Taking your kids away on their first-ever holiday abroad is such a momentous occasion. It’s the perfect opportunity to bond as a family, enjoy new experiences, and teach them about different cultures from all over the world.
But a family holiday can also be difficult, especially if you’re unsure how your children will react to travelling. With long waiting times, bumpy plane rides, and warm temperatures, there are many obstacles you need to think about.
However, with a little bit of organisation, you can easily overcome these potential issues and sit back and relax during your time away. We’ve provided five of our top tips to help you on your first family holiday abroad.
Getting your documents together
One of the most important parts of organising any holiday is ensuring you have all the relevant documents needed to travel.
Double-check that all family members have a valid passport, which must have at least six months left before it expires. Also, print out your boarding passes and keep them on your phone, as you never know if it’ll lose charge or become damaged.
If you’re travelling to another European country, you’ll need a GHIC card, which has now replaced the EHIC card. This means you and your family are entitled to health care in your chosen country. In addition to this, you should obtain relevant travel insurance.
Packing your cases
First off, check your luggage allowances and what baby equipment your airline allows you to take at no additional cost. You may just decide to take hand luggage with you or only take one or two suitcases to go in the hold. Either way, pre-booking these can save you time and money.
Make a detailed list of all your packing essentials, including items like favourite toys, clothing to suit the weather, medications, toiletries, etc. If you intend to take electronic devices, ensure that these are all fully charged before travelling and you bring a charger for each.
Depending on the age of your children, you may also need to pack nappies, baby wipes, bottles, and a spare pair of clothes. Snacks and entertainment packs are always a good idea for the plane ride to keep the kids entertained, especially if there are going to be delays.
If your baby is still breast- or bottle-fed, try to feed them as the plane takes off. Doing so can prevent pressure and soreness in the ears. Try not to worry too much about travelling with young children. Often it is easier to venture abroad before they are eating solid foods and will basically sleep anywhere.
Go for all-inclusive
While eating out and escaping the crowds is a good thing for a holiday, make your life that bit easier by choosing all-inclusive accommodation. This way, the children can eat all the food they desire, join plenty of kids’ clubs, and go to shows in the evening. Even better, you can have all the drinks you want!
You’ll also usually find great deals on these types of accommodation and you’ll save money by not eating out every day. This doesn’t mean you can’t escape the hotel, however. You’re still free to head outside, go to the beach, or visit a restaurant – the choice is entirely up to you.
Opt for convenience
When travelling with children, particularly those who are restless, always choose convenience where possible – even if it means paying more. This will help to reduce your stress levels and ensure that the holiday goes smoothly from start to finish.
Depending on the time you fly, your children’s sleep schedules could be affected, which can potentially lead to tantrums and upset. Where possible, choose flights during the afternoon once they have rested or a night flight where they can sleep the whole way there.
Shorter flights are ideal if you predict it’ll be difficult to keep them amused – you can always increase this in the future if they cope well. Parking close to the airport is also highly recommended since it reduces the distance you’ll need to carry luggage and means you can head back instantly when you arrive home.
You’ll also need to figure out how you’ll get from the airport to your accommodation. Trust us, you don’t want to be stuck waiting in a queue for hours after such a tiring day of travelling.
By organising airport transfers for your family ahead of time, your holiday starts the moment you get to the airport. You also won’t need to worry about not being able to get to the airport and missing your flight the day you return home.
Take it easy
While having lots of plans in place is great for a holiday, sometimes it’s best to take it easy. Children will often need the occasional day to recharge, so make sure to leave some downtime scheduled for after your arrival and between days of exploring.
Sometimes it’s good to go with the flow. See how your family is feeling: Do they want to head to the beach? Would they prefer to relax around the pool or head to a kids club? It’s also good for the adults to have some time together too. You could head to a bar with a children’s play area and have some much-needed alone time.
Luciana joined our team as a mum blogger in 2020. A dedicated mum to a lively daughter and a dog, Luna, Luciana brings authenticity and passion to every post. Her expertise in parenting and lifestyle topics offers practical, relatable advice for real-life situations.