Lightly Travelled

We admit it: holidaying with young kids often turns out to be more relocation than vacation.

But you’ve already built up your courage after reading our SavvyMom Guide to Family Travel and you know that a change is as good as a rest. So get away, but take heed of these services that can simplify your journey.

Seven o’clock bedtimes don’t really spell vacation to us. Resigning yourself to the kids’ schedule doesn’t have to happen thanks to mom-run Nannies on Call. For over a decade, Nannies on Call has been offering a solution for all of us who want to have our cake (fun with the kids) and eat it too (fun without the kids). Expertly screened, bonded and insured nannies are available for one night, one week, or longer (they offer a permanent caregiver placement service as well) in Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria and Whistler.

Babies and toddlers require more gear than a small army invading a remote island. (Did someone say remote island?) Enter Wee Travel, a Canadian company that rents everything from car seats to cribs to baby beach cabanas. Operating in Toronto, Vancouver and Victoria, (Calgarians have Little Traveller), Wee Travel offers rentals for as little as a day or as long as you need. Have items delivered to the airport or to your destination in each of the above cities so you hit the ground running with products that are meticulously clean and in perfect working condition. Browse through their online retail store to see what you can leave at home and it’ll take the hassle out of handling all the awkward, bulky stuff you’ll need on your relocation—er, vacation.

You’ve arrived and you all survived. Now what? Even seasoned travellers can benefit from Tonic Travel, a concierge service that tailor-makes itineraries to help you all get the most out of a city you barely know, or thought you knew well. Tonic Travel currently operates in Toronto, Vancouver, Whistler, New York and London and they take their expert knowledge of these great cities to provide you with a well thought-out, fun and organized itinerary packed full of experiences. Fill out a profile with some practical information and together with you (for a fee) they will provide you with a minimum half-day of adventures and excursions for your entire family to enjoy. Someone else doing all the local legwork? Sign us up!

It’s often said about travel that “It’s the journey, not the destination”. Make it easy all around with services that will save your sanity en route and beyond.

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