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

[EllieMumsnet]

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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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Oh and either use a sharpie or get those temporary tattoos and add your phone number to your child's arm, just in case the worst happens and you get separated.

I do make packed lunches sometimes but I tend not to bother too much as our toddler is fine with eating bits of our bought sandwiches and can easily drink from a bottle of water. If we have any crisps in then I'll chuck a couple of packs in my bag for something to distract her. We're still breastfeeding so that also chills her out. If on a train then I'll take the window seat so we're tucked away as best we can be, though people are usually absolutely fine and don't stare etc. She loves looking out of the window and spotting animals, rivers and trees. I think the action of the train is also quite soothing, similar to the car, which sends her to sleep.

We travel by train a lot as we don't have a car - we use a railcard and try to order tickets when they first get released, so we don't find the rail fares too expensive. Far cheaper than running a car and paying for upkeep, petrol and parking. We generally buy sandwiches from shops in the station before boarding the train, but we save money by bringing our own water bottles and multipack snacks.

We bring a selection of (silent) toys and books. The older dc have their own gadgets - phones, DS etc, and we always make sure they're fully charged (but also keep mains chargers to hand if we know the train has charging sockets). I download a few programmes on the iplayer app on my phone, and always have some books on my kindle app on the go. We pack our bags so we always have an individual nylon bag with our own food and gadgets/toys in, so everyone has their own items next to them.

A packed lunch and snacks are vital and a highlight.

We also take colouring/activity books and pens/pencils.

For desperate times or very long trips we bring the IPad with episodes of cartoons downloaded on it so they can be watched without WiFi.

We take an activity bag with stickers and colouring, snacks and water, and for very long journeys music and cartoons on an iPad. Also a few small world play toys (Polly pockets or toy cars) plus if at night snuggly blankets to help them to sleep.

we don't travel by train too often but when we do we take snacks and comics/ipads.

I also have a Friends and Family railcard which saves 1/3 on most journeys, if you have a child with you. It costs £30 a year, but I get it when on offer for £20.

That means that I can travel to the nearest city for £7 for the both of us, which is cheaper than diesel and parking. Only trouble is, the train is often so full that there is nowhere to sit :(

We always take a packed lunch, but call it a picnic. Kids are so much more excited by a picnic. I always stash away the tablet for emergency use. It has only come out once in a lengthy travel delay. Once it's out you can't take it back which is why we save it untill it's absolutely necessary.

Snacks, snacks and more snacks. Don't let them drink too much as there may not be quick and easy toilet access. Even if you don't allow screens while eating etc make an exception.

Buy a family railcard. We saved more than it cost for one of the trips we took

I travel by train a fair bit with my dc, I have a family and friends railcard which I love, the off peak fares are really good. I take a small rucksack for each child with their own snacks plus headphones for use with any screens so they aren't disturbing anyone. I also take a makeup bag each which has those see through pockets to bring any small games, crayons ect so it's easy to see where things are. Plenty of wet wipes are essential and I also pack everything the night before.

Snacks - always take more than you think you’ll need. And a bag to put rubbish in. Baby wipes essential and a spare top that’ll fit as many of the kids as possible! Who knows who’ll need it! Sticker books, reading books, and even Lego (obviously they need to be old enough not to be constantly dropping it...)

Check out all the railcards. We have a Devon and Cornwall Railcard. The children travel for a pound anywhere in Devon and Cornwall.

We always have snacks and drinks. When they were smaller I'd take a game and colouring things. I'd also make a list of things to see out of the window for them to tick off.

Now they're older they have their phones. I make sure they have games downloaded that don't need the internet. DS always has his earphones as he has autism and it helps him block the noise of other people.

We travel everywhere by train. When the kids were younger the best thing was to involve them. Bring colouring pencils and get them to design their own ticket. Bring a route map and timetable so they can follow your journey. Plus lots of snacks and i-spy sheets.

always take a colouring book and some pencils and a dice - a quick game of beetle saves many a long journey or delay from becoming AWFUL!

Taking your own snacks is a must & have some activities ready such as colouring books & pencils...don't forget the pencil sharpener.

For baby age: use a baby carrier and attach toys to it for baby to play with. For crowded trains use an ergo type carrier you can unclick and lay across your lap so the child can sit and play with toys still fixed onto carrier.

Carry finger puppets. They might distract a tantrumming child but even if they don't, it will make you look like a really good parent doing your best.

Newspapers and leaflets are good for playing with (babies can eat them. Older ones can tear and fold them to make models)

Carry a teatowel. It can dry a child in an emergency but takes up very little room.

Older children:

Let them plan the journey

follow the journey on a map.

Everyone carries a backpack with a book and a drink.

Even though under 5s travel free, I always buy a ticket for my toddler on long distance journeys to ensure he has a seat reservation. I can then use a high chair booster seat for him. Well worth the extra money to not have a wriggling child on my lap for 3 hours or have him escaping out the seat every 30 seconds.

Pack snacks, drinks, magazines, books, toys and most importantly colouring things. Being seated near the toilets helps too. I actually think the most important thing is to totally focus on your children, to know them well and to anticipate what's about to come next. I've often seen my toddler start to get flustered and been able to distract and calm her down before she gets upset. Travelling on trains can be really stressful with children.

Oh and if all else fails then bribery.

Take plenty of things to keep them occupied. Mine use to pack what they wanted in a SMALL rucksack, little things that liked to play with which were portable.

Take lots of drinks, snacks, colouring! If all else fails get the dreaded tablet out for them to watch a film or play games!

lots and lots of distractions, snacks, games and reading stories.

Friends and Family Railcard. Often cheaper to travel with children than without.

we always try to make sure they have a good sleep the night before, early start means they sleep in car and always lots of games to keep them distracted, our fave is i spy in french, a great game and learning too

Has to be lots of little healthy snacks and small activities like colouring in, match card games and electronic gadgets for the emergency’s.