Ok I'm after some real world answers from those in the know!

 

We are looking at going abroad in a few months time, nowhere too far probably France, Spain or Italy. Our lad will be about a year and a half by then. I don't expect it to be as smooth running as previous holidays but I'm expecting the flight to be a handful, anything else I need to think about or be warned about before we organise the trip? Would I need to take a car seat or can you hire that sort of thing?

 

Btw here's the cheeky chappie :)

 

hi baz

It depends where you go in relationship to the car seat free when I went to the US and hired a car,took all three of kids away on holidat to spain us and italy no problems on the flights as your will get lots of help from the airline staff put on the plain first and sometimes off the plain first

We took our 2 on holiday a couple of years ago, our oldest was old enough for his own seat but our youngest we had the option of having him on our knee ( which we went for ). He was a nightmare on the way out but on the way back there was an empty seat next to the sister in-law and he sat perfectly all the way home. Other than that just covered them up and slapped on loads of cream. As for the car seat it depends where you are going, do you need to get taxis's etc. Most hotels you can hire buggies etc so would imagine you could hire a car seat ( could always ask when you are booking ).

Check with airline with regs about seating mate, under certain age they on your lap and u don't get a separate seat !

 

Best thing we took (if lazing by swimming pool holiday) was a travel cot, was great for night but god send in the day as you can use it like a play pen, use a umbrella for shade and no worries about SPLASH !!!!

Thanks guys very helpful, keep them coming :) we did think about driving to south of France but that might be worse travelling lol

Who are you planning on flying with?..

Mate, we took our little girl when she was 2 to spain with no worries on the flight, airline very helpful & put on as priority. She enjoyed the flight & was very good except for her ears on take off & landing, didnt last long though , give him a dummy it helps & our little one never used one except for the flight.

Take bits to keep him entertained.

Organised car seat to be collected with hire car & all good.

 

Not much of holiday for mum & dad but worth it ;-)

Do it & make the most of it, enjoy.

Cheers Jamez.. And Joely - not sure yet whoever is cheapest probably lol

We are taking my wee girl nyomi on holiday for the first time this year she will be about a year and a half also. When I got married my sister took her wee boy who was one and my cousin took hers who was 6 month we went to turkey same place we are going this year. Just remember watch the weight of what you are taking as they don't get very much my cousin was well over on hers and it wasn't cheap to pay the extra lol

Ok I'm after some real world answers from those in the know!

 

We are looking at going abroad in a few months time, nowhere too far probably France, Spain or Italy. Our lad will be about a year and a half by then. I don't expect it to be as smooth running as previous holidays but I'm expecting the flight to be a handful, anything else I need to think about or be warned about before we organise the trip? Would I need to take a car seat or can you hire that sort of thing?

 

Btw here's the cheeky chappie :)

 

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Baz the first thing you need to do is change your negative expectation of the holiday. If you expect it not to be as smooth as previous holidays then it wont be. If you expect the flight to be a handful it will be.

Family holidays are fun BUT they are different to holidays without children.

My grrown up girls who are ages with you have been flying since a few months after birth.

Just follow a few simple NEW principles for a happy family holiday.

Choose a reptable Package holiday company.

Fly to a short haul dstination. That will be spain for a first go.

Pick a resort where its all on site or close by so you dont need a car at all.

If you want a trip out then book a tour so you get it all organized for you while you sit in the sunshine and relax.

Plan on spending lots of time just relaxing by the pool beach etc.

 

Pick a hotel/complex where "Child activities "and assistance with supervision are available. You might not need them but its a handy option

There are no reasons at all why a "family holiday" wont be a relaxing and happy affair affair for everyone.

Flying with small children/babies is simple .... its the parents who cause the "problems/stress"

As an expert in this field with four kids and lots of overseas holidays I agree with Pete :biggrin:

Baz the first thing you need to do is change your negative expectation of the holiday. If you expect it not to be as smooth as previous holidays then it wont be. If you expect the flight to be a handful it will be.

Family holidays are fun BUT they are different to holidays without children.

My grrown up girls who are ages with you have been flying since a few months after birth.

Just follow a few simple NEW principles for a happy family holiday.

Choose a reptable Package holiday company.

Fly to a short haul dstination. That will be spain for a first go.

Pick a resort where its all on site or close by so you dont need a car at all.

If you want a trip out then book a tour so you get it all organized for you while you sit in the sunshine and relax.

Plan on spending lots of time just relaxing by the pool beach etc.

 

Pick a hotel/complex where "Child activities "and assistance with supervision are available. You might not need them but its a handy option

There are no reasons at all why a "family holiday" wont be a relaxing and happy affair affair for everyone.

