Travelling with teens is one of the most enjoyable, amusing, rewarding and challenging experiences that any parent will undertake.
I know. last year saw me travelling the world for a year with my husband and our 16 and 13-year-old kids. I couldn’t have done it without wine and a comfy neck pillow for me, travel gadgets for my husband and a few teenage travel essentials for them.
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I have said thanks more than a hundred times for investing in the sanity-saving (ours and theirs) products that we bought for our teenagers before we set off from New Zealand on our travels.
We were also been lucky enough that family and friends bought our kids some fabulous travel gifts that have come in really handy.
Travelling With Teenagers.10 Items To Keep Everyone Sane.
As you know, teenagers love anything gadgety, but they are also kept entertained for hours on end by a simple puzzle toy. That’s why I’ve included both of those things in the post.
We have been saving for a long time to be able to travel with our teenagers so I scrutinized and compared the cost of everything before I let go of my hard-earned money.
Whether you are planning your next summer holiday together as a family, sending your teen off on summer camp or taking a huge leap and travelling long term as a family, I have compiled a list that will save yours and your teenagers sanity.
And everything here is what we travel with personally. I promise. Take a look at my recommendations for essential items when travelling with teens.
#1 Bluetooth Portable Speaker
Teenagers and music.
My teenage boy couldn’t live without his JBL Flip 3 Portable speaker.
You can connect up to three smartphones or tablets to it meaning that his sister can also share the music (and the love if he’s feeling kind).
It has a built-in rechargeable battery which lasts for up to ten hours – essential for when you are travelling. The sound is really impressive; it has a beautiful rich tone.
My teenage son uses it on ferries (it’s also splashproof which is ideal) on the beach and in his room at night. It’s small enough for a travelling teenager to pop into their flight bag. Plus of course, they look cool – which let’s not forget is essential.
— Click here for prices
#2 Frisbee
Unbeknown to me, frisbee is a very cool sport amongst travellers.
And, lucky for us parents, it’s cheap and lightweight, fitting easily between the clothes in the rucksack.
For the travelling teenager to look cool, there is no other frisbee than this one — Click here for prices
#3 Kindle
I’ve talked about my love of the Kindle Paperwhite many times before on this blog.
l adore it and so do my kids.
It is one item on this list that I couldn’t do without.
The kindle paperwhite weighs just 205 grams. Perfect for the travelling teen. Let’s face it, they don’t like to carry too many heavy things — Click here for prices
#4 Photography Gear For The Travelling Teenager
Teenagers and phones.
They never travel far without them.
I’m sure my two have had them surgically implanted into their palms. And it seems the more gadgets they can attach to their phones the better. But here’s a little add-on that you will be happy you purchased.
No more asking Dad if she can use his very expensive – and therefore highly treasured iPhone because it takes better photos.
This little gizmo is the answer to great teenage photography. It turns taking everyday photos into art by using a 0.4x super wide-angle lens that expands the field of view. Meaning that the teenager can get more of their travelling friends into the picture! — Click here for prices
#5 The Cube
Who would have thought that this 1980s phenomenon would be entertaining our teenagers forty years later!
If you are travelling with teenagers I insist that you take this Rubix cube with you.
I have lost count of the number of hours my son and daughter have spent fiddling with this addictive puzzle, leaving us to plan the next part of our trip. Whenever there is a train delay or an overnight bus to take (hence no wifi) they always reach for it.
— Click here for prices
#6 Portable Battery Charger
Never hear the words “my phones flat!’ again. If you are travelling with teens, then no doubt you will be taking a lot of gadgets with you.
With four phones and an iPad to charge every day, there wasn’t any way we could travel with teenagers without this portable battery charger.
This super powerful little gadget that weighs no more than a can of soup can charge the iPhone 7 almost seven times, the Galaxy S6 five times, or the iPad mini 4 twice. It recharges itself within 10 hours — Click here for prices
#7 Waterproof case for Phone
. I bought one each for my teenagers when we set off on our travels and I find myself congratulating myself on the choice!
The case creates a secure seal around your teenagers’ device and is waterproof, dirtproof and dustproof. The best thing is (for the teenager of course) is that the touch screen function still works perfectly while in the bag.
Your travelling teen will use this whenever they are near water. In fact, I’m sure my 16-year-old teenage boy takes it in the shower with him — Click here for prices
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Remember, everything you see on this page are all things that my family uses personally. For the sake of all our sanity.
If you are planning to travel with teenagers you are going to have a ball! They are the best company ever. Just don’t forget to pack some patience and a sense of humour. And if at all possible, lots of wine. Happy travels!
Very informative! I’m off out tomorrow to try and get some charcoal powder.. and I’m not even going anywhere!!!
But you’ll have white teeth and soft hair! x
Like Linda, I too am going to purchase the Charcoal Powder!! you couldn’t have planned your gadgets and things to keep Tessa and Sonny occupied any better than this.. well done Lizzie and Brian xx keep the posts coming – I love to read them xx
Its fabulous stuff Les! Make sure you use my link if you buy it and then I can afford a glass of wine! xx
Super informative, as time is passing by so fast. We travel with our 9 and 8 years old boys, so I need to get prepared. And I needed a waterproof case for my Phone. Thanks a lot! PS: we loved New Zealand and would like to come back for a longest and slower tour. Where do you live?
Thank you Alina! We live in the West of the North Island in a place called Taranaki. It’s not on the tourist run (yet) which is why it is so unspoilt and beautiful. You are more than welcome to come and see us if you make it down here. (Just wait until after November though!) x
You convinced me with that Charcoal Powder, too. I’d definitely purchase a jar or two. Our next family trip is still half a year away because school ends in June. But these are the items my teens can’t do without—their gadgets, neck pillow, eye mask, GoPro, antibacterial hand wipes, sunscreen lotion, mints, Tums, selfie stick. I think they would love to have a Portable Solar Battery Charger, too. Thanks!
Thanks for your comment Nena! I was sitting next to a woman at dinner yesterday and she started telling me how you can’t buy Tums in India and she was distraught! So. If you are coming to India make sure you pack plenty! Where are you going on your holiday?
I’ve just bought the Lens kit -looks brilliant and such a good price.
This is a great post Liz. Never heard of the charcoal powder but it sounds interesting. When travelling I always have a pot of sudicrem as it treats everything; spots, bits, sunburn, grazes, rashes…..brilliant stuff. ‘Speak’ soon. X
Thank you Sophie. Yes! Sudicrem. Ohhh, I love that stuff. It just reminds me of my babies bums! xx
Liz this is such a great list. My teens won’t even go out in the UK without half this stuff – the portable battery charger is a handbag essential. I am intrigued by the Charcoal Powder. Does it count as alternative?? I may just have to give it a go. We are getting ready to head off to Northern Spain for 10 days, not quite travelling the world but there is always a need to review the essentials list and my eldest is off inter-railing so he could do with some expert advice. Hope you are all well. x
Thank you, my friend, and have a wonderful time in Spain. Promise me you will have a glass of Spanish red for me?? x