Many of you are already on vacation, and others are about to start: If you have girls and boys, the important thing is the free time that you can share, without agendas, books, without alarms on the smartphone, without calls from co-workers, or haste or schedules ..., without so many things that bind you to daily life, and although sometimes they provide security, it is no less true that they remain freedom and spontaneity. That is why vacations are your time: take advantage of them to rest, smile and surrender to being yourself with your children.
Even if you do not go on a trip, you are going to have a good time because in every town or city, there are many occasions to have a good time: the summer cinema, the patron saint festivities, the swimming pool or the beach (remember that you have to supervise the children's bathroom), the excursion to the nearest beach, the inauguration of the civic center, in which there will be activities for everyone. And if you are going to go out to visit new places, in Spain or abroad, You will give the little ones a collection of sensations and knowledge that they cannot otherwise acquire. Traveling with children is easier than it seems at first glance, but we have prepared a Guide to help you a bit.
Previous advice.
Preparing the trip.
Use common sense and be practical when planning: For example, if the trip is long, you have to find a way for the child to do part of it while sleeping, because when they are babies or very young, a rested and active little one can be very desperate (for them and for you), while you have to continue worrying about driving, submitting documentation, requesting a rental car, etc. Do not forget that in theory a leisure trip is partly to rest and enjoy: use your patience and try to adapt to your possibilities, and what you really want to do. You may have fantasized about living dozens of experiences in another country or city, but the reality is different, and there is nothing wrong with enjoying the atmosphere of a square with fountains, instead of a guided tour of the towers of a capital. Think about the age of your children, and what they are capable of putting up with.
Even if you have little time to prepare for the trip, use all the resources at your fingertips, and have a notebook and pen handy, to write down everything you need: official pages of the City Council, the Tourist Board, Google Maps, the website of the metro company, cultural offers, family vouchers to access the places you want to visit. Traveler websites with opinions about gastronomy, accommodation, etc ... Make lists of what you want to search for, and on separate sheets, write down all the directions you need for the trip. Using another smaller notebook or a mobile application, write down all the telephone numbers / addresses that you will need (hotel, museum, emergencies, health center,…) and the medical care conditions of the destination country. You should also provide for the provision of cash, in case the one you carry runs out (Talk to your bank or savings bank because nowadays you can pay many services with your smartphone, and you will need to know if they also offer the service in other countries).
Take the opportunity to share with the children part of your inquiries: for example, they will love to see images of the water park, or discover the typical dessert, they will like to see the photo gallery of the apartment you have chosen and above all they will be fascinated by “going down at street level” thanks to Maps.
Where we go?
Many (if not most) families love to travel between June and September, in addition to the fact that we usually have concentrated vacations, the temperatures (in the Northern Hemisphere) are more pleasant. Besides that we love the beach. But there are also those who prefer national or foreign cities, even those who are not afraid to travel abroad, and we prefer Europe to go with children.Although the United States, Canada and some Asian cities are also attractive. There is no relationship between destiny and well-being, because it depends on the preferences of each one; In addition, overcoming one's own prejudices also helps children grow as people.
Your children can adapt very well, you would be surprised ... You are not going to take them to an unsafe place, but you cannot limit yourself either because I am reluctant to travel with small children. New experiences are only acquired by traveling to different places. Forget about the topic “children's place”, because they will have fun and learn much more if you dare to take them anywhere, with the condition of adapting family activities to whatever the little ones want. It is very enriching that they immerse themselves in the conversations and customs of another city.
On the other hand, contact with Nature is very beneficial, with reason there is a part of travelers who choose rural destinations, National Parks, mountain lodges. The previous lifestyle of mom and dad will condition a lot, do not give it up.
Time to pack.
It is easier when children are included in the preparation: you can buy mini travel bags, so that they are the ones who select and store their clothes, swimsuits, toiletries, toys, personal items (bracelets, sunglasses, bags for a walk). You can make a joint list, and that way it will be easier for them to fill the suitcase. The level of involvement and responsibility depends on age, and you will always have to review the content yourself. Do not forget sunscreen, mosquito repellent, nit in case they catch lice and accessories to prevent discomfort if the weather changes (for example, raincoat or cardigan).
All of you should bring 2 pairs of footwear, plus rubber shoes if you bathe, pool towels, caps, and sun protection shirt. And it also has that you will have to assemble backpacks with snacks for the journey, and bottles of water.
How will you get around?
How do you travel? Think of everyone's comfort, of your desire to drive many hours, of your economy. The family vehicle is very comfortable and the train is very fun (although you have to carry suitcases). The plane leaves you in the blink of an eye (or almost) at the destination, although the whole process is a bit cumbersome (check-in, boarding, waiting…); Traveling by boat is exciting, and you can sleep in a cabin. The train gives more freedom than the plane, traveling by boat at night can cause a bit of insecurity if the child stays awake and looks through one of the ports (circular windows). By car, the driver gets tired and must stop every two hours, although the train does not leave you at the exact destination (not the plane or ship), but in exchange these last 3 means of transport allow you to know the environment in ports, airports , seasons.
The choice of means of transport is also conditioned by the destination, because you can go to Santiago de Compostela by car, but not to Toronto. It is worthwhile, when you talk about the trip with the children, that you also tell them what it is like to go by boatEven looking for stories that explain it, or YouTube videos.
And don't miss our recommendations for entertain waiting in transport terminals.
And finally we have arrived.
You have previously chosen the accommodation:
- Rural apartments or boxes: ideal for families with children. They are ideal places to maintain certain routines of young children, such as meal times and sleep, you can also prepare breakfast and dinner, even if you eat out, even cook the main meal. You will have more freedom to come and go, but they involve extra work for Mom and Dad. The environment of a rural house also allows you to connect more easily with the inhabitants of the town and their customs.
- Camping: in contact with Nature, the campsite is ideal to relax, move freely, and enjoy the pleasure of simplicity.
- Hostels and hotels: each option is adapted to different economic possibilities. This type of accommodation allows you to completely disconnect, without having to deal with anything other than having fun and resting completely.
Make sure the characteristics of the rooms and that they have a travel cot if you need one. Ask (even if I put it on the web) if the sofa is a sofa bed, or if there are 3 beds in the room as indicated. Check the times for check in / check out.
Finally, if you have a baby between 0 and 36 months, the preparation should be more thorough and organized, and in the last days before the trip (when your activity will be more intense) that mom or dad take care of the child for a longer time, While the other finalizes details, procedures and checks suitcases, or buys food for the journey.