When you have young children, you’ll probably feel a mix of excitement and apprehension when you book your first ever family holiday with them. If this is your first child then you get to experience the joy and wonder of seeing a fresh pair of eyes opened up to a whole new world of international travel. Watching their intrigue, curiosity and excitement as they see, experience and engage with a new culture is a wonderful and unique experience for a parent. Travelling with any child, however, especially the very young carries with it certain logistical considerations that a parent should be mindful of in order to really appreciate and enjoy your holiday.
Preparing for an all inclusive holiday with kids should be an exciting time but it’s perfectly natural for parents to experience some trepidation when planning for the first time. Here are some tips to help it go as smoothly as possible so that you can focus all of your attention on enjoying yourself and creating memories that you’ll treasure for the rest of your life…
3 months before
It’s best to apply for your baby’s passport as early on as possible (make sure that yours and your partner’s are up to date as well). Typically these take at least 3 weeks to process, but why wait until the last minute and risk not getting it on time? Applying several months in advance will enable you to enjoy peace of mind in the lead up to your holiday. You should also organise your travel insurance (or ensure that your existing policy has been updated to include your child). Contact your hotel to ensure that they have baby friendly facilities such as cots and high chairs. If you’re flying long haul then contact your travel agent or airline to ensure that they provide you with a travel cot so that your baby can get some much-needed sleep on the plane.
3 weeks before
By now you’re probably researching your holiday destination, checking out fun things to do or fascinating places to visit, but you should also throw some logistical planning in there as well. Look for shops and supermarkets in the area around your hotel. Do they stock your chosen brand of nappies (unless you want to eat into your luggage allowance by packing them, which can be a nightmare). If you’re likely to be renting a car then ensure that the rental car provider will be able to provide you with a car seat. You could take your own as luggage but the weight could seriously dig into your luggage allowance. Taking baby food and formula through airport security can prove problematic so it’s worth pre-ordering some formula or baby food from any of the airport’s on-site chemists. Most offer this service, usually 10 days before your travel date.
With all the boring stuff taken care of, you can relax and look forward to spending some precious time with your new family in the sun. Have a great trip!
We were looking for a good quality all inclusive hotel for our baby’s first holiday abroad. Our criteria was that it had to be less than a three and a half hour flight and it had to be around a four-star rating. We selected the Iberostar Malaga Playa on this basis and were so happy we made the choice we did.
We did very little research, so didn’t really know what we’d be getting except a room and a pool, but it was so much more than that. The spread of activities, the cleanliness of the hotel and the range of food and drink available through the all inclusive option topped with the best customer service I have ever received throughout a hotel, made this the ideal holiday to break us in to travelling with a one-year-old child.
We opted for a basic double room, which was tastefully decorated and had enough room for the beds, cot, pushchair without feeling cramped. Space under the beds for the suitcases, three wardrobes, a tv and a bathroom suite. There was also a balcony which looked over to the side of the hotel out onto neighbouring complexes, but as I had a small child, I didn’t feel the need to use it other than to dry the swimming costumes!
The kids club operates from age 4, so I can’t really give a review of that other than the entertainment team were always wonderful and friendly. There were lots of activities within the pools and in the kids’ clubhouse area next to the kids’ water slide and swings. There was a ‘mini disco’ every evening at 8.30 where the entertainment team played games in the lounge area with the children. This was great fun for all ages and our one year old loved joining in and meeting Starky and Stella, the Iberostar mascots.
There was also a show every evening with waiter service in the lounge and water activities daily for the adults including Aqua Gym and Zumba ran by a very funny guy named Willy.
The swimming pool is a great size and has a shallow end for the little ones as well as having a smaller pool within the kids club area and a walkable shallow area around the kids’ waterslide.
There was a large amount of fresh seafood, the catering staff worked so hard ensuring that the food was always fully stocked and available. At some all inclusive resorts, you get a little sick of the same things every day, not here as there was a good amount of differentiation with changes of themes. The alcohol and pops on offer were all branded too, something you would probably have to pay a premium for at other all inclusive resorts.
Every evening you were welcomed to the restaurant with a drink and a smile from Ivan, the Guest Services Manager, who is possibly one of the genuinely nicest people I have ever met. He made an effort to speak to every guest, including the kids to ensuring they were having a great time. All of the staff would say hello as you passed by, they were truly wonderful.
Torrox itself is unspoilt by English tourists and appeared to be where Spanish people visited for their holidays, so that was a nice touch, it didn’t feel spoilt by English pubs and bars, which was nice. Apparently, Torrox is the healthiest town in Europe and with the nightly exercise classes next to the beach, you can see why!
