“There is no bad
weather, only inappropriate clothing”,
In other words, a
little planning goes a long way. If you are a parent then you know exactly what
I mean. Traveling with children can be overwhelming. There is an endless list
of things to carry. Not to mention an entire pharmacy and a grocery store that needs
to be accommodated within the 23kg baggage limit. Long flights can be daunting and
the lay-over’s can bring you closer to a breakdown.
I’ve traveled to 4 countries
with my son, starting off when he was just 9months. Our last trip with him was
only a few months back and now, after a bazillion mistakes am finally getting
it right. So here I am sharing my gyan
that I’ve gathered after some really bad stumbles.
#Location. I thought it
was a bright idea to travel to Dubai with my one and a half year old. Big
mistake. He got claustrophobic in his stroller every 5 minutes. All I did was
chase him down the mall like a crazy woman. Can’t remember a single thing I shopped
for during the ironic shopping festival. It’s very important to plan a destination
with keeping the child in mind. Like for instance our last trip to Australia
was a super hit, visit to the zoo, theme parks and beaches, holiday personified
. So if you want to pleasant holiday, chose your destination wisely. Make sure
your destination has a little bit of something for everyone.
#Flights. Happy child,
happy you. Make sure you keep them occupied. A sucker during takeoff and
landings helps relieve the pain. A favorite snack helps calming the tantrum. Few
toys keep them company and when all fails, a little jog in the aisle dose
wonders. Don’t bother no one’s judging.
#Packing Hacks. One great
tip I can share is I don’t make individual bag for each one of the family member,
but for each day of the trip I have my husband’s, mine and my sons clothes
packed into one neat bag. This does make packing a little tedious, but you will
bless me for the time you save every morning when you don’t have to run around
wondering what to wear.
#Plan every last
detail. Your carefree bag-packing days are passé when you traded your trainers
for a stroller. Meticulous planning helps you cover more distance and help you
explore potential things that might keep you and the kids happy.
Once you get the hang
of it , children make the best travel companions ever. It’s surprising that
even by the end of a tiring day they
have heaps of energy to do more. Their innate sense of curiosity is something
we all can learn from. They put the fun back into vacation. They remind you
that sometimes all you need is an in room service, where you kill the wake-up
call, hit the pool and just relax. P.s. don’t forget the sun block.
