Like everyone when we take our holidays it is a real adventure and full of excitement. We have the added fun of planning the trip to ensure that our four children make the journey intact (and indeed we make the journey intact and still with a little bit of sanity left). Our children are aged 2-12. The two year old has the attention span of a gold fish whereas the 12 year old believes herself to be the boss. This can make long journeys interesting to say the least. However, don’t be put off. Travelling with kids can be a great adventure.
Planning is important but whatever you do, don’t over plan. You are not in control of all the elements, over planning your trip will cause the dominos to fall as soon as something ‘unexpected’ happens. If travelling long distance then expect the unexpected. Travelling by plane can be the most difficult: -
1. Early start / Late start
2. Journey to the airport
3. Toilet stop
4. Parking
5. Getting from the car park to check in desk
6. Toilet stop
7. Queuing at check in desk
8. Check in
9. Toilet stop
10. Queuing through departures
11. Toilet stop
12. Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner/Snack
13. Toilet stop
14. Queuing for the plane (if not delayed)
15. Finding seats for all!
16. Toilet visit number 1 on plane
17. Drinks
18. Toilet visit number 2
19. Snack
20. Toilet visit number 3
21. Entertaining
22. Toilet visit number 4
23. Landing
24. Getting off the plane
25. Toilet stop
26. Queuing through passport control
27. Toilet stop
28. Waiting for the all the bags to come through baggage control
29. Going through customs
30. Toilet stop
31. Finding transport – Coach|Hire Car|Taxi
32. Snack for kids
33. Driving to destination
34. Getting lost
35. Toilet stop
36. Getting lost again
37. Finding Hotel|Apartments|villa|cottage|Bed & Breakfast
38. Unloading car|coach|Taxi
39. Toilet stop
40. Checking in
41. Going to room|villa|apartment
42. Now the fun really begins
Having four children can make the whole adventure a real experience particularly when planes, trains and automobiles are involved. Sometime I wonder whether it is actually worse for all of those around us rather than us. If truth be known we are accustomed to it (may be a better word is numb to it). That doesn’t mean we don’t care but what is painful to others is daily life to us.
We wouldn’t have it any other way. A holiday without the kids would not be a holiday.
Top tips
1. Be prepared but don’t over prepare
2. Pack early
3. Pack light
4. Take some new and simple toys (books, cars, pens, games etc)
5. If on a long journey and particularly planes, then take some basic snack and sweets. Good for both cabin pressure issues and bribery
6. Don’t get stressed….enjoy. When your kids leave the nest you will look back on this with great memories. Even the time your son screamed the whole 4 hour plane flight home and you spent your whole time apologising to those around you while trying everything in the book to calm him down….happy memories.
