Toddlers or Teens?
We've thought of a few things for you to think about when
choosing a family holiday, based on your children's ages:
Taking infants and toddlers
In some ways, once you’ve got over the initial thought
of taking your young child abroad, the infant and toddler
years can be the ideal time for a family holiday with kids.
It’s certainly when there’s most help on offer
– under two’s fly for free, there are bassinets,
nappies and baby food onboard planes, helpful cooing air
stewardesses (if you-re lucky).
And when you arrive, you generally find Maldives more child-friendly
than the somewhat starchy and traditional countries. In
fact walk through any hotel / island with a baby in a pram
and the local mamas flock round it like bees round honey
to pinch, prod and hug your little one as if it was their
own.
OK, babies are going to cry and it’s worth checking
certain things before you go abroad – especially to
hot countries like the Maldives. Does your accommodation
have aircon? Lie awake with a screaming baby at three in
the morning in a sweltering hotel room and all you want
to do is get the next flight home.
Downsides include the effects of jet-lag after all those
months of careful controlled crying to get him or her into
a good routine. And remembering to respect local attitudes
to breast-feeding and even changing nappies in public.
Taking Teenagers
These can be the most difficult years for them, you and
family holidays.
Too young for total freedom.
Too old for the kiddies club.
And too miserable to get excited even by the pyramids.
The teenage travel years are tricky.
While you thrill at the wonders of the world, all they
thrill at are the wonders of the snog and the in-house pay-per-view
movie channels.
But pick the right holiday and parents and teenagers can
get by in relative peace and harmony.
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