Travelling with children – some top tips

Here are some of our top tips for travelling with children.

With half term almost upon us, lots of families will be jetting off to a sunny destination and many for the first time in a long time!  So many have gone without a holiday for quite a while and may be feeling a little out of practice when it comes to travelling, especially with little ones.

Preparation

Start popping things in the suitcase about a week before your holiday.  Each day, you might think of something that you can add and, by the time it comes to your day of departure, most of the hard work will be done.  It is also a great idea to have a dedicated carry-on bag or suitcase just for the children which can hold spare clothes, toys, snacks, wet wipes – whatever you might need throughout the journey.

Snacks

The day of travel can be exciting but also seem long when you have children in tow.  It is always best to prepare for the worst as delays are sometimes unavoidable.  Snacks are a great distraction when the children are bored.  Airports and plane journeys are exciting but also expensive so best to have a bag of goodies for those potentially stressful moments.  Food is fuel but also an activity that might just give you a few minutes of peace.

Permission

If your child is taking a friend with them on holiday, it is essential that you take written permission from their parent or legal guardian when travelling. It is also worth noting that, if your child has a different surname to your own, there may be further checks at check in and passport control so best to carry a marriage certificate or any other evidence that you are related to avoid delays.

Charge Up

Make sure all of your devices are charged up and ready to go.  We all try and limit the amount of screen time our children have but, if there are delays or long flights involved, all the rules go out the window just to stay sane!  It is a good idea to download games, films and their favourite shows to your devices so that they can watch without wifi and you can relax.  Remember to take headphones so they can listen without bothering anyone else nearby.  Another handy handbag item is a portable charger – just in case they drain your phone before you reach your destination!

Clean up

It is a good idea to take some spare clothes with you in case there are any accidents or mishaps along the way.  Wet wipes and tissues are a must of course.  Plus, hand sanitiser is a good idea for all the obvious reasons.

Choose Wisely

Villa holidays are a great choice for families. You have your own pool and space to relax without worrying about crowds of people and racing for the sun beds before they are all taken!  Not all villas are suitable for families with children, but we know our property portfolio inside out and can guide you through the best options for you and your loved ones.   We have plenty of villas that are great for those travelling with children including houses with gated pools and games rooms.  We can provide cots and highchairs at all of our villas and car seats for hire cars and transfers.  We can even hire games equipment for your villa including outdoor table tennis, pool tables and much more.  We love talking about holidays and we are here to help you choose the perfect property for your needs so just get in touch and let us know your requirements or concerns and we will do all we can to make booking your holiday as easy and exciting as it should be.

We are constantly adding to our collection and still have some family-friendly villas available for half term so, if you are feeling spontaneous and fancy some sunshine, just let us know and we can talk you through the options.

We can’t wait to hear from you.

Ginnie and the team (AKA holiday enthusiasts!)