Kid & Coe-the only way to travel with kids

Escape to Tuscany & stay in this  14th Century palazzo from Kid & Coe

With winters chill still lingering in the air & traces of snow still on the ground in Brooklyn, many of us are craving an escape from reality to warmer temperatures.  Que Kid & Coe, the answer for discovering amazing vacation rentals tailored to showcase breathtaking family friendly homes from  around the globe.  Kid & Coe was created by Zoie Kingsbery Coe out of necessity.  "We were on tour in Sydney as a family (side note: she managed her husbands music career) and were lucky enough to be checking into the Four Seasons, planning to stay there for a few weeks.  Within two days we realized it wasn't going to work for us as a family.  Once Luca was asleep at night we were tiptoeing around him in the dark, whispering so we wouldn't wake him.  I think all parents who have stayed in hotels with their kids know this scenario.  We also realized we wouldn't be cooking any healthy home cooked meals and we just needed more space to enjoy our family time together."

So began Kid & Coe a beautifully curated site that includes an inside scoop on each residence such as-a "What We Love" section & a "Things to Know" section that make discovering your next getaway painless & easy.

We had the opportunity to interview Zoie Kingsbery Coe & get the skinny on the coolest family travel site out there as well as travel tips for our bebe birds.:

Kingsbery Coe with her Family

Bebe Birds (BB):  Hi Zoie!  Can you tell us what was your inspiration was when creating Kid & Coe?

Zoie Kingsbery Coe (ZKC): While in Sydney and staying at the Four Seasons we realized it wasn't going to work for us as a family.  I then I started the process of looking for an apartment to rent, it took days.  Most were unsuitable for young children. I had to go personally and check them all out.  When we found something that did work I then had to source a baby equipment rental firm to kit us out with high chairs, stair gates & the rest. It took a whole week out of our trip to get to that point.

But then everything opened up.  As soon as we were situated, it felt like all of Sydney was our Sydney. We had a base to find local fresh grocers, nearby playgrounds, farmers markets & cafes.

That's how it started. From that I realized that staying in a house as a family was the way to go.  Spending too much time going through uninspiring websites and looking at uninspiring houses that claimed they were family-friendly made me realize there was a real lack in the market for people who need the space of a home the most.  And Kid & Coe is an elegant solution for traveling families

BB:  What can those traveling with children expect when booking their lodging through Kid & Coe? 

ZK: Each of our properties are varied & suited for different age ranges of children.  What's family friendly to a family with a two year old might not be appropriate for a family with teenagers-family friendly is an imprecise description, really.  We hope to serve both.  We present our information clearly so families can find what's right for them-for a family with younger children, they might want a property with a pool gate; for those with teenagers, space & privacy may be higher on their list of wants.

A beautiful family friendly residence in Amsterdam-The Verheijstraat Residence from Kid & Coe

BB:  What are some of the criteria required to be featured on Kid & Coe? 

ZKC:  We're keen to take applications from homes around the world and are constantly adding new properties.  We consider a variety of factors: how large they are, whether they have kid-friendly appeal, location, as well as what they look like.  They don't have to look like the pages of an interiors magazine, necessarily, but they do have to look comfortable.  The main criteria is thaat our team would want to stay there themselves.

BB:  The images showcasing each individual home on Kid & Coe are so beautifully done. Once a home is selected by Kid & Coe what is the process used to capture the beauty, comfort & kid-friendly appeal of the home? 

ZKC:  We use professional photographers to present great images of our homes.  We feel that it's keeping consistent with our desire to clearly present homes- some other websites don't have large enough photos, they are grainy and dark and don't represent the properties as well as they could.

BB:  What are some of the most memorable homes you have curated & featured on Kid & Coe? 

ZKC:  We have a Galapagos Safari for families on the site & a Patagonian ranch-not normally places that would jump out at you as a place to explore with kids!  We hope to help families think outside of the box when traveling with kids.  We also have a property in Cape Cod in an old windmill that is fabulous.

Galapagos Safari in Santa Crux, Galapagos from Kid & Coe

The Windmill Residence in Cape Cod from Kid & Coe

BB:  Many of those who work at Kid & Coe have traveled the world with their children.  Can you share some of the most kid friendly cities you have visited? 

