Airplane

Caribbean Moms Talk Travel: Why Are Caribbean Children the Most Well Behaved Kids in the Air?

Teens

Yes, you even have to be prepared when traveling with your teen. If you have a “connected” teen, not being able to stay plugged in could be the source of some serious whining. No parent, after spending serious cash on a trip for a teen, wants to hear a single complaint.

IN FLIGHT WI-FI

Most flights these days come with wifi, but it isn’t free depending on the airline. For domestic flights, you can save big when you buy before you fly with Gogo inflight, which can be found on American, Alaskan, United, Air Canada, and Virgin America. You can get a pass that is good for 24 hours for around $8 for smartphones and ipads so that your teen can post selfies on Instagram, give a play by play on snapchat, and make funny Vines – if that is still a thing? A few airlines offer wifi on international flights, depending on the plane. Check before you fly so that they can download their favorite movies and games before take off – just in case.

A BRAND NEW BOOK

I rarely volunteered to read as a teen. I felt like I was reading all the time for school, so for me, a good time was NOT reading. On my first solo flight at 16, I bought my first book that I didn’t HAVE to read in the airport gift shop. It was wonderful. Of course this was way before inflight wi-fi, so it was either that or whatever movie was playing. Even though a flight advertises wifi, it is possible for it not to be working, for electronic devices to not be charged, and for there to be no outlets available. You can’t go wrong with a good book.

NECK PILLOW AND TRAVEL BLANKET

@Socamom on Instagram: Photo credit – Eva Wilson

The only thing teenagers like to do more than eat and text is sleep. A tired teen is almost as bad as a tired… well… anybody. No one is at their best when they are tired, and by the time they are teenagers, they are carrying extra bags, there’s no stroller for them when they are tired, and you are probably unwilling to carry them. So when they get on the plane, they may want to skip the social media altogether and take a nap.

“Bring a small blanket. Airplanes are cold, don’t rely on them to give you an extra one, bring your own.” ~ Karla, Traveled with kids to Barbados and Grenada. Blogger at IBakeAtHome.com and onmygiftlist.tumblr.com, on twitter at @kgsmith78 and @ibakeathomeblog.

“I always pack warm comfy socks because my kids like to take their shoes off and the warm comfy socks help them stay warm on the plane.” ~ Kerry, from Jamaica, Blogger at CarryOnFriends.com, on twitter at @carryonfriends, on Facebook, and on iTunes.