Flying with small children/babies is simple .... its the parents who cause the "problems/stress"

 

Have some respect for that matey.

Life is to short to worry about "what if" Just do it and enjoy it Baz and I guarantee you will be great. But make shure you are prepared with E111 and plenty of strong sun screen:yes:

Pretty good advice all round so far, can't disagree with any of these comments. I'm 47 now with 3 'kids'. Prob been through most of the holiday dramas with kids u can dream up, I would imagine: Stranded at Menorca airport 24hrs due to plane breaking down, refused certificate to fly home from Lanzarote due to toddler picking up ear infection from swimming pool, plane engine fire mid-flight, lost suitcases, stolen iPods etc. etc.

Holidays with kids can be stressful. Any/most time in the company with your kids can be stressful! The time you spend with your kids when they're young, you can't buy later on in life if you don't.....I can remember most of the holidays I went on with my mum & dad when I was younger, as I'm sure most of you will. Those memories are invaluable. My youngest is 16 now and still holidays with us, or should I say still wants to holiday with us...... Stop worrying and get it sorted!

As my wife & I have gotten older, any holidays/breaks we have without our kids are never the same, and you always miss them and wonder what they're up to if they're not there......

Yeah. Don't go with Ryanair. They are awful.

Thanks guys, some great advice and thanks Pete for all that info! I was expecting people to come back saying 'its a nightmare mate' etc but pleasantly surprised at the responses.

Yeah. Don't go with Ryanair. They are awful.

actually its the passengers that are awful lots of the time:yes:

I use them a lot and all the time I see.........

People who cannot understand simple concepts like ONE bag only in the cabin. That it needs to fit in a simple test frame of which there are dozens all over the airport..

Total failure to understand kilos and how a weighing machine works.

Are unable to put anything in a polythene bag with a seal.

Failure to understand that if you are drunk. disorderly or abusive to airline staff they will not let you on their plane just like I wouldnt let them in my car or house.

Total failure to get the simple concept of no matter if you are first or last to board there will be a seat for you

Etc Etc.:biggrin:.

Hi Baz,

 

took both of ours when young, take plenty of his favourite toys on the plane to occupy him. if he gets upset on the plane and cries or gets bored so what, adults can discuss he is unable. you get the odd few that complain but most are understanding and often help out which will help keep him occupied. travel cot has been suggested, great when by the pool so u can lay him down in the shade and let him sleep.. The only issue we ever had was with the furniture in the room, the drawers didnt have stops on so she pulled it all the way out and it fell on her toes.. lol.. I personally think its easier than this country, if they are in the back of the car its hard to keep them occupied and if the weahers bad you are stuck inside..

dont forget your calpol, we always gave them a spoonful before we took off, bite cream just in case, possibly some anti hystamines.. apart from that enjoy it.. :-)

Yeah. Don't go with Ryanair. They are awful.

 

Ahem!

actually its the passengers that are awful lots of the time:yes:

I use them a lot and all the time I see.........

People who cannot understand simple concepts like ONE bag only in the cabin. That it needs to fit in a simple test frame of which there are dozens all over the airport..

Total failure to understand kilos and how a weighing machine works.

Are unable to put anything in a polythene bag with a seal.

Failure to understand that if you are drunk. disorderly or abusive to airline staff they will not let you on their plane just like I wouldnt let them in my car or house.

Total failure to get the simple concept of no matter if you are first or last to board there will be a seat for you

Etc Etc.:biggrin:.

 

:-)

To explain myself.... Once you are sat down they are fine. Apart from there was no stringy pocket to put your sucky sweets in, but getting on is bedlam. They only had a paltry 15kilo luggage limit and charge per suitcase. So, to save money, which is why you book a budget airline in the first place, everybody seems to take huge solid hand luggage which quickly fills the overhead lockers. You have to pay to reserve seats and unused seats are taped off in blocks. Understandably, there is a stampede on boarding as people want to sit together. The staff on my flight were stroppy as people coming on later had seats but couldn't fit their hand luggage overhead and couldn't fit in their seat with it to let people past to get seated. It was chaos and an unpleasant experience.

Just wait till he grows up that when the trouble starts! Kids are great at that age they need u and dont cost much!!!! Trust me Baz its all ok at that age. When i go away now its twice as exspensive due to beer and spending money!

Haha thanks for the warning Paul :lol:

Hey Baz we took our daughter away to Portugal when she was 18 months old and was fine on the flight mate :) Take plenty of crayons and Skips (crisps) and you'll be fine :clap: