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4 Tips for Christmas Travel With Kids

December 17, 2019

It goes without saying that Christmas is extremely stressful, particularly if you’re travelling with children. But fear not – we’re here to help! From ensuring you’ve packed their favourite toys to taking regular breaks and packing efficiently, with our tips, you can enjoy the rewarding experiences of a festive family holiday without any extra stress.

Ensure you’re fully equipped

One of the most effective ways to keep the little ones amused during flights or airport waits is to offer them a smartphone or tablet to play with for a few hours. However, if they’re not charged, this easy distraction won’t last long. So the day before your flight, make sure that you’ve placed everything on charge so that all devices are working at optimum capacity ahead of your journey.

While smart devices are an effective way to keep energetic kids entertained, there are plenty of alternatives if your child spends a lot of time on their screens. Some exciting ideas include surprising your children with a new toy purchased especially for the trip or downloading an audiobook. However, it’s essential to pack as many options as possible to ensure that, if they get bored, you’re readily equipped with another form of entertainment to make both your and your children’s journey as smooth as possible. Alternatively, if your children prefer to sleep through their journey (lucky you!), pack blankets and pillows to keep the little ones quiet with minimal disruptions.

Pack efficiently

Packing for your Christmas trip can become an organisational nightmare, especially while the children are already on their school holidays and undoubtedly requiring your attention. To prevent the process from spiralling out of control, you’ll need to plan exactly what you need effectively. It’s never too early to plan – and the earlier you plan, the less likely you’ll be to forget anything. An effective place to start is by making a list of everything you’ll require, adding anything you might remember as you go over time.

When it comes to organising your suitcase or hand luggage, it’s essential that it’s packed with space-saving strategies in mind to ensure that you have enough room for everything you’ll need. After all, kids don’t travel light! Some savvy tricks to save space in your case include rolling your clothes and using air compression bags. You’ll need to ensure that you leave space to pack any Christmas presents for your family or friends that you’re taking with you or planning to bring back – so the more you strategise with your packing techniques, the better prepared you’ll be to fit everything in.

Take regular breaks

The Highway Code recommends that if you’re driving, you should take a break of at least 15 minutes every two hours. However, if you’re travelling with children, you may want to make your breaks a little bit more regular – particularly if they suffer from travel sickness or are feeling particularly irritable.

Another point of concern is having the car serviced – as your car will be carrying much more than usual, it’s important to ensure that the fluid levels are correct and the tyres are balanced for a successful journey. If you’re passing through any traffic tolls or across any bridges which charge entry, remember to bring some cash to allow you through, as this could add a lot of extra time (and stress) to your journey.

Research your destination

Whether you’re on the road or are embarking on a flight to your destination, it’s essential that you research where you’re travelling to – as not doing this can cause organisational chaos when you arrive.

If you’re planning to make your own way to your hotel or friend’s home, you’ll need to ensure that your Sat Nav is fully charged and programmed before you leave to avoid unnecessary stress. Not only will this give you a rough estimation of how long your journey will take, but it will allow you to plan for any breaks that you’ll be making and where you’ll be making them.

In short, it’s all about being well prepared for your journey, which will leave you feeling organised and in the right mindset to travel stress free, no matter how many little terrors you have with you! So, if you’re thinking about a last-minute Lanzarote holiday this Christmas or want to book your New Year break to chase the winter sun, browse our fantastic range of villas right here.

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