Family Travel: The A to Zs

Your 26-point checklist for everything family travel related. Print, laminate, frame for future reference!

A is for Airplane bassinets which vary in size and age limits. Make sure you call your airline when you book your tickets to find out about availability and restrictions.

B is for Bulkhead seats which are only worth it if you are booking the bassinets because armrests on those seats don’t go up.

C is for Checked baggage, which is becoming more and more of an inconvenience due to increased fees. Most airlines will allow you a car seat and stroller but not much else for a baby. (See our Directory of Airline Policies for Children)

D is for Discounted airfares which are available for kids under two (usually 10% of the going rate) but no longer for kids over two (usually no more than 10% off)

E is for the Exposure that travel affords young children, enabling them to grow into enlightened and adaptable adults.

G is for Gift-wrapping toys on long journeys to buy you a few minutes of peace and quiet while the little critters bust through those layers of paper

H is for Hotels which are preferable to apartments if they are in a great location, offer facilities for kids and have reliable emergency services

I is for the Ipad which is the best high-tech travel tool, offering games, music, videos, and books all in one sleek and highly portable body. (The iPhone is pretty good too, as this video will illustrate!)

J is for Jetlag which is inevitable and best combated by frequent napping, flexible schedules and an expectation of gradual progress.

K is for Kid’s meals on flights which must be ordered 24-72 hours ahead of departure. (See our Directory of Airline Policies for Children)

L is for Leverage which you will get if you let your kids plan some of the activities during your trip. That way, they won’t whine through yours.

M is for Maps which you should have in duplicates and if possible, in multiple media. Invest in a GPS and a smartphone so you can access Google maps in a foreign country. Nothing worse than “Are we there yet?” combined with “Where on earth are we?”

N is for Nannies who can be a boon if you are looking for a really relaxed vacation. Grandparents work as cost-effective substitutes as well!

O is for Overseas travel which require additional planning such as passports, visas and vaccinations but are so worth it!

P is for Priority tags on your luggage which you should always request even if you are flying economy. Doesn’t hurt to ask!

Q is for Qantas, one of the most child-friendly airlines in the skies today!

R is for Road trips which are best planned around nap times, and with no more than 8 hours of driving in a day.

Here’s a video on how to avoid the “are we there yet?” syndrome?

S is for Snacking and lots of it which not only serves to cure hunger but also to pass time. Do you know it can take a kid 15 minutes to go through a box of raisins?!

T is for Travel systems which are ironically the most inconvenient strollers for travel. Choose instead something lightweight, compact and cheap for your journey.

U is for Understanding the terms of your travel insurance thoroughly so you don’t get stumped with something like “babies are not covered” when your child falls sick on vacation.

V is for Vacations and remembering that they are supposed to fun in the midst of all the planning, payments and pandemonium.

W is for Winter gear which can add a lot of bulk to your baggage. Look into renting the non-essentials (like a snow suit) at your destination.

X is for Xray machines that are more controversial than ever before. Know your rights and responsibilities before going through airport security.

Here’s a TSA video on traveling with kids:

Y is for YouTube and its endless stream of Barney, Sesame Street and Dora videos that can be pre-downloaded for internet-less moments en route

Z is for the Zen-like state that you as the parent will achieve if you build a lot of flexibility into your plans, keep your sense of humor around you and self-medicate (ie.wine) at regular intervals!