Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

Lonely Planet Travel with Children: The Essential Guide for Travelling Families
Lonely Planet Travel with Children: The Essential Guide for Travelling Families
Lonely Planet Travel with Children: The Essential Guide for Travelling Families
Ebook625 pages4 hours

Lonely Planet Travel with Children: The Essential Guide for Travelling Families

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

Read preview

About this ebook

This updated version of Travel With Children offers you the most comprehensive advice for taking your family on the road, and now adds hundreds of destination ideas backed up by great photography and practical itineraries. Assembled by Lonely Planet's team of travel-savvy parent experts, family travellers can rely on insights and advice on choosing the right trip, healthy travel, travelling with teens and much more.
LanguageEnglish
PublisherLonely Planet
Release dateJul 1, 2015
ISBN9781743609538
Lonely Planet Travel with Children: The Essential Guide for Travelling Families
Author

Lonely Planet

Lonely Planet has gone on to become the world’s most successful travel publisher, printing over 100 million books. The guides are printed in nine different languages; English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Chinese and Korean. Lonely Planet enables curious travellers to experience the world and get to the heart of a place via guidebooks and eBooks to almost every destination on the planet, an award-winning website and magazine, a range of mobile and digital travel products and a dedicated traveller community.

Read more from Lonely Planet

Related to Lonely Planet Travel with Children

Related ebooks

Travel For You

View More

Related articles

Reviews for Lonely Planet Travel with Children

Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars
4/5

2 ratings0 reviews

What did you think?

Tap to rate

Review must be at least 10 words

    Book preview

    Lonely Planet Travel with Children - Lonely Planet

    INTRODUCTION

    If you want to spend quality time with your children, help them learn, grow and gain a better understanding of the world and humanity, then travelling abroad is a great way to do it. So take the plunge and set off on an adventure with the family. Whether you’re new to backpacking or a seasoned globetrotter, you shouldn’t have to put away your passport just because you have started a family.

    As a travelling family you’ll talk and share experiences, which these days we often struggle to find time for in our busy lives. Babies, toddlers and teenagers may surprise you with their adaptability and affability when the hold of regular routines loosens. Watching your children engage with different surroundings can change your perspective and invigorate you with a renewed sense of wonder. As your children blossom before your eyes in response to new encounters and experiences, it’s hard not to share their excitement. Their questions will reveal the depths of their intelligence and the scope of their understanding, which in turn will enrich your appreciation of your children. Their horizons quite literally expand as they realise that the world is bigger than your home town or city, and with it comes an appreciation of cultural diversity, the seeds of tolerance and empathy, which will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

    Your trip will also be transformed: you will be given a warmer welcome, people will look on you more kindly, and will have more intimate encounters with locals, as parenting provides a strong common bond with people all over the world.

    Anxieties may conspire to place obstacles in your path: which destination to choose and how to get there, what to pack for a change of climate, or fear of strange, ‘exotic’ diseases. Will the youngest scream all the way through a 24-hour flight? Will the eldest still be able to gorge herself on fruit and avoid a tummy bug? Will you be able to go diving if the kids are in tow? Stop worrying: nothing really stands in your way, even if dragging your brood to the other end of the world does involve a certain amount of know-how. The first part of this book will provide you with basic advice and tips to get to grips with travelling with the family while avoiding disaster.

    A big part of getting the planning right comes from choosing a suitable holiday destination for your family. The second part of the book will help you make this decision by looking at a broad range of destinations. Specific activities, points of interest, comfort, health, what to watch out for and the best time to go: every country is carefully scrutinised so that you can be confident about your choice. As several days walking in Morocco is completely different to seeing dolphins in Florida or playing at explorers in the Amazon, this guide gives you a broad idea of where to start. It is then up to you to choose the country that will thrill the small boy who cannot sit still, the little girl who dreams of being a princess or the teenager who is mad about sport. Once you are there, the joy of watching them, wide-eyed in wonder, embarking on this amazing adventure will mean that any misgivings will soon be forgotten. While travelling with children might not be glamorous, relaxing or easy, what will stay with you is the joy of sharing those unforgettable experiences. Better than memories, you will pass on the taste for travel to your children. They will be eternally grateful.

