Are we there yet? Survival tips for travelling with children

Travelling with Children: Due to heightened awareness of international child abduction, anyone, including parents, traveling abroad with a child must be prepared to document legal custody of that child. Even when both parents are traveling with a child, they may be required to prove that they are the parents by presenting a long form birth certificate. When the child is with only one parent, they should have a legally certified letter of consent from the other parent. In other cases any individual with the child should have a letter of consent from both parents or a custody document. When a child is traveling unaccompanied parents should ensure that the child has a valid passport and a legally certified letter of consent for travel. In all cases it is required that each child has their own valid passport!

Souvenirs might get lost but the kids will always have the memories! Family vacation memories become mental movies of each family’s unique story. They stand out because they are times away from frenetic daily routines and stresses. It doesn’t matter how much money was spent or how exotic or mundane the locale. Vacation memories make us feel good. The following are some well-tested recipes for limiting the trauma all too often associated with the family holiday.

1) Legalities
If you are travelling out of country, be sure that each child has his or her own passport. In the case of a change in plans they are able to travel on their own or with either parent. If a parent, or grandparent is planning to take a child overseas, they must have notarized permission from the legal guardian/s of the child.

2) Packing
Each child should have their own bag for which they are responsible. That can be as simple as a daypack for younger children or the entire enchilada for the older ones. The one rule that applies to everyone (including mom and dad), if you pack it – you carry it! Keep a small, stocked, toiletry kit on hand for each child – that way no one forgets his or her toothbrush! The small hotel samples are great for this purpose. To avoid complaints have the kids set aside the clothes and toys that they want to take. Take as many interchangeable dark-coloured clothes as possible. They may get just as dirty but the stains are harder to see. Don’t forget to include toys that can be played in different ways, toys that will work for one child or a group with wide age spans.

3) Toddlers
The trick to travelling with toddlers is to slow down and look at the world from their point of view. Figure that nothing will go as planned. Stick to their schedule, they can not handle dinner at 8:00 or miss lunch in favour of an art gallery. To avoid disaster make sure they are getting enough sleep. Plan long car rides to coincide with nap time.

4) Kids on board
Airplanes weren’t made for kids. If you hold on to that thought then you won’t make the mistake of approaching the flight with unreasonable expectations. The key to success is to be prepared with distractions, work as much as possible within the child’s schedule, and always try to get a flight that is nonstop. Be sure to order a children’s meal ahead of time, preferably at the same time as you book the flight. Bring gum or hard candy to help with pressure changes. And feed infants during take off and landing.

5) Sight seeing survival guide
Forget long bus tours and give up the idea of following a guide through a museum. (Some museums and galleries have fabulous tours / activities for children and they are well worth the change to schedule and or cost). Spend time at home reading up with the kids about where you are going and what you will see. Plan one major sight-seeing outing a day. Always include time for play. Don’t head out without eating and without a selection of healthy snacks – hunger will strike at the oddest moments. Always take a stroller for a child under four. Be sure to agree on ground rules before you go. Try to accommodate different interests by dividing up the family and heading in different directions. Always be flexible no matter how much you’ve planned be ready to shift gears. Relax and have fun – that’s what you there for, and that’s what the kids will remember.

6) Child friendly travel aids
Motionless wrist bands work well against all forms of motion sickness.

Earplanes relieve air pressure and pain during take off and landing.

Kids Travel Pillow, provides extra comfort for planes, trains and automobiles.

Thematic Trips in Latin America - If you're an enthusiast of one type or another, chances are that your interest can be pursued in this part of the world. Planning a trip around a hobby or activity is a sure-fire way to meet people with similar interests and broaden your travel experience.

Trekking - The Andean cordillera stretches from Venezuela to Chile, ample mountains to climb. Keep in mind that climbs in this region can be very technical, not to be undertaken by novices. Central America and Mexico have peaks as well, but in these locales you will be probably trekking in rainforests. Jungle trekking is strenuous and trekkers should be prepared. If you intend a trekking holiday bring your own equipment as it may not be available locally or be of inferior quality.

Diving & Snorkelling - The top three diving sites in Latin America are along the Belizean barrier reef, around the Bay Islands, and in the Galapagos. If you don a mask and poke your head below water just about anywhere along the Mexican, or Central and South American coast you will see something. Although rental equipment is available nothing will compare with your own gear!

Surfing - With so much coastline comes waves, and Latin America has plenty. The Pacific coast of Central America has several internationally renowned surf breaks, including a perfect left-hand break in Costa Rica's Parque Nacional Santa Rosa. In South America, Brazil is best known for surfing. If you're planning your trip around surfing bring your own board. You may return with two; bargains are to be had in the Latino surf world. For more information visit surf reports at www.centralamerica.com/cr/surf.

White water Rafting & Kayaking - Latin America truly has it all. Some of the best white-water rafting in the world can be found in Chile, Peru and Argentina, which have all classes of rapids. Ecuador is developing a rafting industry, as is Guatemala and Honduras, while Costa Rica leads the pack in river adventure sports. Kayaking is most popular in Chile.

Learning Spanish or Portuguese -There are a number of Latin American cities with a reputation for good language schools. Usually classes are combined with a homestay to promote total immersion. In this way you learn a language while experiencing and participating in the culture of the country. When choosing a school consider student to teacher ratio, hours of daily instruction, location and other classes offered. A terrific website listing hundreds of language schools is www.studyspanish.com.

