By Elizabeth Barletta

March 11, 2020

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Best Seaside Countries to Visit with a Toddler this Winter

Traveling with a kid is one thing, but doing it with a toddler is a whole other experience and most of the parent can confirm. After you managed to survive flying with a toddler, you will be occupied with entertainment for the rest of your vacation. It might be a little bit more exhausting, but you can still have the best vacation.

Experience tells us that an important aspect is for you to make sure that there is enough time and space for you guys to explore, given the fact that your pace will be slowed down significantly. But hey, look the bright side, you will have the chance to actually slow down and enjoy the surroundings. And that’s the first thing you should come to terms with when adapting to how to travel with a toddler.

It’s winter and you want to escape to a nice and warm vacation on the seaside, having already found the answer to the “when can baby swim?” typical question. This is the perfect time to find out what are the best places to travel with a toddler

 

Thailand – One of the Best Places to Travel with a Toddler

Best Seaside Countries to Visit with a Toddler this Winter

If you are wondering where to travel with a toddler in early winter, this should be your first option. Give your toddler an amazing experience on the islands of Thailand, where they can touch base with a different culture, see the elephants (without the riding part, of course) and maybe visit some of the temples they have to offer

The beaches have plenty of sand and shells to be collected by the little one, and one of the best things is the calm water in which you can all play for hours. Make sure you are aware of the places that require taking malaria pills in the event that your toddler is having difficulties in swallowing pills.

Croatia – an Amazing Experience for the Entire Family

Continuing our list of best places to travel with a toddler, we reach Croatia. Everyone is aware of the stunning coastline and beaches that Croatia has to offer. This place definitely has to be on your list of best places to travel with your toddler, where you can explore the Klis Fortress in Split.
Another good idea would be for you to try the islands of Hvar and Korcula where you can enjoy the stunning beaches or the beautiful promenade that has a stroller accessible path with a little playground along the way, just in case you need a break.

Cancun, Mexico – The Dream Holiday

Best Seaside Countries to Visit with a Toddler this Winter

We continue our list of best places to travel with your toddler with this silky gem of Mexico, where you can grab a lounge chair and enjoy the Caribbean Sea at one of their finest hotels.
You can visit places like the Mayan ruins and many unforgettable nearby destinations. When the sun goes down you can try Captain Hook dinner cruise which is an epic adventure for the whole family, having dinner in an exact replica of 18th-century galleon vessel

San Sebastian, Spain – All You Need

Another great destination that is perfect as one of the best places to travel with a toddler is Spain. If you’re wondering where to travel with a toddler and at the same time enjoy a nice and quiet beach, you will love this place. Here you will find a stunning beach: La Concha. Being located straight in the city, La Concha is basically a protected bay, with huge strips of sand and small waves.

Make sure that after a long day at the beach you go out to dinner and enjoy some delicious pintxos (Basque for tapas) that are part of the city’s famous foods

Turks and Caicos Islands – Island Fun for the Entire Family

Located nearby the Dominican Republic, this archipelago of 40 coral islands is a top choice for the best places to travel with a toddler, especially for the family-focused resorts where every member of the family can be accommodated and everyone can have a great time.

Here you can put to use those hacks for travel mums and maximize your time spent relaxing on the beach. Maybe go on a quick boat ride straight to Little Water Cay where you can observe endangered rock iguanas or just admire the mangroves

Palm Springs, California – Pampering for Everyone

toddler
Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-soaking-on-the-swimming-pool-3225531/

Of course, in this list of best places to travel with a toddler, California couldn’t be entirely absent. It’s a popular destination that offers you a whole range of attractions, starting with those stylish mid-century hotels that have giant swimming pools right by the palm trees for everyone to enjoy.
Why not hit the family-friendly water park of Omnia Rancho Las Palmas Resort, where there is hiking galore, museums and even dinosaur fun.

Conclusion

To end this journey of travel with a toddler tips, we want to underline the fact that you have to take into consideration that your trip will have a much slower pace than you are used, and you should take this as an advantage and an opportunity to enjoy the surroundings more.


Don’t forget to do your homework carefully when preparing the suitcases and make sure you have all the medication, clothes and toddler accessories needed so that you can stay relaxed. You now have plenty of the best places to travel with a toddler to choose from.

What places have you visited with your toddler and what experiences can you share with us and the other parents that are planning their first adventure? Share them in the comments below!

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By Gifted Healthcare

December 11, 2018

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Griswold Family Guide to Travel Nursing

This article is provided by Gifted Healthcare

Travel nursing allows us to experience the freedom of living on the road. That sounds so liberating until you add a stroller that won’t ever fold right, bickering in the backseat about who’s turn it is to pick music, and a tired husband who can’t get the GPS to work. Traveling with a family can feel like a real-life Griswold adventure. While I can’t tell you how to properly install that giant “foldable” car seat, here are some tips on travel nursing with the whole family.

Griswold Family Guide to Travel Nursing

1. Talk about the change early and often

Once you get bitten by the travel bug, bring it up with your partner or children. People do best when they have ample time to consider a new idea. It allows family members to ask questions about the transition, feels more in control of their surroundings, and feel like they’re part of the decision making process.

