HELP - ABBYMUMSNET NEEDS YOUR HOLIDAY SURVIVAL TIPS

[AbbyMumsnet]

Hi all,
I'm doing a couple of pieces for a travel web-site that I need your help with.
The first is focusing on holiday "survival" tips. For example: surviving the family packing without incurring massive excessive baggage fees - so what are the essential items you shouldn't travel without and what can you leave behind? Surviving the journey itself - tricks to make the time fly/what must come in your flight bag and so on. Surviving the heat... and the insect life - so tips on good child-friendly products and sun protection clothing that won't make your kids look dead weird. Surviving foreign food when you're child's a fussy eater... It's not a very long piece, but if you have any top tips please send them my way. I'll use your MN names if I use your tips.
Also, I'd be really interested for any tips and anecdotes re' what elements combine to make the perfect beach holiday for a family? And how do you ensure that you keep varying ages of kids happy?
Thanks in advance. x

don't buy a new buggy simply for a holiday abroad- it makes it much worse when it comes through the baggage carousel mangled!!!!

book your Relate sessions for your return at the same time as booking the holiday

Travel light, they do have shops abroad you know.

if you need survival tips then perhaps consider staying at home ...think green

I don't think time ever flies when travelling with children (well not with mine anyway). We're not being very helpful are we .

perfect beach holiday - not too hot a climate, can walk to the beach or can park easily, warm sea, good facilities (toilets, cafes).

In terms of surviving the heat, it's all about being sensible and not going out in the hottest part of the day (if it affects you) and if you don't like the heat, then don't book a holiday in a hot country in summer.

meet other nice peopel adn hten drink amaretto

shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

talking of names, where's your viscountess gone, ll?

Remeber to stock up on booze at the duty free.

And my favourite one size fits all parenting tip:

It's never too early for gin.

This is especailly true on holiday, I find.

take LOADS of food/snacks. A hungry baby/child is awful.

phenegan

brandy from the duty free

leave kids with Granny

NEVER go on holiday ALONE as a family.

never go WITH another family to the same house.

go to the same kind of place btu never try and cater together. you will fall out.

I really like Walrus' advice about gin

Even if you don't usually use it, a tub of baby powder is brilliant for getting sand off grumpy small children without scrubbing
Sun tent is a brilliant investment - ours has been worth every penny. Get a family sized one and it can be used for a parent to sulk in too
Refill mineral water bottles nightly and freeze. They double as coolblocks and as they thaw you will have cold water to drink

never used a suntent.

a packet of safety pins - I don't know why/how, but we've used them almost every time we've been on holiday

Oh yes FIS - and those clippit things from Lakeland too - we always take a handful of those

We take it in turns to do the sulking ll
Neither of us is a natural born beach bunny and I burn like crazy so do have to do Tent Time even on British beaches

Squash everyone into car. Switch on DVD player. Drive to UK beach resort. Wear wetsuits to keep warm or prevent sunburn according to prevailing weather conditions. Eat chips. Sorted

I second chips. Chips are good.
Also do not wear crocs on beach. People will look askance at you.