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Your best tips for family hol abroad

9 replies

Zippideedodaaa · 22/04/2019 11:50

Going on holiday with 3 and 5 year old soon. First time abroad (short haul/ sun holiday in hotel/ pool/ kids club if it looks ok for a couple hrs etc type hol). What's your best hacks/ tips/ stuff to remember. It's a long time since I've been abroad so any tips child related or not appreciated.

OP posts:
MustBeDueSomeBetterFeet · 22/04/2019 11:58

Familiarise yourself with airport security arrangements (liquids etc!).

Make sure passports are up to date, (or have an additional 6 months depending on when you're travelling).

Book seats!

Consider how much luggage you are taking, if you need to pay for additional to go in the hold.

Make sure you have travel insurance from the point of booking the holiday.

Consider ordering anything you need from Boots and collecting airside (nappies, Calpol, suncream which may be too big to take through security) which saves space and can be left on holiday.

Pack light - you don't need as much as you think you do!

Do you need your satnav? If not, does your phone plan include overseas data? Is there wireless at the resort?

Pack your rash vests/swimming aids.

Consider fast track security - usually v. cheap - if travelling early.

Work out the easiest/best car parking at the airport - might be meet & greet, might be at a hotel if staying overnight the night before?

Don't forget their favourite sleeping toys!

Kindles/ipads are brilliant for the flight - make sure you bring earphones to avoid annoying other passengers. I also buy them one of those trashy kids magazines with loads of stickers etc which I only give them on the plane (the airport is really entertaining).

Consider paying extra for speedy boarding - depending on the airline.

Don't forget chargers - for monitors, kindles, phones. I bought an EU USB plug that takes 4 cables - saving lots of space. Additionally consider adaptors.

Don't forget to check in online, add advance passenger information, when required to.

Do you need to bring your own beach towels? Those really slim/quick drying ones are good.

doolallytaptap · 22/04/2019 11:59

Do not underestimate the value of a package holiday with included transfers. So much easier than trying to negotiate local taxis or buses at the airport.

Reps are annoying but a friend of mine's DD fell at the side of the pool and had to go to A&E- the rep was invaluable apparently.

Read ALL the reviews, streetview the hotel etc.

I love an aparthotel.

I know some people say it's the same shit different location BUT my three year old is not going to be interested in sightseeing, it'll make us all hot and fractious, so it does kind of have to be day at the beach/ pool broken up by ice creams and walks imo.

Zippideedodaaa · 22/04/2019 13:02

Brilliant, thanks. Reassuring as we have done quite a lot of this. Passports, booking seats etc. Holiday is already booked. Just thinking about next stage... Packing, what essentials that I may not think of. We definitely intend to stay in the resort and chill out, well as much as you can with young kids!

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MustBeDueSomeBetterFeet · 22/04/2019 13:17

I wish I'd packed two swimsuits apiece at our last resort holiday as it's difficult getting them dry, even with a dryer/clothesline.

Pppppppp1234 · 22/04/2019 13:24

Lots of sun cream as it’s expensive abroad, adapters for chargers! Toys in case weather isn’t brilliant, sun hats glasses and rash vests! Get them out in the sun lots before to get them used to the heat.
Calpol and pain killers for you guys,in Europe you can’t really get hold of them in the supermarket and it’s pharmacies only!

Pppppppp1234 · 22/04/2019 13:25

Airport food costs a fortune so plan what you are going to do food wise!

Nydj · 22/04/2019 13:32

Small toys that they can play with for a long time - eg little cars and figures and lengths of string that can can be made in to different tracks for the cars to race along - you can use things you find there to make things like garages out of small boxes etc. Don’t forget books to read to them, maybe teach them some words or phrases in the language of the country you are visiting so they can try them out when you get there?

Nydj · 22/04/2019 13:34

Oh yes, plastic takeaway boxes and chippy things so you can buy your own snacks in the local shops and take to the pool.

LittleMissHappy19 · 22/04/2019 13:37

I wrote a thread and asked for hacks etc a while back on holidaying with children.. a poster wrote talc to get sand off in an instant!

It was the tip ever!!

Works an absolute treat!

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