Travelling With Children

You want to take the kids away on holiday, but the very thought of travelling with children can seem like an ordeal. There are a few simple tricks that can make getting to, from and around your destination a little easier on everyone, and make the whole family enjoy their travelling a bit more.

Picking the Right Place for Travelling With Children

Rule number one of travelling with children is to do your homework before you go and make sure that any resort, hotel or destination you choose is family friendly. There’s nothing worse than disapproving looks from honeymooning couples or elderly visitors when the kids are getting boisterous.

You can get good deals with a lot of family friendly hotels – some will let kids go free as long as they stay in their parents rooms, which obviously works well for smaller children. There are often deals on half price children’s rooms at certain times of the year too.

Save more money when you’re travelling with children in tow by looking for holidays that include free meals for children in the price of the room. You’ll also need to find out in advance about the availability of babysitting services if you have very little ones, crèches, kids' clubs and things for the kids to do.

Essentials When Travelling With Children

It might sound obvious, but since October 1998, children need their own separate passports, even if they under 16.

When you book your travel, and you’re thinking of the flights, think of the children, their fidgeting, and the other passengers. Try to keep your travel itinerary simple, and book direct flights wherever possible. If you can, try to travel at night so that the children will (eventually) sleep through the journey.

Travelling With Children - During The Journey

On a flight, pack some suitable child friendly snacks and drinks for the flight, to stop the kids getting fidgety, dehydrated or too hungry and irritable. Try bananas, raisins, breadsticks, juice, and dried fruit for easy portable food ideas.

Make sure that you have baby wipes with you just in case of any little accidents and a bib for the very little ones to keep clothes and the plane clean!

If you are driving, it will at least give everyone the chance to stop for regular toilet and stretching of legs breaks. Take toys and other familiar items with you if you have a baby or toddler, to placate them if they get fractious.

Keep plastic bags in the boot or in a bag in the car. They will be a Godsend if you have to transport anything messy or wet to and fro, like nappies, wet bathing suits, or half-eaten, lollipops.

Children On Holiday – Keeping Them Amused

• It’s best to only plan a few big activities, to avoid stressing or tiring out younger children.
• Check the safety of the room you’re allocated as soon as you arrive.
• Put together a ‘Kiddie Kit’ to take with you, including items such as sunscreen and a sun hat, pillows for naps, cream for cuts and scratches, plasters, after sun and Calpol.
• You could also consider putting together an activity bag for travelling with children – it will help on car journeys and also if the kids get bored with the beach and want to do something else. Include favourite toys, games, and books, and special ‘holiday toys’ to surprise them with and keep them quiet!

Travelling with Children needn’t be a nightmare, if you go prepared!