Traveling with children

To travel with children, it is highly recommended to prepare the children in advance, inform them that you are going to take a family trip, show photos of the destination, prepare a home travel guide with them and have them collaborate in packing their luggage.

If children are very young, they cannot value the interest of a purely cultural trip (very interesting for adults, of course), so cultural activities for adults and some specific activity for the little ones should be combined: theme park, swimming pool , beach, excursions, zoo ... You have to choose the destination depending on the age of the child. The beach or mountain destinations are the most suitable for the little ones.

In your luggage you should carry a good dose of good humor to enjoy those days of rest with the little ones.

Traveling with children by car

Car trips are always "eternal" for children, especially when they are long and monotonous distances. Since children do not have an exact reference for a short or long time, they get tired. Good planning of the route and stops is essential.

The best times of the day to travel are early and late in the day as it is when it is less hot.

It is highly recommended to take into account any of the following recommendations:

• Prepare, with the collaboration of the children, the vehicle for the trip: food, drink, games and music.
• You have to make a good forecast of food and drink even if the trip is short, for possible unforeseen events that lengthen the trip (traffic jams, breakdowns ...).
• Stop every two hours at a service area to stretch the legs, go to the bathroom, or change the diaper.
• Children should wear comfortable and appropriate clothing for the season of the year. The temperature of the car should be comfortable. It is advisable to carry a spare clothing in case a child becomes dizzy and vomits. A blanket in the trunk can go a long way in winter.
• The bag with everything you need for the baby should be at hand.
• All required.

Travel by airplane

When traveling by plane it is very important to find out about the conditions of each airline. In general, airlines distinguish between babies (0-2 years) and children (2-12 years). The baby travels without occupying a seat and must always be accompanied by an adult; They do not pay a ticket but they do pay for flight insurance that must be obtained with the boarding pass.

On long trips, baby chairs or cots can be requested from the company in advance. Children travel occupying a seat and may do so accompanied by a person over 12 years old, alone (those over 5 years old and must be communicated in advance) or under the supervision of an airline assistant.

It is highly recommended to carry everything you need for the trip in your hand luggage: toys, food, diapers, wipes ...

You have to carefully weigh the duration of the flight and the age of the children. Babies should drink water frequently and their temperature should be controlled to keep them warm. To avoid discomfort in the ears during takeoff and landing, the baby should suckle or suck on the pacifier or bottle.

Travel by train or boat

In general, children under 4 years old do not pay a ticket, unless they occupy a seat. Up to 11 or 13 years old they enjoy a 40% discount and there are discounts for large families.

If the journey is very long, it is interesting to go in a train-hotel or boat-hotel, since the trip takes place at night, while the children sleep and they offer all the services of a hotel.

accommodation

You must reserve accommodation in advance, notify that you are traveling with children and check that the accommodation has all the necessary services to travel with children: high chairs, cots ...

The camping or the rural houses are very suitable for traveling with the family.

Documentation for traveling with children

Children must be documented as well as adults. You must bring the health card and the vaccination card. Like adults, if you travel through the countries of the European Union, you need a DNI and outside these countries, the Passport.

Outside of Europe you need a visa and passport.

To travel in Europe you can request the.

MAPFRE offers you the most complete travel insurance designed for you.

• If you travel in car It is essential to plan the trip well, to be provided with food, drink, games, music…, and to make stops every two hours at least.
• By plane, it is advisable to put everything we may need in hand luggage (toys, food, diapers, wipes ...)
• It is always important that children are well documented, and with the health card and the vaccination card.

Pediatric Specialist