Travelling with children; what are your tips? Share them with South Western Railway

[EllieMumsnet]

This activity is now closed

We all know that travelling on family days out with children are not always the cheapest of experiences. However they can provide great family bonding and memories that will last a lifetime and just as importantly don’t have to burn a hole in your pocket every time. With that being said South Western Railway want your top tips for travelling with children, especially your best money saving tips!

Here’s what South Western Railway have to say: “If you’re savvy at looking out for great family deals then sign up to receive our customer newsletters. You’ll receive exclusive offers and inspiration on where to visit on the network, helping you to plan a fun family day out.”

Do you ensure you bring pack lunches and snacks for the whole family so you don't have to spend anything on food? Perhaps you like to bring along extended family or friends? Do you bring lots of fun games to use as distractions if and when needed on the journey? How do you decide where to go if you have children of different ages?

Whatever your tips are for travelling with children and saving money on family days out, share them on the thread below and everyone who does will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!
MNHQ

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[EllieMumsnet]

Congratulations to AngelwingsPetlamb for winning the £300 voucher

[jantee33]

Issues arise when one of four things isn't addressed, tiredness, hunger, thirst or boredom. The first three are the easiest to address, and if they are then the children will be happier and easier to engage with distracting games, toys or watching the world because they are generally happy.

[amck13]

Loads of snacks and games!

[dianefenton]

Take lots of snacks and an iPad

[Undomiel001]

Lots of snacks, and also travel games and car games to keep them occupied whilst waiting. (also in the case of car sick kids like mine -sick bags in the back yuk)

Look for vouchers before you go for meals out or discounted entry. If you are letting kids buy sounviers give them an £ limit before your leave in the morning so they know what they can spend

[flowersfromheaven]

Always look to find the fastest route's or direct route's even Off peak times might work out better so you and your children are not waiting around to long and if possible try going somewhere the children have picked that way you know they are going to be excited and not bored.

[dawnmf1969]

Take snacks, games and an ipad or some kind of electronic game to keep them occupied, You can download films onto the ipad so with a pair of headphones that should keep your little one occupied for most if not all the journey.

[swebb1985]

Definitely bring a variety of snacks. Also sticker books and colouring books work well to pass the time.

[neill2407]

Make sure you take drinks and snacks. Children are still growing and easily become hungry and thirsty during long car journeys in particular.

[carolynhey]

Keep lots of little activities especially with toddlers crayons books stickers, munchies of course and plenty of drinks.

[essexchic]

Colouring books, snacks and games of who can see? out of the window always works.

[joolsgadget27]

Take plenty of activity books or travel games to keep them occupied and some snacks to avoid paying out buffet prices!

[Helspopje]

Get a family railcard
Always book seats even if it meNs buying a ticket for an under 5 if it’s a busy/long journey
Packed lunches and snacks ++
Fully charged iPads with games/programmes or films downloaded
A charging ‘brick’ in case there are no plug points
Book direct with the train company fir free WiFi codes
A magazine or activity book and pens/pencils
Travel sized game - we like these monopoly and cluedo ones www.johnlewis.com/monopoly-deal-shuffle-card-game/p1625420

And if all else fails - gin in a tin

[KarynMS]

Take baby wipes and a change of clothes

[Rachelp4016]

Take snacks and listen to the radio!

[suzyq50]

Lots of snacks in the back pack, not too many sugary ones as the mood goes haywire.
Not too many gadgets as they get left behind or battery goes flat.
The train is a good way to travel rather than coach as generally spacious & big windows to watch the world go by so always something to see.

[HelenSw4les]

For long car journeys, we usually set off late at night and the children sleep during the journey. For daytime journeys, particularly on the train, we try and plan well in advance to take advantage of the cheaper tickets and make sure we always reserve seats, preferably with a table so the children can play, oh and never in the quiet carriage despite our children being (mostly) well behaved.

[littlemonkeyz]

Look out for promotions and competitions for places that you want to visit and join their social media groups as they often run competitions for free tickets. Always take a packed lunch and snacks with you. Semi-freeze drinks the night before so that they stay cool all day and collect free sachets of jam / mayo etc that you get with meals as they are handy to take with you.

[rocketriffs]

To save money, advance booking can save you £££s. Or if travelling and buying tickets at the station, find out if any friends are travelling and club together and get a group discount. Buy your drinks and snacks before travel and save on the ridiculous buffet and trolley prices, and on the way home after a long day and the little ones get bored, I take a pack of cards to play any number of games.

[cheryl100]

I put together a snack box that has lots of different sections, so lots of choice. I would also book a table seat on a train or extra leg room on an aeroplane

[ha2el]

We all like singing, so when we travel long distances in the car I have a songbook and it keeps everyone entertained!

[jimi324]

use a leash

[lolamia91]

travel with lots of activities

[Lfoulds0209]

a lot of snacks!

[dilydaly]

Bring plenty of distractions, when my youngest loved paw patrol, I made sure I had a handful of episodes downloaded to her ipad that she'd never seen before (this works like a treat!).
If it's a longer journey, I'll take a new toy and use it when it's needed.
I think the best tip is to do as much as you can before you rely on distractions, don't just give them the ipad/toys/colouring book, wait until they NEED it, or they'll get bored of them too quickly and there's a lot of the journey left to go.