There was a gate at the bottom of the complex where you could walk out to the beach and the promenade, was wonderful for after dinner walks. Although there is very little reason why you’d need to leave the complex if you didn’t want to.
Here is some wonderful drone footage (credit: iberostar) for you to see what I am talking about. Wonderful. We will definitely be staying Iberostar again!
When peopleplan a trip away, the excitement of choosing a destination and shopping for new clothes for the big day often clouds the mind of what is really important
You may have seen it before: you’re queuing at the airport and someone is arguing with the airport desk because unbelievably, they’ve forgotten a passport. A passport. The single most important thing you need to board a plane and fly off to wherever you’re going!
Organising a holiday takes more than just choosing the right sarong or destination with your favourite cocktail. You have to be organised enough to remember the important stuff, and we are going to walk you through the things that people often forget to include in their carry-on for their holiday.
Documents
Paperwork is the most boring part of going on holiday, isn’t it? Renewing passports to make sure you have enough time on it to travel, visa and travel authorisations (which you can find atetias.com) and travel insurance are all things that are forgotten easily by hopeful holidaymakers. The way to combat this? Make a list of everything you’ll need for your specific destination and have it pinned on the inside of your suitcase, so that while you pack you won’t forget.
First Aid
Alwayscheck with your chosen airline what you can and cannot take with you on a plane, but a small box of the essentials should be included. Painkillers, any prescribed medicines, allergy meds or asthma pumps should all be remembered and included. Sure, you could probably pick up a local remedy but why spend out or claim on insurance if you don’t have to?
Luggage Tags
All you have to do is go online to see how many airlines are irresponsible with passenger luggage. Your plain, sophisticated black suitcase needs to stand out. Buying the brightest name tag you can find and adding your name and address is smart. That way, if your luggage is misplaced, it’ll be delivered back to the right house!
Space
if you’re about to embark on holiday to a place you may not have visited before. Leaving a little bit of space in your suitcase for souvenirs and any purchases you make while abroad is a good thing. You can then avoid going overweight on the airport scales on the way out, and you can bring things home! We always like to bring something back that reminds us of where we have been. Some better than others!
Adapters
If you are planning to bring technology and shavers with you to a country that has a different pin system for their plugs, you need an adapter! Airport prices can be crazy for adapters, so bringing your own in your hand luggage will mean you pay less and still can charge your camera!
Towels
You may be staying in an all-inclusive resort, but you need to remember to bring your own towel or two! One for the shower, one for the beach. Some hotels don’t provide complimentary towels and the worst thing is to turn up and discover that after a long flight!
I’ve spent a couple of months in South Africa before and adored going to Kruger Park. In fact, I cried when I was sat watching the Hippos as I was truly happy! I want to give RLT the safari experience so much as I think nature and a love of animals is an amazing thing to have an appreciate. Here are some of the places in Africa that I’ll be looking to explore with him when he is a bit older:
The greatest haven
Many of the most beautiful creatures in Africa also have the unfortunate luck to be amongst the most endangered as well. However, there’s one conservation success that also proves one of the most exciting enclosures. At the Rwanda Volcanoes National Park, you have the chance to see some of the park’s 480+ mountain gorillas, more than double the population that was there since conservation first began. Tourism plays a big role in helping to support the conservation efforts, too.
The greatest migration
There are also those places where you’re likely to see many, many more than 480 creatures all in the same place. In particular, if you take a Kenya safariat the right time, you can see the thousands upon thousands of wildebeest that migrate every year through the Maasai Mara. As well as the great herds, you can see all the bustling activity they bring with them, like the big cats of the continent on the hunt and hundreds of thousands of gazelle and zebra coming along for the trip.
The greatest lake
There are cooler, wetter places to be found as well, and with them, they bring some of the brightest displays of color. In particular, if you’re fond of the color pink you might want to stop at Lake Bogoria in Kenya, where the whole lake gets transformed by a population of flamingos stopping for a drink and a feed. The sight of hundreds of those dazzling birds can be almost too bright to look at but it never fails to captivate its many visitors.
The greatest parade
Did you know that a group of elephants is known as a parade? If you see one up close, it’s easy to hear why exactly that’s the case with all the trumpets going off. It might not be as immensely populated as the Maasai Mara during migration season, but Chobe National Park in Botswana is guaranteed to give you an encounter with a family of the largest mammals in the world. Where you find water and shade in the park, you’re sure to see some of these majestic beasts roaming around, playing in the river, looking after their children and spraying water just about everywhere.
