Please tell us your summer holiday survival tips

[HelenMumsnet]

Hello. Soltan have asked us to ask you for your summer holiday survival tips.

We're looking for everything from the things you mustn't forget to pack, to tips on making travelling with children (slightly) more bearable, to suggestions for creating all-round family fun once you get there. Basically, all the things you've learnt from those holiday-with-kids experiences and wish someone had told you about before you upped suitcases and headed off somewhere summery en famille.

Please note that Soltan will be using some of your tips, comments and suggestions on a new Soltan microsite that is set to go live on Mumsnet at the start of May.

Thank you - and looking forward to reading them.

MNHQ

travel at night. Eat dinner, get in pjs, go. And take magicool if it is hot.

don't go with your inlaws

Pack some of everyone's clothes in each suitcase. Then if one goes missing, at least you've got something to wear.

Dont overpack. In most countries the basics can be found.

If travelling to visit family see if they can borrow travel cot/buggy/steriliser. Saves room in the car!

Wrap small "gifts" for long journeys and bring one out every few hours. A pack of cards is a good one (the twits game, cluedo etc) but teach yourself how to play it first! Books on tape/cd are good too.

Think hard about the clothes that will be appropriate at your destination and prepare your summer wardrobe early on in the season so that everything goes with everything and you have the right stuff before the shops run out.

You can buy really good sunscreen, shampoo, shower gel, footcream etc in pharmacies (not supermarkets) everywhere - you don't need to cart loads of heavy and potentially breakable/leakable bottles with you.

Hmm. That's probably not what Soltan wanted to hear, is it?

If going to beach type place,to save packing space, buy buckets/spades there. They will probably be cheap and you can leave them behind.

my main tip is to drink plenty of alcohol every day of your holiday but I guess that ain't what they want to hear either!

it is, however, crucial to holiday success IMO.

We only holiday in the UK but my tip is to buy a high factor suncream that everyone can use and store it in the fridge so when you apply it its cool and refreshing.

For travelling especially with children fruit sweets and mints are a must to avoid travel sickness.

Freeze a bottle of diluted squash and drink along the journey there -instant refreshment.

A picnic midway breaks the journey,refreshes the driver and lets the kids vent....our picnic are part of the holiday...we have 'posh' sandwiches and crisps etc.

Just before you get there pass the baby wipes around and everyone can freshen up.

When you get there if theres 2 adults 1 adult unpacks and gets the rooms ready etc whilst the other takes the children to run off steam.

If you plan to go to the clubhouse at night and have boys take a couple of shirts that they can wear loose over a clean t shirt - next day the t shirt can be worn for day wear and the shirt rinsed out.

If you go self catering like us ,plan the meals so its not just one person cooking all the time - one of our fave holiday teas is a ready cooked chicken with salad and new potatoes- virtually effortless.

A great idea if your on a budget is to collect supermarket saving stamps and use them for your holiday shop - just be careful you dont save asda stamps and holiday in area where theres only tesco -weve done that!!!.

When you do return home - dont come down to earth with a bang .....have a takeaway and the nest day a trip out.

Hand luggage only (if flying)and a self catering place with a washing machine/dryer.

Buy all toiletries when you get there. Wear as much as poss for journey and stuff spare undies in coat pockets.

Dont go with another family no matter how well you get on at home.

Get the kids to bed and sit out on your balcony with your other half with a large bottle of wine/san miguel etc etc.
Kids are safe and asleep and you can relax and have a drink in peace

Don't buy your suntan lotion until you get there and see whether there WILL be any sun in Cornwall.

Keep a small, leakproof easy to open and close bottle of non staining factor 50 suncream in your handbag for the kids in emergencies. Does such a thing exist? Are you listening Soltan?

If it was also midge repellant it would be helpful.

If travelling with a baby/toddler invest in a shade a babe or similar with a built in SPF/insect net to attach to the buggy.
Don't panic Soltan - I also apply thick layers of suncream underneath said shade a babe and dress in UV sun suit (paranoid mummy.)

If sterilising equipment is required and if self catering, pack a few reusable microwave sterilising bags. Easy peasy and no messing around with tablets etc.

Disposable bibs for messy toddlers.

Second packing a small rucksack for the plane with small inexpensive new toys/books etc. Introduce them gradually throughout the flight.

I really want to go on holiday now.

If you go any distance in the car buy DVD players. We have a twin player for our 2yo and 6 yo (did have only one but had to upgrade to twin when dd arrived) and has saved our sanity on many many occasion. Not cheap but I'd spend ten times their worth for the value we get out of them!

Have realistic expectations! If you have children, going on holiday is not the relaxing experience it once was. It's still great fun, but only if you have realistic expectations, so don't pack lots of novels thinking you'll have chance to read them by the pool etc!

Keep aftersun in the fridge

Travel dvd player.

Own blanket for baby/child - familar is good.

Put all toiletries in at least 3 plastic bags... you do not want to spend the first day of your holiday trying to wash medised/shampoo out of your clothes.

Take a pushchair, even if toddler doesnt really use it at home - they will get tired legs.

A pack of plastacine at 99p makes for great entertainment on the plane.

Check whether hotel provides beach towels... means you can save on luggage weight if they do.

Put the kids in the boot/hold. Seriously when did traveling with children become so difficult? Or have children become more difficult?

When I was little we regularly drove 500 miles to see family and a 12 hour flight was a 3 times a year occurence.

Keep it simple! Little kids just want water - beach/pool and a playground. Location unimportant/sight seeing not necessary.

Leave children at home with in laws and go to Sandals

I adore Hfbunchofnumbers and scurryfunge's advice - 'tis true but here is my prize winning advice:

If you have children over 5 - take a set of playing cards. The games you can play are fairly endless...teach them Clock Patience Perfect for a quick shower while they play on the balcony...

52 card pick-up

Black Jack

Of course, there's SNAP, Pick Up Two, Memory Games,

Never forget a pack of cards, the games are meaningless endless (isn't that what we want from a holiday?)

This, for me is the ultimate in portable entertainment.

It requires no batteries, is infinitely portable, is not frowned upon in any city/island/country that I have ever visited, promotes mathematics, is entirely inclusive...

One pack of playing cards

Smalls - take out all the "royal cards" and play MATCH

Single players - Clock Patience (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clock_patience)

Double players = SNAP!

Three players - Bring on the Black Jack en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Jack_(card_game)

Four players - Have a game of CHEAT?

More than Four? How about a game of 21?

I would never be without a pack of cards! the possibilities are endless!

Kids clubs. Where you can leave the children.

Pack a seperate beach/swim kit bag with sun cream and everyones stuff in it so you don't have to fanny around on holiday getting it all together.

A cheap, plastic spray bottle full of cold water is good for cooling people down (plus your children will love squirting everyone and being squirted).