ZKC: I think Sydney is the most kid-friendly city I've visited-there's such a wealth of things to do-beaches, aquariums, zoos, Chinatown.  It's the perfect collision of nature & the city.  My family is also huge fans of Ibiza.  Lo, our creative director & co-founder really loves Tel Aviv; Nicole, our communities manager, is a fan of Puerto Rico, David, our Customer Service Directors, loves Greece; And Laura, our communications manager, loves Iceland. We've got travel experience all over the planet.

BB: What are some of your travel tips when traveling with the little ones? 

ZKC:  You can't underestimate the novelty of fun little presents on the airplane. I usually buy play dough (perfect airplane toy), little sticker books, stacking cups for a game of "hide the goldfish".  We wrap our  little gifts up to make the process really drawn out.  I'll be honest, I also let mine watch as much TV as they want on long airplane rides. The main thing for international travel is to acclimate to the local time as soon as possible and keep your kids in natural daylight as much as you can.    

BB:  What are the future plans with Kid & Coe?

ZKC:  We hope to continue to grow our property listings while being able to maintain the curated element.  We also hope to provide more content in terms of our City Scout guides and envision it being a community generated feature.  Who better to tell you what cafes and parks to discover in Amsterdam than a momma from Amsterdam!  We also hope to introduce our blog in the not too distant future and collaborate with inspiring & creative blogs like yours!

Family friendly villa in  Bahia Brazil from Kid & Coe

Thank you Zoie!  Bebe Birds loves what you're doing!  To learn more and plan your next family getaway visit Kid & Coe!  Safe travels!  

The Sun Was Bright

Getting Ready to Board Virgin America from LAX to NYC (notice pink lights) 

Last week, during the quiet hush that had taken over this blog, we (Bebe, Papa & I) packed our bags and boarded the chic Virgin America airline (synth in the background, please) for San Clemente, California -a lovely little beach town between LA and San Diego that we find ourselves continuously going back to for a visit.  San Clemente, where Papa and I fell in love, where peace of mind settles in when sitting on the beach or enjoying a cappuccino at our favorite little breakfast spot La Galette Creperie next to the pier.  We visit because we are close to Bebe Birds Nana & Papa's Mama and it's easy for our family and friends to join us for some surf and sun.  The weather and beach town lifestyle is beautiful & peaceful and reminds us that somtimes cities do, in fact, sleep and that's ok too.

At his ripe young age of 2.5years Bebe Bird has racked up some serious air miles.  He's flown from NYC ------> LAX & back again almost a handful of times and to Mexico and back twice.  The kid flies like a pro. Not that there wasn't any crying. But he has a been there done that kind of a vibe that comes off of him as he boards the plane and now takes his seat even buckling his own seat belt.  Did you read it...his own seat with a T.V. and head sets too big to fit his 2.5 year old head but still exciting.  He entertained himself, reading books, playing on the tablet and then trains.  We were stoked. I almost felt like the lady I had seen in Mexico reading a book on the plane while her bebe bird watched a movie-quietly. (key word being "quiet").

Ready for Take Off

I wont bore you with too many details of our trip just yet. Ill save those for a later post. But wanted to share with you the beauty & chaos of our real life while the hush of the blog lingered for a moment. 

Enjoy!

California Dreamin' from Nicole Keating on Vimeo.

From One Mama to Another-Meet Natalie

Natalie & her two daughters, Gisele & Charlotte

Meet Natalie Rooney, a mama, children's wear designer and former New Yorker now living in the South of France with her two daughters Gisele & Charlotte.  She's also the creator & designer behind the whimsical children's line Océane Manon, lounge wear for girls and babies with an old world charm.  

Océane Manon's cotton apron, $52 & cotton dress, $65, both at oceanemanon.com

Why we love her?

She inspires us!  She's a well traveled mama not afraid of taking chances.  About a year and a half ago she took a leap of faith moving her daughters 5 years and 10 years at the time from the Untied States to the South of France. "When it comes to dreams, I feel we must try to follow them in order to wake them into reality." 

