This post originally appeared on Savoring The Good.com It has been reposted here with permission.
Tips For Traveling With Kids In NYC
We have had the pleasure of traveling a lot with our family this spring and summer. While traveling is lots of fun, traveling with young children can present its own set of challenges. We are out of the diaper and nap stage but we still have to keep certain things in mind when we travel with the kids. We just got back from a weekend trip to NYC and here are my tips to help YOU when you travel with YOUR kids to NYC.
1. Metro Cards
Taking the New York subway is an inexpensive way to get from place to place while in NYC. Need a app? They have lots for you to check out depending on your needs. Just be sure to plan your route via the app BEFORE you go under ground. There is limited wi-fi under ground so be aware!
Pro tip: Don’t purchase a metro card for each person. There is a $1 fee per card. Instead purchase one card and then add cash value to the card. You are able to swipe it for each person as they go through the turnstiles. Be sure to ask an attendant for help if you need it. I found them to be extremely helpful!
Bonus Tip: Kids under 44″ don’t need to pay for a fare if they are riding with a paying adult. This saved us because our son is just under 44″! YES!
2. Scooters
We learned from our friends who moved to France that all the European kids (and adults) ride scooters through the streets. They are easy to ride, they take less energy than waling and the kids are able to go farther and complain less about walking. Get a scooter that folds easily and you are able to take it on the subway or in a cab. Looking for a scooter?
Here are some I would recommend:
3. Hand Sanitizer.
Use it. A lot. I am not normally a hand sanitizer person in our day to day life (with the exception of the grocery store) but taking public transportation and being in the city makes me want to take a bath in it. It might be the country girl in my but, ugh, city germs.
4. Stroller.
If your kids are not old enough for a scooter or you want to move at the pace YOU want to move you need a stroller. Even if your child is 5 years old. You are going to want a stroller. We have a stroller that we take with us when we travel to Disney but for NYC I wanted something lighter, easier to fold and more agile. BUT we didn’t have one! Somehow we had given away our ‘little’ stroller so we turned to Ayoopa and had a rental sent to our hotel. I love this idea of renting gear when you are traveling! Instead of going out to purchase a little stroller for the weekend we are able to rent a sturdy, lightweight, foldable stroller that made our walking through NYC SO MUCH EASIER!! They have so much more than strollers so go check them out!(I think I am going to rent a Go-Pro next trip!)
5. Split Meals.
I don’t know about your kids but my kids NEVER finish a meal when they are out to eat. We ALWAYS take home the leftovers and eat them later. This is not so convenient when the family is touring all over NYC. The LAST thing I need or want is a box of half eaten chicken fingers to tote around. When we stop for a meal we have the kids split a meal. There is usually something, like chicken fingers or a pizza that they can split. Less waste, less cost and happy kids. Just what I like!
What did I miss? Leave me a comment below!
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