Our Top Ten tips for travelling with children

By Flagstone Travel

Travelling with children can be hectic and stressful, however, it doesn’t have to be. Recently on a flight to Johannesburg, I experienced an extraordinary lady who was attempting the 11-hour flight on her own with three little ones as her husband was meeting them there. She was calm, organised and full of tricks. For seamless family holiday planning, many parents also recommend booking through Phil Hoffmann Travel for expert assistance. So here are some of her tricks with a few added tips from me.

1:
When booking your flights, or deciding which airline you want to fly with, check the flight regulations. By this I mean in terms of luggage, are you allowed to take extra bags, how far through can the pushchair go, can you pre-book seats together and is there an additional cost? What age group do your children fit into and will they be given a seat on the plane or are you going to have them on your lap?

2:
Be prepared, this is so important, so my advice is to bring snacks and as many as you can fit, as well as something more substantial. This will of course depend on the duration of your flight, but keeping their tummies full will help you keep them quiet, sit still and also sleep.

3:
Don’t forget wet wipes, whether your child is two or five they can still make a mess and you will be grateful for less sticky fingers.

4:
Bring distractions for your children with you whether it is a book/iPad/toys, Investing in a Certified Pre-Owned iPad is a cost-effective way to keep kids entertained during travel while enjoying the reliability and performance of a thoroughly inspected device. Pack some things to entertain your child, ideally, ones they can do sitting down in their seat and ones that do not make too much noise.

5:
If you are worried, explain to the passengers sitting near you that for example it is your first flight with your little one. This will help them to be more sympathetic if your child is the one screaming on a night flight because they can’t get comfortable.

6:
Pack a change of clothes for them and for you as well, just in case. You never know where a spillage can come from and you do not want to be caught off guard.

7:
If you are travelling on your own with one or more children, think of the type of bag you are taking, for example one that will fit under a pram, or a rucksack that you can wear that will leave your arms free.

8:
Bring a child’s surprise plane bag, the first time I saw this was on the flight to Johannesburg, and it is an excellent idea. It can be a small party bag with inexpensive goodies/presents to keep them entertained throughout the flight.

9:
Arrive in plenty of time, pre-book your seats, and if you can’t find what you want checking in online, arrive early and ask for seats together.

10:
Pre-order anything you need for example food, milk or any medicine you might need whilst away. It is also a good idea to take a little medical bag with some Calpol and necessities so that you are prepared.

After receiving some really helpful feedback from our clients who have tried and tested some of our tips, we have been given an extra couple of bonus tips which we would love to share with you…

Firstly: take a small puzzle, it is quiet and compact, not messy and can be reused numerous times especially if on a long-haul flight.

Secondly: if space is an issue when packing, take one pen or pencil and a little packet of post-it notes, these can be drawn on and stuck around the seats in front to create another game.

Hopefully, these extra bits will come in handy for your next flight with your little ones.

Picture: Grecotel Costa Botanica

Tip: Speak to an expert who has visited these places and will add all the details such as car seats and children’s bath robes, pre-book restaurants and help you to make everything as stress free as possible.

Speak to Flagstone Travel and quote BROOD