How to organize a nice vacation with children? Much, of course, depends on age but also on the number and interests of young travelers. Especially the first few times, organizing a vacation with children can be a source of stress, but some small steps are enough to make the trip an unforgettable experience for the whole family .
Holidays with children: the choice of the place
The first question we ask ourselves when we want to organize a vacation is: where do we go? The choice of the place is, in fact, a fundamental element.
For example, with preschoolers it can be very complicated to visit a large city of art, where daily travel could be stressful and long, while it may be more appropriate to find one's way around a small city and / or to visit places of great interest for the little ones, for example an aquarium or a large theme park with games.
Nature is always a winning choice, from the sea, to the countryside, to the woods, to the mountains.
Holidays with children: where to stay?
It also depends on the budget, of course. A more generous budget allows you to find your way around one of the many hotels for families that are now almost everywhere, but considering the services, both for leisure and for meals. For example, it is very useful that there are various menus and / or the possibility of preparing the meals for the little ones on their own.
Moreover, it is very useful that there are spaces where you can play, even indoors, in case of bad weather, and activities of animation and / or baby-sitting, so as to be able to manage in a more relaxed way the "dead times" .
An equally convenient but cheaper alternative is the apartment, which always offers a lot of freedom, even in the preparation and at meal times, and enough space. A clever idea is to study its position well and make sure, for example, that it is near a park or other places that can be enjoyed with children at various times of the day.
Those structures that would confine you in a room and force you to eat outside every day are less suitable. They can go very well for adults, but when traveling with children you have more space and more freedom of movement, it makes adventure a lot easier.
Holidays with children: what means of transport?
For not very long journeys, the car is probably the most comfortable solution because it allows you to have a freedom of schedules, movements and loads from behind, not granted by other means of transport. For lovers of the genre, even a nice camper is an excellent solution .
For longer journeys, the aircraft is the most painless solution because it greatly reduces journey times which, especially with the little ones, can be heavy. Also worth considering is the journey by train, at night, in a sleeping car .
Especially if you travel by car (but also by train), a clever idea is to take advantage of the hours of sleep, starting at a time when we already know that the little children will probably fall asleep, so that they will stay good for at least a part of the journey.
It is also essential, with every means of transport, to bring objects with them to entertain them, according to tastes and age. And never miss some natural snacks to munch on and, of course, water.
Holidays with children: things to remember absolutely
When you travel with children, especially children, you always carry lots of stuff with you. Traveling loads - though - is never a good idea, even with children. So, even when you travel by car and have more space available, better focus on what is really essential. Above all, don't forget:
> Documents . Check that the whole family has identification cards still valid and not expiring or expired and, in the case of trips abroad, check in advance if you need special permits and / or visas .
> Medicines and first aid kits . Plasters, thermometer, antipyretic, antihistamine, cortisone, anti-diarrheal and, in summer, a good sunscreen.
> Electronic devices and sockets . Besides the phone and tablet, don't forget the charger and remember that in many foreign countries the sockets are different from the Italian ones, so starting with a suitable adapter simplifies things a lot.
If you are traveling by plane, check your baggage policies and check the general rules, such as those for transporting liquids.
Last but not least, as soon as age permits, prepare the children before leaving explaining what the stages of the journey will be; for example, that in the airport you have to pass some security checks, that the journey will be long or that it will be short, that in the airplane the ears can hurt etc.
A prepared child knows what awaits him, feels more involved and, most likely, will be more serene.
