Holiday abroad - what to get for 8yo dd?

[charliewww]

I wasn't sure where to post this!

I'm taking 8yo dd on her first holiday abroad for a week in the summer. We are going to Greece all inclusive with a swim up room, and it's right on the beach. We won't be doing much, just relaxing for the week.

It might be a stupid question but what do I need to pack for her? Obviously the usual clothes, swimming costume, sun cream etc. but is there anything I wouldn't necessarily think of? I'm going to buy her a towel poncho and some sliders for around the pool.

I would buy a rash guard or swim top so you aren't constantly applying sun cream.

Pool float much cheaper on Amazon and a beach ball.

Swim shoes! I did Greece a few weeks ago and the amount of times I told DS not to run round the pool.

Calpol, mosquito repellent and I use Aloe Vera gel instead of all the perfumed after sun creams. Neck pillow for the plane.

A giant inflatable (or buy one when you get there but Aldi / B&M type places tend to have them cheap at this time of year).
Somthing to do e.g. reading or activity books.

Thank you! Funnily enough we've just been looking at swimwear and she chose a long sleeved rash top to try

Don’t bother taking towels or inflatables you end up leaving them there and they take up so much luggage space. Buy them when you’re there
harness and reins as you don’t know the towns or surroundings and neither does she. Best to keep her close.
have a great time xx

Reins for an 8YO?

Unless there's special circumstances I think 8 years old is a bit old for harness and reins!!

Sunglasses
Hat
Toys/games to keep her occupied

Sounds amazing!

Things to do! Particularly quiet things to do in the room if they still wake up early but breakfast might not be until 8am.
Some card games & things for the evenings.
Our DC had an absurd amount of screen time on one holiday when we hadn't thought about this & they still tended to wake at 6.00/6.30 and we wanted them out of the sun for a couple of hours after lunch.

@poshspice2 a harness and reins for an 8 year old?
The poncho towel is a great idea as can double as a cover up from sun. I found tankinis easier with myDD for toilet visits whilst wet from the pool.

Agree that inflatables there are better but I wouldn't buy towels on holiday. Get some cheap swimming towels and take them with you.

The main thing is to also ensure you have enough activity things that she enjoys. So books, games, puzzles etc. I would consider getting her one of those kids cameras - they can spend hours entertaining themselves taking photos in a new place.

Also, make sure you take comfortable shoes so that any light sight seeing doesn't hurt her feet - flip flops/sandals often aren't appropriate.

Maybe I’m overly protective. But these holiday resort towns get very very busy and there’s a lot of children and so can be a target for kidnapping. I don’t like to risk it but it’s down to personal choice x

Yes to long sleeved rash top but make sure it actually has an SPF rating (many don't). Also a sun hat that covers the neck in the water is great and avoids a burnt scalp - Greece in the summer is HOT.
Hat for out of the water too, something light and cool but with decent cover.
One of those musquito/bug bracelets for kids.
Lots of suncream factor 50 - you can buy it there but it's usually a lot more expensive.
Travel games; we like card games.

Also we bought a cheap 2nd hand camera in CEX with a 2 Yr guarantee for DD; it takes much better photos than those specialist kids cameras and is cheaper.

Need I remind you of Madeline Mcann?

Maybe some small arts sets or something to keep her occupied if you are relaxing in the room during the hot part of the day. Download some movies on her tablet if she has one. The wifi in the hotel may not be enough to do so in case there is a wet day.
Some favourite snacks for the first day until you find your feet. I would not bother with towels or inflatables as you will pick them up there. Might be worth buying some children's factor 50 here. Last sun holiday I was on Sunscreen was very pricy locallt.

Stuff to do, kids get bored very quickly once the novelty of swimming wears off too and it's important to be out of the sun. Between 11&3. Playing cards are ideal, reading books, puzzle book, travel games. The beaches are not always as sandy ad the brochures depict so swim shoes are a good idea plus snorkel and mask for fish watching

There's a world of difference between leaving your 3 year old alone and unwatched in a hotel room and not putting reins on your 8 year old who you are presumably walking around town with.

Exactly what a strange thing to reference Madeleine McCann for this!

@lonelygal22. Reins or the lack of were of absolutely no relevance to Madeline McCann. Ffs. also, she was 3 not 8. An 8 year old without any additional needs in toddler reins is ridiculous

How is that relevant?
A NT 8 year old in reins is weird and not similar to a three year old, kidnapped from a bedroom. Unless she puts her to bed in the reins and ties them to the bed?

Definitely ignore the posters suggesting reins and comparing being in Greece and out and about with your 8 year old to what happened to Madeleine McCann.

Agree with lots of in-room activities for evenings/when it's too hot. Trainers and possibly light long trousers to protect legs and feet when not by the pool. Favourite snacks if she's fussy at all - we always travel with a couple of boxes of DD's favourite oaty bars as inevitably we can't find local ones she likes and they're handy for ad-hoc eating (Ds on the other hand will happily try all and any local snacks).

Insulated water bottles for taking water out and about with you. I would invest in smaller ones so that they're less heavy - you can always buy fresh water to top them up but insulated means they stay cold.

Busy towns = lots of people = possible child snatchers. Also a new environment gives opportunity to get lost!! I don’t see what the issue with taking a safely precaution is

Too be honest some kind of reins could be an idea for my dh who keeps wondering off, as today's trip to IKEA has shown me.

Love it 🤣🤣🤣

And to add - if this is the child’s first holiday aged 8 then of course reigns seem like the natural choice.