Planning an Adventurous Family Holiday
For years, my partner and I embarked on adventurous trips to far-off destinations. We’d book our tickets, pack our bags, and jet off to our next adventure. However, everything changed when our daughter was born. Suddenly, the idea of adventurous holidays with kids seemed daunting.
Which destinations are child-friendly for a two-year-old? How can we fit all our luggage into a suitcase? What can we bring for our little one on the flight? Do airlines provide special seats for kids? Can we find our preferred brand of diapers abroad? These questions and many more flooded my mind. It was clear that travelling with a young child would be a different experience. To prepare, I scoured the web for the best tips and tricks.
1. Choosing Your Destination
The first step is to choose your destination. It shouldn’t be too hot or too cold, not too far, and free of malaria. Drawing from my extensive travel experience, I found Mauritius and Reunion to be perfect matches. I could already picture our daughter running and playing on the pristine beaches. Choosing the destination was the easy part.
2. Booking Your Tickets
Several airlines offer flights to Mauritius, including Emirates, Air France, and Air Mauritius. I prefer evening flights, hoping our daughter will sleep for most of the journey. Children under two are allowed to travel on your lap. This means you don’t have to buy them a ticket, but they will be on your lap for the entire flight. I chose Air Mauritius. After booking our tickets, we reserved our seats (ask for a baby basket when travelling with a baby) and pre-ordered a children’s meal.
3. Surviving Your Flight with Kids
One of the main reasons parents often avoid adventurous holidays is the daunting prospect of a long flight. However, we’ve found that with the right preparation, it can be a breeze! Most airlines offer a “baby basket” service, allowing your baby to sleep comfortably while you enjoy a glass of champagne and the inflight entertainment. If baby baskets aren’t available, products like FlyLegsUp can be a great alternative.
Remember, you’re allowed to bring food for your baby onboard. It’s important to check with your airline about what you can and can’t take. We’ve found that bringing bottles of milk, water, and baby food is usually not a problem. Be prepared for extra safety checks and ensure you have plenty of time. To prevent earache during takeoff and landing, consider giving your baby a bottle. For more tips on flying with kids, check out this blog.
4. Choosing the Right Hotel
After the stress of preparing for a long-haul flight, choosing our hotels was a breeze. We were pleased to find a baby cot in every hotel room, plenty of activities for kids and adults alike, and all the essentials for our little girl in the local grocery shop. The locals in Mauritius and Reunion were incredibly friendly and adored children. Our baby received more cuddles than ever before!
Despite the initial stress of planning our first adventurous holiday with a child, the experience was absolutely worth it. Our little girl proved to be an excellent travel companion. With careful preparation, which you’ve already started by reading this blog, an adventurous holiday with kids is something we highly recommend.
This is a guest blog by Jennifer, a travel expert at Thika Travel and mum of Feline (3). If you need advice on planning an adventurous holiday with kids, don’t hesitate to contact Jennifer.
This article was originally published in Dutch on Thika Travel.