The ultimate guide to long-haul travel with young children
Experts share their top tips for enjoying family getaways that deliver enjoyment for adults and offspring alike, and for coping with the inevitable incidents
The thought of faraway holidays with children can leave many parents feeling fatigued before the plane has even taken off. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Marianne Rogerson, a mother of two, was determined not to let being a parent curtail her spirit of adventure. Rogerson, who grew up in Hong Kong, has always harboured a passion for adventure travel, trekking up mountains in Peru, white water rafting in Costa Rica and hiking the rainforest in Borneo.
Having children means less of such adrenaline-fuelled fun. “Things have to be a little calmer with toddlers in tow,” Rogerson says – but her wanderlust has not waned. This year, the mumonthemove blogger took her daughter, four, and two-year-old son bamboo rafting in Guilin, southern China, and on a farming and fishing adventure in Hoi An, Vietnam.
He and his wife are firm believers that children are an asset to travel. “We refused to believe having a child should prevent us from travelling,” says Jenson. “The way in which we travel has changed. We travel slower but we see much more, and with completely different eyes; also through the eyes of our son.”
Still, for many families, travelling abroad is as much about mishaps as having fun - whether it’s temper tantrums, wetting themselves while asleep on your lap or spilling your red wine on the plane. So these are some of the factors to consider when planning the next family getaway.