A Pre-Trip Checklist When You’re Planning a Trip to Europe With Kids: From Travel Authorization to Itinerary Building to Apps You’ll Need
There's more to planning a trip to Europe with kids than just booking flights and making hotel reservations. There are a few things you'll need to do before your trip to ensure a smooth vacation for your entire family.
Months before your family trip to Europe, you'll want to check passport expiration dates, plan your itinerary (with kids in mind!), book tours and activities, apply for global entry, create a Google My Maps, and make a plan for meals.
Weeks before your family trip to Europe, make sure you apply for Travel Authorization, have a plan for getting cash, plan for jet lag, book luggage storage, measure your suitcases, get an IDP, prepare a list of resources, have a luggage travel plan, buy adapters and converters, watch YouTube videos with your kids, and think about your stroller.
Some things you can leave for days before your family trip to Europe (or do earlier) include buying Travel Insurance, getting frequent flyer numbers, buy a European eSIM, protect yourself digital information with a VPN, set up your AirTags, inform debit cards of your travels, check for credit card foreign transaction fees, take passport copy photos, and get all the right apps downloaded.
What's Your Destination?
If you're headed to Spain, these other articles may be helpful.
If you're headed to the United Kingdom, be sure to check out these articles.
If you're still in the planning phase of your trip to Europe with kids, here are some of my favorite resources that will make your life easier:
Accommodation: Booking.com because you can view reviews across multiple platforms, find hotels or vacation rentals, often find free cancellation policies, and frequently find sales.
Tours: Viator because of the wide range of tours, upfront reviews and pricing, and its one stop platform for tours across multiple cities and locations.
eSIM: Holafly because of its unlimited data, affordability, fast connection, and straight-forward installation process (even for the technologically challenged).
Travel Insurance: SafetyWing because of its comprehensive coverage, affordability (kids are free with each paying adult!), and easy claims process.
Digital Protection: Surfshark because of its affordability, ease of use, and ability to connect it with unlimited devices (which is especially important when factoring in kids!).
Months Before Your Trip to Europe With Kids Checklist
- Check Passport Expiration Dates
- Plan Your Itinerary with Realistic Expectations
- Book Activity Tickets Early!
- Consider Applying for Global Entry
- Create a Google My Maps for Your Itinerary
- Have a General Food Plan
- Get an International Driving Permit
- Check for Foreign Transaction Fees
- Start a Working Packing List
Check Passport Expiration Dates
Your passport expiration date needs to be more than three months from the day you plan to leave Europe. Some airlines may require six months.
So if you are traveling to Europe from June 1st to June 14th, your passport expiration needs to be after September 14th of that year.
Maybe I should even take it a step back and mention that, yes, everyone needs a passport to travel to Europe - even babies! Leave yourself enough time to get the applications completed and for your passports to arrive in the mail.
Plan Your Itinerary With Realistic Expectations
When you’re preparing for your trip to Europe with your kids, keep in mind that your kids will still be kids when in a different country.
They’ll still need breaks. They may not be happy with museums every day. They still might take twice as long to walk somewhere as you would. They’ll still get hungry, and won’t necessarily be on their best restaurant behavior for three meals a day. You get the picture.
I like to plan one ticketed activity every day, and then have optional activities for the rest of the day. That way, you can see how moods are going, how the weather is cooperating, and how jet lag is treating everyone.
For an example of what this looks like, check out this 6 Day Itinerary for London with Kids.
Sometimes kids don't want another famous site... they just want to run up and down some steps
If you’re overwhelmed by the process, but don’t see an itinerary online that fits your family’s wants and needs, I can help. I make customized itineraries for families that don’t have the time or desire to figure it out on their own. Find out more here.
Book Activity Tickets Early!
Especially if you’re preparing for a trip to Europe with kids during high season, like summer break, you’ll want to book tickets for certain attractions early! Plan out your priorities ideally six months in advance.
Some activities may not allow purchasing tickets that early, but at least you can mark on your calendar what day to book your tickets and guarantee your preferred time slot.
If you work with me to create your family’s customized itinerary, I provide a pre-trip checklist and itinerary that will include when to book all of these tickets! I do all the research, you just have to make the purchases on the scheduled day. Find out more here.
Buy tickets for Buckingham Palace early to ensure entry.
Consider Applying for Global Entry
Applying for Global Entry can be a long process - start early! It took six months for one of my daughter’s application to be fully completed. Something had gone wrong in the process, but it still took that long to sort out.
Global Entry allows you to take the “fast lane” in customs when re-entering the United States on your way home from Europe with kids. Every family member (including babies!) need to have their own Global Entry ID.