    THE ART OF TRAVELLING WITH CHILDREN

    GETTING READY TO GO

    DURING THE JOURNEY

    COMING HOME

    PACKAGE DEALS

    HOLIDAYS WITH A DIFFERENCE

    DESTINATIONS BY THEME

    GETTING READY TO GO

    CHOOSING THE DESTINATION – TOGETHER

    So you want to go abroad! But where exactly? Involve your children in the decision; speak to them about the different countries you are considering, whet their appetites by borrowing a few guidebooks from the library. Think about what they are interested in (see the Destinations by Theme section), and the sort of trips that are possible at their ages (see Holidays with a Difference). Consider how well they might be able to deal with culture shock. Weigh up the length of the trip in relation to the difference in time zones. A difference of four hours or more will mean you will need time to adjust on the way out as well as on the way back, especially children: a week away is too short. Upon your return, you should allow two or three days for the children to recover before starting back at school. The cost of the trip matters as well. Research fares thoroughly: sometimes the air ticket is on the pricey side but the cost of living is so cheap that a change of scenery and the unforgettable memories of 15 days at the other end of the world will cost you the same as a week’s skiing near home. Think about the mountains in summer, the possibilities of camping or farmstays. With a little imagination, it is often possible to match your means and your dreams. Finally, let go of the worry: a trip abroad does not necessarily mean danger. Of course, some precautions are essential, but common sense is the best form of prevention! Your children will be warmly welcomed across the globe. Thanks to them, you will no longer be tourists but a family ready to meet other families. It is one of the most wonderful ways to discover a country. Your children will love it. So will you!

    FORMALITIES

    Before setting off, make sure your papers are up to date. Many countries now issue biometric passports and most insist that all children have their own passports. These usually cost less than an adult one because they are often valid for a shorter period of time. Certain countries demand a passport that is still valid six months after the intended date of return. So if yours is due to expire within that time, you will need to renew it even if it is valid for the entire length of the journey.

    The introduction of biometric passports is coupled with stricter rules on passport photos (eyes open, mouth closed, no smiling, etc). In some cases, it can be quite difficult to take an acceptable passport photo of a baby or toddler. It is important to read and comply fully with all passport photo instructions and to accept that it may take an afternoon’s photography to get the right one.

    In the US both parents need to accompany a child under 14 when applying for or renewing their passport. You also need to bring proof of the child’s US citizenship, evidence of the child’s relationship to yourselves, and parental identification. These rules are in place to protect against international abduction.

    Border authorities may demand to see proof that the person accompanying the child is the parent (eg a birth certificate). Any other adult accompanying a child should carry a parental letter of consent authorising them to take the child out of the country.

    If the destination requires a visa, everybody in the party will need one, which can be costly. Visas mean more form-filling and more photo-taking. Whenever you go away, it is vital that you take out travel insurance to cover any medical bills incurred and the cost of repatriation on health grounds, but it is particularly important when travelling with kids. You can do this through a travel agent, an insurance company or bank. Make sure the contract covers the whole family and is valid in the destination country; check what can be claimed back and any exclusion clauses. Check that if you need to curtail or cancel your trip due to one member of the family becoming ill, everyone is covered. Many credit cards include medical travel insurance and repatriation assistance covering all members of the family. However, these guarantees are usually only valid for trips of fewer than 90 days and only if you have paid for your air ticket or holiday with the relevant card. What is more, there is often a ceiling on the amount of money you can claim. Some of the better cards offer insurance for cancellation, luggage, vehicle, snow, theft or loss. Find out from the deal offered by your credit card company and watch out for any restrictions!

    If you live in the Economic European Area (EEA) and intend to travel in this region or Switzerland, it is wise for you and your children to apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) as well as travel insurance. This will entitle most nationalities in this area to reduced-cost or free medical treatment when abroad.

    If you need vaccinations for your chosen destination, get an international vaccination card stamped when you receive your injections and take it with you.

    Check whether your national driver’s licence is valid in your intended destination or whether you will need an international driving permit. This is usually valid for 12 months and can be obtained through your automobile association or post office.

    Before setting off, make copies of any important papers and the main pages of your children’s health records and split them between the bags (take a few extra passport-sized photos). You could also scan the documents and attach them to an email sent to your own mailbox or utilise cloud storage options. To avoid taking out your papers every time, you can note the key numbers and references (passport, visa, insurance) in a small notebook that you keep with you.

    Travelling gives you time and space to reconnect as a family

    A HEALTHY START

    Get a check-up before you go

    One, or even two months before leaving, check whether your child’s vaccinations are up to date and whether any others are necessary for your journey (see the table) or if a course of malaria prevention is needed (Click here). Pediatricians or travel clinic specialists will know the best way to protect your child in a particular region and season. They can advise on a first aid kit best suited to your destination and provide information on endemic diseases and the standard of health care available in the country concerned. They may recommend extra vaccinations besides the obligatory ones: these injections may cause discomfort – such as the one for rabies. If kids are going to react to an immunisation, it will usually happen about 48 hours after the injection and can generally be settled with paracetamol (acetaminophen). Children can go on to have further reactions and sometimes develop rashes 10 days after the immunisation, so the earlier you get kids immunised, the better.

