Travelling Abroad

Taking a holiday abroad with lots of children is possible.  It does come at a price and it may not be entirely stress free especially if you have young children.  If you do decide to take a trip abroad then arm yourself with this knowledge:-

By Plane

Travelling by aeroplane may be the quickest way to reach your destination but it can also be the most difficult to manage as our family discovered.  Forget the cost of flying, managing all the children and the luggage is near on impossible.

• Consider holidaying with grandparents or other family members.  More adults make light work of managing the kids and luggage!
• If possible get dropped off and collected at the airport terminal by an airport taxi service (these normally have mini vans and should be able to cater for your large family) so you don’t have to transport your children and your luggage from airport parking to terminal building.   Managing on the shuttle buses can be extremely difficult.
• DO NOT over pack.  If you are overweight the airline will have you unpack your cases – you do not need this hassle.

• Be selective with flight timings to make life a little easier.

By Car

Travelling by car may be the better option especially with younger kids.  The kids will still become irritable and tired for sitting for such a long time but at least you won’t have to carry luggage in and out of various vehicles until you reach your desired destination.

You can carry as much luggage as you need, you can carry plenty of food and drink for the kids to snack on.

By Train

Travelling by train with children has several advantages.  They are more comfortable than planes and cars as there is more legroom.  You are able to move in and out of your seats.  You can have a table so children can play with their toys, colour and draw.

A huge benefit is the view of your journey as you travel.  The constant change of scenery and things to look out for is entertainment for the kids in itself.  Think Thomas Tank and Harry Potter!

You will still have the same issues with managing the luggage on and off the train but there are no weight restrictions as with flying.