Our Top Tips for Traveling with Twins and How to Choose a Kid Friendly Airbnb or VRBO

Traveling with twins can be an adventure in itself, but with careful planning and the right accommodations, it can also be a rewarding experience for the whole family.

Side note: there is no such thing as “fun for the whole family”. Lol. Seriously, there is always going to be someone who is having a fit about something.

So don’t stress yourself out trying to please everyone.

Instead, what I do, is plan ahead the best I can and try to be prepared for every possible scenario. This will increase the chances that everyone will have a pleasant time.

In this post, we’ll share our tips for traveling with twins and what we look for when choosing the perfect kid-friendly Airbnb or VRBO for your next family getaway.

Click here to plan your next VRBO vacation!

As an affiliate, we may make a small commission from the products we recommend. We will only recommend products we personally use or believe in that have been recommended by twin parents.

Plan ahead

Start planning your trip well in advance to ensure you have enough time to research and book the perfect accommodations.

Consider factors such as destination, travel dates, and length of stay when planning your trip.

How I begin my trip planning:

1. I check the dates of my trip.
2. Then, I search Trip Advisor for all the things to do at our destination during that time.
3. I take a look at the map on Airbnb or VRBO and look for accommodations in close proximity to the attractions we want to visit.

I cannot stress the importance of planning enough. It’s all I feel like I do as a mom.

But the more time you give yourself to scout out the perfect staying accommodations, book flights, and research the area you’ll be staying in, the better prepared and less stressed you’ll be.

I tend to have more anxiety in an unknown situation. Therefore, preparation makes me feel calm, cool, and collected. Especially on travel day.

Choose a Kid-Friendly Destination:

1. Look for destinations that offer family-friendly attractions and activities suitable for children of all ages.
2. Consider factors such as weather, safety, and accessibility when choosing your destination.
3. We are currently planning a roadtrip to Branson, MO in June and last year we drove to Lake Livingston, TX to stay near family. We’ve also flown to Port St. Lucie when the girls were 1.5 to stay at Club Med Sandpiper Bay Resort. We’ve taken a 21 hour roadtrip to Erie, PA and we’ve also driven 12 hours to Denver, CO. At this rate, we are experienced travelers with our twins.

Family Friendly VRBOs for Your Next Trip:

Here are some family-friendly VRBO ideas for your next vacation!

I’ve already pre-sorted them for you by location, if they are recommended for families, and if they have at least 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

Beachfront Family Friendly VRBOs in the United States

Lake Home Family Friendly VRBOs with pools, near attractions, in the United States

Mountain Home Family Friendly VRBOs with wifi in the United States

Pack Wisely:

1. Pack light, but don’t forget to bring all the essentials for your twins, including diapers, wipes, snacks, and entertainment – Amazon Kids Tablets are a necessity for us
2. Use space saver vacuum storage bags to pack pillows, clothes, and other bulky necessities so that they fit snuggly in your suitcase
3. Consider bringing a portable crib or travel bed for your twins to ensure they have a comfortable place to sleep. You can also rent these types of larger items from BabyQuip to make traveling lighter and easier.
4. View our complete packing list on our Amazon storefront by clicking, here

Research Kid-Friendly Staying Accommodations:

1. When choosing a kid-friendly Airbnb, I look for accommodations that are spacious, clean, and equipped with amenities suitable for children.
   • You can actually filter for Airbnb’s that are kid-friendly in the app. (same for VRBO). I always click on this filter before I do my search.
2. Check reviews from other families to see if the Airbnb is suitable for small children and if the host is accommodating to families with children.
3. For the twins, I specifically look at the bedroom sizes of the Airbnb and the furniture that they already have in place.

How I evaluate an AirBnb or VRBO prior to booking:

1. Can two pack n plays fit safely in one bedroom together?
2. Are there room darkening curtains or will I need to pack some?
3. Is the kitchen area large enough for two high chairs (we usually pack travel high chairs that can attach to a regular kitchen chair)
4. Are the kitchen chairs sturdy? (Sounds ridiculous, but you don’t want your travel high chairs to destroy their furniture)
5. Are there enough bedrooms to accommodate everyone traveling? Especially, if you want your twins to have their own bedroom and not share yours.
6. Are there any stairs? If so, can they be gated off?
7. Will Instacart deliver to this location?

Consider Safety, Security, and Cleanliness:

1. Ensure that the VRBO is childproofed and free from potential hazards such as sharp corners, loose cords, and unsafe staircases.
2. If there are staircases, plan to pack a safety gate or rent one from BabyQuip
3. If you will be staying at a waterfront home, look for houses that already have fenced in yards, or enclosed back porches or sunrooms to keep the kiddos contained safely away from the water.
4. Pack life jackets if they will not be provided or arrange to have them at your waterfront destination when you arrive.
5. Check if the Airbnb has smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and first aid kits available for emergencies.
6. How are the reviews on cleanliness? Do travelers complain about their feet getting black from the floor? Are there reported ants or dead bugs?

One of my favorite VRBO’s in Huntsville, TX with a large dining room atrium at the center of the house, perfect for family gatherings.

Look for Family-Friendly Amenities:

1. Choose an Airbnb or VRBO that offers family-friendly amenities such as high chairs, cribs, toys, and baby-proofing supplies. Sometimes these items will be included.
2. Consider the location of the Airbnb and its proximity to family-friendly attractions, parks, and restaurants.

Communicate with the Host:

1. Reach out to the host before booking to discuss any special accommodations or requests you may have for your twins.
2. Ask the host about local recommendations for family-friendly activities and amenities in the area.

I always reach out to the host and ask a question, because I want to see how responsive they are in case we might need anything while we’re staying there (or to see if we really want to book with them in the first place!)

Schedule an Instacart Delivery Prior to Your Arrival:

When we stayed at our VRBO lakehouse on Lake Livingston, I booked an Instacart order to be delivered 2 hours after our arrival

This was probably the smartest thing I’ve ever done. I will never stay at another Airbnb with our family again without doing this first. It makes arrival day SO EASY.

Use our link to receive $10 off your first Instacart order!

A few things to do prior to scheduling your Instacart order:

1. Ask the host of your Airbnb if this is okay to do. (ours was perfectly okay with it!)
2. Download the Instacart app If you have never used it before, click here to receive $10 off your first order!
3. Make sure you adjust the address in your Instacart app to go to your Airbnb rental and not your house!
4. Leave yourself plenty of time to arrive before the grocery delivery so that you won’t have unattended groceries stranded on the porch melting in the sun.

Be Flexible:

1. Traveling with twins can be unpredictable, so be prepared to adapt your plans as needed and be flexible with your itinerary.
2. Allow plenty of time for rest breaks and downtime to prevent meltdowns and keep everyone happy and relaxed.

When we drove to Colorado, our twins both came down with an unfortunate bout of diarrhea. What should have been a 12 hour trip that we intended to split up into two days of 6 hours each, ended up taking us more like 16-18.

Anything like this can happen. Try to be flexible with your intended arrival time or leave with plenty of extra time to spare.

Traveling with twins may seem daunting at first, but with careful planning and the right accommodations, it can be a fun and memorable experience for the whole family!

By following these tips for traveling with twins and choosing a kid-friendly Airbnb, you can ensure a stress-free and enjoyable vacation that everyone will cherish for years to come. Happy travels!

Remember to grab our travel essentials, here!