Holiday Hacks

[DCICassieStuart]

We always only bring hand luggage! Saves so much faffing around waiting on it after flying and worrying if it’ll get lost we only take the essentials. Anything that can be bought out there is bought out there! Also always pay extra for a private transfer or a hire car it’s worth it especially if travelling with kids lol

I admire people who can do this, but sadly there's not a hope in hell that I'll ever manage it. I even struggle for a weekend with a small case. It's the shoes

 

[Emmelina Ball]

We always only bring hand luggage! Saves so much faffing around waiting on it after flying and worrying if it’ll get lost we only take the essentials. Anything that can be bought out there is bought out there! Also always pay extra for a private transfer or a hire car it’s worth it especially if travelling with kids lol

 

[ScrambledEggs]

Any holiday hacks for traviling with a baby would be much appreciated

Don’t weigh your luggage with bottles of capol! Sachets are much lighter and you don’t need a spoon .

 

[Mr Krabs]

Make sure you have clothes in hand luggage, change of clothes, swim wear, underwear just encase your luggage goes missing.

I always pack swimwear and a towel in hand luggage if I have an early flight. Means that if it’s too early to check in, most hotels will let you store your luggage and you can just sit by the pool until your room is ready.

 

[Mojojojo67]

The extension lead is a game changer

 

[Very traditional]

What’s your best holiday tips? Do you do or bring anything to make your holiday experience better? Some of my friends have been to an all inclusive recently and everyone had brought their own cups as the ones provided are very small apparently. Someone else brings an extension lead so they have plenty of sockets for chargers/ hairdryers etc.

These blew my mind so would love to know what other people do!

 

[Lala22]

@mrkrabs I’m breastfeeding but sometimes give him formula, we are hoping to go away in August, he will be 6 months

I’ve done two holidays recently with my little boy. One when he was 6 months one when he was 8 months!

- get a buggy off fb marketplace you’re not fussed about. Don’t attempt to take your travel system it’ll get wrecked! I got a icklebubba globe stroller, it folds up and fits in the overhead locker (no waiting at baggage for it or walking carrying a baby) also lays flat for naps on the go.

- take some Milton sterilising tablets with you, good for bottles, dummies etc. We put ours in the sink at night.

- if you’ve got air con and intend to use it make sure you bring enough appropriate sleepsuits and baby grows etc. First time we went I only had very light summer pjs and he was cold in the aircon.

- dummy/bottle for take off and landing. He slept pretty much the whole flight at 6 months.

- you can bring any food/pouches/formula in your hand luggage as a separate allowance for baby. We literally took Ella’s entire kitchen we didn’t want the stress of having to find stuff when we got there. Then we just topped it up with veg etc from the buffet for BLW style meals.

- see if your airline automatically allows you to board early with a baby. EasyJet don’t and we paid for priority boarding and it was SO worth it. Especially to have a shorter bag drop que.

 

[mcfeez]

I’m off to costa Adeje in Tenerife in two weeks. Paid extra for canaries as wanted sunshine and lo and behold, it’s showery in the forecast. Any indoor recommendations? Other than plugging kids into their tablets and getting absolutely wankered

There's no way a forecast two weeks away is accurate. I'd wait and see. Sometimes it says rain for a day if theres any rain at all ie could be just a shower.

 

[Emmelina Ball]

I admire people who can do this, but sadly there's not a hope in hell that I'll ever manage it. I even struggle for a weekend with a small case. It's the shoes

I can’t walk in heels to save my life so all I pack shoes wise are sandals (usually really flat so easy space wise!) and I wear the chunkiest shoes to travel in - usually trainers

 

[mcfeez]

If you are looking to pack efficiently plan your outfits out - its a bit more work before you go but is much better for your suitcase. Roll your clothes, they store much more efficiently. Packing cubes are good too for keeping your case neater.

Take a corkscrew with you. The number of times we've gone abroad and bought a nice bottle of wine to have and then have to go find a corkscrew.

Refillable bottles for toiletries. Great for if you want to take your own products but not the whole container.

 

[Emmelina Ball]

We were in lanzarote last month and it rained two of the days but it was only showers and then it was hot again! Bring ponchos with you - we were able to buy them out there for next to nothing. My kids didn’t mind the rain at all it was like warm rain and was over as quick as it came. Also bring a light jacket or jumper for the evenings it can get a bit cool I find but we just used the jackets we wore on the plane over! Have a fab time!