Gisele's Time Out children's book, $25 at oceanemanon.com

On the Move: 

A long time believer that she would never leave Manhattan Natalie found inspiration after a trip to Florida and realized that " Living in Manhattan seemed to hold a lot of gravity and it felt like it was holding us within it's skyscrapers.  Once we moved out, living in the warm weather, near the beach, in a house rather than an apartment was a lot easier with a toddler.  We enjoyed breathing in the fresh air, noticing flowers, the stars at night, nature in general."

Then, a few years after the birth of her second daughter, Charlotte, Natalie decided to follow a life long dream to move to the south of France with her children while they were young enough to easily acquire a new language.  She goes on to explain, "Sometimes it feels like windows of opportunities come open, moments perhaps, and I worried we might let the chance go by and never do it.  So I made a push, I did lots of research for schools and different towns until I felt I found the right one, Uzès. I took a leap of faith and decided to try it for 3 months.  You see, 3 months was affordable enough without having to risk everything in case we didn't like it."  

Natalie's home in Uzès

Greatest joy since moving to France: 

"The biggest joy has by far has been hearing my kids speak French, not only with their friends shouting playfully during recess, but even little arguments between them in the back of the car! And being able to travel so easily.  We've already visited so many countries .

Gisele in Avignon

                                                           

Climbing ruins instead of monkey bars

Why we love Océane Manon? 

We simply love the sheer white cotton that make up many of Océane Manon's clothing.  We find it to be both dreamlike & charming. Each garment is hand stitched in India using techniques passed down from artisans who made clothing for the Rajas.  The fabric is called Khadi, and was made known to the world by Ghandi.  It is extremely light, but also strong.

Océane Manon's embroidered cotton lounge dress, $122, at oceanemanon.com 

Life in America vs. Life in France: 

• On Parenting: In France there is a strong sense of a united culture. It is a much older country and has a lot more history.  This creates a more unified culture with perhaps less differences than we are used to in the States.  France respects its traditions, the order of life, when to eat, how to eat, what to do in certain social situations, how to respond to common behaviors from children.  There is a lot less room for error within the framework - limits are already set.  A lot less guesswork.  You raise your kids not too differently from the way you were raised.  I find less imagination, less freedom, less open mindedness, less tolerance, fewer educational options, and a lot less thinking outside the box.  In America, particularly in New York, there are many varying ways to raise children.  We take it for granted that our neighbor has different rules about table manners or jumping on furniture, politeness, and so on.  I like the freedom to make my own rules as a parent, and to follow my maternal instinct.  All that being said, i do find French moms chic and sophisticated, and their children probably do have better manners than American kids.  And for sure the French kids outdo Americans in their wardrobe!
• On Food: The French have a lot of respect for food, there are certain ways and times to eat certain things. And no doubt about it, French kids eat all kinds of foods American kids would never even look at.  It seems to be adult food is given as early as possible.  Mixed up, with all the flavors, and certainly not with veggies on the side, separated from the pasta for example.  It would not surprise me to see a French 3 year old eating escargots.  I do have to admit I have seen New York kids eating sushi.  
• On Work:  "The town I'm in, Uzès is extremely creative.  The attitude towards work and money is much more casual than in New York.  That's actually an understatement.  They close down everything for 2 hours at lunch and are also less service or success oriented.  The customer is not always right here.  It is less motivating in terms of financial success, but helps to balance joie de vivre with work life."

Traveling with children: 

• Get a passport right away for everyone in the family and book a trip immediately.  One step at a time and you will eventually get to where you are going. 
•  Be more flexible with the baby's schedule and let them sleep on the go whenever they want.
•  Pack less clothing because traveling is not a fashion show. Plus, most places may have anything we might forget.
• Let the kids choose something fun to play with at the airport shop.
• Try to choose non-stop flights.
• Each kid gets her own carry-on and is responsible for pulling it around and not forgetting it somewhere.
•  Don't be afraid to let them sit on their own on the plane.  They are less needy and cranky seated next to strangers and do surprisingly well.
•  Let them eat junk food on the plane.  I used to pack fruit and carrots and stress about that.  When we travel I let them eat whatever they want till we arrive in the hotel.  The next day they know we have to eat salad, drink water, and clean up our insides a bit.  It is such a big relief to let go of anything I can when traveling.  
•  Skip activities with long lines.  Don't expect things to go smoothly or over schedule the day.  Sometimes a good activity is just getting a gelato in Italy and watching people go by while the kids chase pigeons.  They will remember that more than the museum visit.  You all probably will.