Global Entry also gives all ID holders access to TSA Precheck… aka the “fast lane” for security within the United States.
Many credit cards offer reimbursement for Global Entry applications. I happened to have a few credit cards that offered this, so I charged my application on one card, my daughter’s application on another, and my youngest daughter’s application on a third credit card. Look into your credit card benefits and see if this is an option for you.
Create a Google My Maps for Your Itinerary
Okay, this step in preparing for your family trip to Europe is completely optional. But it can help to make your entire vacation go more smoothly.
On your computer, go to Google My Maps. You can create color coordinated pins for different attractions, sites, and even restaurants. On your phone, you can easily view this map on your Google Maps app. Just tap “You” at the bottom of the app, scroll down and tap “Maps”.
That way, let’s say you’ve just finished the Changing of the Guard in London. It’s starting to rain, but your family isn’t ready for lunch yet. You check your map and see that Hamley’s Toy Store (another bucket list item on your trip) is just a 9 minute walk away. You don’t waste another second getting wet or listening to complaining kids wondering what you’re doing next.
If you need help setting up your map, I found this YouTube tutorial that is specific for travel planning.
Google My Maps work in progress for a family trip to London
Have a General Food Plan
You don’t want to be scrambling for meals when everyone is hangry three times per day. It can be a bit harder to wing it with kids when it comes to finding a place to eat.
When I create my Google My Maps pins, I include one color dedicated to restaurants that I think would be good for our family. That way, wherever we are, I can easily find restaurants where I’ve already checked out the menus and the general vibe (and price!).
I also mark grocery stores nearby my accommodation. We tend to eat breakfast and lunch at our accommodation (even if it’s a regular hotel), or pack it to go. Because of that, I always make sure to bring along a knife, cutting board, stasher bags, and some cutlery.
Then, I only have to decide if we’re going to eat out for dinner (good moods), or get takeaway (cranky, jet lagged, overstimulated moods).
My travel knife and cutting board to help with hotel meals
Get an International Driving Permit (IDP)
If you’re going to be renting a car in Europe, you will want an International Driving Permit, available through AAA. If you’re unable to go into a AAA location, you can mail in the application.
You will need passport photos to send along with the application. So, allow enough time to complete the whole process.
Check for Foreign Transaction Fees
Double check which of your credit and debit cards have foreign transaction fees… leave those at home.
I have this step early on in the planning process juuust in case you don't have any credit cards that can be used abroad! If not, it would be really beneficial to have a card you can use abroad with no hefty fees.
I also like to divide up my credit cards in my purse and suitcase. That way, if one goes missing or is stolen, I have a back up in a different location.
Start a Working Packing List
When you're in the depths of the planning process tends to be the best time to start noting down everything you'll need to remember for a seamless trip to Europe with kids.
As you're booking those Buckingham Palace tickets months ahead of time, you may read about their bag policy and realize your backpack is too big... Right then and there, add a correctly-sized bag to your packing list.
As you're making a food plan, you realize you're going to want to pack lunches some days... but will need a knife and cutting board to chop veggies in your hotel room. Write it down so you don't forget later!
This is just a preliminary running list - You can organize it later!
For a complete list of everything you would need to remember to pack for a family trip to London, check out this article. (Coming Soon!)
Weeks Before Your Trip to Europe With Kids Checklist
- Apply for Travel Authorization
- Have a Plan for Getting Cash
- Plan Ahead for Jet Lag
- Book Luggage Storage
- Measure Your Suitcases
- Prepare a List of Resources
- Have a Plan for Traveling With Luggage
- Buy Necessary Adapters and Converters
- Get Your Kids Excited
- Have a Plan for Carrying Little Ones
Apply for Travel Authorization
If you’re preparing for a trip to mainland Europe with your kids (and coming from the United States), you’ll need to apply for ETIAS. Adults under 70 years old will also need to pay seven euros each for the application.
Find more information about ETIAS here.
If you’re traveling to the United Kingdom, you’ll need to apply for an ETA. Find more information and a link to the app here.
Have a Plan for Getting Cash
You’re unlikely to need a lot of cash in Europe. But it doesn’t hurt to have a bit on hand.
You can typically order foreign currency from your bank ahead of time and get a good exchange rate. But it can be hard to guess how much cash you’re going to need.
I like to have a debit card that I can use abroad and withdraw cash as needed. Does it get a great exchange rate? Not always. But that way, I’m not going home with hundreds of unused Euros that are useless in the United States.
