From her professional life as the CEO of Citibabes and her personal life on the road, Tracey Frost Rensky has collected a wealth of insider tips and favorite activities that make traveling with children as painless as possible. Here are a few of her favorites:

2. Bring something new that your child has not played with yet and surprise them with it for the long journey. They will be entertained for hours!

3. Pack extra clothes for the long flight. Bring things that you can layer, like leggings and cotton t-shirts and don’t forget to pack some extra items for yourself.

4. Don’t over pack. Remember, take just the necessities. Often, I cut down my list 3 or 4 times before I actually pack.

5. Don’t underestimate the power of your child’s favorite book or DVD! This will come in very handy when you’re trying to get your child to sleep in a strange place at a strange time. And buy a portable DVD player with the longest battery life possible.

6. Pack a travel activity kit! Citibabes’ prepackaged fun packs come with everything you need to keep children occupied for hours: a coloring book, activity pad, crayons, bubbles and a puzzle!

7. Create a travel journal. Before we leave, I buy my children blank art journals and print out maps to paste onto the pages. During the trip, we collect mementos like receipts, ticket stubs and brochures, and our children take photos to glue into their journals.

8. But most of all have FUN! Travel is a great way to connect as a family, enrich your children’s lives, foster a lifelong love of travel and make memories that last a lifetime!

Tips from Tracey Frost Rensky, Mother, CEO & Co-Founder of Citibabes & CitiSchool, and Parenting Expert