Going on a European holiday with your children creates more opportunities to expose them to new places and create wonderful memories. From visiting Germany’s famous Neuschwanstein Castle, which inspired the Sleeping Beauty castle, to exploring Croatia’s picturesque beaches, a myriad of exciting sights and sounds await you and your kids on the continent. Travel is also a fun way to spend time with your children outside the normal routine at home and can contribute to their emotional and social development in different ways.
With so much in store for children during a holiday, it’s no surprise that 49% of UK travellers planned on taking trips with their kids in 2022, according to Hilton research. However, planning a European holiday requires essential preparations to help you have the best mother-child bonding experience. There are plenty of useful tips to enjoy a holiday trip with your toddler, including adjusting to your child’s meal preferences, avoiding overpacking, and treating everything as an adventure overall. Aside from these, here are some other essential insights for planning a European holiday with young children:
Choose affordable flights
Spending a family holiday in Europe need not be too expensive — budget-savvy mums just need to find the right place to book tickets. You can check easyJet’s cheap fare finder for cheap flight tickets, which is a great tool, especially if your schedule and destination dates are fairly flexible. You can try booking flights to popular destinations like Copenhagen and Barcelona, where you can enjoy child-friendly activities like family treasure hunts and visiting L’Aquàrium de Barcelona, respectively. Scoring cheap flights can also be easier when you book outside of peak periods. That way, you can enjoy a European trip without breaking the bank.
Explore other transport options
For some mums, travelling via plane can be a little stressful, especially if you’re worried about emergency landings and your luggage being misplaced by airport authorities. If that’s the case, other modes of transport like taking the train can be a good alternative for travelling to various European cities. You can even enjoy cheaper train tickets when booking in advance from travel companies like Rail Europe. Heading to famous European destinations like Switzerland also allows your family to enjoy the scenic Treno Gottardo route, a 19th-century railway line that passes through Lake Lucerne and the snow-capped mountains of Ticino Valley.
Find family-friendly accommodation
Travelling with young kids can be draining, especially since mums can’t always match their hyperactive energy all day. This is why it’s super important to find relaxing and affordable accommodation that’s also family-friendly to help you unwind and recharge. You can try booking an Airbnb, but you can also check out pocket-friendly hotels around the city, like the Mama Shelter in Rennes, France. After a long day with the kids at the Adrenaline Forest or Space Sciences in the French city, you can unwind in the hotel’s basement spa when your kids are asleep or even have an extended bonding time with them at the pool.
Do exciting, age-appropriate activities
Throughout your vacation, be a cool mum and make sure to let your kids experience fun and exciting adventures to help them create priceless memories. For instance, if you’re in Paris, one of the most visited European cities, you can go to famous child-friendly destinations. Try visiting the Jardin d’Acclimatation, an amusement park where you and your kids can enjoy mini-roller coaster and pony rides. You can also explore the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie, the biggest science museum in Europe, or Parc de la Villette, where your kids can enjoy a dragon slide. That way, you can help your little ones enjoy the holiday trip and make some wonderful memories along the way.
A European vacation is a perfect opportunity for mums to spend more bonding time with their kids outside the home. Follow these essential tips to help you have a memorable holiday trip.