Ever wondered if it is possible to travel with the whole family on minimal stress and maximum enjoyment? Why not? Perhaps you’re just fed up with noisy children or infants crying in the middle of a long-haul flight that is why you think family travel is equivalent to nightmare.

Some tips to consider for a successful family getaway.

Take smaller airports
This could mean extra drive from the main city center but at least you’re not walking through long stretches of airport corridor dragging tired children and heavy luggage. For example, when planning for a London travel, avoid London’s Heathrow airport and settle for smaller ones like London Gatwick or London Stansted when visiting London with kids. The key is to find a suitable place that’s not going to make your kids strain a lot by too much walking or dealing with the crowd.

Keep children busy
One of the reasons children make noise by crying or irritable is that they may be bored and are not used to a dull situation. Some possible solutions: play a portable DVD with your child’s favorite shows or bring your child’s favorite coloring book.

Get your children something to munch
Eating is one favorite pastime for toddlers and young kids. Dry crackers, biscuits, pop tarts and juice boxes could just be the reason your child needs to keep quiet. However, check on your departing airline for rules and guidelines on bringing snacks beyond security points and on board the plane.

Check your hotel room
Just because your room looks neat and orderly once you enter it doesn’t always mean it’s safe for your kids. There may be pins on the floor or toxic liquid left by the cleaning lady. Look for hazards like open wall sockets, hot water that may scald your child or that pen on the table that could be dangerous to the eyes. Many hotel accidents that happened could be prevented. For example, Sydney hotel accidents are well-chronicled and sometimes involve even celebrities. In a place thought as a safe haven, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Make tours memorable
In a few decades, your kids will look back and remember this trip they had with you, if you help them create memories of the tour. Join your kids in collecting memorable items (local coins, train tickets or leaflets in foreign language) that hopefully become a living proof of once a very enjoyable family trip.

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/krenp