A self-catering holiday is the ideal choice for anyone with young children. You’re not tied to the timetable of a hotel and can enjoy the freedom of your ‘home from home’. Here’s how to make plans for a stress-free break with children.
What to Pack For a Self-Catering Vacation With Children
Before you decide what to bring along, work out how much stuff you can actually take with you. If you’re flying, this will be determined by the airline’s rules. Otherwise, it depends on how much room you have in your holiday transport.
Next, find out what equipment is available at your holiday accommodation. Many vacation house owners provide items like a high chair or potty, which will save you valuable packing space.
A large rucksack or holdall is often a better choice than a suitcase if you have lots to take. This type of bag fits easily into awkward corners of the car or the trunk and often has extra pockets for last minute items.
Packing clothes is usually the easy bit, with children it’s the extras which are important and which, if forgotten, can lead to a miserable time. A good way to decide what to take along is to sit down with a notebook and think of what you do in a typical day, from morning to evening.
Then, as you think of each activity, for example, brushing teeth, getting dressed, note down anything you’ll need to take with you. Don’t forget vacation activities that you might not normally do, such as playing on the beach or swimming.
Take along a few plug socket guards from home to use in the holiday house and a small first aid kit. You might want to bring along your own baby bowls and cutlery if you’re not sure what’s available at the vacation house. Your child’s favorite toy or comfort blanket is also a must.
A Self-Catering Holiday With Babies and Toddlers
For young children, even though you’re on vacation, sticking roughly to their usual routine is a comfort. With a self-catering holiday, you have the freedom to do this as meals and playtimes can be taken whenever you decide.
Don’t try to be too ambitious when planning each day’s activities. Some children take a little time adjusting to a new house and different activities. Use the vacation house as your base and try a half-day trip out at first to see how things go. Consider coming back to the house at nap time so that your child gets used to the house and her holiday bedroom before bedtime.
Don’t feel you have to plan a full range of trips and activities. Babies and toddlers are often happy with the simpler things, such as playing on the beach or a walk in the woods. If there’s a playground nearby, visit there early in the trip. Here, you can usually get chatting to parents who live in the area year-round and get some good advice about places to take the children and child-friendly stores and restaurants.
It’s your holiday too, so when planning meals, consider using some convenience or ready-meals that you don’t normally eat. If you’re not sure whether you’ll be able to buy your child’s favorite food or snack at your destination, take along supplies.
A little pre-planning will make your vacation a pleasant trip with happy memories. And be sure to check out Suite 101’s travel ideas to make your journey a pleasant one.
Resources
Rivoli, Shelly, Travels with Baby: The Ultimate Guide for Planning Trips with Babies, Toddlers, and Preschool-Age Children, [Travels With Baby Books, 2007]
Lansky, Vicky, Trouble-Free Travel with Children: Over 700 Helpful Hints for Parents on the Go (Trouble-Free Travel With Children), [The Book Peddlers,2003]
