Travelling with children can be fun but only if you get things organised well

Hi.. Last night I walked with my friend at town. We stop for a while  to take a photograph. Then..someone come to me and ask me something. He is a new tourist to Malaysia with his big family. Actually he was lost. You know why..? He said that he cannot remember where he begin because his children ask him to go here and there in ONE day. Oh my God. That’s impossible ..man.

So.. in short, when I’m going back, I try to write down some tips for you before travelling as a guide. Here it is..

The Vacation

* Keep it simple. Don’t try to fill each day with too many activities. Have a flexible, child-friendly itinerary. Plan one major activity per day with allowances for breaks or an afternoon dip in the hotel swimming pool or the beach.

* Be realistic when you plan the travel schedule. A one-hour drive is a lot easier to manage than an eight-hour drive, especially with restless children.

* Prepare the children in advance. Show them the route, travel brochures or books on the destinations. Built-up anticipation can sometimes be a good motivation. It can also train the children to do more research on the destinations.

* Help them save some pocket money for the holiday. The experience will be more meaningful for them if they get to choose and shop with their own money.

Touring

* Action holidays are always good for families with school-age children. But do consider others too. Plan activities for them as well.

* Lost children is a possibility. Plastic hospital bracelets written with necessary information will help ease the worry. Alternatively, write a “I am lost, please call my parents at… “ note and make sure the child always has it throughout the holiday.

* Invest in a cheap camera for the older children so that they can capture the trip through their eyes. Anyway, don’t children just love playing at being adults?

* Buy an exercise or scrapbook and start a new culture of writing a travel-diary among the little ones.

Checking-In

* A service apartment is a better solution than staying in a hotel. Its roomy and homely ambience give children more room to run around.

* Check if a hotel has child-friendly facilities like baby-cot, stroller, baby-sitting service, nursery facilities or day-care centre for toddlers or a club for older children.

* Bring your own crib sheets, blankets or pillows – something from home to make the children have a good night’s sleep.

* Make a safety check of the flooring, furnishing, railings, electricity and telephone cables or connections, balcony, sliding doors, etc. A roll of masking tape is essential for securing telephone/electrical cables and shortening pull cords on blinds and curtains.

 So..I hope these tips can help you for your next vacation…