4 Best Places To Vacation with a Baby

As a mom of 3 boys, I can honestly say there were times when I felt staying home would be the easiest option. With all of the baby gear and daily necessities I’d have to drag along, how on earth would I find the energy to go on vacation with my babies? I needed a vacation.

I experimented with many different types of travel with my boys over the years and discovered it could not only be accomplished, but be an experience that brought tons of adventure and fun along the way. Looking back, we love how adventurous our kids have become and now that they’re older, we're finding they love to travel and experience the world as much as we do. With the right destination and a bit of planning, there’s little reason to leave the baby behind. (Unless you need some alone time with your significant other, then that’s another blog for another day). With some research, we found some of the best recommendations out there.

Parents take heart. Here are four of the best places to vacation with baby.

All-inclusive resorts

All the luxury you'll ever need is provided for you when you book an all-inclusive vacation. With delicious meals, beautiful views, and many activities included, you’ll feel like you won’t even need to leave the resort.

Family-friendly resorts will cater to infants and toddlers, making all-inclusive resorts one of the best places to vacation with baby. If your baby is mobile already, some will baby-proof your room and offer in-room nannies upon request. Children’s activities and day camps are the norm for all-inclusive resorts, which is great when the baby has siblings along. If you’re looking to leave your cares (and wallets) behind, Beaches is one of the top rated resorts catering to families.

Cruises

One of the nicest things about a cruise is this: You're close to your stateroom and can head back for a nap (or diaper change) any time. When you do your research, you’ll find which cruises are the most infant friendly. Most are equipped to cater to families, even providing things like strollers.

For example, Disney cruise lines offer a service where you can actually order diapers, wipes, and other necessities ahead of time so you don’t even have to pack them. There’s always so much to do on a cruise — from games, swimming, movies, live shows, and even babysitting services — you won’t be at a loss for something to do. Even planning off-ship excursions can be personalized with the baby in mind.

Family-friendly destinations

There are many baby friendly places all over the world, but some of the best are right here in America. Maximize your time away by checking out some American destinations that cater to families with kids of any age. No passport is required, so you can take advantage of all-inclusive destinations nearer to home.

With resorts in the mountains, kid-friendly destinations at lakes, Club Med on Florida's coast and family-friendly dude ranches that cater to kids; you don’t have to fly (or drive) far to get to a top location to vacation with a baby. Check out what made the list for America’s best family-friendly all-inclusive resorts recently, and see details on what they have to offer. For a more international flair, there are some great suggestions here for best places to go with baby.

Grandma and grandpa's house

We know your parents and in-laws won’t argue with this one. It may not be a dream vacation, but it’s inexpensive, offers lots of cuddles for baby, and rest for you.

Grandma and grandpa’s house is a nice destination (especially for first-time baby travel) where everyone gets bonding time, food and family entertainment. Potential perk? A built-in babysitter for that much-needed date night alone. You would most likely have help with diapers, might be able to sleep in and even have the option of never getting out of your pajama pants.

Now’s the time to identify what you want for your vacation with baby, look at your budget and be realistic about what you can handle. If you are leaning towards an all-inclusive resort or family-friendly destination, consider utilizing a travel agent. They have the know-how to find the perfect spot for your little family and will be there to help if anything goes awry.

Traveling with a baby can be a rewarding and bonding experience, so we say take the plunge. Protect your trip with a family travel insurance plan. Kids under 17 are covered at no additional cost when traveling with a covered adult.