Family Friendly Travel Blog

Meet and greet airport parking is the way forward!

According to a survey just published, meet and greet services now account for well over half of all airport parking and it seems the figure is set to increase further as the prices fall and customer recommendations go up.

I tried it for the first time a few weeks ago and it made such a positive difference to both our outbound and inbound journey that I am forever converted.

I booked the meet and greet parking online through Essential Travel just a couple of weeks prior to departure.  Then on the day called the number provided around 20mins before arriving at the airport to confirm we were on our way.

Then it's simply a case of pulling up outside the terminal building, unloading the luggage and handing over the key. 

No mucking about finding the long stay car park.  No dragging luggage and children and pushchairs through car parks and no hanging about waiting for a lengthy bus ride to the terminal.  We made an altogether calmer entrance to the airport terminal than usual!

The return is even better.  Just knowing that you'll find your car waiting outside for you is a relief when you're at the stage of your holiday when all you want to do is get home sharpish.

A quick call once we'd collected our case from the baggage hall and the time we exited customs and walked to the pick up point the car was waiting for us. 

In go the kids, in go the bags and we're on our way home.

Without meet and greet we could easily have added at least another 30mins and very frazzled nerves to an already late night journey which had also been delayed.

And the surprising thing (to me) was that it didn't cost that much more than plain old airport parking. 

If my experience is anything to go by, then I can highly recommend meet and greet to make travelling with young children much easier.

As a friend of Tots to Travel if you book your meet and greet parking through Essential Travel you'll get a 10% discount.  Essential Travel already offer the best prices out there so with the extra 10% discount through Tots to Travel you'll be getting an unbeatable price. 

Click here to get your 10% discount with Essential Travel.

Momymoo 'On the Go Changing Mat' Review

I’ve always been a fairly practical mum, often with practicality and value for money winning over style considerations.  

Third time round, and 7 years since having my first baby, I decided that I was going to take an altogether more chic and stylish approach to child rearing.  Moreover, the addition of a third child meant ‘hoiking’ our levels of household organisation to hither to unseen levels and a growing intolerance for products that just add unnecessary levels of clutter to our home.  

Add to that several years of helping families to achieve the most child friendly and stress-free holidays possible, and you get the picture...

...I’ve become a much more demanding customer.

So when I came across the Momymoo On The Go Changing Mat (www.momymoo.co.uk) I spotted a product that met both multiple requirements.  I opted for the Pink Flamingo design (although I struggled to choose as the patterns are all gorgeous) and I have to say that I’m thrilled.  

That’s my ‘stylish’ criteria sorted.

Now for the practicalities...

The changing mat is big enough for a wriggly two year old and there are just enough pockets to get the essentials in..nappy sacks, wet wipes and nappies.  I like the simplicity and efficiency of this, exactly what you need on your travels, nothing more nothing less...and no temptation to fill it up with odd socks and half eaten packs of Marmite rice cakes.  

It’s also easy to see when you need to restock, something that I have been hopeless about in the past.

On the downside, the front zipper pocket is quite small, probably big enough for your Oyster card, but I think it’s the paired down nature of this baby changing mat that lends itself to the greater levels of efficiency that I was striving for!  

I really love this ‘grab and go’ approach and for £28.00 I think you’ll have a stylish product that you are proud to use and fits the practical requirements.

Let me know what you think of this product and the designs, I’d be really interested to hear what you think!  Do comment below...

Early bird bookers reaping the benefits

If you want your next family holiday to be a relaxed and happy occasion (which doesn’t break the bank), it pays to plan ahead. Many months ahead, in fact.  

Last-minute holidays work best for singles or couples, not for those with children in tow. The last-minute crowd probably don’t mind paying a lot more for their airfares or having less choice about the time and day they travel, or where they stay.  But as a parent, you know these elements are crucial for a ‘family-friendly’ holiday – one where you get to stay in the accommodation you want and travel at a time that suits you all.