I have a Charles Schwab debit card. There are no foreign transaction fees, and you are reimbursed for all ATM fees.
Another option I use is the Wise debit card. You can withdraw cash from ATMs for free twice per month. And there are no foreign transaction fees. I use this card as my backup in case something happens to my Charles Schwab account.
There are, of course, other options for debit cards that can easily be used abroad. These are just the ones that I personally use and recommend.
Plan Ahead for Jet Lag
When going from the United States to Europe, the tendency will be to stay up really late and sleep in.
First of all, if you plan on using melatonin to help with an earlier bedtime, test it out before your trip. In some kids, it has the opposite effect, and they become wired instead of tired. If you don't want to use melatonin, there are some other herbal options to help calm jet lagged minds.
Keep in mind some other tips for handling jet lag on your trip to Europe with kids. Things like avoiding a nap on the day you land. This also means you'll need to plan activities for that first day to help keep everyone awake, but also keeping in mind they may be cranky and tired.
It also helps to get sunlight exposure to the skin first thing in the morning. And remember to limit screens before bed.
When booking tickets before your trip, keep in mind that kids (and you) may be slower moving in the mornings. Maybe aim for a 10:30 am time slot instead of that 9:00 am entry time.
Book Luggage Storage
Most flights entering Europe from the United States land in the morning. You likely won’t be able to check in to your accommodation until the afternoon. You don’t want to be babysitting your luggage all day.
Your accommodation may offer luggage storage, but if it doesn’t you’ll want a place to keep your bags on your arrival day.
A tool like Radical Storage helps you to find luggage storage near your accommodation and provides ratings and reviews for all of the luggage storage options in the area. You can book ahead of time, so there’s nothing to worry about on your arrival day.
Measure Your Suitcases
Especially if you’re taking flights within Europe during your trip, make sure your luggage fits within the airline's size regulations. Check within your airline’s specific guidelines for checked bags, carryons, AND hand luggage!
Don’t forget to bring your luggage scale to make sure you’re still within the weight limits after purchasing souvenirs!
On a related note, some museums in Europe have limitations on how large of a bag you can bring in. My backpack was too big, but I still wanted to be able to carry a water bottle, spare diapers, and a few other essentials. I purchased this bag and it was perfect.
Prepare a List of Resources
Store a copy of all necessary information somewhere offline. Even if it’s still a Google Doc that you’ve given offline access to.
Just in case you can’t get your phone to work, you’ll want the address and contact information for your accommodation to tell the taxi driver.
You’ll also want to store emergency contact information somewhere offline.
You may want a list of resources that could become helpful just in case. Like if someone gets sick, I highly recommend using Doctorsa.
Doctorsa provides virtual doctor’s appointments with an English-speaking European doctor. If prescriptions are necessary, they can provide scripts for the country you’re visiting that you can easily take to the local pharmacy. The entire process is affordable, efficient, and easy to navigate.
Have a Plan for Traveling With Luggage
How are you getting all of your family members and their luggage from point A to point B? Who can handle what suitcases? Will you have access to elevators? Or does everyone need to be able to carry their own suitcase up flights of steps?
Don’t forget that many towns and cities in Europe have cobblestone walkways!
Are you taking a taxi straight to and from your accommodation? Will all of your suitcases fit in the taxi that you’ve booked?
Are you traveling with suitcases on trains? Or on public transportation? What will that look like with suitcases?
You may even want to gather all of your family members and have a practice run with the suitcases around the house.
My daughter's suitcase and carryon that she can handle all by herself.
Buy Necessary Adapters and Converters
Likely these days, you only need adapters for most devices. But you’ll still need the necessary plug adapters to make electronics work. Don’t forget that mainland Europe has different plugs than the UK.
If you get an adapter like this one, it has all the necessary plugs all within the device. Plus it has USB-A and USB-C sockets for charging phones, cameras, etc.
Some electronics do require power converters! Some things you typically hear about include hair dryers and curling irons. But some items you may not expect also require power converters… like baby monitors! Yep, I killed one of my baby monitors not knowing it required a power converter. Check your devices.
If you do need a converter for your travels, this one provides space for multiple devices to plug in. And it also includes USB-C and USB-A sockets.
Get Your Kids Excited
One of the most important parts of preparing for your trip to Europe with kids, is to get your kids prepared! Watch videos or read books with them about things you’re going to see. This will obviously vary based on ages.
But for example, we watched videos about Buckingham Palace before going to London. We learned which flag meant the King was in, the number of rooms in the palace, the fact that it’s someone’s sole job to clean the clocks, etc. Different facts to get them interested in what they’re going to see.
