First abroad holiday with kids...advise me

[fullmoonmystery]

Just as title says my and husband are taking our two children 5 and 10 away this year to Mallorca for ten nights. I'm super excited but also nervous with airport etc.

We've all wanted this for so long I'm just terrified something will go wrong.

Am looking to seasoned travellers with children to give me advice; from buy inflatables over there to do I need some packing tubes. Thanks in advance 🙏

Take empty water bottles through airport security. Top up lounge side (you can buy squash in smiths if you need - we pick up one of those mini squeeze bottle things) flying dehydrates you.

Take a small separate suitcase with shorts/t shirt per person and swimwear, microfibres towel each and suncream. It's ready for when you arrive or if there's an issue with luggage all the stuff you need is so seated. Keep ready of clothes/swimwear in another case.

Lots of pools don't allow inflatables. I always buy there if using beach - also buckets etc as so cheap and leave for another family. You may also find your given stuff.

Keep all documents in a cross body bag and take steerage rucksack on plane. It's a pita always trying to put it in and out of rucksack and also means it's not put down and forgotten because you carry them for ease or dropped as you pull the umpteenth things from the rucksack.

Download films etc for flight before you go and remember headphones.

Remember planes are often chilly so take socks if your travelling in shoes you don't wear socks with.

Have a fab time

I buy vacuum pack bags with a hand pump for travelling.

Chuck all dirty clothes in when done and suck out air. Makes peaking to come home easier!

We always buy our inflatables once we are there as it’s part of the excitement for us but it’s really personal choice. Packing cubes are a good idea to keep everything organised. Don’t pack everyone’s stuff into a case each. Mix all your clothes across suitcases incase something happens to one of your cases. And I always pack swimwear for everyone and a change of clothes into one of the hand luggage’s. Kids will be happy as long as they can go in the water 😆. Take plenty of suncream with you. It’s always expensive to buy once your there. You’ll have a great time. Majorca is beautiful.

You will have an amazing time! Don’t overthink it.

Will you have a hire car, are you near a shop, does your accommodation allow inflatables in the pool? Can both Dc swim?

We have often benefited from hand-me-down inflatables from people at the poolside whose kids made friends with our DC when their vacations ended before ours, and we often give forward our own as they are big to pack coming home.
We make room in our luggage for arm bands for younger dc.

Also … please take some sweets for your kids on the plane for take off but DON’T tell them to eat them to stop them going deaf! I sat next to a terrified 10 yo on their first flight some years ago, his gran had told him “to suck sweets because take off will make you go deaf”. He was a bright lad and I spent 15 minutes calming him down and emphasising the word SLIGHTLY and TEMPORARY (his mum was on the other side of the aisle from him and I got a “thank you” mouthed at me).

Go to a supermarket and buy a bag of brioche or pains au choc. If you’re flying easyJet then their snack availability on the flight may be very limited and you may be waiting a while at the gate so you get hungry. I’ve done this the last few times and it’s been a lifesaver.