Here are our five reasons why booking early will ensure your family’s next holiday is a low-cost and happy one:

1. You get a bigger selection of accommodation to choose from 

The most popular places to stay get snapped up very early – some of Tots to Travel's family-friendly gites, villas and apartments are already fully booked to 2013! 

2. The further ahead you book, the cheaper the flights

Airline ticket prices tend to go up 21 days, 14 days, seven days and three days before flying. If you're travelling internationally, book three to six months in advance to grab the best deals. 

3. Booking flights earlier means more choice about time and date of travel 

By booking early, you have more flexibility about the time you travel. Late night flights can be ideal for a travelling family – your brood is ready for sleep - but this is a luxury normally reserved for those who are clever enough to plan ahead.  Leave it to the last moment and you could be travelling at the very time when your little ones are the most active - not much fun for you or the rest of the passengers! Demand for flights during school holidays is fierce, which means your choice of days and times to travel becomes even more limited. That’s why it makes sense to book your flights as early as possible – start looking the moment you receive school calendar dates and / or the schedules are released.

4. You can spread the cost of the holiday across many months 

Planning your holiday early means you can set aside money each month to cover the overall cost of such things as accommodation, flights, travel insurance, car hire, meals out and visits to local attractions. 

5. You have time to prepare essential documents

Planning ahead means you have time to ensure all your travel documents (passports, visas, etc.) are valid. Getting and renewing passports well before you plan to travel will save you a lot of money and stress!  

All children under the age of 16 need to have their own passport to travel abroad. It’s best to apply as early as possible for their passports - you can get them quicker between September and December. To renew or amend an existing adult passport takes at least three weeks and costs £77.50. A first child/baby passport also takes about three weeks and costs £49.00.  

Whatever your 2012 family holiday plans, now is the time to kick things off - drop us a line on enquiries@totstotravel.co.uk or call us on 0845 26 941 26 for help choosing the perfect child friendly holiday property for you and your family. 

Happy holiday planning!

Channel tunnel - family friendly?

There are almost too many decisions to make when planning a family friendly holiday to France – ferry (which?), plane (where from and what about car hire?), tunnel (which one and does it mean that we won’t have broken up the journey?) – decisions, decisions.

This year, we opted for the Eurotunnel and I have to say it was full of surprises.

Having turned our car into a mobile bedroom, bedecked with duvets, dummies and dreamy children (chance would be a fine thing) we commenced our drive down from the Midlands via a delicious and very convivial supper at my sister-in-laws, before rocking up to the Tunnel entrance for an early evening crossing.  

Et voilà!  The first surprise...we arrive early, whereupon the friendly computer offers us an earlier crossing!  Quelle chance!  

The second surprise is that Passport Control is a pleasing non-event, security involved a magic racquet shaped object ‘dusting’ the car all over which took just a few minutes before being herded into lanes for the very slick process of boarding.  Compare this to the hectic process of moving through UK airports, removing shoes, taking off belts, dismantling prams, displaying a plastic bag of mascara and lippy, all whilst juggling a two year old and one wonders why we bother with air transport at all?

We hop on and slither our way through the tunnel.  The elder two children stretch their legs, nip to the loo (which is very basic and in case you were wondering, lacks baby changing facilities) whilst we have a quick rearrangement of the car, look for lost toys, change the nursery rhyme CD, have a cuddle with Monty before beginning our mammoth journey south to the Dordogne.  There isn’t much to do on-board, - correction there isn’t anything to do - but then the journey only takes 35 minutes which is entirely manageable.  

So frankly, in terms of modes of child friendly holiday transport, the Tunnel wins all the prizes; it’s quick and immensely easy, there's no seasickness, it's cheaper than the alternatives at less than £90.00 return and frankly, there are no rip off drinks bars with massively overpriced croissants or sneaky upsells as per the budget airlines.

And the last surprise...no fuss at the other end.  Passport control involved minimal interaction, a timid ‘bonsoir’ and that was it...if only the Peripherique around Paris had been such a pleasant surprise, but that’s another story!

