Tips for Fuss-Free Family Travel
Travelling with children can be daunting, but it will be worth it for the memories you make on your trip. Seeing your little ones experience the wider world is one of the most incredible things you can do as a parent, and it will give them so much to think about and take in.
Travelling can be tiring, so it can be tough on younger ones. Teenagers may find themselves getting bored and grumpy too. While you may want to focus on getting to your destination, if you consider each family member when it comes to travelling and prepare well, your holiday can start even sooner, and everyone will be happy.
Here are some great ideas for fuss-free family travel:
Plan for every eventuality
While it may not be nice to think of the worst-case scenarios for your travel, it's best to be prepared, so they don't become more stressful than necessary. When travelling with small children, a flight delay or long queue for airport security might be the final straw for an impatient toddler. Make sure you always have items on hand for distraction purposes and keep some secret weapons for emergencies. In your travel bag, ensure you have a range of snacks, plenty of water, nappies and wipes (even if your toddler is potty trained, this can be helpful for emergencies or when you don't have easy access to a bathroom), and plenty of activities. Activities can include sticker books, fidget toys, a surprise present, new colouring crayons and paper, or anything else you know your child will engage with. You don't have to spend a fortune on new items and buy things that you know they will use to occupy themselves throughout the holiday, too, so the items become worth the investment. If there is a particular treat that your child loves but is only allowed on special occasions, then save this as a final bargaining tool for keeping calm and happy.
A good tip when packing for a large family is to make sure that you are spreading your items out across your suitcases; that way, if one bag gets lost, it means you won't have lost everything for one person, and they still have some changes of clothes until the suitcase is retrieved. This is especially important if you have connecting flights, as luggage is more likely to go astray.
Make things easier for yourself
Make travel choices out of convenience where possible. Travelling on public transport with an array of luggage and young children can be a nightmare, especially if you travel at a busy time. If possible, travel by car so you can get to the airport and then home again at the end of your holiday with minimal fuss. You can find easy airport parking from Stansted to Glasgow and all other major UK airports, so take advantage of that and know that it is one less stressful element to contend with.
If you have the finances to take advantage of an airport lounge, this can be a great way to relax and enjoy the free WiFi, food, and drinks. An airport lounge would be a hit with teenagers so they can get their last bit of contact with their friends before the flight and have a sense of independence getting their meals and drinks.
Make travel time fun
With children of any age, they will be able to tell how you are feeling and sense any stress or tension. These feelings may sometimes be unavoidable, but having a positive outlook and resilient attitude towards any obstacles thrown at you will make all the difference. Your reactions to situations will also be great life lessons for your children and help them to navigate the world around them without too much anxiety.
You may feel tired and overwhelmed, but try to see your family as a perfect reason for creating a fun atmosphere. A holiday is something that everyone looks forward to, so keep that in mind, too and appreciate your circumstances.
While a teenager may roll their eyes at a game of "I Spy", this can keep little ones entertained for hours. Younger children can be occupied just by you telling them the details of what's happening around them. Watching others board a plane is a perfect opportunity to understand what you will be doing next, so they aren't too scared of the unknown if it's their first time flying. Watching planes land and take off will also be great for your little ones.