Planning a Short Trip with Small Kids
We just got back from 5 days and 4 nights on Kaua’i. It was an absolute blast!
I think the key to traveling with my littles is planning, prep and more prep. Yes, most times I admit that I’m over-prepared (and often over-packed), but with young ones who make messes left and right, I don’t like to take chances.
There is a part of me, however, that envies the mom who can hop in a car (or airplane) without a stuffed diaper bag, snacks galore, extra toys and two changes of clothes… because I’m not one of them. But sometimes I wish I could be.
The purpose of this post is two-fold. 1) To share my ideas on how to plan and pack for an extended weekend trip and 2) to share about what we did, and what we love about the island of Kauai.
First off, let me start by saying that this was our first trip outer island with children. As you all know (or can imagine), small children add a whole new dynamic to just about every aspect of life. The last time we were on Kauai was for a sweet friend’s wedding over four years ago. We went over with a few other couples from Oahu and stayed in a vacation rental at Princeville on the North Shore. So nice, and sooooo different than this trip.
Here’s how I’ve narrowed down my thought process into generic, easy-to-replicate steps. Can you tell I’m a list person?! I’ll go into just a little detail and give my suggestions on each step relating to this trip in particular: Dates, flight, rental car, accommodations, food, activities, and how to pack.
Dates:
You can utilize a federal holiday, off peak season, or simply personal preference when deciding on your travel dates. We decided to plan this trip based on the fact that Mike had Hawaiian Miles that were going to expire next summer. Yes, we could have waited until later to go, but we also wanted to tie in a federal holiday which meant one less day of vacation the hubby would have to use. Plus, the girls are at a really fun age right now, and I’m not pregnant at the moment… which is nice. It was either Veteran’s Day in November or President’s Day in February. We decided on Veteran’s Day since things in February are scheduled to be a little hectic for Mike at work during that time. He ended up only having to take two vacation days for a five-day trip!
Flight:
Flights (especially in Hawaii) are tricky. Different airlines have special promotions now and then to offer lower prices, but the best way (in my opinion) to take a short trip like this–on an airline’s dime–is to sign up for an airline credit card.
There was a special going on last year where Hawaiian Airlines offered 50,000 bonus miles if you signed up for their credit card and spent $1,000 within the first three months of having it. Now, there is a $95 annual fee attached to the credit card, but it’s waived in most cases for the first year. We simply cancelled the card within a year before it got charged. And Boom. A free flight to Kauai for our family. A round trip ticket was around $160 I think or 15,000 miles. Since we had 50,000+ we were able to purchase them all using miles. If you’re new to the game or are interested in reading more about airline miles, here are a few helpful sites: A Beginner’s Guide to Airline Miles and Best Airline Credit Cards of 2016.
Another way I often search for flights is through Kayak.com. If I find a great price, I’ll usually go directly to that website and purchase the tickets that way. Don’t forget to plug in your frequent flyer miles number!
Rental Car:
For a rental car, I’ll usually use the same type of sites as hotel and airline. My go to is Kayak.com or CarRentals.com. You just have to be careful with those because you often get a much better rate; however, you usually have to pay up front… and changing or canceling the reservation is next to impossible. Kayak is nice too because it predicts if the price will go up or down in the next few days. Typically, a car will be cheaper than an SUV or minivan, so if you can make the compact or midsize work, more power to ya. I think the smallest we could do as of right now is a full-size to fit our luggage, stroller and car seats, etc.
Accommodations:
Depending on your destination, accommodations will vary. Are you going somewhere you can stay with friends? Or are you looking to be alone for a romantic getaway or family solidarity time? VRBO is a great place to start, especially if its for a short stay and you don’t have much time to plan. Although I found some really good deals through VRBO, nothing really beats free. And we were able to visit people we hadn’t seen in a long time. A win-win really. Even if we could have afforded some place else, I don’t know that we’d have chosen that route. Visiting with friends was really what we needed, and it was absolutely perfect for us!
However, I understand that when you plan a trip, you don’t always want to stay with friends or family. Some options on Kauai that offered decent deals (under $100 a night) were VRBO, craigslist, Cabins at Kokee, and if you’re military or DoD–PMRF @ Barking Sands. Just keep in mind that if you get a vacation rental extra fees will likely be tacked on… taxes, cleaning, destination, etc.
