Savvy Travel Tips From Bravo's Cortney Novogratz

One of the coolest mothers on the planet, Bravo's main mom Cortney Novogratz dishes about how to pack and travel (even internationally!) with a busload of children, which kid's games to bring on a plane, and how to find child-friendly hotels without sacrificing style or romance.

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PeggyWilliamson
2 yearss ago

Just looking around, see this research papers

SilverXeno
2 yearss ago

I don't travel light...but I only own 3 pairs of shoes to begin with (okay, one pair is flip flops). If I overpack, it's b/c of the kids. Cuz I don't want to run out of diapers during some kind of delay!! Lol... My kids always know I have snacks, beverages, changes of clothes, etc. If we are going to be out of the house for the better part of the day, I won't pack a *bag* anymore, b/c my kids are older (youngest still in diapers, but I carry an "everything" bag with my own stuff and kid stuf). What I do is I grab the change of clothes, a small handful of little toys (McD's toys are perfect for this), the throw pillows from their room, maybe a receiving blanket (yes, I still keep those around...good for keeping warm or cleaning up spills, and the fold/roll into super tiny things that can go anywhere). Then I put the food bag in, a small lunchbox with an icepack. Bottles of water or juiceboxes (yeah yeah, re-useable water bottles when I can, but we lose that stuff too easy), a snack or two, sometimes those peanut butter crackers or fruit. That stays IN the car - Blazer has a hatchback, LOVE IT. Cuz I figure, no matter what, I won't need it in the middle of Target (heck, Target has it's own snack counter!!) I'll need it when the kids are "so bored" in the car on the way to our next errand! What comes with me is a small pack of wipes, some diapers, and maybe one or two of those little toys. We made a 1400 mile trip this past winter...Best thing EVER was to seperate the kids. Big one rode with daddy in the Penske, little one with mom in the personal vehicle. :) I have never been on a plane. But then...They'd probably kick me off for being a fatty. ;)

mama kat
2 yearss ago

I responded to this momversation topic with my own creative video...we actually don't travel with our kids because it gives me a migraine, but it sounds like fun in theory!! http://www.mamakatslosinit.com/2010/06/momversations-traveling/

dadofthree
2 yearss ago

How do you afford to go on vacation? I haven't been on a real vacation in 2 years- it's either visit my wife's family or mine. I'm booking a trip to Denver this Summer and the airfare is causing me sticker shock, I've suddenly realized the full weight of multiplying by five.

HeadMom
2 yearss ago

Great ideas Cortney! Loved seeing you here on Momversation.

JessicaGottlieb
2 yearss ago

There are only four of us, but we mostly do trips within driving distance, and one big expensive trip every two years. Lots of camping, and we use miles for everything.

Flyrish
2 yearss ago

So grateful for this momversation! We're trying to decide whether or not to go to my cousin's wedding in Rome in October when my son will be about 21 months. Now that's a long flight, but Cortney is definitely inspiring me to go for it. Great tips from Maggie and Jessica, too!

klentz
2 yearss ago

Thanks for the great tips! We are going to San Diego from Texas in July. It will be my son's first plane ride, he will be 15 months when we go. The fear of him not behaving and ruining everyone else's plane ride made me back out in the beginning. I was talked back into it, but still worry. He's a very active kid and I don't know how he'll handle sitting for 3 hours! Do I board the plane expressing my most sincere apologies right from the start? "Please excuse this lunatic who may make you want to jump from the plane." I'm putting my hope in the portable DVD player (sorry Jessica) and snacks... lots and lots of snacks.

JessicaGottlieb
2 yearss ago

tee hee. No need to apologize, I'd totally use DVDs if they worked for my kids. My kids are a little older, judging from your profile picture DVDs will serve you well. I am a big fan of WHATEVER WORKS.

Savvy Travel Tips From Bravo's Cortney Novogratz

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