Tips for short-haul flights with babies and kids
Short haul flights are ideal for first holidays abroad, with just three hours or less of travel time between home and your holiday. But no matter the length of time of your flight, travelling with babies and young children can be challenging.
While you can't entirely predict how your child will be on a flight, there are things you can do to plan ahead, ensure everyone is comfortable and help reduce the stress of flying.
Here's a few things you can do ahead of your short-haul flight from the UK:
Book your seats ahead of time: by paying that little bit extra to secure your seats, you can ensure you and your family are sat together - the last thing you want is to be sat separately throughout the flight when you're with kids.
Triple check your luggage allowance: some airlines offer baggage allowance for your children, some don't - it's always best to double-check, or triple check!
Check if your pram, car seat, and/or travel cot are included: most airlines will accept these necessary items for free, but double check there isn't a weight limit or a limit on the number of items you cancheck inn for free per child.
Can you book a bassinet on a short-haul flight? It's unlikely, however, your chosen airline may offer these airline bassinets for short-haul flights and if they do, it's best to reserve it well in advance.
Pack something your child hasn't seen before: this can range from a cheap sensory book, to a new tablet and headphones depending on your budget. Whatever you choose, packing a travel toy for your kids is always recommended when flying, no matter the length of time you're in the air.
Pack familiar toys and comforters: a much-loved teddy or blanket is always a good idea - just don't forget it on the plane!
What is the closest tropical island to the UK?
Forget the Caribbean, the UK has a tropical island that's just 28 miles away from Lands End but feels like a world away from the rest of the country. Offering a magical escape from real life, The Isles of Scilly, a collection of 140 islands, that can be accessed via ferry or flight and are definitely worth a visit if you want tropical vibes without the travel fuss.
Where can you fly to from the UK in 2 hours?
As the UK is relatively close to several countries, it isn’t difficult to find a holiday destination less than a 2-hour flight from the UK. Here are some of the countries that you can fly to from London in under 2 hours:
How we choose our recommendations
When it comes to holidays, convenience is key, especially if you have toddlers and young children. Therefore, finding the best family holidays just a 3- hour flight from the UK was critical.
First, we consulted our Mumsnet forums to find out what real parents were recommending to others seeking advice on where to go. Taking these suggestions, we then compared flight time, family-friendly activities available, entertainment, facilities and room options to hone down this list of recommendations.
We also examined reviews on sites like Booking.com and TripAdvisor, which helped us to determine which holiday destinations to include in this list.
Why should you trust us?
We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.