For little kids, seeing photos of your accommodation helps to prepare them for the change. Show them pictures of their bed, where they’ll eat breakfast, where they’ll bathe, etc.
Have a Plan for Carrying Little Ones
In many parts of Europe, a stroller may be a great choice for pushing around jet lagged toddlers or for naps on the go. For other places, you may find elevators lacking and cobble stoned streets plentiful.
Do a bit of research on where you’ll be going in Europe and decide if bringing a stroller is really the best choice.
For really little ones, a carrier or a ring sling may be your best option. And for toddlers that want up-down-up-down on repeat, you may want to swap out the stroller with a hip carrier.
Trust me, you want a plan for all the walking you're going to be doing. I am very familiar with how it feels when you have truly taken your bicep muscles to failure... at least it was a good workout?
A day in Alhambra when I couldn't feel my arms... really wishing I had brought the carrier.
Days (or Sooner!) Before Your Trip to Europe With Kids Checklist
- Buy Travel Insurance
- Frequent Flyer Numbers for Everyone in the Family
- Purchase and Install an eSIM
- Protect Your Digital Information
- Set Up Your AirTags
- Inform Debit (and Credit) Cards of Your Upcoming Travel
- Passport Copies
- Download Necessary Apps
Buy Travel Insurance
When you’re going on any trip, you’re going to want travel insurance. And when you’re preparing for a trip to Europe with kids, you’re going to want to make sure any unforeseen medical expenses will be covered - your regular medical insurance only applies within the United States!
Your credit card can provide insurance for lost luggage, flight delays, car rentals, and even some medical expenses. That is, if you booked your travel using that credit card.
For medical expenses, many credit cards have a pretty low cap on how much they’ll cover. If something serious happens abroad, you could easily exceed that maximum amount.
Using travel insurance like Safety Wing can help to fill in the blanks. For example, Safety Wing covers 100x what my credit card would cover for emergency medical expenses.
Plus, kids are covered for free with each paying adult. I personally always use Safety Wing and wouldn’t ever use anyone else. Find more information about what is included in their coverage and how much Safety Wing costs here.
And if you're already on your trip, it isn't too late! You can still purchase SafetyWing travel insurance once you're already traveling!
You never know what can happen... get SafetyWing Travel Insurance.
Frequent Flyer Numbers for Everyone in the Family
Yes, even kids can start accumulating frequent flyer miles with airlines!
So for your next trip to Europe with kids, sign everyone up for their own frequent flyer number! Don’t let those miles don’t go to waste. Many airlines don’t have an expiration date for their points, so it’s never too early to start!
Purchase and Install an eSIM
An eSIM is the easiest way to stay connected with data on your family European trip. It allows you to easily (and affordably) use navigation apps, look up information, pull up emails with tickets, and even communicate with people through apps like WhatsApp.
You'll want to avoid paying the daily international fee directly from your carrier if you want to get the best deal.
You do need to make sure that your phone isn’t locked by your carrier. This especially may be true if you purchased your phone through your phone carrier (instead of through Apple directly, for example). This article lays out the specifics much better than I ever could.
Use Holafly for Reliable, Affordable, Unlimited Data
Once your phone is good to go, head over to Holafly (my favorite eSIM carrier for Europe). They offer plans with unlimited data and I always get reliable, fast connection. Often times, it's better than the WiFi at my accommodation!
The process is very straightforward and they provide clear instructions for people (like me) whose head spins with anything technological.
You install your eSIM before your trip. When you land, all you have to do is activate it . You can even do this when you’re taxiing to your gate. Don’t worry, installing and activating is incredibly easy to do and Holafly you the exact steps to activate your eSIM.
Protect Your Digital Information
If you’re going to be connecting to public WiFi at your hotel, cafes, and airports, you’ll want to protect yourself from hackers and make sure your information stays safe.
Use Surfshark to protect your information
I love Surfshark because, first of all, it’s affordable. But it also allows for unlimited devices. Your kids’ tablets, your phone, your partner’s computer… you get the picture.
Plus, if your kids rely on certain shows for their calm down time, they may not be available to stream in the country you’re traveling in! But, if you set the VPN to a location within the United States, that problem is instantly solved and your kids can enjoy their favorite episode and maintain that bit of familiarity after a day of new and overstimulating.
If you click this link, you’ll get 1-3 months free depending on the length of your subscription. And trust me, I used Surfshark for years before starting to recommend them to my readers… and I of course still use them today.
