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The common wisdom is that children and overseas flights do not go well together. The many hours of travel, the lack of familiar resources, and the constant responsibility of caring for your child make it that the benefits of such a trip are often not worth the costs. Instead, parents stick to shorter, less glamorous trips while young kids are in tow. The overseas trips are consequently the domain of young couples and empty nesters.
But this belies the point that there are still many parents who travel with children overseas, often times for a job or family reason rather than for a vacation. While such trips can be stressful with youngsters in tow, they are certainly manageable – so long as you are prepared for the challenges. Here are a few suggestions to help insure that you are:
Allocate More Funds
Travelling with children is always more expensive than you think, so your best bet is to be flexible and have money easily available. This may mean taking a cab instead of the subway or going to an amusement park rather than sitting on the beach. You’ll also never know when you may need diapers, medication, toys, or various other items. On this note, it’s good to always carry no foreign transaction fee credit cards when travelling with children. Getting the best cash back credit card may no longer be the priority.
Check For Special Requirements
Children have different health needs than do adults. Depending on where you’re travelling, this distinction may come into play when getting vaccines before the trip. Check with your doctor and the Department of State website to see if there are any special requirements or restrictions for young children.
Always Have Food
Having food at all times is perhaps the most important requirement when travelling with young kids. Fortunately, it is also often one of the easiest to fulfill. Don’t go to the airport without bringing a few sandwiches and some snacks. Once at your destination, go grocery shopping and make sure that you are well-stocked with several of the comforts from home. You never know when your child will get hungry, and everyone will have a more enjoyable trip if food is available when this happens.
These are just a few considerations to keep in mind when you’re planning to travel with young children. The trip will likely be trying at times no matter what you do, but it’s always bet to go into it with a flexible attitude and a prepared approach.
I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.
Flights to Gaborone
I would love to take my kids to see their cousins in England someday. I’ll have to keep these tips in mind.
I really enjoyed this article. We are planning a trip overseas with small ones, and while I’ve gone with kids 9 and older, it’s a little intimidating to think of traveling with toddlers. I will keep your tips in mind!
Food is the source of all comfort…lol
Now if I can just get my husband to fly!!!
err, just *2 babies!
Yes, most trip overseas with children are more of family-reasons than leisure or vacation! My side of the family are in the other side of the world (Philippines) and they have not seen my babies, one for a few years now, the other one, not at all. An overseas trip to the Philippines with my 3 babies is long overdue, but I am really scared, and already exhausted thinking about it. But I did have experienced overseas trip with a 20-month old. Indeed, a lot of snacks helped. But what helped most is entertainment, an earphone while listening to the plane radio!
Just dropping by.
Some really good insights mentioned here. I traveled from Europe to the U.S. with twins 1 month olds and a 2 year old. That was exciting! LOL (NOT)
My husband travels quite a bit for business and one day I’d love to take the kids and we’d all go overseas together. Thanks for the tips!
With my fear of flying I doubt I’ll ever get overseas lol but I enjoyed reading this
I would imagine traveling overseas with kids could be challenging — these are great tips to help with that!
I’ve never even travelled overseas let along with children but I can bet it would be tougher. For sure food is a must, kids are always hungry!