Author: Anaisa Mohamed
Traveling With a Teenager
Both locally and internationally.
We often see so many posts on travel with a newborn, a baby, a toddler, or the elderly. I have never seen one with advice for traveling with a teenager. As a single mom of 1, 16 going on 60 – I kid you not, I am giving my most used advice for traveling with a teenager. Goes without saying that your child/children will either make or break your vacation, irrespective of their age. The last thing I am going to do is spend a fortune on a break or vacation, to have it spoilt by the tantrums and the moods of my teenager.
My teenager is overall well-behaved, polite, kind – albeit, she is very shy and reserved when it comes to new people. Bring her on a trip, however, and the ball game changes. Since 2022, we have embarked on a few local trips as well as one international one, and I have taken much notice of what works and what doesn’t in relation with traveling with her. Firstly, when planning the holiday, please involve your child. Don’t spring up a trip, unless it’s a bucket list item that you want to surprise them with. We have to understand that a teenager is just dipping their toes in the adult world and does require our support in order to make decisions, and will often act out in response to not being involved in a decision. It sometimes is a lose-lose situation.
Bearing that in mind, allow your teen to do the bulk of the research before the trip. This should include hotels, itineraries, places to eat, places of interest, activities and shopping. It also helps if you allocate a budget for each day, which helps with planning. Allow at least one activity of their choice, irrespective of cost (if you can afford it). I allowed going up Table Mountain, on our first trip to Cape Town, and quad biking in the desert, in Sharm el Sheikh. As her parent, I had an even better time than she did. The same goes in relation to places to eat, I tried a lot of new things due to my child’s curiosity. We need to remember that our children also teach us.
Avoid planning things that begin at the crack of dawn. Your teenager will be moody and cranky, and no one will enjoy that outing.
Like having a toddler, have teenager-friendly snacks on hand. A thermos flask with iced water is a lifesaver, as well as a sandwich saved from the hotel’s buffet. You can also pack into your luggage biscuits, energy bars, dried fruit, crisps, juice boxes, and biltong for activity-packed days. If you are in a place for more than 3 days, consider going on a grocery shopping run, and allow them to pick a few snacks. This is especially helpful when you are exhausted from a day and lying down & suddenly your child is starving while winding down or watching TV. Occasionally, consider room service.
Have all your COVID-safe things on hand. Sanitiser, tissues, hand lotion, wipes, and soap sheets go a long way in terms of hygiene, and keeping things fresh. This is especially true when it is a summer trip with humidity. Always ask your teenager, before your trip, to lay out their clothes and describe their packing list. Nothing is worse than getting to a destination where they have brought mismatched shoes or left their underwear pouch at home. It comes across as nagging, but allow them to pack under your supervision. Always add 2 or 3 more pairs of clothes and underwear. A full set of clothes including underwear packed as hand luggage adds to your peace of mind.
Pack their travel documentation separately. This also helps them assert responsibility over what they are doing, and you are not micromanaging them. It gives your child a small sense of freedom. In the airport, I normally task my daughter with picking a place to eat or finding a magnet for our fridge. I also insist that she does immigration herself, as well as push her bag & get it checked. As a parent, the first one or two times are daunting as we want to control it all. But it is a holiday, we all have to pull our weight & not task a single person with the entire weight of responsibility. It has helped a lot now, as I am not stuck with a whiny child who does not know how to search for a toilet in the middle of an airport or shopping center.
If you are taking a long international flight, pack your backpack with essentials that you will need during the flight. Things like noise cancellation headsets, neck pillows, toothbrushes, and toothpaste are essentials, and you can add to these, as all teenagers are different. On international flights, pick an airline that you can afford, as well as offers food choices that your child will enjoy. If not, have a meal before boarding, and pack in some snacks. A hungry teenager will spoil your flight.
Don’t forget to make sure that your teenager has some essential comfort throughout the trip to make amazing memories that they will treasure for their life. Travel also builds your child’s personality, and an impression in their young adulthood is something that will last forever.
About the Author
My name is Anaisa. While I was born in Portugal, I grew up, schooled, and worked in Johannesburg, so I am South African in spirit. Currently living in Mozambique for over a decade, and am passionate about seeing the world, one Masjid at a time.
My travel as a single parent will always be economical, yet luxe, and finding amazing halal places to eat. I am always on the lookout for travel tips to share and use and be inspired to travel. I never have less than 3 trips planned at any given time. If you’re wondering, I am a corporate legal professional, and that is what pays the bills.
My insta and tiktok handle is @i_am_anaisa.
