5 Tips for Holidaying Abroad with Young Children

In the midst of a pandemic, holidays abroad might seem like a very distant prospect.

18:41 02 November 2020

one way to keep your spirits buoyant during these gloomy times is to plan a holiday for when travel restrictions ease.  Many people shy away from a foreign holiday when they have young children, but there really is no good reason not to take your little ones abroad. In fact, a foreign holiday with their parents may turn out to be one of their most abiding childhood memories.  So, dust off that world atlas and start planning your get away right now.

 

Where to go?

 

You have a whole wide world to choose from but obviously, travelling with young children is much easier if you choose an appropriate location.  Potentially dangerous locations which you might consider as a singleton are clearly a non-starter, so too are locations which are extremely hot or cold. Long haul flights are feasible with young children but clearly, they are more of a challenge. So, if this is your first holiday abroad, with young children, why not begin by considering a European location, such as France, Portugal or Greece?

 

Accommodation

 

Getting the right accommodation is the key to a successful family holiday. Make sure that the accommodation that you have chosen is actually where you want to be. If you need to take a taxi every time you want to go to the beach or out to eat, then you would probably be better off paying a little more for a better location. All inclusive hotel deals are always appealing, and hotels offer lots of in house entertainment for children in the form of kids’ clubs but as long as covid is with us, is a hotel the safest environment for you and your children?  Many families now choose to stay in a villa while on holiday. Having independent accommodation for your family gives you both flexibility and security. European countries like France, Portugal and Greece have a wide range of beautiful villas to suit all budgets.

 

You need to be organized

 

Going on holiday as a single adult, as long as you’ve got your passport and bank card, you’ll get by, but with children in tow you need to be organized. You need to know exactly where those medicines, travel documents and sun lotion are.  You need food, water and entertainment for the journey, and you need to have thought through the possibility of delays or missed connections.

 

Getting lost is easier in unfamiliar environments

 

Losing your child is every parent’s nightmare and in unfamiliar surroundings and with a foreign language it is even more stressful. Even the most well- behaved child can absent mindedly wander off and so you really need to be vigilant at all times. Identify landmarks where your child can head for if they get lost and talk them through the importance of not wandering away.

 

Sun hats and sun cream

 

In an unfamiliar climate it’s very easy for children to get sunburned, especially at places like water parks. Sun burn will spoil your day out and can be dangerous so make sure that your children are protected at all times.