You know how they say traveling with kids is just parenting in a different location? That's definitely true, but it doesn't paint the full picture. For some of us, that escape from everyday life — the getaway — is worth the effort. Not just for our mental health as moms, but for the mental health of our kids as well. Family travel has numerous benefits, and although it might seem like an insurmountably overwhelming idea for many parents, that change of location can be just the thing to reset the family dynamic and give us a chance to put aside the demands of every-day life and spend time bonding with our kids.
I recently had the opportunity to travel to the Caribbean with my children, and I jumped at the chance. My husband deployed with the US Army back in January, so when the opportunity to visit Aurora Anguilla came up, I had already been solo parenting for months, and by the time our departure date rolled around, I'd been doing it for just about half the year.
My kids are 12 and 8 and both heavily committed to sports with competition seasons in the first half of the year, plus there was tons going on as the end of the school year approached, and I work full time. It had been an incredibly demanding season to say the least. To be honest, I wasn't the only one feeling the burnout. My kids were exhausted and cranky and anxious, and really missing their dad.
After checking out the flight options from our home in New Jersey to Anguilla, I knew it would be a bit of a haul, but having traveled with my kids since they were babies, I also knew that once we were there and settled in, it would be worth it. So, a week after the last day of school, we packed our bags and took off … just the three of us.
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Priorities
I realize my kids are older now, so you might be rolling your eyes at me already. But, as I mentioned, I've been traveling with my kids since they were babies. They've both been out of the country multiple times and they've been to dozens of states. They are experienced travelers now, but we've been through all the ages and stages of family travel — including sleeping overnight in the Orlando airport with toddlers — and I still maintain that it's worth it.
In part, that's because traveling and seeing and experiencing the world is important to me. It's been a goal of mine since I was a teenager, and my husband I agreed before we even had kids that we would continue to prioritize travel even after we became parents.
I know it's not easy, especially when your kids are between the ages of 2 and 10, but there are a lot of things that can make traveling with children more manageable and actually enjoyable.
Although my kids have traveled a lot and I've even traveled with them on my own, this trip to Anguilla was my first time taking them out of the country on my own, so it was important that we try to make things as manageable as possible. I would after all, be outnumbered.
Getting There
I'm not gonna lie. Working full time and prepping for a trip out of the country with two kids by myself was a lot. The days leading up to our departure were a challenge, and I got very little sleep. I'm talking like three hours in two days … total. But, I was already exhausted going into it, so what was a few more days when I had paradise to look forward to?
So, I pressed on. I finished out my work week on Friday, got us all packed up, and got the kids in bed for a few hours of sleep before we had to wake up to catch our red-eye. This is actually one of the things that makes a big difference when traveling with kids.
I prefer to catch the earliest flight possible on our departure trip so we have most of the day to get settled once we arrive in a destination. My kids didn't get much sleep the night before, but they both slept on the plane for a bit so when we finally made it to Aurora Anguilla after about 12 or 13 hours of travel, they still had some energy.
Don't Push It
I knew my kids were excited and would have some adrenaline to help them get through the rest of the day, but I also know that they have their limits. So, I planned very little for our first afternoon and evening.
We actually landed in St. Maarten and took a water taxi over to Anguilla — it was only about a 20-minute ride, which was perfect. It was fun for the kids and there was music and refreshments on the boat as well as incredible views to keep them excited and happy.
Plus, once we arrived at Aurora Anguilla, I knew we wouldn't have to worry about a thing. And that's another important reason this trip worked even in the midst of a very chaotic season for our family. Choosing the right destination and right accommodations when traveling with kids makes all the difference.
Sometimes, a rental home and DIYing your entire trip is the move. At other stages of life, the best choice is to have someone else handle the details so you can actually soak it all in and get the rest you so need and deserve as a mama. For me, this was one of those times.
Arriving at Aurora
Literally, choosing a resort that fits my own personal travel preferences (more freestyle than all-inclusive) but that also had everything we could need or want on site, is what actually made this solo trip with two kids feel like a vacation. From the moment I stepped foot on the property I didn't have to worry about a thing.
We stayed in a beachfront suite on the Rendezvous Beach side of the resort (faces Rendezvous Beach rather than Merrywing Beach) and upon our arrival we were met with our own butler. We exchanged phone numbers, and throughout our stay, any time we needed anything at all, I just had to text him and he handled it, from restaurant reservations to shuttle service and everything in between; it was all a breeze.
Our room was spacious and well-outfitted with two double beds, a couch, and a rollaway bed, so the kids had plenty of room to spread out and not annoy each other. Plus, there was a massive balcony overlooking the ocean, so I could sequester myself out there for a bit of peace and quiet.
