Today, I sat down with Jessica Bary, mom of three, who makes family travel look easy. Her effortless ease and magnetic energy is tangible. Upon meeting Jess, I knew she had stories to share. She’s a Belgian native who has traveled the world. She learned English in Australia at the young age of 19. Down under, she met her Californian husband – the two have traveled from tiny islands in the Pacific to South America and all throughout Europe. Not only is she an experienced traveler, she has made much of her travels with three adorable boys in tow – now ages six, eight, and ten. Any boy momma out there knows this is no easy feat, as boy energy is real! While her roots are now firmly planted in California, she returns to visit family each year in Belgium, France, and Spain. When it comes to travel, practice makes perfect and Jess has certainly perfected the art of family travel. Let’s dive in and hear Jess’ top tips regarding family travel!

L+V: Tell us a little about yourself and your favorite way to travel.

J: I’ve been traveling back to Europe every summer for the past 15 years. I’m one of four and my family lives near Brussels. Our vacations usually start in Belgium and we make weekend trips between my father’s home in Normandy, France, and my mom’s home in Southern Spain. We typically stay between four to six weeks each summer.

L+V: You have traveled with kids for the past ten years; how do you survive airplane travel? Do you have any tips or recs?

J: The flight is always the most challenging part. I usually look for the best pricing and I’m open to layovers. There is never a direct flight to Brussels, where my family is from, so we usually fly to London or Ireland and hop over from there. My big thing is getting to our home base in Brussels and figuring it out from there. We often fly with Air Lingus into Ireland – they are so nice. One tip is, one-hour layovers DO NOT work with three kids! We have been known to sprint through an airport to make our connection. It sucks. Last time, I had to run like crazy and cut the whole security line. I told them my flight was leaving in 35 minutes, and they sympathized with me because I had three kids… Definitely not worth the stress. Now, I try to find flights with 2-to-3-hour layovers that give us enough time to grab a bite, use the restroom, and regroup.

L+V: How do you pack for a family of five for six weeks?

J: I usually check one big bag for the whole family. The kids have their roller backpacks with toys, etc. We’ve tried to carry on, but I eventually end up with all the bags. Trust me, you don’t want to carry all their gear through the airport, especially if you have to sprint to your gate! However, I do have a hack: I tie this bungy-like cord around all three bags. I look like a bag lady, but it makes my life SO much easier!

L+V: So, once your home base is established in Belgium, you pop over to France and Spain. Do you have a favorite small airline you typically use?

J: It depends on the season and where we are going. If I had the choice, I’d choose Easy Jets. Some airlines can be super strict and will charge you for any extras – like if your bag is slightly too big. My brother-in-law just told me about all these cool nighttime trains called European Sleeper. It’s a more eco-friendly way to travel. You board at night and have your own sleeper car. They have a restaurant and bar onboard. So, you are essentially resting while you get to your destination. It’s like a hotel. I love it because your travel time can be spent partying or sleeping or having dinner!

L+V: You have been traveling for so many years. Can you give readers some tips on surviving long-haul flights with three kids? What have been the most difficult ages?

J: The most brutal age by far is 12 months to 2 years old. Although it is possible, I dreaded travel at this age. They can’t talk or express their feelings; sometimes, they just screech for no reason. They are not into screens at this age, which is great, but it makes the 10-hour flights rough. If you can swing it, I think buying a whole seat for their car seat is the way to go. Hopefully, they can sleep a little, and you don’t have to hold them the entire time. When they are super little, you can request the front seat in the plane, the bulkhead, which has a little bassinet, and that’s nice. Now that our kids are older we like to sit near each other but not all in the same row, which usually leads to brotherly fights. I prefer to sit two by three or just across the aisle.

L+V: You flew home alone with the three boys (you deserve a medal!) Was it smooth sailing?

J: Honestly, there is always a moment when someone freaks out. Either someone is too tired or had too much screen time or is hungry. I’m constantly pivoting and adjusting, but we always get there. The plane always lands, and we regroup. The kids are always happy to arrive at our destination and excitement outweighs the tantrums.

L+V: Let’s talk gadgets. What are your go-to travel accessories?

J: There is this French story box brand Lunii. It’s cool because there is no screen, and the kids can customize their own stories. You can hook it up to headphones and listen to it afterward. It’s awesome. But at this point, my older kids are more into movies and games on their tablets.

L+V: How long does it take for your kids to return to normal after traveling for so long?

J: When they were little, it would take about a week. It’s always an adjustment, but it only takes a few days now that they are older.

L+V: This summer, you flew to Belgium and then spent some time in France and Spain. Can you tell us about your favorite moments from your trip?

J:  I enjoyed our time in Spain. My mother’s house is incredible. She purchased it in 2019 as a rental property and designed it with a Spanish-casa-meets-bohemian-beach vibe. It sleeps 16 and is just amazing. The boys and I love being there. She passed away a few years ago, so when I’m there, I feel really connected to her. It’s called La Finca de Véro (after my mom, Véronique). It is located in a small rural town called Barbate, in the province of Cádiz. When you are there, you feel like a local. It’s just five minutes from the beach and close to many great restaurants. We love visiting this part of Spain because children are so engrained in the culture. They are welcome everywhere. It’s not unusual to see kids out at 10 o’clock at night dining with their parents. The culture loves and supports families and children. 

L+V: What’s your next bucket list place, with or without kids?

J: I’d love to go back to Greece as a family. It’s so magical. My kids haven’t been, but I know they would love it. When we travel, we like to take our kids to places that are very culturally different. Our boys speak English and French; I think it is so important to immerse them in other cultures to hear other languages as it is part of our lives as dual citizens.

Thank you so much for your insight and chatting with me today, Jessica. We can’t wait to see what adventures you and your family have in the future.

With love,

Lue + Vue

Recap:

• Layover tip: 2-3 hours tops!
• Place to stay: La Finca de Véro – Beautiful rental near Cadiz, Spain.
• Hardest ages to fly: 12months – 2years.
• Favorite travel accessories: Story Box