    Watch out as well for tooth trouble! A visit to the dentist before your journey will help avoid pain on the road. Make an appointment early: if your child needs a filling, the treatment will take a bit of time. Ask your dentist for a prescription to deal with any potential infection. The flight, altitude and stress can set off pain and discomfort. It’s better to deal with it now than wait to see an unknown dentist abroad. If your child wears braces or a dental plate, let your orthodontist know about the trip. Help your child pack what he or she needs (dental elastics etc), and make sure they do not leave them on the edge of a sink!

    For children who wear glasses, take two pairs packed into toughened cases and a prescription just in case. You will find very good opticians just about anywhere in the world, even in the most unexpected places, who can supply glasses quickly. Teenagers should avoid contact lenses in hot, dry countries. If they refuse to give them up, they must definitely take them out on the flight to avoid damaging their corneas. Carry drops to lubricate the eyes and lenses.

    If your child suffers from allergies and you are heading to a country where you do not speak the language, stick pictures of the foodstuffs to which they are allergic into a small book. An allergy should not prevent you going away, but make sure you take the usual treatment with you.

    If your child breaks a limb or has another ill-timed accident shortly before departure, check what you should do with the doctor. There are many things to consider, such as mobility, autonomy, heat, swimming. If the child is in plaster, the doctor could possibly remove it slightly early or replace it with a smaller cast or a temporary splint. Weigh up the pros and cons and see if it is worth changing your itinerary; discuss it with your child. Do not forget to take analgesics (with the prescription), as well as a note from the doctor explaining the injury. If the accident is too much of a hindrance, claim on your insurance and delay your trip.

    Pack a healthy appetite for foods familiar and new

    Required vaccinations

    An inoculation against yellow fever is required to enter a number of countries. It can only be administered at a designated vaccination centre. Most children in the West are not vaccinated against TB as babies, however, it is required for travel in areas where tuberculosis is still rife.

    Vaccinations against hepatitis A and typhoid are recommended in countries where hygiene can be patchy. Inoculation for meningitis and meningococcal is prescribed in areas where there are currently epidemics.

    Preventing malaria

    Malaria is the most widespread contagious disease in the world, and children are more susceptible because of their smaller body mass. It occurs mainly in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Antimalarials do not completely guard against infection but do considerably reduce the risk.

    Malaria is transmitted to humans by bites from the disease-carrying female anopheles mosquito (which needs blood to produce eggs), mainly at sunset and sunrise. The mosquitoes develop near water but do not survive above 1500m. No mosquito bite, no malaria: so bite avoidance is vital if you are travelling in a malaria zone. Make sure your children cover themselves up even in very hot countries; dress them in light cotton shirts and trousers before nightfall, for example. Use repellent sprays; they exist for children from 24 months. In hot, humid conditions, DEET-based products should be applied once an hour and the more natural repellents containing lemon eucalyptus etc, once every half hour, as all insect repellents will sweat off quickly. Also, children have very sensitive skin and whichever repellent you choose for your child should be trialled on them well before you leave. The best way to do this is to do a ‘patch test’. You can also impregnate their clothing and pyjamas before setting off: with one bottle, you can treat 2kg of clothing for two months, allowing for five washes and one ironing. If you take a mosquito net, give it the same treatment (which should last for six months). If you are buying a net abroad, find out if you can get one that is pre-treated or if you will be able to get hold of the product. You need to be extra careful with children under 24 months. Put them to bed early under a mosquito net. Small pop-up beds incorporating a net are ideal. You can also take an anti-mosquito plug-in that slowly vaporises a tablet (you will need an adaptor for certain countries). In the evening, putting citronella oil (available in many places) on clothes is worth doing as well. But be careful, the oils can set off allergies. Remember that air conditioning may keep mosquitoes at bay, unlike fans.

    These measures must be carried out in association with an appropriate anti-malaria treatment (chemoprophylaxis). The treatment varies according to the country visited (the disease varies slightly from region to region), the conditions you are staying in, the season, age, previous medical history, etc. Only a doctor can prescribe the right antimalarial for the circumstances. Antimalarials are unfortunately very expensive. They come in tablet form, to be swallowed during a meal. Children sometimes find this difficult. You can try crushing them with water, milk, yogurt, honey or jam. You usually start the treatment on the eve of your departure (10 days before for Lariam); it is essential to continue the course after your return (between one and several weeks).

    VACCINATION INFORMATION

    BASIC MEDICATIONS TO PACK

    > Children’s medicine for pain or fever (paracetamol, ibuprofen, aspirin)

    > Saline solution in single doses

    > Nappy rash cream

    > Cream for burns

    > Arnica cream or granules

    > Travel sickness prevention (without a prescription – but recommended by your doctor if possible. Homeopathic versions exist.)

