How I Survived Traveling to Cabo with a Toddler

Nov 27, 20243 min read

You will never guess the biggest travel hack

This past November, I had the opportunity to attend a beautiful family friend’s wedding in Cabo San Lucas, and let me tell you, it was a trip to remember! But as any parent knows, traveling with a little one—especially to a destination outside the country—can be a so stressful. So, I came up with the ultimate traveling parent hack: I brought my mom along!

My sister, father, and I were all there to celebrate the wedding, but my mom flew in to Nashville the day before we left, ready to help me with Olive on the journey. The travel day was long (aren’t they all?) but it wasn’t unbearable.

Ultimate Travel Tips for Parents: How I Managed a Long Flights with My Toddler

Travel tip for fellow parents: During the winter, Target’s stocking stuffer section is a goldmine!

For under $3 each, I stocked up on a handful of new, small plane toys that kept Olive entertained throughout the flight. And because we’re not an iPad family (no shade to those who are), this little hack was a lifesaver. Thankfully, we didn’t even need the toys on the way to Cabo because Olive slept on both flights (and so did I). It was a win-win!

Once we arrived in Cabo, the days were long, but the nights were full of fun. Balancing the allure of all-inclusive drinks and the social scene with spending quality time with Olive on her first international trip was a challenge, but also a joy. Olive had a lot of firsts on this trip—first time out of the country, first time seeing the ocean, first time in the sand—and it was amazing to witness. I didn’t feel like I missed out on anything, especially since Olive is such a great napper. From 12 pm to 3 pm every day, we could count on a solid few hours to relax by the pool while my she napped—so I could sip on a cocktail and unwind with the adults.

My mom was the biggest help, too. She stayed with Olive after dinner each night so I could attend the wedding events and after-parties. This gave me the freedom to enjoy some adult time while she bonded with my mom—something I knew would create lasting memories for them both.

Family Fun in Cabo: Balancing Wedding Festivities and Baby’s First Beach Experience

Now, let’s talk about the beach. I’ve been dreaming of taking Olive to the beach since before she could walk, and Cabo was the perfect opportunity. Sadly, she was not a fan of the sand. The beach where we were staying had large, coarse rocks, and she wanted nothing to do with it. We quickly opted for a beach chair and an umbrella to relax under, read some books, and enjoy the ocean breeze. It was still such a special moment to be there with her.

Packing for the trip was pretty straightforward. I didn’t need to bring many toys because the resort had everything we needed, and Olive loves her pool hat, pool shoes, and life jacket, so we were set. I did make a rookie mistake, though—forgot to pack pool toys! But we managed just fine. I also made the decision to pack her stuff in her own suitcase for this trip. It worked out so much better than I anticipated, as we had access to everything we needed without having to dig through my own luggage.

One huge lesson I learned? When traveling with a lap infant, the window seat is overrated. The aisle seat was a total game-changer! Trust me, both you and your neighbor will thank me for this tip.

The trip back to Nashville wasn’t quite as smooth as the trip there. We almost had a heart attack when my mom thought she lost her passport, and we had no time between flights during our layover.

Thankfully, we made our connection, but not without a bit of stress and panic. With all the chaos, Olive didn’t sleep on the flight home, so those plane toys came in clutch after all.

We arrived in Nashville around 11 pm, exhausted but with hearts full of amazing memories. That trip to Cabo was worth every second of the chaos. It was an unforgettable experience, and I’m so grateful for the time I got to spend with my family and my daughter in such a beautiful place.