Let's guide you to a smooth family trip
Is there anything more magical than giving your kids experiences they will remember forever? Experiences that will make them grow and see the world with new perspectives. But it doesn't come without complications. Here we'll try to guide you to a seamless trip, so you can focus all your energy on being present and giving your kids an experience for life.
Among other things, you'll find packing lists, good tips and tricks and things to consider which will make the trip a much better experiences for everyone.
A bit of practical information
It's always a good idea to make sure some of the practical things are ticked off before you arrive to the airport. "Ooops, one of the kids' passport expires soon", "did you not bring this or that?" etc. In general, remember that all passports must be valid 6 months after you fly back home. It's also a good idea to check up on visa rules for the destination you are visiting. Is there an online form that needs to be filled before arrival? How many days can we stay? Is there any vaccinations we need? All things that are easy to forget in the process of planning your trip.
Travel insurance? How does that work? Does my insurance cover this kind of trip we're going on? Make sure to download emergency numbers, store your travel documents on your phone in case there is no WiFi or coverage when you arrive. Check out which transportation apps is most frequently used in the destination, and download and create a profile before you arrive.
"Invest in a proper snorkeling mask for the kids that you know fits and bring it from home, especially if you're planning a trip to a destination with lots of water activities." - Morten, Sales Manager at KILROY (3 children)
Talk to your children
Of course this also depends on your child's age, but in general it's always good to prepare the little ones on the journey you're about to embark on. Everything from how airports work, check-in, security to the experience on board the flight; turbulence, other passengers, food and snacks.
We also recommend that you give your children an idea about the destinations you're about to visit. Is there anything to mentally prepare for? The food, poverty, culture? The more preparation the easier the children adapt once you have landed.
Good things to consider when booking flights
The most important part of your flights is to make sure you book flights with the best possible schedule to minimize jetlag and ensure the best start to the trip. There's nothing worse than being jetlagged the first 3 days.
Good Example:
CPH - Singapore (Departure time 17.25 - arrival Singapore 16.30 - incl. 2h stopover in Helsinki)
If you are traveling to Singapore with 2 children aged 7 and 10. Try to book an afternoon/early evening flight. If you have a stopover as part of the route, make sure it's not in the middle of the night. This example booking allows for some hours with fun activities on the flight as well as giving your children a chance to sleep within their normal sleeping pattern. But let's be honest, no one really sleeps great on an airplane, so by choosing this timing you will land in Singapore and be awake for 4-5 hours before you can go back to bed and get a full night's rest. On day 2, you're ready to explore without Jetlag.
Bad Example:
CPH - Singapore (Departure time 08.25 - Arrival 7.30 - incl. 2h stopover in Helsinki)
In this example you are going to stretch yourself maximum. The majority of your flight trip is during awake hours, making it an incredible long journey to overcome as there needs to be snacks and entertainment enough. Furthermore you also need to show up early in the airport = waking up in the middle of the night on departure day. Lastly, you will land at a time where you would normally sleep at the end of day 1, and with lack of sleep on the flight you now have a full day to stay awake before it's time to sleep again.
Tips for the best on-flight experience
You probably know it already, but in case you don't let us underline the fact that good preparation is where you either make it or break it when flying with children.
If you are flying long haul, there will be plenty of hours to kill and that journey is going to be very long if you haven't done your homework.
Make sure to bring proper entertainment for the trip: Activity books, travel games, books, good headphones, drawing/coloring books and lots of downloaded content on the ipad/phone. Tip: Make sure alle the physical things you bring are NEW to the children when you present it on the flight. If it's a book that is already half finished, there's no news value for the children which will save you hours of entertainment.
Next tip is of course drinks and snacks. There is no such thing as too many snacks. You never know what kind of food is served on the flight, and we all know that children can be picky on demand. Thus, bring snacks you know your children likes. If you are traveling with babies, remember to bring proper amount of infant formula, smoothies, fruit etc. You can also check if the airline offers children menu on board the flight.
Lastly, make sure you have brought the necessary equipment, because accidents happens. Extra diapers, an extra set of pants and underwear, napkins and wet wipes are all great things to bring in your hand luggage.
A stroller can also be a great idea to bring. Some strollers can be folded and handed in when boarding, and some airlines even provide free check in of strollers.
"A baby carrier is a life saver on board the flight. You can walk up and down the aisle bouncing the baby while your hands are free."- Ida, Marketing Manager in KILROY (2 children).
Accommodation & Routines
Even though the prices are a bit higher, family rooms will make it a much more convenient stay when you book accommodation for your family trip. Add a swimming pool to the hotel, some kitchen facilities in the room and you have a great base for your stay. If you have toddlers the kitchen will come in handy, as you don't have to wait for the hotel breakfast to be open, also you can ensure that you have exactly the kind of breakfast your child wants - again, we know that they can be picky small human beings!
Remember to bring their stuffed animal when it's time to say goodnight. This gives the child something recognizable in new surroundings.
If possible, see if you can plan meals and naps at the same time as back home, as children often are very much creatures of habits.
"Bring a small travel pharmacy with simple things such as pain killers, bandage etc. Before you know it the child has gotten a fever or cut themselves on something near the pool.". - Siw, senior Travel Advisor at KILROY (2 children)
Drinking water and food
In general, be cautious with drinking tap water and eating raw/unpasteurized food. In some destinations you should even use bottled water for the toothbrush as well. You can also buy a LifeStraw bottle which filters the bacteria from almost whatever water source you put in the bottle.
Have a plan ready if someone gets lost
Okay, we don't want to scare you away, but in the rare case that one of the children is lost in a crowd. That could be when entering a big market i.e., it's good to have a plan ready. Before entering the market, identify a landmark, a restaurant or something else that is easy for the child to recognize in case they seem to be lost.
Dependent on the age of the child, it's a good idea to give clear instructions if they should lose you out of sight.
Involve the children in the planning phase
A good idea, both before departure and on the destination, is to involve the children and let them have a say in what activities you should do. This is a great way of giving them co-responsibility and they will feel heard and seen and not just tag-alongs to the parent's trip.
Also, don't overbook your day activites and leave room for breaks, food stops and spontaneous detours if possible. You will get a day that is much less busier and much more fit for everyone.
Did you know, that children can take a PADI diving certificate when they are 10 years old and they can even do fun-dives/trials in the swimming pool already when they are 8? "This was really fun for Oliver in Bali. PADI Bubblemaker it's called. Small children are often more courageous than adults when it comes to water activities, so it's a good idea to teach them young." - Siw
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