We all know that traveling with children can be pretty daunting at times, especially when they’re young. It’s still possible for everyone to enjoy themselves, however, even if you’re on a busy city break.
Here are a few top tips for making the most of your city break when you’ve got the whole crew in tow.
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Pre-plan and leave plenty of time
One of the most important things is to leave plenty of time when travelling with young members of the family.
This applies for all stages of the journey – from leaving the house, getting to the airport, and actually boarding the plane. Don’t stress yourself out, it’s just not worth it. Leave at least an hour of leeway at each stage, just to be sure.
Pre-plan all aspects. Pack lightly to ensure you don’t have too much to carry. Make sure you have all passports and travel documents in one place which is easy to access, and fill the kids’ rucksacks with plenty of games, books and snacks to keep them occupied. The Secret Traveller over at 1cover has some further tips on packing the essentials.
Find things to entertain
There’s no denying it – children have short attention spans! A busy city is an exciting place for the younger ones, but they’ll need to have their minds occupied whilst you’re travelling around to ensure they don’t get bored.
Telling them what you’ll be doing at different points of the day will likely spur them on (e.g. later we’re going to eat this!). Keep them guessing by creating fun additional games for when you’re at particular landmarks (e.g. who can be the first to find this in the museum?).
Plus, it’s always a bonus to have snacks on hand for any sugar lows throughout the day!
Do something different each day
The best thing about cities is there’s always something different to see or do. From museums and art galleries to shopping and restaurants, aiming to do something new every day will make your trip more fulfilling and enrich the children’s experience, too.
Pre-book any top landmarks and sightseeing experiences to avoid hassle and disappointment. Whether it’s the London Eye in the UK, or the Colosseum in Rome, the last thing you want is a huge queue with the kids in tow!
Explain everything
To keep the kids engaged, it’s best to explain everything to them throughout the trip.
Get them excited with plenty of pictures and videos before you go. Teach them about basic safety in a foreign place, including the importance of staying near you and not wandering off, and focus on points of interest throughout your trip.
Above all, just have fun – cities are exciting experiences no matter what age you are!
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