Seasoned travellers can attest to the big difference between backpacking and travelling as a family with kids. If you recently had kids or have toddlers to bring somewhere, there will be lots of planning involved if you want to go places. It’s not an easy task but as long as you follow the tips below, going somewhere with children will be a breeze.
Book a spacious hotel room
Taking family breaks in Oxfordshire, the UK or anywhere in Europe is an excellent way to reward yourself and treat the kids. But if you’re travelling as a family, it’s better to book a two-bedroom suite or even just one than paying for a standard hotel room. While it’s pricier to avail this convenience, the reward of getting everyone a good night’s sleep will be worth it throughout the trip.
If it’s been a long day for everyone but you still want to relax a bit before going to bed, booking a standard room will force you to sleep when the kids do. This would compromise your ‘me’ time and can even affect your well-being while on holidays.
Make reservations
While winging it worked when you were travelling solo or as a couple, bringing the children to a trip is a game changer. Admittedly, it’s more adventurous to let the moment guide you when you’re out and about. With kids, however, you have to consider their comfort first before anything else because you wouldn’t want to be travelling with cranky toddlers.
To make travel easier, reserve your hotel room and transportation in advance. It’s not going to be fun going back and forth to search for hotels or to wait for hours at the station for your next train.
Rental equipment is the key
Many travel destinations nowadays offer additional rental services for prams, car seats, cribs and even high chairs for families to use. This eliminates the need to bring around bulky prams with you and worry about paying for excess baggage because of it.
However, make sure that you confirm availability as it strongly depends on the location, peak season and how long you’ll need them for. It can all be done with a simple flick of an email but do it months ahead so you’ll have ample time to fix it if something goes wrong.
Avail of travel insurance
Travel insurance is the most overlooked aspect when travelling. People think that nothing will go wrong during the trip and availing of an insurance policy is just a waste of money. Reality is, always expect the unexpected and it’s better to be safe covered with travel insurance just in case something happens. Buying insurance for the whole family will ensure that you’re covered when your bags get lost in transit, if someone gets sick, or if you lose any valuables or electronics while travelling. When looking for an insurance provider, double check if they can give you a family discount.
Seeing new places is truly a memorable experience for the whole family. Just remember to take it slow and savour every moment.
