First time abroad - advice

[Pumpkinseason3]

A friend is traveling abroad for the first time this year with her kids. She’s never been abroad at all and neither have the children. She’s recently separated after a terrible relationship (with DC father) and I know she just wants to prove to herself that she’s able to provide for her kids alone and she’s really focused on this holiday so I want it to be a big success for her.

I’ve helped where I can when she’s asked for advice along the way - making sure she’s booked with a reputable company, picked a lovely family friendly all inclusive resort close to the beach and town etc, passports, GHIC, proper travel insurance etc.

Any other advice you’d give someone going abroad for the very first time as an adult and taking DC (both teens, no young kids)? Kids have a different surname - will she need a letter from the father?

I have only travelled abroad once with my daughter (though we are going again this year), same surname but no father. I took her birth certificate with us after my cousin, who is married but has a different surname to her child, had a horrible experience at an airport.

My only other advice is to not put too much pressure on herself - it doesn't have to be perfect, and if she rolls with it all and embraces everything they'll have fun.

I presume they're flying. Would it help to go through the airport process with her? Checking in, usually online, dropping off bags if necessary, what to take out and take off to go through security. I think most airports have useful pages like Gatwick's
https://www.gatwickairport.com/passenger-guides/checking-in.html

When will they need to check in for the return flight? Before leaving the UK? (Some airlines let you check in 30 days beforehand.) Or online from the hotel or at the airport? Maybe go through that.

Are transfers to and from the airport sorted?

Does she have currency or a card to pay for anything outside the AI resort? Drinks, snacks, meals, souvenirs, etc.

@Latenightreader Thank you - I’ll speak to her about birth certificates etc.
Ive absolutely said this to her about the pressure. Shes pushed herself so out of her comfort zone in the last year and it’s been amazing for her confidence and for the kids. I know this is the “big” thing that she wants to do for them and get “right” though. Once they’re there they’ll have such a lovely time!

Another thought. Roaming on mobile phones - making sure she has enough data and also that the teens don't rack up massive bills while abroad.

@Chersfrozenface Yes flying. I’ve chatted to her about the airport process briefly but I know she’ll want to go through it properly nearer the time which we’ll do 😊👍🏻
Checking in for return flight is a good point, thank you!
We specifically picked a package deal with AI hotel, coach transfers with company reps and rep based in the hotel 3 days a week so she feels like there’s people about to help 👍🏻
Planning on taking some cash and the rest card.

Shes made a note for a couple of weeks before you inform her bank she’s travelling as her cards never been used anywhere else so don’t want her being blocked! And a note to check with her phone company about data etc so that she doesn’t get landed with any unexpected bills - particularly with DCs being on their phones!

@Chersfrozenface Oh, cross post 😂 Already done 👍🏻😊 thanks!

Take a change of clothes and any necessary medication in hand luggage in case suitcase gets lost.....also have some local currency in case of emergencies.

Will she buy the destination currency before leaving ?
She should never change currency at the airport if at all avoidable (rates are extortionate). She should either change before or once there. Check whether she can use her cards abroad and what the fees are for both card payments and atm withdrawal.
There'll be lots of waiting so make sure the teens have a book, phones charged, devices, etc.
Download an app to help plan the trip (I used citymapper once and it was quite good, and free).
Look at what they want to see beforehand - they don't have to plan the whole trip but have a vague idea of what they absolutely want to see, and what they would like to see, in the morning they can look at the list and decide what they're doing that day.
Make sure to pack all the essentials first (passeports, money, birth certificates, etc). I would recommand having some cash in whatever currency for emergencies. Also suggest leaving the passports at the hotel and only carrying copies, and make sure not all money/cards are in one bag as if that bag is stolen that's it.
Check what the weather is like the days before and pack accordingly.

@shellyleppard Yep, I’ll make sure that’s done! I’m always paranoid about lost luggage 👍🏻 thank you!

@Maxorias Thank you, this is great 😊 she knows to exchange money before hand 👍🏻
They have a few excursions they’d like to do which are all bookable through the reps at the hotel so they’re going to do that.
Copies of passport is a good one, thanks! X

If the father is on birth certificate, she should get a letter from him. Check if airline has a template on their website (or google). She may not need it, but would be shame to get into trouble if she doesn't have it!

She needs to carry full birth certificates and permission from their dad or a cao stating she can take them abroad, she may not be asked but they sometimes do.

Tips for once there is to research in advance exactly what included eg ice cream is often only included at certain times, also if there's additional restaurants included you often book on an app.

Help her research where at the landing airport she needs to go to meet her coach transfer. That can be quite daunting in another language if you're unfamiliar.

If I was her I'd get a card I could use abroad eg monzo or starling, or even just an old fashioned travellers card from a supermarket so I don't have to worry about strange currency or running out!

Take medication for diarrhea, constipation, sickness, bug bites, painkillers, tooth ache and plasters so you're not trying to find an emergency pharmacy in another language!

@Pumpkinseason3 same here lol. Went for a romantic weekend to Paris. Flew out on the Friday, our luggage arrived on the Monday!!! Lesson learned lol

Everyone needs an adaptor to be able to plug in their devices, including chargers. It would be worth her getting a power bank if she doesn't have one.

@Finnished Yeah I’ll get her just to have it just incase. No point in something causing issues when it doesn’t need to!

@mitogoshigg Thank you 😊

@Datesandprunes Thank you 😊 we have the first 2 sorted but medication is a good one. Had completely missed things like that 👍🏻

@shellyleppard Oh no 😂😂 I hope you at least managed to go for a nice shopping trip in Paris 🙈

DH once flew to the Middle East for work for 3 weeks and arrived in jeans and a sweatshirt with no luggage 🙈 All his work overalls and safety gear etc were in it as well as all his own clothes 😂 Never got it back either. It was a right pain!
When I’m packing hand luggage I always pack as many clothes in as I can lol, change or 2 for daytime, a swimsuit, a couple of light options that will do for night etc. At least then if the cases go missing you can still go to the pool etc while you figure it out lol

@NigelHarmansNewWife Ive got a pile of adaptors here that she’ll get after my trip away so that’s sorted 👍🏻 Power bank could be useful too - although I think she’ll be hoping the teens take some time off their devices lol

One adapter plus a large, long powerboard.

tampons and pads whether her calendar says she needs them or not. I have trained dd with the line “never underestimate your body’s ability to piss you off”.

Tell her to pack some calpol melts / sachets or paracetamol in her hand luggage and some lollies or sweets to suck. Very common for kids to get ear pain at take off and landing due to air pressure changes. Can usually be fixed with sucking a lolly and if not a dose of calpol/paracetamol will make the rest of the flight easier.

If they are going somewhere hot remind her about suncream and how fast you can burn. And also about reapplying after bring in the pool. The first time I travelled to the canaries in my early 20's I fried myself with a silly low factor suncream only applied once and was in agony for the rest of the week.

I always pack a small self made first aid kit too with things like immodium, dioralyte, antiseptic wipes, plasters, indigestion tablets, cold sore cream, blister plasters if there will be a lot of walking. All things I've previously had to traipse around finding pharmacies and trying to translate when we've needed them.

Air tag (or equivalent) in hold bags.

Thank you all 😊 These are great suggestions! I just don’t want to miss anything that could help her. She’s had a shitty time and I know this will do absolutely nothing wonders for her confidence if she feels it’s gone well.