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uthor Ernest Hemingway, a man who did more than his fair share of wandering, declared 'never go on trips with anyone you do not love'.  

People who routinely travel with their loved ones, especially parents with their kids, know that nothing beats the excitement of going places together. Of course, it's not all plain sailing; kids can be moody and restless (there goes the well-planned itinerary).

Parents who have learned from past travels say that it takes smart tricks, favorite snacks, patience and a lot of backup plans for a smooth trip.  

Pangestu Rahayu and her husband involve daughters Salsabilla, 13, and Karenina, 10, in planning their annual holiday.

'All of us can offer a destination and give good reasons on why we should go there. But I usually let my girls decide that, especially when they finish the school year with good grades,' she said.

'Once you have kids, don't forget to involve them in the trip preparation. It is important to build their excitement and keep their good mood.'

Darina Danil concurs on the importance of preparation, including for her daughter Zahra Kamila, 4.

'I ask her help to pack her clothes. That way, she could choose which T-shirts to take. On one of our trips, Zahra decided to take her favorite doll along. I let her because it made her feel comfortable,' she said.

Zahra is already a seasoned traveler; when she was only seven months old, she went with her parents to Carita Beach in Banten, and has also traveled abroad.

If time is an issue, Darina said destinations of choice were closely located cities like Bandung, her hometown, or to head to Bali.

'There are many kid-friendly activities like visiting Taman Lalu Lintas or Floating Market Lembang. We also enjoy the Trans Studio Bandung indoor theme park,' she said.

'We can't get enough of Bali! We can find everything there, the food is great and the scenery is breathtaking.'

For families traveling with kids, Darina suggested that they choose a hotel near the beach, or with private access to the seashore. 'It is best to stay near the beach, so kids can play in the sun and sand whenever they want,' she said.

Anindita Primastari, mother of Azka Aulia Alfano, is another big fan of Bali.

'There are countless choices, from the hotels to tourist destinations,' she said.

'We can take our kids to beaches, Bali Safari and Marine Park, Waterboom or Sea Walker. We can also introduce them to Balinese art through a Kecak dance performance and so on.'

But it's not that Bali is the be all and end of interesting destinations. Anindita also likes the cool mountain town of Malang in East Java.             

'Batu Secret Zoo in Malang was beyond my expectations. It is very well maintained and clean. I could proudly say that the zoo is as good as the ones abroad.'

She also gives a nod to Jakarta, especially Ancol with its varied attractions. A current favorite is the Ecopark which the family visits to enjoy early morning strolls in the fresh air.

'What's important is we enjoy our family time together. It does not matter if we cannot travel too far or do many things during vacations, as long as we have good times.'

Anindita keeps to a relaxed itinerary to take things in stride. However, parents also have to be prepared for when the best laid plans fall by the wayside.

'My son Alif Pradana got sick one day after we arrived in Bangkok for a five-day holiday. He had a fever and kept on vomiting. It was a nightmare for me,' said Santi Pradana.

'Luckily, we had taken health insurance in advance.'

Cooler ' and calmer ' heads are needed in such situations.             

 'Believe me, when the mother starts to panic, her kid will respond to it instantly,' she said.

She advises keeping a record of important numbers of hospitals and the police for emergencies. 'It's also important to take with you the basic medicines for fever, cough and diarrhea, just in case you need them.'