Dialling down the stress on a family holiday

Travelling can be stressful at the best of times. Add in children and it gets a lot more complicated. When even a trip to the local soft play leaves you feeling frazzled, is it possible to travel smoothly with a clatter of kids in tow?

Veterans of the family holiday will tell you organisation is key. On my own first family holiday abroad last year – a week in Majorca with my husband, four-year-old daughter and one-year old son – I could not have been more organised. Duplicates and triplicates of clothing from vests to socks, a surfeit of nappies and enough baby wipes to clean an entire creche of children – I had it all in my hand luggage. We had oh-so-cleverly chosen the flight times based on the baby’s twice-daily naps, and purchased an early birthday present of a tablet for our four-year-old to keep her amused on both the trip to the airport and on the flight itself.

This meant the trip over was fairly seamless – all went according to plan. The baby screeched as we boarded the plane but soon fell asleep on my lap, while our daughter watched episodes of Bluey and coloured in, between exclaiming at the view. “If Carlsberg did flights…,” I commented smugly to my husband when we landed.

Best laid plans

Well, pride comes before a fall, because a three-hour delay on the way back meant my careful plans fell asunder. Two cranky kids in an airport for five hours was bad enough, but then we had to endure a two-hour flight, followed by another two-hour drive on the way home. The baby fell asleep before the flight, woke as we boarded and then proceeded to act – and sound – like a caged animal for the duration of our time in the air. Meanwhile, my daughter spilled a whole bottle of water into the changing bag, meaning all the spare clothes were wringing wet – just before the baby did an explosive poonami and destroyed himself as well as my husband. Never mind the Mile High club, changing a dirty nappy in an aircraft toilet deserves an award of its own.

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But there are lots of ways you can make a family holiday a less stressful experience (unpredictable baby bowel movements notwithstanding). Sarah Slattery, aka The Travel Expert, advises trying to avoid school holidays if at all possible. “Early July to late August is the most expensive time to travel from Ireland, and also the busiest,” she says. “However, if you must travel at that time, note that some European school holidays don’t start until mid/late July, so it can be quieter and accommodation prices are usually lower in early July compared to late July or August.”

Activity holidays

Another option for travelling off-peak is to go on piste – ski holidays are becoming increasingly popular with families who like a bit more action on their breaks away.

“For a magical and activity-filled family trip, equally as fun for every age group, you simply can’t beat a ski holiday. A harmonious, healthy, family ski holiday can become a reality, with some advance planning and proper preparation,” says Michelle Anderson, Topflight’s marketing manager.

Her number one piece of advice for someone hoping to book a family ski trip is to speak to a professional – booking with a provider such as Topflight means that ski equipment, transfers, ski school and lift passes can all be sorted before travelling.

“We know that travelling with kids in tow can be challenging, so our expert sales team are on hand to guide you and help you make the right choices for your family,” she says. “Our team is full of passionate skiers who have skied with their own families and know what it takes to make the perfect family trip.”

Other tips include choosing a resort with short transfers from the airport – Austrian resorts typically have shorter transfer times, for example. “Particularly if travelling with younger children, this is a key consideration,” Anderson says.

She also advises checking out the location of ski schools and nursery slopes before booking to avoid juggling bulky ski equipment as well as kids. “Choose accommodation that’s just a few steps away, or from where families can ski in or ski out. Also consider if self-catering is best for you or if you would prefer hotel facilities for the family.”

Another factor is that many families now travel as multi-generational groups where some of the party may not want to hit the slopes. “In this instance, it is important to choose a resort that has lots going on for the non-skiers to enjoy during their holiday,” Anderson says.

“Also consider the age of the children and what is in-resort for the various age groups. Most resorts offer a choice of non-ski activities in the resort, whether that is a sports centre, swimming pool or snow activities such as ice-skating or sledging.”

Pre-travel prep

Pre-travel preparation is key when travelling with the family, says Caroline Quigley, general manager with Keith Prowse, which has recently launched 365 Entertainment Travel.

“I travel regularly with my own seven-year-old and eight-year-old and I know from first-hand experience that being organised can mean a stress-free holiday when travelling with children,” she says.

For example, if travelling at a very busy period, she suggests families consider booking fast-track at the airport. “This can save time queuing at security and allow more time airside to relax before you board.”

Booking with a fully licensed travel agent can also help remove some of the stress of booking a family holiday. “Travel agents often know the best hotels and resorts for families and can advise on what to do when in a resort,” Quigley says.

A top tip for older kids is to get them involved in the planning of the holiday. “Each day we would normally try and do one thing that the kids want to do and then also do one thing that the adults would like to do. By planning the days in advance, the kids know what to expect,” she notes. “I would suggest that you plan one activity a day if possible and then hit the pool or a park in the afternoon.”

Booking tours and attraction tickets in advance of travel can often allow holidaymakers to take advantage of great tickets – some of these will not be available at the gates on the day, warns Quigley. “You can also guarantee your seat at the show, performance or sports event of your choice before your travel. Also planning your holiday itinerary in advance allows you to make the most of your holiday fun time. 365Entertainment Travel can advise on the best tours and activities to suit your family.”

Family-focused destination

Spain is by far the most popular destination for Irish families. “Travelling as a family is one of the most enjoyable and unforgettable experiences you can have: a way to bond as a family, discover new landscapes, switch off and get away from the routine,” says Rubén López-Pulido, managing director of the Spanish Tourism Office in Dublin. “To get the best out of it however, you must make sure your holiday destination has everything you need.”

Yet a sun holiday is quite simple – kids are happy enough with swimming and playing on the beach, interspersed with the occasional ice cream. “For decades Spain has been the leading country in terms of Blue Flag beaches,” says López-Pulido.

But Spain has much more to offer, he adds. “A real holiday is one that the whole family enjoys, and in Spain you’ll all have a great time because here there’s something for everyone. You’ll find beaches, wild nature and cities with lots of activities for all the family to enjoy.” Just don’t forget the nappies.