The Older Traveller - These days the mature traveller thinks nothing of tackling the most demanding challenges. They relish new experiences at a time when they have the time and the money to maximize the adventure. They can travel when and for as long as they choose enabling them to take advantage of off-peak prices, fewer crowds and a more temperate climate.

Destinations - with even the most remote corners of the world accessible, it is important for you to establish what you want from your holiday then weigh up your ability to cope. By building your own itinerary you can choose how to travel and can make the experience as demanding or relaxed as you wish.

Preparation - while it is romantic to think of travelers throwing things in a bag and wandering wherever their fancy leads life is so much easier if you take a few precautions. Explore visa and passport requirements and apply as much in advance as possible. If you have a medical condition make sure your destination meets your needs. Invest in insurance which will cover all eventualities including repatriation. Visit the Public Health Nursing Travel Clinic (961 England, 338-1711) to arrange appropriate vaccinations. It's always a good idea to carry notification of any significant medical condition.

Services - there are a number of travel companies that provide holidays specifically for older travelers. There is an increasing demand for holidays that combine the advantages of package deals - easy travel arrangements and the support of large organizations should you need help - with independence once you reach your destination.

Practicalities - no matter how dauntless you are, nothing makes for a grouchier traveller than the lack of life's little comforts. So take small inflatable cushions to rest your weary head, water bottles to quench that thirst when you are nowhere near civilization. Consider investing in a scissor seat so you can sit down anywhere, you can also use it instead of your usual walking stick. Use luggage with wheels and it is more important than ever to pack light!Web sites with bite - Medical Advisory Service for Travelers Abroad (www.masta.org.)

Stay Alert: Street crime is on the increase in some places and tourists are its chief victims. Con artists around the world are using even more sophisticated ploys: Oops! - One thief spills, squirts, or throws something on you while an accomplice distracts you by helping you clean it off, this causes enough of a commotion for a third thief to grab your belongings.
The "broken" ATM - Your card gets stuck and a kind observer (who has rigged the machine) offers to help and gets close enough to see your pin. Once you give up and walk away he extracts your card and uses your pin to make a sizeable withdrawal.
The fake street fight - a common ploy where boys pretend to beat each other up to distract travellers in order to steal their belongings.
The Sign - London subway thieves actually put up "Beware of Pickpocket" signs, which cause riders to automatically reach for their wallets, thus showing prospective crooks where they are. The moral of these stories is that especially when traveling you must be aware of your surroundings. When something appears to be out of the ordinary take precautions, this is one time for a suspicious nature to come to the fore!

Where the deals are: The global slowdown in travel has affected some areas more than others, here are the destinations with the biggest savings:ü Alaska - Look here for cruise deals; since a number of ships have been re-routed to Alaska from Europe, discounts are likely. People aren't planning as far ahead either, so look for significant markdowns.
Hawaii - Although arrivals have begun to bounce back, the decline in Japanese travel has been devastating. There are a number of package deals that include free nights, car rental, room upgrades, and food credits. Airfares may be high due to service cut-backs, so look for air-inclusive deals.
Africa - Travel to South Africa has held steady but the weakness of the South African Rand continues to make that country particularly affordable.
Australia - A post-Olympics glut of hotel rooms combined with travellers reluctance to travel long distances has caused prices to drop significantly in Sydney and through out the country. Airfares, however haven't so the best way to save is with air-land packages.
Asia - Don't expect great deals in Japan since more Japanese are traveling domestically. However, Muslim countries Malaysia, and Indonesia) and more out of the way spots (Cambodia, Vietnam and the Maldives) will be running specials.
Web sites with bite! - www.anyworkanywhere.com

Only in Canada you say? Are you insured? The reality is many Canadians traveling in Canada face many of the same risks as they would traveling outside the country. There are many out of pocket costs for medical care not covered by health plans outside your own province. The entire cost of your holiday could be lost if you need to cancel for emergency reasons. Be sure to confirm the scope of your coverage before you go!

Surviving Security Checkpoints: It is critical to be on your toes as you walk through security checkpoints. (You don’t need to be told not to pack valuables in checked luggage) The carry-ons you so sensibly packed can disappear in an instant. Please remember the following. Wait for the person in front of you to clear security completely before placing your belongings on the belt. Remove anything from your person you think may set off the detector. You don’t want to leave your bag unattended while you empty your pockets. Thieves target bags so pay attention to yours. Ideally, leave irreplaceable items at home.
On the plane – dress in layers, and dress for comfort! Cabin temperature can fluctuate significantly on long flights, not to mention climate changes between your point of departure and arrival. Wear loose-fitting, wrinkle resistant clothes and comfortable shoes. Low air pressure in the cabin will make you swell a bit. Clothes that fit fine on the ground may be uncomfortable at 30,000 feet.

The International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers has a chart of recommended immunizations for more than two hundred countries as well as an international directory of English speaking doctors. ( 40 Regal Road, Guelph Ontario, N1K 1B5, (519-836-0102).

Ladies - use panty liners in your underwear - you will be able to get more wear before having to do laundry.

Laundry is an as you go job for those that travel light. Every day or so you need to find a water source and choose from among several primitive washing methods; rinse and wring, soak and squish, spray and hang, whatever. It's amazing to discover that it is possible to clean clothing without a machine. Don't forget to pack a small clothesline as well as a universal sink stopper!