Make flying fun with these child-friendly airports

A recent survey by Skyscanner showed that nearly two thirds of travellers think aiports are not as child-friendly as they should be, with long queues and lack of entertainment for little people being the biggest bugbears.

But don’t despair!  There are a growing number of airports in Europe that are genuinely geared towards family friendly holiday travel.  Here’s our advice on which airports will make ‘getting there’ part of your happy holiday experience...

Holiday at Heathrow...

If you’re flying from Heathrow then you’ll be passing through one of the most family-friendly airports in Europe.

At Terminal 3 you’ll find the Jetterz Kids Club, a fully supervised crèche for kids aged 5 to 14, although at £15 for the first two hours you should build it into your holiday budget in advance.  While the kids are safely occupied, why not pamper yourself with a pedicure, massage or snazzy haircut at the No.1 Lounge spa?

If your flight leaves from Terminal 4, treat the family to a VIP stay at the KLM Holideck Family Lounge, with games, toys, TV and the must-see, top floor flight deck with a spectacular view of the action. At the new Terminal 5, there is free soft play too.

Little Miss Sunshine is making guest appearances, guaranteed to brighten your kids’ day!

Hungry little monsters? No problem - kids eat free at some food outlets and you can even reserve shopping online for pickup at the terminal, so you don’t have to worry about getting baby food and milk through security (which, by the way, has lanes reserved just for families)!

 

The Gatwick pledge...

London Gatwick is so far the only airport to undertake the ‘Family Friendly Pledge’ in the UK.  They were the first to create separate security lanes for families with young children, which means more sympathetic staff and less pressure from frustrated passengers behind you.

The ‘No.1’ lounge in the North Terminal is particularly useful, with a separate kids zone for under 6’s, a games area and a cinema room dedicated to youngsters.  If you’re on a tight budget then you still have options, as there’s also a free soft-play area, and interactive console tables scattered around the airport.

If you find you’re juggling baggage and babies, a pre-booked Porter may be just the ticket.  They can help you check in or reclaim your bags on arrival and help you to your onward transport.

If you’re flying with British Airways, be sure to choose your seats the day before you leave with the special family check-in, and while you’re at it you can order special on-board meals for the kids!  On the day, remember to grab a free Paddington Bear Skyflyer pack as extra entertainment ammunition.

 

Glasgow gift...

Some of the smaller airports also cater for tots. 

They’ll love the free soft play area at Gate 50 in Glasgow, and dotted around the airport you’ll find puzzle tables, Lego and Fingabox consoles to keep the smiles coming!

 

 

Dutch masters...

You may be dreading a journey with connecting flights, but at Amsterdam Schiphol you might even want to lengthen your layover period! 

The kids can channel some of that pent-up energy into clambering around the forest-themed play area, or try out the less physical pursuits such as Lego, computer games and kiddy TV channels - all free!

Does your baby need a quiet place to feed or sleep? 

Then escape to the Babycare Lounge, where you can have your own serene and private space to feed and bathe them, and even dim the lights and let them have a snooze in one of the seven bed cabins, while you have a relaxing sit down yourself.

Toddlers and older kids will love the Panorama Terrace, which offers a fantastic view of the aeroplanes, and an exciting Astrojet flight simulator. 

And the pièce de résistance: a full-size show plane, where the whole family can inspect the cockpit, listen to reports from traffic control, and check out the baggage hold – an experience the little ones will be talking about the whole holiday!

 

Loving Lisbon...

Lisbon airport has recently gone through a major expansion and refurbishment programme, with family-friendly facilities such as childrens play areas, modern baby-changing rooms, buggy loan and even an airport tour for kids now on offer. 

Plus look out for features such as fold-down child seats in toilet cubicles – it’s these little details that will make your journey so much easier!

