out and exploring. But with four kids under six, convenience isn’t optional—it’s essential.
Choosing an all-inclusive dramatically reduced:
Daily decision-making
Logistics and planning
The mental load of “what’s next?” all day long
And that made the entire trip feel more enjoyable.
💦🍽️🎯What We Prioritized in a Resort
We were intentional about choosing a resort that truly worked for this stage of life.
For water + safety:
Splash pads and shallow pools
Calm, swimmable beach (minimal waves)
Spaces where we didn’t have to be on constant high alert
For meals:
Multiple restaurants with reliable, kid-friendly options
Easy access to food at all times (huge for avoiding meltdowns)
For childcare:
The kids club at our resort was a bit underwhelming in terms of amenities, but since we don’t use kids clubs for long stretches, it wasn’t a dealbreaker
If kids club is important to you, it’s worth researching more closely
💡 The Big Takeaway
Your first international trip with kids should prioritize ease over bucket-list status.
The right destination + the right setup = more enjoyment, less chaos, and a trip that actually feels like a vacation. And honestly, that’s the goal. Use Booking.com and the key filters to narrow down your choices.
2. We Booked Private Transfers (With Car Seats!)
One of our best travel decisions was to book private transportation (along with car seats and boosters):
From our house → airport
Airport → hotel
Hotel → excursion (s) → hotel
Hotel → airport → home
Why this mattered:
No dragging multiple car seats through the airport
No figuring out taxis in a new country
No safety stress
No post-flight chaos
Takeaway: If it’s within your budget, outsource transportation—especially anything involving car seats. It is a big thing to not have to worry about. Consider using sources like GetYourGuide to find transfer options.
3. Our Packing Strategy Kept Everything Simple (As Much As Possible)
Packing for six people could have easily gotten out of control—but I’ve been using a specific packing system for a while now.
What I did:
Packed one packing cube per day for the whole family (minus my husband—he handles his own)
Each day had a theme (ex: pink for Day 1, pastel for Day 2, etc.)
Created separate cubes for:
Pajamas
Swimwear
Accessories
Consolidated all toiletries into just two bags
Each kid gets their own backpack with activities and snacks - (have to make sure they aren’t too heavy though!)
On the way home, all dirty clothes were consolidated into a few bags
Why it worked:
No decision-making each morning
No digging through suitcases
Outfits were pre-coordinated and easy
Takeaway: Think in daily systems, not individual outfits.
4. We Had a Very Clear Airport (and Flight) Strategy
Airports with four young kids can feel overwhelming—but having defined roles made it manageable.
At the airport:
I handled the kids:
Double stroller
Older two walking alongside
My husband handled logistics:
Luggage
Check-in
Paperwork
Through security:
We tag-teamed:
He focused on gear
I focused on kids
After security:
Pause and reset
Divide and conquer:
Feeding kids
Bathroom breaks
Diaper changes
Let them move and burn energy, especially as we are starting the boarding process
Gear strategy:
Each kid had their own backpack
As we moved through airport, we clipped backpacks onto the stroller hook (game changer)
Kids only wore them once we gate-checked the stroller (don’t forget your stroller cover for the gate check process)
Boarding + flight:
Getting everything together (especially with a toddler running wild) was… not glamorous—bribery may have been involved 😅
I wore the baby and nursed during the flight
Seating strategy:
I sat with the older two (they entertain each other)
My husband sat with our toddler (our wild card)
And yes—snacks + screen time for everyone. No rules here, just survival.
Takeaway: Assign roles, lower expectations, and focus on getting through each phase—not doing it perfectly.
5. We Divided and Conquered (Even at the Resort)
One of the biggest mindset shifts? Accepting that we wouldn’t do everything together.
What this looked like:
Early morning: my husband grabs coffee while I start getting kids ready
Breakfast together
Then split up:
He might take the older kids to swim
I walk with the stroller and younger two
We also:
Used the kids club in short bursts
Took turns managing the baby so each of us got:
A little “me time”
Occasional couple time
Instead of fighting this dynamic, we embraced it. Read my post on co-parenting while traveling with littles to get ideas of pre-trip conversations.
And honestly? It made the trip more enjoyable.
Takeaway: You don’t have to do everything as a full group to have a meaningful family trip. Take time to do things separate and then reconvene as a whole group. Maybe even consider getting in some family photos using Flytographer when everyone is refreshed!
6. My #1 Sanity Saver: Hyper-Targeted Entertainment
This might have been the most important hack of all.
Every piece of entertainment I packed was specific to each child’s actual interests.
For example:
My oldest: jungle animals, Minecraft, word searches
My second: unicorns, word searches, mazes
My toddler: cars + Toy Story, stickers
My baby: anything to put her mouth on
I didn’t bring anything too generic. Because here’s the reality: If it’s not something they already love… they won’t use it.
Same goes for screens: Shows on the tablet were pre-downloaded and tailored to each kid.
Takeaway: Don’t waste space on “maybe they’ll like this.” Only pack what you know works. I have compiled some of our favorite activities here on my Amazon Shop.
Final Thoughts: It Took Work—But It Was Worth It
Traveling internationally with four kids under six isn’t easy—but it’s absolutely doable.
What made the difference for us:
Choosing a destination that simplified logistics
Removing as many stress points as possible
Creating systems (not just plans)
Letting go of the idea that everything had to look perfect
There were chaotic moments, yes. But there were also really special ones.
And we kept reminding ourselves: This phase of life—traveling with little kids—is temporary. Even when we were dividing and conquering, we were still doing it together.