2. Help make a family packing list

Family Guide
Photo provided by Joshua White via Instagram @mobyandahad

As a kid, my parents let my 8-year-old brother pack his own suitcase before a week-long trip to Florida. When we arrived, he opened his bag to reveal 1 stained t-shirt, a teddy bear, half a bottle of orange soda, and my dad’s toothbrush. Needless to say, he nailed it. After a quick trip to the store, my mom vowed to always write out a list of what we would need on any trip. Traveling away from home for an extended period of time can seem really scary. By having a conversation with your kids about what items they will need, you help them break down a big task into smaller, easy to handle goals and tasks.

3. Communicate about the fun things to do at your destination

If there’s one thing I never want to hear again is the whiny chorus of “I’m bored!” If your child is anything like you, they probably get excited about trying new things. Before you pack the car, show your kiddo some photos of your destination city. Are you near any big landmarks or playgrounds? Is there a totally awesome museum or trampoline park near your housing or assignment? Younger kids especially will respond to visual images of the fun they can have on the road. Showing where they’re traveling on a map can be fun for all aspiring wanderers.

Family Guide
Photo provided by Michael & Amanda via Instagram @TheHomeOnOurBacks

 

4. Find your tribe!

Raising kids can feel like a full time job, especially if you’re adjusting to new schedules, co-workers, and charting procedures. Websites like Care.com and MeetUp.com can help you find affordable housekeepers, date night babysitters, and playgroups for families with similar interests. When you feel more connected with your travel destination community, your kids watch you model essential skills in making friends and forming connections. Plus every parent deserves an opportunity to seem like the glamourous expert traveler and coolest mom in town.

 

5. Help your kiddo design their space

I like that Taylor Swift song, “Blank Space” but that doesn’t mean I want my walls to be white! Pack some photos of your children’s friends from school or let them pick out some posters at the local craft store. If your child feels like they have some influence in their world, they are a lot more likely to want to go with the flow. Calm, happy kids are every parent’s dream.  By helping them decorate their temporary room with things that remind them of their space at home, you can avoid other arguments with your teen that stem from feeling disconnected or alone.

 

6. Remember that this is an incredible opportunity

Traveling solo can mean less to plan for, but the joy of traveling with children is one you’ll tell stories about. Sure, there may be nights where you get lost off the highway or have something unexpected change your plans. But those aren’t the reasons you do this. You want to travel with your family because it’s exciting to watch your children grow and try new things. You want to be your best self because you’ve started noticing just how much your teen talks like you. You see your kids adjust and change in ways you never imagined. Most of all, you make memories together that one day will be told to your future grandkids.

Okay, I won’t be too sappy, but the point is, you are living a life some people only ever dream about with the joy and support of a loving family. Stress is normal for anyone with kids, but travel nurses know how to grow, adapt, and thrive in any environment.  

By Andrew Ferguson

November 27, 2018

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Travels with Knox

Our travel nurse family consists of my wife (the actual nurse), myself (the chronicler), and our four-year-old, Knox (the activity director). We’ve been doing this now for over two years, and with no end to our adventure-seeking insight, we’ll probably be out here for at least two more. Our choice to take this show on the road has very possibly been the best one we’ve made together. There are good days and bad days, ups and downs, and all the other uncertainties associated with doing cool stuff, but man, all and all, it’s been one heck of a ride-and one none of us would trade for all the milk in the milky way.

I’ve written before about how impressed and proud I am of my wife and all she does for this family and her patients. I have extrapolated some of this appreciation to the entire travel nurse community and have done some articles for The Gypsy Nurse expressing those sentiments.

Travel Nurse Kids

I’ve done a few pieces on my own experiences (mostly comical) and have tried to pass on some of what I’ve learned from our travels. But I haven’t written a lot about our son Knox, or at least not about how travel nursing has affected him. As with some of my own stories, I’ve written about his more comical reactions to things or some general stuff about his relationship to traveling, but I haven’t really gotten into specifics.

In defense of my perceived neglect, Knox has been traveling for over half his life, so it’s all normal to him. He acts like a seasoned traveler smashed into a little kid body, so I sometimes forget what a big impact our lifestyle has had on him.

The little stuff

There’s the little stuff that we sometimes take for granted. Like the fact that he talks about Jeanie’s (my wife) main recruiter like he’s part of the family. “Has John called yet, mommy?” Has John found us a job yet, mommy?” “What’s John up to, mommy?” Or how he’ll ask his mother about turning in her hours worked to the agency she’s with at the time. “Have you turned in your time this week, mommy?” It’s funny and encouraging to see how involved he wants to be (and is) in our daily lives, which revolves around travel nursing issues in many ways. Although I do take it as just part of our lives sometimes, there are other times when it fills my heart with joy to see him interacting in those ways. It won’t be long until he gets promoted from activity director to travel coordinator.

Travel nurse kids are resilient

Knox is more resilient than most adults. He’s not too worried about where his next home will be; he just wants to help pick it out. He’s not afraid to make new friends. As a matter of fact, he thinks of it as part of his job to meet new people. He gets really involved in finding the best places to eat, finding out about what programs are offered for kids his age in the new towns we are in, or finding new adventures for the family to have.

Many things to consider

There are many things to consider when deciding on whether to travel nurse or not. And a child’s well-being is always at the top of that list if you have children. But take it from the parent of a travel nurse child. It’s one of the best decisions you can make if you decide to take your family’s show…on the road.