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Original poster

My 3 year old has visited 32 countries AMA

611 replies

Dinoswearunderpants · 13/09/2024 15:14

No doubt I'd get a load of shade about 'bragging' but that's not the intention. If anyone is interested in asking any questions about travelling regularly with a little own, feel free to ask.

I often travel just the two of us as his Dad can't get as much time off work as I do.

OP posts:
Spiderey · 13/09/2024 17:27

Can you recommend the best place you've been for a Eurostar long weekend trip? I'd like to do a few of these myself.

Original poster
Dinoswearunderpants · 13/09/2024 17:28

Agapornis · 13/09/2024 16:58

Are you keeping count so he can put it on his dating profile when he's older? 😁

(really hoping that Bumble trend will be dead in 15 years)

Edited

I hope not. I met my DH on Bumble.

OP posts:
cluckcluckgoose · 13/09/2024 17:29

Also OP, how does your son sleep? My LO never sleeps very well (understatement) for the first few days of a holiday so I'd definitely not be brave enough for a long weekend Grin

Original poster
Dinoswearunderpants · 13/09/2024 17:29

MtClair · 13/09/2024 16:59

Having travelled with my two since they were little (first flight was 3 months old for dc1, 5 fir dc2), I can tell you that some children adapt well to it and others just …. Don’t.

Just like some children sleep anywhere and others don’t. Some eat anything and others don’t etc…. There is still a huge part of nature involved!

Id be very careful about saying that your dc is a good traveller now because they’ve done it so much.

If you were to carry on travelling like that as they grow older, yes they’ll be comfortable travelling in away others don’t.

Downside for me is that they might struggle to find anything still to discover by the time they become teenagers.

a word of caution.
There is no way you’ll be able to take your dc out of school for a weekend trip nowadays. Schools are getting horrendous with that .

It depends if we're still in the UK. We may move abroad so the system might be different

I imagine holidays with more than one child is far more challenging.

OP posts:
ThatFlakyReader · 13/09/2024 17:30

LondonPapa · 13/09/2024 17:27

I honestly don’t think there is a secret as it’s very easy to travel with a child as long as they’re engaged. My under-3-year-old has visited many countries, has status with BA and Swiss, flies business and chills in the lounge before every flight sipping ‘baby’ champers. The looks of economy passengers as they see a child in the first row 😂

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Wow, what a snobbish thing to write.

My child has also been to multiple amazing countries before he even started school OP, but I didn’t try and make that fact my whole personality. And I didn’t assume other people would be super interested in the fact that I’d had a huge amount of spare time and money to be able to do it. There’s literally nothing I want to ask you about your trips.

Cerealkiller4U · 13/09/2024 17:30

Dinoswearunderpants · 13/09/2024 15:24

No because I often pay to offset the flights. Most airlines allow this option now. And whether we're on the flight or not, that flight will still take off so we might as well be onboard.

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That’s like saying

he breaks the law. Anyway so I might do it as well

Original poster
Dinoswearunderpants · 13/09/2024 17:30

Spiderey · 13/09/2024 17:27

Can you recommend the best place you've been for a Eurostar long weekend trip? I'd like to do a few of these myself.

Disneyland Paris. You could stay at Centre Parcs close by.

Amsterdam and Lille are also lovely.

OP posts:
Spiderey · 13/09/2024 17:31

@Dinoswearunderpants thank you Smile

Demonhunter · 13/09/2024 17:31

Where does all your annual leave come from when you're listing many long haul flights per year? They're not weekend jobs.

Bignanna · 13/09/2024 17:32

Dinoswearunderpants · 13/09/2024 16:41

I honestly don't know. Ball park figure maybe £20k.

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Was expecting 10 times that figure!

Original poster
Dinoswearunderpants · 13/09/2024 17:32

cluckcluckgoose · 13/09/2024 17:29

Also OP, how does your son sleep? My LO never sleeps very well (understatement) for the first few days of a holiday so I'd definitely not be brave enough for a long weekend Grin

He sleeps really well. I've noticed when he doesn't nap during the day, he might have a light periods of sleep.

He's always on the go so I find he's tired more when we're away.

OP posts:
Berlinlover · 13/09/2024 17:32

All that travel and you’ve never visited Ireland.

Original poster
Dinoswearunderpants · 13/09/2024 17:33

Demonhunter · 13/09/2024 17:31

Where does all your annual leave come from when you're listing many long haul flights per year? They're not weekend jobs.

Edited

I get 8 weeks in total annual leave. Easily do a 2 week long haul trip.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dinoswearunderpants · 13/09/2024 17:34

Berlinlover · 13/09/2024 17:32

All that travel and you’ve never visited Ireland.

I've visited Ireland but not my son yet. That's on our list for a weekend next year.

I've visited Dublin. Where else would you recommend visiting?

OP posts:
Original poster
Dinoswearunderpants · 13/09/2024 17:35

Trying to reply to all comments but if I've answered it before on another post, I won't reply sorry.

OP posts:
bubbleduck84 · 13/09/2024 17:35

@SantaPellegrina I'm not sure it's true that babies and young children don't enjoy travelling. I've travelled abroad extensively with my 1.5 year old son since he was 4 weeks old (not quite 32 countries yet as sadly my annual leave doesn't allow it!) and he has definitely enjoyed these trips - loves being on the plane, hotel toddler pools and breakfast buffets, loves it when staff fuss over him etc. He's also caught far more sickness bugs in London than he has from travelling. Do I kid myself that these trips are for his benefit or that he'll somehow remember them or benefit developmentally from them, obviously not. I go because I want to keep travelling and I enjoy taking him to new places. Would he enjoy the local park or a UK beach holiday just as much? Possibly, but his mum sure wouldn't!

Mammma91 · 13/09/2024 17:37

I’d love to hear what’s in your cabin luggage for a 1.5 year old please? Planning on taking both DC away again next year (took a baby and 5 year old away this year and it went ok!) but 1-3 I dread because they’re on the go 24/7.

Do you have any recommendations for a non long haul flight from UK to take 2 young children on holiday?

berriesandchocolateflowers · 13/09/2024 17:38

Dinoswearunderpants · 13/09/2024 15:24

No because I often pay to offset the flights. Most airlines allow this option now. And whether we're on the flight or not, that flight will still take off so we might as well be onboard.

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That’s not a great answer

HoHoHoliday · 13/09/2024 17:40

@Dinoswearunderpants Thanks, good list! I've been to a lot of these but still some good inspiration.

Riapia · 13/09/2024 17:40

Urgh2302 · 13/09/2024 15:16

Are you worried about your carbon footprint and climate change impacting your child’s future?

What an incredibly stupid question.

Newsenmum · 13/09/2024 17:41

I think there is a lot of jealousy here.

Most and least child friendly countries? Any nightmare stories?

wafflesmgee · 13/09/2024 17:41

Why so many? It seems totally excessive. I prefer quality over quantity, like staying in one place/country for longer to build up relationships with locals/friends, learn the language and understand the culture better. Do you worry that your experiences are superficial snapshots?
Do you have a tick list and just tick countries off for the sake of your list, or dp you research places you are desperate to go to?

wafflesmgee · 13/09/2024 17:41

Riapia · 13/09/2024 17:40

What an incredibly stupid question.

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I don't think it's stupid, it's very relevant. If you aren't worried about this, why not?!?

Newsenmum · 13/09/2024 17:42

Best and worst airports for kids? Plane snacks?

Ever get tired?

rainsofcastamere · 13/09/2024 17:42

zingally · 13/09/2024 17:06

Okay... And your child will remember exactly none of them.

Do you do nothing with children when they're little? You know, because they won't remember.