Long-Haul Travel with Kids
From 24+ hour travel days that somehow turned into 38, to learning what actually keeps kids calm on flights, to figuring out airport routines that don’t feel overwhelming… we’ve slowly built our own way of doing long haul travel with kids as a family.
Travel’s not perfect. It’s not always smooth.
But this is what works for us — and we’re sharing it here in case it helps make your own travel days a little easier too.
Hoping for less stress during family travel?
We’ve learned a lot about long haul travel the real way — through actual trips with kids, long airport days, and journeys that definitely didn’t always go as planned.
Over time, we’ve figured out a rhythm that makes things feel a little calmer and a lot more manageable. Nothing perfect, just practical things that genuinely help when you’re traveling as a family.
Start Here
If you’re getting ready for a long-haul trip with kids, these are the first resources I’d recommend.
Long-Haul Flight Essentials for Moms
Nothing fancy. Just things that actually help in the middle of real travel days.
The simple things I always reach for on long travel days with kids.
These are the small, practical essentials that make a big difference when you’re on a long flight — snacks, comfort items, distractions, and little lifesavers I’ve learned not to travel without.
Long-Haul Travel with Kids: Tips, Hacks & Must-Have Essentials
Real-life tips from actual experience, not theory.
What we’ve learned from the long travel days that didn’t always go smoothly.
From airport routines to layovers that feel too long, to flights that stretch way beyond what you planned — these are the little things that have made travel feel more manageable for us as a family.
Family Travel Essentials for Stress-Free Trips & Easier Travel Days
These are the small things that help us stay organized and reduce stress before and during travel.
The simple systems that make travel days feel less chaotic.
Over time, I’ve realized it’s not about doing everything perfectly — it’s about having a few simple routines that help everything run more smoothly, especially when traveling with kids.
Booking Our Trips
These are the companies we’ve personally found the most helpful while traveling.
A few things we learned the hard way
After years of international family travel…
- Packing light almost always beats packing “just in case.”
- A little preparation before departure removes so much stress later.
- Comfortable kids make for happier travel days.
- Download everything before you leave Wi-Fi.
- Having mobile data immediately after landing is worth every penny.
From Emily’s Notebook
Travel doesn’t have to feel overwhelming.
Over the years we’ve learned that the best trips usually aren’t the perfectly planned ones—they’re the ones where you’re prepared enough to relax and enjoy what’s in front of you.
That’s really why I built these resources because I love traveling and did not want to stop traveling simply because I had three children in tow.
I hope they help your family spend less time worrying about logistics and more time making memories together.
A Little About Me
I’m Emily — a wife, mom of three, and travel-loving storyteller sharing our family’s adventures from Uganda and beyond.
After returning to Uganda with my family, we’ve been exploring East Africa together and navigating everything from international flights with kids to weekend road trips and everyday life abroad. Here, I share practical travel tips, honest experiences, and the places that have become part of our family’s story.
Thanks for coming along on the journey.
Meet Our Family →
I hope these resources help your family travel with a little more confidence—and a lot less stress.
— Emily
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Life is a little more meaningful when it’s shared.
About once a month, I sit down with a cup of tea and write a letter about what we’ve been noticing, learning, cooking, exploring, and celebrating in our little corner of Uganda.
It’s less like a newsletter…
and more like catching up with a neighbor.
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