Best tips for travelling with a toddler

[RedRobyn2021]

My DD has just turned 2 we are planning to go to Portugal, staying over at a hotel near the airport the night before, flight is early at 6:30am

Flight back we won't be arriving until 5:30pm then we have a 2 hour drive home, I think I'm dreading coming back more to be honest

Would really appreciate hearing things what worked well for you?

Your outbound flight is perfect; I purposely book early morning flights with my children.
Wake her up at 3ish, talk to her about the hol so she is all excited, let her walk through the airport and go for breakfast. She will more than likely sleep on the plane (mine always do by doing the above)

Snacks, little toys and colouring for the plane. You’ve only got a short flight so she should be fine. Is it the first time she has flown?
Change of clothes in your hand luggage for her, baby wipes & a carrier bag incase of any spillages, accidents or sick.

Flight home - as above, snacks, toys etc. she will probably be excited if it’s her first time on a plane.

We've been away before a year ago, but she wasn't walking/running then. I don't think she remembers it now

Wow, we have very different 2 yo. I can’t think of anything worse than waking mine up at 3am 😂 for me the flight home sounds grand. Into pyjamas in airport when you land, hopefully fall asleep in the car and transfer into cot/bed on arrival home, leaving you to unpack. We regularly travel home from places at this sort of time and do this. I think the outbound flight will be one to survive to be honest. My toddler would be far to excited to fall asleep on a plane after only being awake for 3 or 4 hours. What’s the transfer like at the other end? Potential for a doze then?

@ApplePie20

I sincerely hope that's how the trip home goes! Last time we went away she was really upset to go from the airplane to the airport then into a car seat for 2 hours. Maybe it will be different this time because she can run about, last time she wasn't walking properly.

We have an hour to drive in our hire car to where we are staying once we get to Portugal, so she will probably fall asleep then. At the moment she is still waking me 2-3 times a night so it will make a change my waking her!