More good news: pretty much every queue in Portugal can be skipped if you have a toddler in tow. Lisbon airport security queues are no exception, where you will be ushered to a dedicated lane for no-pressure bag scanning.  Remember you can skip the passport queue on arrival too!

 

Fun in France...

At Paris Charles de Gaulle you’ll be spoilt for choice, with multiple conventional play areas, plus several extra-special ones at Terminal 2 with ball pits, toboggans, mazes and more! 

The international boarding area at Terminal 3 is a god-send, with original features such as distorting mirrors, interactive world maps, mini-tunnels, hopscotch and TV rooms clad with comfy beanbag chairs.

 

Spot-on in Spain...

If you’re heading through central Spain this year, then you’re in luck!  Madrid’s Barajas airport has one of the best free play areas in Europe, with a brilliant soft-play structure which includes an impressive tube slide and jungle gym. 

At this kiddie heaven there are also tricycles, a ball-pit and some quieter creative activities to wind the little monkeys down before the flight. 

Plus for very little people (and for you to grab a well-earned rest) there’s a supervised crèche complete with changing areas, baby baths and comfy cots to catch up on any missed nap time. 

Stress-free flying all round!

Top tips for baby packing...

With the first big holiday season of the year fast approaching, we've teamed up with www.whattowearonholiday.com to bring you their fab tips on what to pack for a baby-friendly break...

1. Fold-away blanket – useful for everything. You can drape it over the buggy to block the sun's glare, wrap up someone who needs a nap to keep them cosy or sit on it for an impromptu picnic.

2. Light, natural-fibre clothing - take plenty of layers so you can cope with extremes of temperature. A hooded top is very useful, for keeping both the cold and the sun out.

3. Sunsuit and hat with UV protection - for warmer climes, all-in-one bathing suits and legionnaire hats are brilliant – they have high sun factors built-in.

4. Trekking towel – easy to pack, lightweight and folds up to nothing.

5. Sun cream - always take it with you so you get to decide what to put on your child’s skin, not just make do with what’s available.

6. Your chosen brand of baby wipes - baby skin can be sensitive to changing brand and they're indispensable for all spills, not just baby’s.

7. Teething aids - a chewy ring, Calgel and homoeopathic teething granules (or your teething soother of choice).

8. 2 days’ supply of nappies – buy the rest there; far too bulky to carry.

9. Nappy sacks – useful for the whole family’s rubbish.•

10. 2 days’ supply of milk formula – ready prepared in a bottle as you will be asked to taste a little of the milk, to prove it’s what you say it is. The same applies to food – you’ll need to open and taste whatever you’re carrying, so be prepared.

11. Any brand you use routinely and really wouldn’t want to be without – a small amount only, to tide you over until you can either stock up at your destination or find an alternative.

12. Glove puppet, games, cards, etc for the journey - preferably something they haven't seen before for extra novelty interest.

13. Pushchair/pram - in most airports you can wheel this right up to the plane before it gets stowed.

14. The ‘can’t live without’ toy . . .

What are your must have items when packing for your little ones? Let us know below, we'd love to hear them!

Respite on Air Passenger Duty makes 2011 holidays even more appealing

In today's budget, the Chancellor announced that he plans to delay any increase in Air Passenger Duty until 2012.

This delay offers welcome respite to many families, making it even more worthwhile to grab that holiday abroad now rather than delaying it until next year.

The late Easter season this year will be a superb time for child-friendly holidays - balmy but not swelteringly hot, quieter beaches and the added bonus of all the bank holidays this year joining together to make an 11 day holiday cost only 3 days away from work!

Get in touch to snap up your 2011 break on 0845 26 941 26 or enquiries@totstotravel.co.uk.

Tots top tips for easy travel with a baby

With a bit of planning and a few essentials stashed in your hand luggage, the whole process of getting to your holiday destination with your baby can become part of the adventure, not a necessary evil!

Here are our top tips to make travelling with a baby a breeze...

