How to Travel With Your Kids This Summer Without Ruining Everyone Else’s Vacation

All on the Table host Katie Lee Biegel and her producer husband Ryan have a four-year-old daughter, Iris, and they’ve made a point of bringing her on their travels from an early age. It’s not always easy—anyone who’s ever wrestled a car seat through an airport during summer travel season can attest to that—but the couple has developed some strategies that actually work.

As Katie says, “There’s something that is just so special and sweet about seeing the world through those little eyes and the excitement that comes along with it.” Beyond the sentimental value, they’ve found that early travel has practical benefits too. Ryan notes that exposing Iris to different things—time zones, sleeping arrangements, foods, and even the challenges that come with traveling—has made her more adaptable overall.

Choose your destinations wisely

The Biegels have learned that not all summer vacation spots are created equal when traveling with a young kid. Their most successful trips have been places where Iris can run around freely—think Montana ranches or countryside estates rather than busy city centers.

“City trips are not that fun for her,” Katie reflects. “But we went to Montana, The Ranch at Rock Creek, and she could just run wild and free. That was fantastic. Or when we did the London trip, we went first to the British countryside and stayed in an old estate, and she could just run and play.” 

If you don’t have to worry about your child running into traffic, you can actually relax and enjoy your vacation. “We could have a glass of wine while we watched her, and it was like a way of everybody being happy,” Katie says.

Flight logistics matter too. The couple prioritizes direct flights whenever possible—but who doesn’t these days? “I want to get her on that flight and just be on the one, one and done, and not have to think about getting on another one,” Katie explains.

Make the hotel work for you

When you’re looking into hotels, Katie says, it’s better to call and speak to someone than to book online. Most properties offer family rates that aren’t advertised on booking sites—typically connecting room rats where the second room could be as much as 50 percent off.

“If you have more kids and two rooms makes more sense for you, you can do that and pay one and a half times. And that usually is less expensive than getting a one bedroom suite,” Katie explains.

Staying at a resort isn’t the best for cultural exchange, but if your goal is to relax, it’s a great option. To maximize the experience for both parents and children, check out resorts with kids’ clubs. These programs organize activities like nature walks or arts and crafts, giving your child something enriching to do while allowing you some downtime. It also allows them to interact with and meet other children from around the world. “It’s important for your kid to meet other children,” says Katie. “Other kids on vacation will expose them to something new.”

When you’re speaking to the hotel concierge, that’s also a great time to ask about any other deals, promotions, or benefits. Do they have free breakfast? Do kids eat free? Sometimes these things aren’t advertised, but the hotel will give them to you if you ask. (Politely, of course!)

Step up your carry-on game

Katie and Ryan share a great list of useful items to bring in a carry-on for your kiddo. Here’s what they recommend:

• An iPad: Yes, there’s an iPad involved, and no, Katie doesn’t feel guilty about relaxing screen time rules on travel days. Plus, if your child sleeps with a white noise machine at home, download a white noise app on the iPad to help them doze off in an unfamiliar space.
• Emergency supplies: Airport bathrooms can be rough, so if you have room, a portable potty and wipes are helpful to have handy in case of an emergency. They also always bring children’s Tylenol or Motrin in their bag. One of their worst travel experiences was when Iris got sick during a trip to Spain and they weren’t prepared.
• Plenty of snacks: Katie and Ryan pack containers of fruit, sandwiches, or Iris’ comforting favorites.
• Highlights magazines: This one’s a classic for a reason. There’s nothing like a “spot the difference” picture to keep a little one focused. 
• Car equipment: For kids three and over, the Biegels swear by the Ride Safer Vest, which is a vest that mimics a booster seat. “She just puts on the vest and the seatbelt goes through the harness. And that has been a game changer,” says Katie. It’s lightweight, foldable, and eliminates the need to lug a car seat through an airport.

Traveling with kids: Is it worth it?

For the Biegels, the answer is yes. Traveling with young children requires lowering your expectations in some ways while raising them in others. You might not hit every museum or restaurant on your list, but you might discover that watching your child experience something new is more rewarding than you expected.

The Biegels’ approach isn’t about creating picture-perfect family vacation memories—it’s about being strategic enough that everyone can actually enjoy themselves. Sometimes that means choosing the ranch over the city, the direct flight over the cheaper connection, or the resort with childcare over the boutique hotel without it.

As Katie puts it, preparing for these trips—like getting Iris swimming lessons before beach vacations—has opened up more destinations for their family. The investment in making travel work for a four-year-old pays off in the form of more adventures they can all enjoy together.

For more home, food, and lifestyle tips from Katie Lee Biegel, listen to All on the Table.