Traveling With Teenagers: The How To Guide You Didn't Know You Needed

Traveling with teens can be a challenge.  Challenge Accepted!

When the 13-year-old asked for a trip to Hawaii, it made sense we'd plan our next adventure for Spring Break. 

​ We have so much to share.

But first, let's set the stage for traveling with an additional, teenage, traveler.

Traveling with a third party has its advantages as well as it's challenges.   In the world of technology, a long-distance trip with a lot of hiking can be very new to them.  Thinking ahead can make all the difference.  The cost can add up quickly if you don't plan accordingly, affecting the budget as well as the happiness of everyone on the trip.

Start with clothing. 

Specifically shoes. 

We do a lot of hiking, and the right shoes can make or break a child's experience.  Sore, wet feet are not fun for any adult.  For a younger human with less coping skills, it can make a day hike completely miserable.  So another pair of Merril hiking shoes was purchased and it was well worth the buy.  We hiked four seriously hard miles in Hawaii.  She wore them directly out of the box.  No blisters, no pain.  NOT ONE COMPLAINT ABOUT HER FEET.  They are incredibly affordable and we cannot recommend them enough.  (HERE is our Teen Travel List - we are amazon affiliates and make a small compensation.  Read on for more and the link is also below)

Teenagers, girls especially, can be picky about their clothing.  How it looks, how it feels.  Not to mention they outgrow everything quickly.  Buying a whole new wardrobe was out of the question.  Compromise!  Find one or two items that aren't "cringe" and affordable and purchase them.  

Then:  DO NOT LET THEM WEAR IT UNTIL THE TRIP.

That's the important part for the rest of this.  If you purchase things for a trip but give them ahead of time, you've wasted your time and money.  The excitement of having something new with a trip helps sustain the trips value.

Keeping with the theme of buying only for a trip, start putting together a travel kit only a teenager would love.  Inexpensive travel items they can only use while traveling.  Let them pick the colors and designs.  Having ownership over their belongings they need allows them to feel a little bit of control in a time of their life when everything feels off.  

Lastly, it's time to allow for a little fun.  Find items that are budget friendly, and teen approved.  You'll find our entire list in HERE on our Amazon Storefront.  (We are Amazon affiliates and make a small compensation to be able to continue to travel and teach.)

Must haves:  
Card Games:  We love Uno and Skip-bo
Headphones:  Buy plane jack headphones prior to save money and elevate cool.  The phone ones will not work.
Airpods:  There is a converter you can purchase to hook airpods to the plane.  We do not have them, but they'd be worth it if your teen doesn't want to give up their airpods
Cool charging cords:  Trust us.  Purchase charging cords to take with you.  Losing a charging cord on vacation is less frustrating.
New Books and a Journal:  They will get sick of the device and get bored.  Promise.  Have an old school backup plan. 
Luggage:  CARRY ON.  We converted her.  She was able to pack for a week in a carry on bag and decided she never wanted a big suitcase again.

Here's the real advice:  Buy items weeks to months in advance and then PUT THEM AWAY.  Build the excitement as you put together the trip in small pieces.  It saves you a lot of money to buy over time instead of last minute, and they build their excitement.  Save items like games, phone cords, and journals to give when you are on the trip as the need arises.  They become mini surprises that help combat travel fatigue for humans with less coping skills.

Above all, take the trip.  Teenagers have a very small window of time left before they become adults.  They don't want to be around you (that was made very clear at times).  But you get moments and memories when they are completely involved and enjoying the moment.  Those are the moments they will take with them when they become an adult.  You hope one day they look back and realize how much they did and how the time spent was worth it.  

You'll never regret spending those moments together. 

​You may regret the time change when returning.

Amazon Storefront Teen Travels

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