A Guide to Travelling with Children
A holiday abroad is a great time to bond with your children and introduce them to new and exciting experiences every day. While taking the little ones with you usually requires a bit more planning than the average trip – you’ll need to seek advice about travel vaccinations, what they can eat and what activities will be suitable – the memories they take home with them makes it all worthwhile.
If it’s your child’s first journey overseas, you should probably take things at a slower pace than you usually would on a holiday. Seeing new places is exciting, but it can also be confusing and disorienting for young children, and you should prepare for the possibility of a tantrum or two if they feel their routine has been disrupted.
Another aspect to consider is learning at least some of the local lingo, or bringing a phrasebook. Although English is widely spoken at the most popular tourist destinations, this shouldn’t be taken for granted – and if your child falls ill or has an accident, knowing how to communicate with local people could be crucial.
Healthcare should be an important part of planning for any overseas trip, and more so if you have children with you. Any allergies need to be taken into account and, if possible, get your doctor or a pharmacist to write a note explaining the condition in the local language. You should also ensure they have had any relevant travel vaccinations or anti-malaria tablets for children well in advance of your trip.
You may also need to carry additional documentation if you’re travelling with children, depending on the country. If you’re the only parent travelling, you may be asked for proof of consent from the other parent for the child to travel, and if your child is adopted you will need to bring the adoption papers. Additionally, countries that require visas may require one for your child, regardless of their age, so try to arrange this ahead of time.
Of course, there are many advantages to travelling with children – many hotels offer family deals that will decrease the overall cost of your trip, and some will have crèche services that will take care of younger kids so you can enjoy a bit of time off! To prepare your child for their adventure, explore a map together and plan your route, explaining all the different forms of transport you’ll be taking.
This is post is brought to you by Lloyds Pharmacy