Food:
Local cuisine. Some places have those restaurants that you just have to try. Ask around, or look up reviews on a site like Yelp. If you’ve heard good things about it from multiple people, then it’s probably worth a listen. Not always, but usually. We didn’t eat out a ton (again, we were trying to make this a cheap-ish trip). We did manage to swing by Chicken in a Barrel though, and I was NOT disappointed. Thanks Natasha! We drove through Kapa’a on our last day as we made our way up to the North Shore. I guess there’s one in Hanalei too. I got #1, the quarter chicken. Delish, by the standards of this Southern-born girl who compares anything BBQ to Sonny’s Real Pit. If you’re trying to go the cheap route, I would recommend hitting up a Walmart or local grocery store and stock up (especially if you’re staying in a vacation rental). Just plan the meals out ahead of time so you don’t over-spend. Think simple. Sandwiches & chips, cereal, or spaghetti.
Some other favorites of ours on Kauai are Brick Oven and Kalaheo Cafe in Kalaheo. The rest you can Yelp… so much good stuff I’m sure. But we usually stay on the #Westside.
Activities:
Again, this is something you’ll want to research for where ever you are traveling to. Sadly, NOTHING is a secret anymore with social media. All you have to do is get on Pinterest and plan away, haha. Just look at the “Mermaid Caves” on Oahu for example. I wonder who made that name up anyway. I mean it’s a cool name, but it was only coined in the last couple of years. So curious–and annoying–but it’s all social media, baby. And you can’t get mad, because it’s kinda helpful if you’re going somewhere for the first time. So get on Instagram and Pinterest and search away. All the info you need is at your fingertips 
You’ll still need to do your own research, but here are some of my personal Kaua’i faves from West to North, counter-clockwise:
- Polihale State Park (need 4 wheel drive)
- Barking Sands/PMRF (need DoD or military ID)
- Kauai Coffee Company (tour and samples!)
- Waimea Canyon or Koke’e State Park (lookout points & hikes)
- Hanapepe Swinging Bridge (Friday night Art Nights too)
- Kipu Falls (fun jump, but I’ve heard some nasty things are thrown down there)
- Menehune Fishpond Lookout (alternate route from Kalaheo to Lihue)
- Koloa Town (shoppes)
- Salt Pond Park
- Kayaking down the Huleia River from Nawiliwili Harbor
- Shipwrecks at Poipu (crazy jump; once was enough)
- Kalihiwai Beach in Kilauea
- Secret Beach
- Queen’s Bath
- The Pier at Hanalei
- Hanalei Town
- Hanakapiai Beach Hike & Falls Hike
That’s all I can think of right now. My brain is a little frazzled. The Falls Hike has a special place in my heart as this was the place that Mike proposed to me. The rest is history. Read the full story here.
How to Pack:
For the plane, be sure to have snacks and drinks, bottles or nursing cover, wipes and diapers handy. Small toys, books or a tablet would be helpful too.
I wasn’t sure if we’d have access to a washer and dryer, so I packed as if we wouldn’t. Mind you I have a 10 month old. Five days, four nights for each person:
- two pairs of shoes (one for hiking, one for everyday wear)
- plastic bag to store muddy ones in
- four sets of PJs
- eight sets of clothes for each child (one packed in back pack/diaper bag)
- one dressy outfit for church
- 2 swim suits
- 1 beach towel
- 1 towel robe
Extra stuff I had to pack:
- small blankets for sleeping
- pack ‘n play sheet
- toiletries
- diapers
- wipes
- changing pad
- diaper cream
- formula
- bottles
- nursing cover
- SNACKS
- toys
- iPad
- Tablet
- chargers
- phones/camera
- wallets
- empty (refillable) water bottles
- backpack
- fold-able beach bag
- beach speaker
- sunglasses
- hamper/garbage bag for dirty clothes
- baby carrier
- double stroller
- convertible car seat
- infant car seat
This ain’t no walk in the park, folks. But let me tell you we had a smooth trip because of all this stuff I packed. I probably missed something, but I like to think I covered the basics. Yes, life would be simpler if we didn’t have to bring all this junk… but it’s also be filled with much more chaos. It’s where we’re at, so I just embrace it!
Every time we left in our rental car, I made sure I had a beach bag packed with towels and a change of clothes, snacks, diapers, and swimsuits. You never know when you might want to take a dip in the ocean!
So, if you find yourself wanting to take a vacation on the cheap. Plan, prep and check that list twice. It’ll be worth it, I promise Happy Trails. Now here are some of our photos:
Happy Trails. Now here are some of our photos: 
April 
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