| Top Tips for Travel with Children |
 |
 |
|
Top travel tips from stickyfingerstravel.com Time your holiday right If your children have not yet reached school age you can avoid high season premiums and take them on a holiday whenever it suits you. If you are confined to school holidays try booking when it is not as expensive. You might find for example that is cheaper in the last week of August when parents are keen to be home to get ready for the back to school frenzy than the first week in August. Look at midweek flights which are better value. Special package deals and discounts There are lots of fantastic deals for families on the market such as free child places and you should investigate these early in the year as they do go quickly. Check the small print and what you are paying for. Generally you will have to share with your children and you should check the size of the room you are expected to share as the holiday company’s idea of how many beds fit in one room may differ considerably from yours. You should also look into the hidden or additional charges, whether travel insurance is included, what the cancellation policy is and how far in advance you need to book.
Time your flights right Try to fly at a time that will not throw the kids routines out too much especially when you have young children who need their sleep. Try also to travel at a time when the airport might be quiet rather than jam packed which can lead to extra stress. If you can bear it try to make the airport seem like fun with things to spot, trolleys to push and planes to watch landing and taking off.
DIY The DIY holiday option is generally better for families as the flight times can be better and overall it gives more flexibility and independence. You have the option of a self catering, camping, on occasion staying in upmarket hotels or alternatively renting a villa or a farmhouse. Other options could include renting a big house with family or friends to save costs on babysitting services. On stickyfingerstravel.com you will find guides to lots of different and unusual holidays with kids. The DIY option will involve a bit more planning and will usually (but not always) save you a good bit of money which you can use on your holiday.
Use your mouse The Internet is a great place for special online deals for families which can range from upgrades to free child places and significant discounts on the brochure price which can in some cases be up to 10%. You will nearly always find that it is cheaper to book directly online than over the phone or through a travel agent so do a bit of surfing. Most tour operators give a discount (up to 5% for booking online). For example Italy specialists Citalia one of the leaders in the upmarket package market for Italy has a 5% discount for online bookings. Sunway offer €30 off and Canvas holidays offer €45 extra off when you book online.
Cost cutting while on holidays Travelling with kids is not cheap and when you start multiplying meals and drinks out by four, five or six this can have a significant effect on your spending money. Try to save money by doing things like taking drinks made by Orange squash or Ribena which will generally be better for your children anyway than fizzy drinks. Another option while you are holidays is to eat a picnic on a beach with wonderful locally produced foods. Another way to cut costs would be to book a family room instead of two interconnecting rooms although you will need to be sure that your family can all live in the same room and that the sizes are adequate. Self catering and hiring an apartment in a city are great options.
Hire a car Consider hiring a car and doing your own DIY exploring rather than an organised tour. This is always better for families anyway as it gives you extra independence and privacy. It also avoids having to wait on the bus for all of the others on your operators list to get their bags and board the bus which can take an age at a time when little people are very tired. It also avoids the endless rounds of other hotels where other holiday makers are being dropped off and you wondering if their hotel is better than yours and your kids asking why they have a bigger waterslide.
Packing lists One of the biggest challenges of travelling with children is deciding what to bring and how to bring it. Travelling with just some cotton and cashmere may be a globetrotting mantra but it is simply not practical when travelling with your children. Be realistic; consider carefully where you are going, the age of your children and above all make lists (and check them twice). What you take and how you take them will depend on several factors such as the type of trip, the age of your children and whether you are flying or packing everything into a car. Keeping children occupied while travelling is also a big challenge and getting this right can make a big difference between making the journey enjoyable or just bearable. Stickyfingerstravel.com have provided a series of packing lists for different type of family holidays and different ages and how to keep them busy guide. Remember to keep all the essentials you will need for the journey in your hand luggage but also remember that you have liquid restrictions until you are past security.
Age limits If you are travelling with children, check carefully whether or not they qualify for reduced prices. The age limit on child prices varies depending on your choice of flight, hotel accommodation and package holiday, and you may be charged a full adult fare for children as young as 12. Check each travel operator’s policy before making your booking.
|