What's Next:
Our plans for the future are to move onwards and have a new european experience.  Starting in September, Océane Manon will be based out of England.  Nothing should change much regarding the business except for some adjustment in shipping.  You see, my two children are very different from one another, as with most siblings.  They will follow very diverging paths.  I've begun to question education so much that I wonder why certain information is chosen as the "right" information to teach kids, and why they each need to learn that same information.  I want to trust my childrens' interests and natural inclinations enough that it is reflected in what they learn, as well as how they learn it.  This nurturing of out of the box thinking is something I feel is not valued much in France, or at least is not something I found in any schools.  So, we are moving to a town in Devon, England.  It's also in the countryside, rural, but with progressive, forward thinking towns where we can find this kind of flexible education, organic markets, and open minds.  I'm looking forward to seeing the kids blossom when their schooling will allow for this kind of new growth.  It will also be fun to have a new adventure and meet new people.

Océane Manon's cotton jumper, $tk & Indian cotton towel, $53 at oceanemanon.com

Thank you Natalie!  Bebe Birds loves ya!  To get your little one these beautiful cotton pieces, perfect for summer visit Océane Manon. 

Bebe Bird Takes Flight

Bebe Bird is a traveler.  Not a necessarily a little Jolie-Pitt  type of traveler but a traveler non the less.  In his year and a half on this earth he has flown approximately 10 times.  I write 10 because I count each transfer as one...and by god do they count.  Most of his flights consist of a full day of traveling (to and from California to visit his Nana Bird or to Mexico to visit an Uncle type of travel).  While racking up these air miles with Bebe Bird in tow Ive picked up some things along the way that have kept him happy and me sane.  And in the end isn't it always best to keep a Mama Bird sane?

Top 10 Flight Tips when Traveling with Bebe Birds

1.  Keep their routine the same.  This helps them feel safe and secure.  If they nap at a certain time have them nap on the flight at that time. If they eat a snack after they wake then give them their snack. If you are flying over time zones stay consistent with the time zone of the city you recently left. 

2. Snacks are key! Keep their belly full.  Most airlines allow you to bring a travel carry on bag for your Bebe Bird.  Fill it with snacks and water.  Stock up! If you aren't one for lugging around snacks you can always pick things up at the airport once you are checked in.  

3.  Bring new unopened toys on the flight with you.  You can pick things up from the $1 store.  You’re not spending much money and kids love opening up and playing with new toys.  It keeps them occupied for some time. 

4. Ear plugs for the passengers around you... just in case your bebe bird has had enough and wants everyone to know about it. 

5.  Bring an Ipad or any tablet. You can download movies and games. This keeps them entertained for quiet a long time. A mother on a recent flight was next to me  with her 3 year old son.  She pulled out the ol' iPad turned on a movie for the 3 year old to watch and proceeded to whip out a  novel for herself.  A novel! With ease she read.  Her bebe bird was happy and entertained.  And I looked on impressed. 

6. Cure for ear popping: Try Lollipops for the little guys who are past the nursing/bottle feeding stage. The lollipops help with the popping of the ears as do earplugs designed just for babies.

7. Books to read-some ol’ favorites and new ones. 

8. Request a bulk head seat. Often you pay a bit more (not much) but it's totally worth it.  It gives you plenty of leg room to lie a blanket down and put some toys on the ground so Bebe Bird can play. If you don't want to pay more request the bulk head when checking in. Sometimes they have them available and give it up for free.

9. Sit near the window.  In case your bebe bird is so inclined to stand for a bit you can put them down in front of you without worrying about them getting away and running down the aisle greeting fellow passengers.  

10. A glass of wine for you and everyone around you. Can be the cure to a happy flight ;)

Sit back relax and enjoy.  Safe Travels!

*Please share additional tips that have worked for you when your Bebe Bird has taken flight.