There are many ways to see the world, especially in this day and age, when travelling has never been easier or cheaper. There’s something to be said for throwing yourself into the unknown and seeing what comes of it; however, it’s not the only way to experience the world. One of the best ways is to experience it through your own passions; you’ll still be getting under the skin of another culture and way of life, but you’ll also be furthering your passion. It’s a solid framework in which to travel.
Outdoor Activities
If you like to be out in the great outdoors, doing things like hiking and cycling, then the world is your oyster. There are beautiful spots all over the world, and they all have their own unique characteristics. You could go hiking in the rough and wild territories of northern Scotland, or you can go trekking through the Amazon jungle. One activity, two very different experiences. Carry a pair of hiking boots wherever you go, and you’ll uncover plenty of great hikes around the world.
Into the Water
If you’re passionate about the sea, whether it be scuba diving or boating or anything else, then how lucky are you? The earth’s surface is 70% water: that’s a lot of water to discover! Like hiking, you’ll find different experiences depending on which part of the earth you’re in. If you’re in a place with a strong water culture, invest in equipment from Dolphin Scuba dive shop or buy your own boating equipment and you’ll always be ready to get into the water and indulge in your passion. From surfing to kayaking among glaciers, you’ll find there is a never ending list of awesome water-based adventures to be had on your travels.
People Person
There are more than a few bad eggs out there, but there are some alright ones too. If you get a thrill from uncovering the complex lives of people, then you’ll never tire of traveling. If you can learn to speak a foreign language, then all the better – you’ll have much richer connections with people if you’re able to talk to them in their own language. People from one side of the other are much different than those on the other side, yet they all have a common human thread.
Follow Your Interest
Your passion doesn’t necessarily have to lend itself to travelling. You can use any of your interests as a basis for your travelling experiences. For example, if you’re a keen writer then following Ernest Hemingway’s travels through France and Spain would be a thrill. If your passion is art, then travelling to the childhood homes of your favorite artists would be a unique way to travel. It’s all about making your own itinerary based on what you love in your day to day life.
A Sense of Wonder
Some people are naturally passionate. They see beauty and wonder wherever they look. For these people, travel will always be a mesmerizing adventure.
I don’t know about you, but I am always on the lookout for kid friendly holidays. But sometimes it can be hard to discern which locations will work well for the whole family and which won’t. The thing is that you really need to get a good balance between having facilities for the little ones and having enough things for the grownup to do as well. While it’s also important that the break is easy to organise as you don’t want to end up exhausted before you even get there. With all of this in mind, keep reading to find out whether Calgary in Alberta, Canada, fits the bill.
Yes – You can get there easily
One of the things that make a difference in choosing a family friendly holiday is whether it is easy to arrange the break and get there. Calgary ticks this box, as there are at least four direct flights a day from London, and one from most other UK airports. Which certainly makes it convenient.
It’s also pretty easy to arrange your holiday as you can check whether you need to get a get a Canadian ETA online before you go. There are also plenty of package holidays offered by travel companies to this area. Which means you don’t have to worry about connections or accommodation when you get there.
No – It’s a long-haul flight
One of the marks against visiting Calgary as a family is that it is such a long way away. At least 9 hours on a long-haul flight from the UK.
This might not be too problematic for some families. But if you have little ones that aren’t too keen on sitting still or babies that haven’t flown before, it could make you think twice about picking it as a destination.
Yes – There are child-centred activities
Another positive mark for a family holiday to Calgary is that not only is there lots of cool cultural stuff to do like visiting the Heritage Park Historical Village and The Hangar Flight Museum. But there is also masses of stuff designed with the little ones in mind.
There are plenty of museums, a theme park and a zoo to keep the little ones entertained in the day, and a lot of great restaurants like Charcut and Workshop Kitchen for the adults and the kids to appreciate at night.
No – The weather can be harsh
Something that may you think twice about booking your trip though is the weather there. Calgary can get pretty darn cold, like close to zero cold in the winter, and while you might not mind too much, you may not want to take very young children to a city when it’s the temperature.
Although you could always turn it to your advantage and make it into a wonderful winter holiday complete with skiing, snowmen and hot chocolate!
Yes – Snow and skiing!
In fact, there are several famous ski resorts a car journey away from the city such as Canada Olympic Park, Castle Mountain, and Sunshine Village.
Where you can rent a chalet and your ski gear as well as appreciate the apre ski culture. Which is another popular part of life there.