    > Anti-nausea treatment

    > Antibiotics (like amoxicillin), prescribed by your doctor

    > Oral rehydration solution

    > Diarrhea treatment

    > Antibiotic eye drops in single doses

    > Insect bite cream

    > Malaria treatment and mosquito sprays if heading to a zone at risk

    First aid kit

    Prevention is better than cure! Do not load yourself down with unnecessary items, but do not skimp on essentials. As well as the medicines specifically prescribed by the doctor for the country you are going to, take medicine for those ailments that often afflict your child. Sure, you are unlikely to be bothered by bronchitis on a tropical beach. Nonetheless, if your child is prone to bronchial problems then take the usual medicine with you. Paracetamol is the best weapon against fever, ibuprofen is useful for inflammation. Aspirin should never be taken in countries where dengue fever (a virus transmitted by certain mosquitoes) is rife because it can lead to hemorrhaging in this instance (just as ibuprofen is to be avoided for some viruses). If your child has regular medical treatment, do not forget to ask for a prescription of international non-proprietary name (INN), indicating the active chemical ingredients and not a commercial name, and keep it with you at all times.

    Organise your medications well. For simplicity’s sake, have two bags – one for adults and one for children – kept them in the same place, then add another bag for items that are frequently needed: eg disinfectant and plasters.You could even pack these into your toilet bag. Maybe take a mini-kit for your handbag of paracetamol, plasters, antiseptic wipes, disinfectant, arnica and tweezers. To save space, remove all the packaging but keep the instructions stapled in a booklet, and bundle items together with an elastic band. If the doctor prescribes syrup, seal the bottle in a freezer bag to avoid spillages, but do not forget to slip in the spoon or pipette and the instructions as well. For creams, it is best to put them into small pots as tubes can get crushed in luggage.

    Suppositories are practical for small children with a fever, but not always adapted to warmer climates. Preserve them in a small bag. Five minutes before using, put the suppository, still in its packet, in very cold water. It will then be sufficiently solid to be used.

    You can buy tailor-made medical kits containing different items depending on the sort of holiday you are planning. For countries where hospital hygiene is questionable, you can get kits with sterile surgical equipment that you can hand to the medical team.

    Climate & environment

    The sun, however enjoyable, presents a real danger for children. Do not expose them directly to the sun’s rays and avoid the beach between noon and 4pm. Make sure you always carry a high factor sunscreen with you (buy it before you go), as well as a hat and light clothing (preferably cotton) leaving no skin exposed. Buy good-quality sunglasses (even for a baby) – with a protective case and elastic so they stay on your child’s nose. If your children swim in strong sunlight get them to wear a t-shirt.

    It is the same in the mountains and any region at altitude, where the power of the sun is intense. Children under a year old should not be taken too high (1200m maximum). Do not take a child higher than 2000m before the age of two, 2500m between two and five years, and 3000m between five and 10 years. From the age of 10 a child should be able to follow his parents anywhere (so you can go trekking in Nepal!). Small children should be wrapped up well against the cold for walks in the mountains where the weather can change quickly. In winter you can provide some warmth by slipping small, disposable or reusable hand warmers into their clothing: easy to use, they are really practical for keeping the chill off and helping children get warm again. You can even buy ones for shoes. Liquid-fuel hand warmers are not recommended for children.

    Children with special needs

    If you are a parent or carer travelling with a child who has special needs, you are the best person to know what destinations, accommodation options and transport choices are suitable for your child. Consult your medical specialist before you go and contact support organisations where people may have already had the same kind of experiences.

    Make sure you have adequate travel insurance and that your insurer is fully aware of your child’s pre-existing medical condition. Also, ensure that your policy will cover replacement or theft of any medical supplies. If you need any electrical equipment make sure you know the voltage in your destination and take an adaptor.

    If you’re taking a wheelchair, explain the facilities that will be required when you book your accommodation – easy wheelchair access to the hotel, a ground-floor room or lift access, a room with access to the bathroom and reasonably level surroundings. Also book ahead for hired cars or taxis that can accommodate not only wheelchairs but special equipment and everyone’s general luggage. Check with the local tourist office or a special needs organisation in the country you’re visiting for details of wheelchair access in the general area. And remember to pack your wheelchair repair kit

    When booking a flight, provide all relevant information such as any help your child might need during the flight and special dietary requirements. If your child is in a wheelchair, give the airline as much notice as possible so they can provide assistance.

    While travelling, accessible toilets can be hard to come by. To avoid any hassle, take a small plastic potty. If your child is on regular medication, take two copies of the prescription of international non-proprietary name (INN). Get your doctor to write a note explaining the contraindications and an emergency plan. In case of a problem, contact your embassy or consulate in the

    Enjoying the preview?
    Page 1 of 1