 

[cococookie]

Any holiday hacks for traviling with a baby would be much appreciated

 

[rasberry spoons]

Not sure if this is the correct thread to post, but back from my holidays yesterday, we had a 5* all inclusive, paid a fair bit for it and the pictures and reviews were amazing. When we arrived and shown to our room, the doorman opened our apartment to find water dripping from the ceilings (I kid you not this was our first insight to the room) we were told we would have a partial sea view room. If you crook your neck around the balcony and squint you might be able to see the sea I said I wasn’t happy with the water coming from the ceiling, we paid a lot and the staff told me it wasn’t a big issue the maintance men would be round to fix it in 5 minutes. They fixed it but left the roof with gaping holes where 100s of ants were invading the floor and sink and all over my toothbrush The cracks in the floors meant we have cut and hurt our feet a few times, the food was absolutely horrendous. So bland and the exact same this every lunch and evening. I know this seems such a first world problem and I should be happy with the hols but we really saved for this holiday and I feel we were majorly ripped off with the hotel and the condition it was in. I didn’t have insurance (stupid of me I know). Is there anything I can do to try and get the slightest bit of compensation?

 

[underwhelmed1985]

I’m off to costa Adeje in Tenerife in two weeks. Paid extra for canaries as wanted sunshine and lo and behold, it’s showery in the forecast. Any indoor recommendations? Other than plugging kids into their tablets and getting absolutely wankered

 

[petitspois]

We self cater, I always take propper coffee and a cafetere (SP) I can't do instant coffee!! I also take my own knives and chopping board as most places we stay have glass chopping boards and blunt knives as a result of the glass boards. I have also invested, in a 70% off sales, microfiber towels the work well, we have 2 each, one for shower and one for the beach - they are the same size as a bath sheet and fold up into the size of a teatowel, dry quicker than a regular towel and all 4 take up less space in packing than 1 regular towel!

those towels are a game changer - plus the sand doesn't stick to them either.

 

[Mr Krabs]

The Canaries are often quite overcast in the mornings, and you do often get a bit of rain but then the rest of the day is clear and sunny! You may be ok. I’d probably pack some rain macs so you can still do days out like zoos and theme parks.

 

[Mr Krabs]

Six months is quite a good age to take them, as they aren’t crawling off in all directions! Plus they can nap in the pushchair while you do stuff.

If you plan to take some bottles, the Milton cold water steriliser is good. We used it while staying in a hotel room. We bought lots of premade formula bottles at Boots after security at the airport, but I don’t think we needed to bother as pretty much everywhere has lots of formula brands.
Agree that buying a cheapo buggy is useful. Otherwise lugging a travel system through the airport is a pain.
A baby swim seat with a cover is handy for the pool. If you’re going to the beach a lot, a little pop up beach tent is great. You can fill it with some toys so they stay entertained.

 

[BorisBear]

Make sure you have clothes in hand luggage, change of clothes, swim wear, underwear just encase your luggage goes missing.

 

[bunnyboo]

Just back from Malaga and here's some boring but practical advice..

1. Make sure to get after-sun cream that has aloe vera in it (like this one). Both I and my MiL got sunburn and her Aldi aftersun cream did sweet fuck all, whereas the aloe vera version sped up recovery. Another lifesaver was thermal water spray (I bought this one in boots). I know it seems ridiculous to buy 'water spray', but trust me.. it was a game changer on sunburn/swollen feet as it has anti inflammatory properties. I kept in the fridge too so it was extra cold.
2. I got a very sore throat towards the end of my trip and I was DYING for a lepsip/strepsils and they had none where I was staying I got some Spanish equivalents but they were shite. Just pack a box of strepsils/lemsip just in case the worst happens.
3. Just pack one adaptor plug, and bring an extension lead. The extension lead I bought had USB-C ports too so it saved loads plug space too.

 

[Emmelina Ball]

@mrkrabs I’m breastfeeding but sometimes give him formula, we are hoping to go away in August, he will be 6 months

Feed him during take off and landing it’ll help make sure his ears don’t pop! Although I know it’s harder to keep them on the boob at 6 months they start wanting to look all around them hope you all have an amazing holiday