Use a VPN like Surfshark to protect your information on public WiFi networks like at this cafe in Spain
Set Up Your AirTags
I always place an AirTag (or other tracker if you don’t have Apple devices) in each of my suitcases. It's the best way to keep track of potentially lost luggage. I also place one in my purse, my passport carrier, and even in my stroller. Some people sew them into their children’s socks!
I put each of my AirTags in different colored holders, and then write down what colored AirTag is in each suitcase.
Rather than sitting at the carousel waiting for your suitcase that is never going to show up, you can check your phone and know if it made it to Europe or not. If for some reason it didn’t, you’ll know where it is and can start doing something about it sooner!
Inform Debit and Credit Cards of Your Upcoming Travel
If you’re going to be using debit and credit cards in Europe, you may need to let them know about your travels so they don’t lock your card when they detect foreign charges.
Personally, I no longer have to inform my credit cards of my travels. But I do need to let my debit card company know, or they will lock my card! Then I have no access to additional cash until I can call in and unlock it… which is very expensive to do from abroad.
Passport Copies
In the old days, it was recommended that you carry copies of your passports with you when traveling in Europe with your family.
These days, I just take a photo with my phone. I store that photo somewhere safe that I can access online. So if for some reason you don’t have access to your phone, you’ll still be able to pull up your passport details when needed.
Download Necessary Apps
When traveling to Europe with kids, you don’t want to be fumbling to download the right app while simultaneously getting your jetlagged toddler in appropriate clothing.
This is not a comprehensive list, as many destinations have specific apps that would be useful. But no matter where you're going in Europe with your family, you will find the following apps on your phone beneficial:
CityMapper
For big cities, you’ll probably find CityMapper helpful to help you navigate public transportation.
A lot of businesses include their WhatsApp number and contact information, knowing that tourists don't typically have access to actual phone lines.
Holafly
If you’re using an eSIM from Holafly, download their app onto your phone. It’s the most streamlined way to activate your eSIM upon arrival.
Gett or Other Taxi Apps
Download any taxi apps you’re going to need. For London, I used the Gett app. But in order to create an account, they wanted to text me a confirmation code. I would not have been able to receive that text had I already been abroad.
Google Translate
Make sure you have Google Translate somewhere accessible on your phone. You can even use the camera for real time translation of written language. You can also download whatever languages you’re going to need to translate ahead of time. That way, you don’t have to rely on having service or Wifi to use the app.
Google Maps
Also, I’m sure you already have Google Maps. But it’s another helpful navigation app that can also help you with public transportation. You can even download whole sections of cities. So if you don’t have service, you’ll still be able to search for destinations and get directions.
Wallet
Your phone’s Wallet app is a great place to store airline tickets, entry tickets, and even credit cards for contactless payment.
Airline Apps
Depending on your airline, you may want to make sure you have the airline’s app downloaded on all devices. Some airlines only offer in-flight entertainment via their app. I personally wouldn’t want to embark on a transatlantic flight with no shows for the kids to help pass the time!
Download Google Translate on your phone before your trip
Summary: Preparing for a Trip to Europe With Kids
Overall, some travel items you need to prepare before your trip to Europe with kids include applying for travel authorization, getting passports and passport copies ready, getting everyone frequent flyer numbers, applying for global entry, measuring your suitcases, preparing AirTags, and getting your IDP if necessary.
You’ll also want to prepare some things regarding money before your trip to Europe with kids, like having a plan for getting cash, informing your debit and credit cards of your travels, and checking for foreign transaction fees on your cards.
For your phone and electronics, you’ll want to make sure you have an eSIM ready to go, you’re protecting your information with a VPN, have downloaded the necessary apps for a trip to Europe, have prepared your Google My Maps, and have all the necessary power adapters and converters.
And for things to help make your trip go smoothly, you’ll want to consider buying travel insurance, preparing a list of resources, resetting expectations with kids in mind, planning ahead for jet lag, booking activity tickets, pre-booking luggage storage, reconsidering your stroller, getting your kids excited with videos, and planning ahead for food.
If you’re preparing for a trip to Europe with kids, you may find these other articles helpful:
- Free Things to Do in Central London With Kids: Family Fun on a Budget
- A London Packing List for Families: Everything You’ll Need With Young Kids (Coming Soon!)
- 11 Things To Do in Malaga With Kids - No Car Necessary!
- A 6 Day London Itinerary for Families With Kids: Activities That are Fun for Everyone!
And finally, if you want to go on a trip to Europe with your kids, but the thought of actually planning it is too overwhelming… Where do you go? Where should you stay? What activities are kid friendly?
I’m here for you.