We were also just steps from the beach and the pool, and my kids were obsessed. When we were in-between activities they always wanted to be at one or the other, and it was so easy because when everyone was exhausted we could be back in our suite for a refresh within minutes. There was no whining or fussing. Maybe a few "five more minutes, please," but that was it.
Staying Close to Our Home Base
We are definitely explorers when we're on vacation and don't typically spend our days on a resort property, but for this particular trip, I really wanted to make sure it would be low-key enough for us to feel recharged.
Anguilla is a tiny island — just 16 miles long and three miles wide — so you're never far from anything. But, the Aurora Anguilla property is so well-thought-out and features so many amenities geared toward adventure and local exploration that you really don't have to venture out to get an authentic experience.
Following our first evening there, we spent several hours the next day at the resort's entertainment park, where locals are welcome and there's a very casual but still upscale vibe. It's located on the Merrywing Beach side of the resort, so we decided to hop on the free bikes available to use throughout the property and rode over. (You can also take a shuttle.) We had a private cabana so we checked in, took a quick water and snack break (snacks and beverages including juice, soda, beer, etc. are included in the cabana rental), and then we hit the water park.
The entertainment park at Aurora Anguilla features a large pool with a zero-entry side, a lazy river, three water slides, and a splash pad for younger kids. My kids wanted to check out everything! As predicted, they spent most of the day going up and down the water slides. I joined them a few times, but one of the things that was so great about this place as a solo parent traveling with kids was that I could see them from pretty much anywhere.
The design allows fairly open views of the entire water park, and if you're at the swim-up bar, you can keep an eye on your kids whether they are at the lazy river, going down a slide, or swimming in the pool. It was so relaxing!
It almost sounds crazy to say that a day at the water park with kids was relaxing … I know. I really was taken aback at how well-designed the whole place was, though. At the entertainment park, there's also a rock-climbing tower, a child care center, and a teen room where older kids can play games, hang out, and cool off. There's something for all ages, which is another detail that adds to the relaxation.
And, you can have food delivered to you anywhere in the park. Two vintage Airstreams have been converted into food trucks that offer all the expected summertime eats. Plus, if you forget sunscreen or water bottles, both are complimentary throughout the park.
Believe it or not, after four hours we took the golf cart shuttle back to the Rendezvous side of the resort and walked straight down to the beach. We didn't even stop in our room. The kids were determined to get some time in the ocean before our dinner reservation.
There is a dedicated staff down on the beach, and as soon as they saw us they came over with towels and asked us if we needed anything. I grabbed a drink and plopped myself on an outdoor lounger. The waves are mild in Anguilla and the water right off the coast doesn't get terribly deep, so the kids were able to splash and swim as much as they wanted and I jumped in occasionally to get in some playtime with them.
Making the Most of the Time We Had
Even with all the opportunities for relaxation — sleeping in and waking up to room service, sunsets on the beach, balcony hangs — our itinerary in Anguilla was still jam-packed. We can't help it … we bore easily. So, we ended up waking up early one day to squeeze in an hour-long private fishing and snorkeling tour led by a staff member at Aurora before the island tour we had planned that day. It was worth the early wakeup. We saw sea turtles and got to explore the coral reef, which was teeming with schools of fish.
After a quick change of clothes, we joined our island tour guide and hopped in an adorable Moke to see Anguilla's most significant historic and cultural sites, we met some locals, and we got to spend some time swimming at the world-famous Shoal Bay Beach, which with its warm waters, ultra-soft sand, and gorgeous scenery did not disappoint.
We got in more swimming and playing than we could imagine possible in four short days. We toured the resort's hydroponic farm, we found our way atop a massive, anchored float set up by the resort and alternated between jumping into the water and sunbathing, we ate to our hearts' content (Aurora has literally the best resort food I've ever eaten), and we passed out by 10 every night.
We easily could have stayed on this island for twice as long and enjoyed every minute of it. What I loved best is that we managed to get our wiggles out and feel like we were on an adventure while still totally feeling like lazy beach bums. After solo parenting for so many months, it was wonderful that so many other people wanted to make my children feel happy and content.
The staff literally went out of their way to make sure my son got a fresh coconut before we departed because he had mentioned it the first day we were there and they didn't forget. I needed that and so did he.
As a longtime traveler, I learned that even though it's always possible to have fun on vacation with kids, there are some things that just make it so much easier, and when you're in desperate need of some R&R, those things are always worth the money and the effort.