1. Plan your time...
Decide how long you need for each part of the journey – then add some! Allow for longer than normal feeds (lots of distractions to look at in an airport!), a little exercise if they are crawling (find an empty gate or ask if there’s a play area) and emergency changes before boarding or getting back in the car

2. Hang on to the pram...
Remember you can usually keep it right to the steps of the plane, a lifesaver if it’s Gate 99 of 100!?

3. Seating plan..
Unless you are in your own car, getting to the airport can be tricky without your car seat and there’s the onward journey to consider too. Check with your airline well in advance as some will allow you to check in your car seat as luggage

4. Check in...
Do it online or get to the gate early if you can – being forced to sit apart and pass your little bundle back and forth is a hassle you can do without!?

5. Catering...
Everyone’s appetite seems to increase when travelling so pack extra bottles and healthy snacks close to hand (if you’re flying, check with the airline for their policies on what you can carry on). If the timing works out, a well placed feed at take-off or landing, or a dummy of not, will help to protect little ears.

6. Entertainment...
Variety is essential – a selection of lightweight, stimulating soft toys and cloth books won’t take up your baggage allowance and a couple of new ones brought out at strategic moments can work wonders! Don’t forget any essential comforters and for the sake of the other passengers’ sanity, no squeaks or loud rhymes is probably best!

7. Sleepyhead...
In the car, they may sleep more than usual (my 6ft4 husband would beg to differ after spending 4 hours cramped in the backseat of our overstuffed car entertaining our son who flatly refused to sleep his way home from Luton airport!?) If you’re flying, call the airline and ask about a bulk head seat where they may be able to provide a small crib.

8. Enjoy it!
It would take a miracle to be prepared for every eventuality so try not to worry! You’re not the first, won’t be the last and the photos and memories will provide plenty of funny stories for years to come!

The Shand Packing Challenge..umm, it's looking tight!

Part 2: The Shand Packing Challenge continues

8.50pm the night before
Well we're nearly packed..in fact we've reached that stage where the whole house looks fairly chaotic and will get worse before it gets better.  It's 8.50pm and it's getting late, I'm running out of steam following my late night at the BBC filming for the Michael Ball Show (more of that another time!) and I still want to clean out the fridge!?  (Don't ask!)

With regards to the packing; the kids have been excellent and weren't at all bothered about being limited to 5 of everything.  As long as Maisy has space for her toy duck and her swimming costume then she's happy and Barnaby has sneaked a huge pile of books into his case, forfeiting almost everything else in the process.

My bag (the one going into the hold) is ridiculously heavy and I'm a little concerned that it is too heavy.  I haven't yet begun packing for baby Monty and there's nappies and formula to squeeze in.  It's all looking a little bit tight and that's before I've found all those last minute bits and pieces...

At this stage, this challenge will only be possible because the holiday property that we are staying in has a washing machine.

The Shand Family Challenge

We're off on our much needed family holiday this weekend and I've assigned the family a challenge.

Shand Family Challenge
Is it possible to take a family of five on holiday with only one piece of luggage in the hold?

With the budget airlines eeking every penny out of their customers we've decided to see whether we can take two adults, two children and one baby to Mallorca with only one piece of luggage in the hold. Any money we save will go towards sampling the local vino.  Admittedly this isn't much of an incentive for the kids although they seem to be pretty disinterested in packing anything other than their swimming costumes.

Here's my 6 point plan:

1. x3 new (cheap) pieces of cabin luggage from a well known supermarket
2. The hold bag will contain clothes for me and baby Monty
3. Restraint will need to be exercised on the shoe front ditto lotions and potions
4. Everything needs to be super-small eg. Natty folding booster seat
5. Kids restricted to 1 cuddly toy and smallest collection of books/felt tip pens etc
6. My hand luggage is going to be the nappy bag and little else

At this stage I'm sceptical about whether we can pull it off.  Furthermore my team to think that this is just sheer madness.  I'll return once I have an idea about whether we can pull it off.