Indie Places

Going on holiday with young children can be stressful, especially if your children start to misbehave.  However, there are several things you can keep in mind when planning your trip and during your trip that can make this stress disappear. Before you book your transportation or your lodging, check on the prices for young children.  Some allow those under five to travel or stay for free.  Others have a reduced rate.  You’ll want to take this into account when figuring your budget and when making your reservations.  Be certain to always mention your children and their age when asking about rates. When you pack for your children, you may think giving them their own little pieces of luggage will make them feel more grown up.  However, it may cost you a bit more.  You may have to pay for each of these checked bags, no matter what their size.  If you’re on a budget, consider packing your children’s clothing with your own if possible.  Sometimes, you can use one larger bag instead of two smaller ones and actually pay less. Once you arrive at your destination, you should make certain that you’ve got some activities planned that your children will enjoy.  This doesn’t mean you have to go to theme parks, but it does mean you should sit aside some things that your kids want to do.  This might include going to a children’s museum, visiting a zoo, or going to a shopping centre.  To decide on these activities, talk to your kids when planning your trip.  You never know—they may really enjoy going to a concert or play with you, but they might not.  They may really not want to spend the day at the zoo, however, so you should get their opinion before deciding on what to do.

No one wants to cancel their holiday, but sometimes it must be done.  If you have to cancel, there are some important things you need to consider.  Before you decide anything, you need to look at how much money you’ve invested in your trip and if you can get it back.  Sometimes, you won’t be able to get refunds.  In this case, you may actually want to try to go ahead and take your holiday if it’s at all possible.  If it’s not, you may want to try to find others who can go in your place.  True, you’ll still be out the money, but at least someone will get to enjoy the trip.

You should check the cancellation policies for your transportation, your lodging, and any events you’ve pre-booked.  Generally, transportation and lodging have a 24-hour cancellation policy, although some are 48 hours.  For some, you may be able to get a credit on your account, but you may not get all of your money back.  Be certain you know when you have to notify them of any cancellations.

For events, it may be more difficult.  Some tickets may specifically state that they are non-refundable.  Others may need to be cancelled a week or more in advance.  It can be very difficult to return tickets at the last minute.  If you know in advance that you may need to cancel your holiday, you may want to put off purchasing tickets to events or at the very least have someone in mind to give the tickets to if you can’t attend.

Travelling can be a lot of fun, but it can also be irritating at times.  No matter how you travel or where you stay, you’ll find things that annoy you.  Instead of letting them totally ruin your holiday, however, here are some things you can do to deal with them.

If you’re stuck next to someone who annoys you on the plane, train, or bus, don’t get snappy with them.  If you do, it may only make things worse.  Instead, try to remain as polite as possible.  If they’re chattering away at you, there are several excuses you can make to stop talking to them.  You can say that you’re very tired and want to nap.  If you’re on a business trip, tell them you need to review your notes for a lecture or for a discussion.  While you might not really want to look over your paperwork, it never hurts to review information.  Of course, you can always fake it, too.

If you have issues at your hotel, you have a couple of options.  If it’s something caused by another traveller, you can always confront them yourself.  Simply knock on their door and ask them to keep the noise down if they’re being loud.  If you don’t want to be so direct or if it’s an issue with the hotel itself, you may want to contact the hotel staff.  Some people only do this if it’s a major annoyance—they try to overlook small things.  That is an option, especially if you’re not spending much time in your hotel room.  If you’re spending a lot of money for the room or are spending a lot of time in it, though, it may be worth speaking to the staff to correct any issue.  If you’re willing to change rooms, that may be a solution to noise problems.

Finally, it’s important to remember that some things aren’t going to be fixable.  You may be stuck next to someone on a long flight who simply won’t let you be, or you might have loud neighbors who won’t be quiet no matter how many times you report them for noise.  If that’s the case, be prepared to simply endure it.

A big part of any holiday is, of course, the actual travel. If you are cooped up in a car, train or aeroplane, there are many things you can do to while away the hours.

1. Bring a book. Chances are there are a lot of books, magazines or articles you have been meaning to read. Here’s your chance. Visit your library or bookstore to find titles you don’t have.

2. Work a puzzle. Sudoku, crossword puzzles and word-find puzzles were just made for long trips.

3. Use a handheld videogame. Find out what your kids have discovered long ago: The virtual world of electronic games is a great way to pass the time. (Be sure to keep the sound down to avoid annoying your companions.)

4. Get caught up on paperwork. Chances are there are some forms or other work you have been meaning to get to. Here is the perfect opportunity.

5. Watch the scenery. Whether travelling by car, bus, train or aeroplane, you have a unique opportunity to see a new part of the world. Consider how the terrain is different or the same as your home town.

6. People watch. People are endlessly fascinating. Discreetly watch the human parade. Imagine what makes them tick.

7. Strike up a conversation. Your travel companions or that stranger who is your seat mate may have some fascinating insights or stories to share. (Be ready to take no for an answer if they do not seem to feel like talking.)

8. Sleep. If you can sleep in a moving vehicle, take this chance to get some shut-eye.

9. Write a letter. Few people write an old-fashioned pen-to-paper letter anymore. Renew ties with an old friend. He or she will likely be touched that you thought of him or her.

10. Write a diary or a story. Use your people watching and sightseeing to imagine a whole new world. Your trip can spark a whole world of creativity.

Enjoy your trip. Half the fun is getting there.