Having kids shouldn’t stop you from travelling and seeing the world. Whether you’re a high impact holiday-goer, a campervan fan, or a lounge-side lizard, your ideal family holiday can be a matter of picking the right destination. Keep reading for some nifty child-friendly travel hotspots.
Travelling with Infants
Travelling with tiny tots in tow can be daunting; ‘how will my baby be on the plane?’ ‘Will the hotel have baby-friendly facilities?’ ‘Will it be too hot?’ ‘Do I need to worry about vaccinations?’ All these questions can have you stressing out before you’ve even booked your airfares. However, with a sprinkle of planning and a good dose of preparation, you’ll be on your way to an easy and stress-free first holiday!
Does the thought of disrupting your baby’s sleeping pattern send shivers down your spine? If so, why not stick to destinations with similar time zones. Restricting the number of time zones you fly through can help you beat the jetlag blues.
City breaks can be ideal for new families thanks to their good transport networks and well-equipped hotels. These days it’s not a stretch to expect family-friendly facilities at most major hotel chains. Look out for accommodation with accessible cribs, babysitters, child-friendly entertainment, pram access and more!
Perhaps you’re after a touch (or plenty) of TLC? After the upheaval of a new addition to the family a luxurious, all-inclusive package deal may be well up your street. When your baby is teeny-weenie a pampering retreat may be just the ticket for your first holiday. Child-friendly retreats can take the hassle out of scheduling all your day-to-day activities. Simply wile away the hours by the pool with a good book whilst your little one luxuriates in the shade by your side. Sound good? We thought so!
Travelling with your infant is perfectly safe and a great way to kick off your new life together as a family. There are all manner of exciting destinations to pick from. Keep reading to find out more.
travelling with toddlers
Are your kids suffering from a case of the terrible twos? You’re gonna need all the help you’re can get (just kidding)! Stick to resorts that cater to families like the Caribbean, Florida (did someone say Disneyland?), the Mediterranean, or even destinations closer to home such as the Gold coast of Australia. They’ll be kids clubs where your toddler can meet new friends, kids pools, activities and child-friendly entertainment.
It’s hard to predict your toddler’s taste but most will love the novelty of a good animal or water park. And beach destination have long been popular choices for families; a bucket and spade can provide hours of entertainment for sand n’ surf loving tots!
If your little one enjoys getting about on daddy’s shoulder or kicking back in a pram, sightseeing city breaks can be equally enjoyable. Mix it up with museums and amusement parks; these can be a great source of visual stimulation and are guaranteed to tire out the most energetic of toddlers.
Travelling with young children
Now your kids are a bit bigger, the real fun can begin! There should be no barriers to travel now that your kids can express where they’d like to go and what they’d like to do. Consider holidays destinations where your younger children can discover new interests, sights and cultures such as Bali, Europe, or even as far as the UK.
Young kids are typically more adventurous so activity planned holidays can be a winning concept. Theme park trips (dare we mention Disneyland again), water parks, bike rides, museums, road trips, walking, trekking and camping would all be great holiday or day trip ideas.
The beach is still a winner with this age-group. Tween love to splash in the waves, dig in the sand and explore new places. The more activity and adventure you can provide them with the better.
Travelling with teens
After the terrible twos, so come the terrible teens (just joking…or are we)? Now your kids are of a ripe age, you can venture out towards some more exotic locations which previously would have been too ‘out there’. The world is now your oyster as they say!
Now’s a good time to consider some more high-octane adrenaline activities. Water babies may be ready to try snorkelling or scuba diving trips and snow bunnies may want to look into skiing, snowboarding. Adrenalin junkies may even be ready to trial more adventurous activities like rock climbing or bungy jumping.
Travelling with teenagers can be really fun and really rewarding so aim high!
Before you know it you’ll be doing the mad dash to the airport with a mountain of suitcases in tow. But before all the fun stuff can happen there’s a lot of travel planning to do. Keeping pre-travel stress to a minimum isn’t impossible, read on to find out more…
The key to any successful family holiday is smart preparation. Apart from packing and paperwork, it’s a good idea to think of any complications that could crop up on your trip put some safety precautions in place to make sure they don’t. So if you’d like to enjoy a stress-free family holiday, check out our helpful hints below…
pre-travel security checks
On average you’ll be delayed about 30 minutes at airport security, and during peak periods these waiting times will only increase! Airlines do not wait for passengers, so make sure you leave plenty of time to make up for any unpredictable hiccups.
If you’re travelling by plane then as a rule of thumb you will need to check-in three hours prior to departure for long haul flights. Two hours are the minimum you’ll need before checking in to a domestic flight. After all, it’s better to be at the airport an hour early than to miss your whole trip.
With so many security rules it’s worth doing a double (or triple) check of your carry-on luggage to make sure no cheeky items have snuck their way in. Restricted items not allowed onboard (in the carriage, not in the hold) include liquids over 50ml, sharp objects, aerosols and more. Each airport will have different rules, so check the laws of the country you’re visiting before you pack any taboo items. You certainly don’t want to have to throw a $200 duty-free bottle of Bolli away due to poor research! Check which items are banned to save time, money and a hassle at customs.
Hygiene on holiday
Kids love to get messy! In some foreign destinations, hygiene standards maybe a little lower than what you’re used to, so it pays to be a bit OCD when it comes to keeping clean. Pack some anti-bacterial wipes and/or hand sanitiser for your trip. Tray tables on planes can get pretty dirty too so pack a spare plastic bowl and cutlery set for your little one…just to be on the safe side.
Calm cruise
Cruise liners are an adventure playground for little nippers. Prepare for the adrenaline rush you’ll get when you first set sail! But with so much to explore on board, so comes risks. Before your boat leaves the port it’s a good idea to have a talk with your kids about the rules of the high seas. Make sure they understand the following no-no’s; running on deck, climbing on balconies or railings, wandering off on their own, or going into other people’s cabins. By sticking to these no-nonsense rules, your kids can stay safe on board while you all relax and enjoy your time at sea.
It might be worthwhile explaining muster drills too - these are important cruise liner procedures that can save lives in the event of an emergency. You should make sure you are familiar where the lifejackets are for all members of the family too.
Cool car travels
Driving in new, unfamiliar settings can be daunting. Road signs in funny languages, foreign road rules and driving on the wrong side of the road just for starters! Finding your way from A-B under these conditions can be a task without having to cope with your kids in the back screaming “are we nearly there yet!?” Within a matter of minutes, your family holiday can turn from calm to crazy!
However, family road trips needn’t drive you round the bend. Combating any unnecessary car stress can start with good preparation. Fill up on petrol, check tyre pressures, fluid levels, and double-check your lights and windscreen wipers. Program your sat nav with a few route options so you’re not stuck in the event of traffic problems and road closures. If you make your chosen route a longer, scenic journey, include suitable stopping places along the way for bathroom and food breaks. Throw in a few games of ‘I spy’, an audiobook or a sing-along album, and you’ll find that time will fly!
Seatbelts: If you’re travelling by car in Europe, you should be aware there is a legal requirement for children under three years old, or under 135cm tall, to wear appropriate child restraints when travelling.
Pack road safety supplies: Avoid any nasty side-of-the-road fines by making sure you’ve packed the necessary driving supplies. warning triangle. For instance, when driving in Europe you will require a high visibility vest, a magnetic GB sticker (or equivalent ‘Country of Origin’ identity plate), headlamp beam converters and an approved breathalyser kit. Every destination will differ in driving requirements so check what’s necessary before zooming off!
