Insights on traveling with kids with Sam and Ryan Looney

In our latest Insights Series, we spoke with Sam and Ryan Looney, travel enthusiasts, authors of Our Travel Passport blog, and parents of two. Sam and Ryan share expert tips for traveling around the world with kids, how to maintain sleep routines on the go, must-have packing items to keep everyone happy, and so much more. Keep reading for practical travel tips plus recommended summer destinations to bring your little ones!

Was travel always a big part of your lives, or did it really take off after starting a family? 

Travel has always been a big part of our lives. It was something we always dreamt of doing together while we were dating and then after we got married, we started doing a lot of road trips and documenting those as we went. We started a travel blog and planned our first international trip together to India in 2016. During that trip we created a separate travel instagram account and that's really when we knew we wanted to make travel a part of our lives forever. After traveling together so much, just the two of us, we knew that we wanted to keep traveling once we had kids and show them how beautiful and diverse the world is.

As parents of two, what has traveling with young children taught you? 

It's definitely taught us to slow down. When we traveled before we had kids, we tried to fit absolutely every possible thing we could into our trips, going nonstop from sunup til sundown. And now, with kids, that's just not possible. We spend a lot more time at parks or stopping to eat or back at the hotel for naps, but it is so so worth it to see the world through our kids' eyes.

How has parenthood shifted the way you approach travel and adventure? 

It's definitely made us a bit more cautious! We're not as eager to go paragliding or rent scooters. But it's also made us realize that you can still do so many fun and adventurous things — like when we went dune bashing in Abu Dhabi and snorkeling in New Zealand with our kids. And we do things now that we probably wouldn't have done before because of our kids. We know our kids will love riding a carousel or seeing exotic animals, so we look out for fun kid-friendly things to do now that we wouldn't have done before.

"It's honestly all about mindset for me. You can do anything for 6, 10, 12 hours. Have extra patience for yourself and your kids and just remind yourself that once you get there, it will all be worth it!"

What are your absolute must-haves when packing for a big family trip? 

We don't go anywhere without our Doona for sure! It makes traveling with littles SO much easier. Plus, a few toys or stuffed animals that our kids are familiar with from home and all the bedtime routine essentials. A sound machine, sleep sack, a comfortable travel crib, and the Slumberpod makes room sharing in hotels so much easier. I've found that prioritizing a good night's sleep for everyone makes the trip so much more enjoyable!

What’s your go-to tip for making long travel days (especially flights) easier with young children? 

It's honestly all about mindset for me. You can do anything for 6, 10, 12 hours. Have extra patience for yourself and your kids and just remind yourself that once you get there, it will all be worth it! Also snacks. I always try to overprepare and bring sooo many snacks — for both my kids and for myself. Everyone's happier when they're not hangry.

How do you maintain routines like naps, meals, or bedtime while you're on the move? 

I try to make sure my kids get one good nap a day. I don't necessarily force us all to be hotel bound for naps all day every day, because then we wouldn't have time to do much, but I do prioritize sleep because I think everyone is happier when kids get a good nap (and parents get some quiet time). Whether that nap is in the car or in a carrier or in the hotel, as long as my kids get one solid nap a day, we're good. I always plan long drives and travel times around our nap schedules, so we're maximizing time that way too. For bedtime, I try to keep a normal bedtime most nights, but try to be flexible because sometimes when you're traveling you really want to watch sunset or do an activity that's later in the day, so I try not to be out late every night, but we'll stay up late one or two nights during a trip and it makes it extra fun and special for our kids.

What values are you hoping to instill in your children through these experiences? 

I hope they know that there are so many different people and cultures in the world and different ways to live and experience life — we're all just on this journey of life together. And I hope they can always be curious, brave, and kind — curious about the world around them, brave enough to try new things, and kind to everyone they meet.

Is there one destination you'd recommend to new parents for their first trip with a baby or toddler? 

A beach destination! We're beach people for sure, but I think beach trips are sooo fun with kids, because kids can play in the sand and splash in the ocean, you can search for seashells or look in tide pools together, and beach towns are usually filled with cute stores and delicious food, so I feel like it's a win for everyone.

"When you're traveling with kids, you're already bringing a lot of extra things, so it's so nice to not have to worry about bringing a separate car seat and a stroller."

Are there any products or tools you swear by that make parenting while traveling easier? 

The Doona for sure! I tell everyone I know about how great it is! We just got back from New York and it makes getting in and out of taxis so much easier. You don't have to lug a car seat around with you while you're out and about and you know your baby will still be safe in the car. When you're traveling with kids, you're already bringing a lot of extra things, so it's so nice to not have to worry about bringing a separate car seat and a stroller. I also love that it's FAA approved, so you can bring it on the airplane too! I'm always so sad when my kids outgrow it.

What advice would you give to new parents who are nervous about traveling with kids for the first time? 

Take the trip! You'll never know until you go and honestly most of the time, my worries and fears don't even come close to actually happening and my kids do awesome! I once saw something that said, "telling people not to travel because their kids won't remember it is like saying not to read books to your kids because they won't remember it." I love that because even though they're little, the experiences you have together as a family help shape them and teach them so many lessons and it's just so fun to have those experiences and memories with your kids! And if your kid has a meltdown, at least you're on a beach in Mexico or a cafe in Paris and not just at the grocery store at home (or at least that's what I tell myself).

Sam and Ryan Looney are travel enthusiasts, influencers, and parents of two. You can stay connected with the Looney family through their Instagram handle @samandryan.

At Doona, we’re committed to making parenting simple for every family. That's why we’ve created our innovative and revolutionary Doona Car Seat and Stroller, transforming from car seat to a stroller in seconds; and Liki Trike — the most compact folding toddler trike on the market that grows alongside your toddler from 10-36 months.