Holiday travel with an international twist

By Alistar Wearmouth

My wife and I are preparing to pack up our two young kids for a family vacation to Scotland this Christmas, which is where my family lives. Getting on the road is never easy around the holidays, but even less so when you’re facing a long transatlantic flight. Here are some tips for coping with stressful international travel during busy holiday periods.

1. Get Organized Early!: I swear my wife starts stressing about what to bring before the stores even have their Halloween decorations out. But she’s always the one smiling once the day of travel arrives. If you have presents or gifts to take, think about sending them ahead by mail to save some room in your suitcases. And don’t forget a daypack of kiddie essentials like changes of clothes, wipes, plastic bags, and that favorite stuffed animal.
2. Be Direct: If you can, book direct flights to your final destination. Cutting down on layovers will lessen the chances of missing connections or sprinting through an unfamiliar airport with cranky kids in tow. It will also mitigate the chances of your luggage getting lost or delayed in transit. If direct flights look too expensive, consider flying through smaller regional airports to avoid some of the more major travel snarls that can occur at big, busier international airports (for example, we like to transit to Scotland via Ireland or Iceland instead of facing London Heathrow during the busy holiday seasons).
3. Keep ‘Em Fed & Watered: A plentiful supply of snackfoods is the lifeblood of any family outing. But when you’re on a longer flight or train journey, for example, remember that Animal Crackers are no substitute for proper meals. Plan accordingly with sandwiches, fruits, and juice boxes, just in case there’s no meal service on board or the in-flight meal tray doesn’t do it for your kids.
4. Play Christmas on the Plane: Stocking stuffers might traditionally be for December 25th, but spending long hours on the plane can be alleviated by having small toys, games, puzzles, and books ready to conjure up when tempers start fraying. Wrap these trinkets up like presents and produce them every hour or so to build anticipation and break spells of boredom. It will also enable you to break down the journey into smaller units of time that your kids will more easily be able to digest. Better yet, the stuff you don’t use can go in those stockings on Christmas Day!
5. Don’t Overdo It: Everybody will usually suffer some sort of jetlag, but be especially prepared for your kids being off-kilter for at least two or three days once you arrive if you’ve crossed several timezones. Patience is key! Try not to over-schedule things on the first few days of your trip, especially if your kids are younger. You might want to hit all the museums, castles, and parks on day one, but you won’t be doing yourselves any favors if everyone’s feeling miserable three hours later.
6. Stay Healthy: Nobody can predict what illnesses might strike pre-trip or in the hours leading up to a trip. This year in particular, H1N1 is the X-factor as international air travel offers an easy transmission route for the virus. Be a smart traveler by doing your research beforehand through official outlets such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization. Stay informed and make plans accordingly.
7. Go With the Flow: Returning to the first point, it’s important to be organized so you can remember all the extra gear you need for traveling with children. But if you do happen to forget something, don’t worry too much. Chances are, wherever you are in the world, you’ll be able to find a suitable replacement-maybe for less money! After all traveling to new places is all about discovery and breaking out from the routines of home, whatever the age ranges of your traveling companions.

Related Resources:

• International Vacations
• International hotels
  

With two young ones in tow, Alistair Wearmouth’s travel perspective has shifted seismically from finding the best backpacker hostel in Kathmandu to coping strategies for toddlers on a trans-Atlantic flight. His world travels include Europe, India, Nepal, Japan, Southeast Asia and Canadian Rockies.

Tagged: Family time