Twelve Tips to Help Survive the Family Holiday
Can a family holiday really be stress free?
Taking the kids away on a family holiday can be a daunting task for parents - single or otherwise. It can also be fun – but a bit of thought and preparation can help avoid some of the common pitfalls. How do you decide where to go? Do you decide by destination, the package, or the price?
These days, the first consideration for most parents is finding a price to fit the dwindling holiday budget.
Should you choose a beach holiday, a lakeside holiday, or the countryside? Switching each year is a great way to give children a healthy exposure to each environment.
Twelve Tips
- Pay with credit cards for the extra protection they afford in case of airline or other travel company failure.
- If you are not dependent on budget carriers or a package and can choose your airline, check with SeatGuru.com for the best seating layouts for your family needs.
- Pack over-the-counter medications for common ailments to avoid dealing with foreign doctors and pharmacies. Alternatively, ask your chemist to recommend a list of medicines and write down the names they are known by in your destination country.
- Have plenty of disposable wipes on hand. You’ll find a million uses for them – cleaning sticky fingers and faces, spilled food and drink, wiping toilet seats…
- Pack travel-size washing powder and a spray stain remover to avoid having to purchase new clothes when accidents strike
- Take plenty of ziplock-type bags in different sizes - for all sorts of uses
- A lightweight throw or your beach wrap or sarong can double up as a clean space for babies and toddlers to stretch out. Plan journeys and flights during nap times or at night if possible
- Pack snacks and drinks (small juice boxes with straws are a good option). Avoid anything that will squash, make a mess, go off, or melt (i.e. chocolate)
- If your airline doesn’t offer special boarding for families, or you are flying with the budget airlines, it’s worth paying for priority boarding. Otherwise, consider sending one adult ahead to grab the seats and stow the carry-on luggage before you arrive with the kids. (Reins will keep adventurous toddlers from wandering off).
- Pack favourite toys for the flight and times of travel boredom. A good strategy is to pack ‘new’ toys to surprise and distract them during inevitable airborne or earthly tantrums. If all else fails have their favourite sweets on standby! Bribery isn’t a good thing though - so save it for emergencies! Older kids and teenagers will be happy with their electronic gadgets. Audio books are a good option for all ages – not just those who can’t read yet.
- Pack comfortable clothes that can be layered for changing temperatures. Stretchy clothing will be easier to manage for trips to the loo and nappy changes. Shoes that slip on or with Velcro fastenings are great for all ages, especially for removal during airport security.
- Online forums designed for parents travelling with children are a great way to pick up tips from those who have gone before you – and learnt their lessons the hard way!
Finding family-friendly resorts online is easy and they are designed to give you the peace of mind of knowing that the usual hazards for children have been removed. The resort you choose will depend on the ages of your children. When it comes to babies and tots they are not bothered where you go as long as they have your attention. Travelling with a mix of young children and (heaven help you) teenagers, poses a more difficult task. Most family resorts will have just what you need, with safe activities for toddlers to give you a break and adventurous activities for teenagers. If you find a hotel or resort you fancy but it does not advertise itself as family-friendly try contacting them to ask about their facilities - you may be pleasantly surprised.
Don’t forget to apply for the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if travelling to a member country - but don’t make the mistake of using this as a substitute for a good, comprehensive, travel insurance policy. The EHIC does not cover many important items that we hope you never need!
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