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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Play games to keep them occupied - make up bingo boards for example with things to cross off as you see them, such as a cow, a bus, a post box.

Plan, plan and plan ahead some more!

Make sure you have the essentials: food, drink, wipes, entertainment. Entertainment doesn't have to be only in the forms of books and colouring and tablets. Make bingo cards when travelling in the car (e.g. a bird, a pink car, a blue van, a bird sitting on a wire etc). Give the kids paper pads and have them make words out of car registration numbers. Interact with them. Do this for as long as you can before resorting to electronics. All being together is a great opportunity to have quality time and to make memories.

Preparation is key. Drinks. Snack. Games. Books.

Sit with your children and keep them occupied with snacks and shows/apps with headphones. It's a nicer experience for everyone else! My husband and I have been dumped with someone else's children at our table while their parents went halfway down the carraige. We were on a rare break from our own so not impressed as the carriage was empty. When I moved, the Dad asked my husband if there was a problem! Travelling is very stressful for parents but I'd say a bit of consideration for others is helpful.

lots of snacks and lots of entertainment

Have plenty of snacks and entertainment

Obviously snacks! We invested in some back of the seat DVD players for long car journeys which were a life saver last summer! Plan ahead to where you're going to stop for a rest/lunch and see if there's somewhere with a play area or an English Heritage type place that the kids can run around for a bit. We've also used stories on CD to keep everyone occupied :)

Snacks and downloading favourite films/tv programmes onto tablets. And, traveling light, because they don’t need much “stuff” and you need as much energy as you can muster!

Be prepared. Plenty of snacks and drinks or a packed lunch to save money, and lots of activities to keep them entertained.

Be prepared with snacks and drinks for long journeys. When flying we always take an activity pack and a blanket from home. I also always have plaster in my handbag and tissues.

Snacks but not sweets

If you are seperate from your luggage - enough in hand language to pass a night.

If travelling with a baby - a clean top for you !

Think of games to keep them occupied. Treasure hunts, scrapbook items etc

Take lots and lots of games with you to keep them occupied, as well as iPads of course. Also plenty of snacks. Plan a few toilet stops, this way you don't get annoyed at unscheduled stops.

We are going on a nine hour flight soon and I have made a travel bag for each of my children including activity books, magnetic games, stationary, comics, top trumps and lots of snacks.

When my kids were younger I used a baby carrier to get around, much easier than a pushchair. I packed plenty of drinks and snacks, colouring books, toys (without too many pieces), a tablet to amuse the kids- download plenty of films and games.

Don't overthink it! You cannot plan for every eventuality. Take activities for them to do and play with and snacks.

Travelling with my son is a nightmare as he is very travel sick, to the point where he can barely go to our local shops on the bus about 10 minutes away. I tend to use trains for longer journeys as he is better on them than cars or buses, we have lots of snacks, water, and most important of all, distractions in the way of puzzles, games, comics.

Lots of snacks and games. 😃

Take plenty of entertainment drinks and snacks

We always plan lots of stops on the way, satnav is fantastic now for finding little villages with parks so they can have a little run around to stretch their legs and add to the adventure or travelling in the car.
We also put together little snack bags for every hour and include things like raisins, crisps, cheese triangles, bread sticks, mini sweetie bars like kinders or a freddo. These work on any journey whether in the car, bus or train.

Plenty of wipes, drinks, mini snacks, travel games, I Spy books and a tablet for when all else fails.

Lots of activities and films to keep them quiet and distracted!

Lots of snacks, activities to keep them entertained and wet wipes and tissues.

My number one tip, if taking older, teenage kids, is to take chargers, and or portable powerbanks. They keep themselves entertained with their phones, and for the younger ones a good family board-game makes a long journey fun. Lot's of snacks and bottles of water from home are a great way to save money too.

On trains with a toddler, stickers, colouring, and small finger puppets are all good - but don’t underestimate the entertainment value of just looking out of the window!