Traveling with Toddlers

If the thought of taking your toddler on holiday fills you with dread, think again.It can be a rewarding experience with careful preparation:

• Avoid environments that are to hot, too cold, or too wet. The ideal temperature for a toddler is tepid. If you are not sure where to go, remember that playing on the each is a favorite activity for most toddlers.
  

• Young children invariably get bored during long journeys. Fill the day before with activity so they’re more likely to sleep.
  

• Consider travel by train – toddlers’ favorite type of transport.
  

• If flying, choose a departure time that fits in with normal sleeping patterns.
  

• Don’t count on an airline to feed toddlers to their taste. Pack food.
  

• Toddlers can be fussy about the place they sleep – take their own bedding or a pillow. And bring a favorite cuddly toy.
  

• Consider going with another family so you can share childcare.

How to Get a Comfort Economy Seats?

First-class comfort on a shoestring. But, lowest price needn't mean worst quality, and not all economy seats are the same. Here's how you can make budget travel more comfortable:

• Babies on board. You get more leg room in the bulkhead rows because they make room for carry cots. The catch: you're unlikely to get a seat here unless you fly with an infant.

• On the map. Most airlines have seat maps that show the bad seats (as in the ones that don't recline because they're in front of an exit row). Use a travel agent who can confirm your seat when you book.

• Fly blind. Want a window seat? Avoid the row forward of a wing.

• Plug in. Emirates has large economy screens with a choice of 500 movies and games. Some airlines have seats with power sockets for laptops in economy, but you'll need to book ahead.
  

Road Safety - Recognise Danger Signs

Taking a driving holiday? Watch out for these everyday hazards:

• Mobile phones. Tests show that even making a hands-free call dents your reaction time to road hazards.

• No seat belt. Don’t think you’re safe because you have air bags: they’ve been shown to be eight times less effective than seat belts.

• That goes for the back too. If rear passengers aren’t wearing seat belts, the people in the front are five times likelier to die in an accident.

• Loud, fast music. It affects your reactions. The British RAC Foundation names Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries” as one of the most dangerous driving tunes.

• Dyslexia. Not much you can do about it, but one study indicates dyslexia might affect reactions as much as a moderate drinking session.

The Healthy Way to Fly

Panes are a haven for germs and other health problems. There are some stay-healthy tips:

• Keep clean. A study reports we're at increased risk of catching cold and flu viruses during flights, due to the close quarters. Wash hands often, and if you're really worried, wear a protective mask that's labelled N95. It screens out 95 per cent of airborne particles.

• Clear your ears. Changes in air pressure can suck the eardrum inward, and that hurts. A decongestant clears nasal passages so pressure doesn't build up.

• Get Up. When you sit for too long, blood pools in the legs and may lead to potentially deadly clots. Wear loose-fitting clothes and walk around the cabin twice and hour.
  

A Stopover to Remember

All international travelers have faced it: an hours-long stopover between flights in an unfamiliar airport. Rather than warming an uncomfortable seat at the departure lounge, why not take advantage of the airport's facilities or, better yet, explore the city you're in?

worldairportguide.com offers the inside scoop on more than 200 airports around the world. Killing time in Paris? The Charles de Gaulle Airport page includes details of airport facilities and transportation, as well as nearby attractions, such as the Eiffel Tower. Ask your travel agent if you need a visa to clear immigration at our stopover, and to give yourself plenty of time to get back to the airport to catch your next flight.

Hotel Heartbreak

Finding a good hotel can be tricky, not least because you're often doing it from the other side of the world.
Do your research. Travel guides may rate hotels and websites such as thehotelbooker.co.uk andtripadvisor.com give reviews, ratings, prices and availability. Ask friends too: first-hand knowledge is invaluable.

• Check hotel policies. Some places don't take kindly to children or pets, while others may not cater for disabilities. Be clear what you want.

• Location is important. Is it near your point of arrival and/or the sites you'll be visiting? Are there reliable transport connections?

• Benefits & partnerships. Some hotels have agreements with airlines, rental car or credit card companies. Others have "frequent guest" policies, with points you can accumulate.

• Forward planning. Booking early will usually get the best. (But if you really need a room at short notice, try www.laterooms.com)
  

Travel Preparation Checklist

What to do and when:

• Six weeks to go. Arrange to have any necessary vaccinations. Check if you need a visa and that your passport is valid. Order any medication you'll need. Organize pet, house or garden sitters.
• Tow weeks to go. Order your currency, Give a copy of your passport, travel insurance, tickets and contact details to a friend. Check your mobile phone's enabled for use abroad. Check the batteries in your smoke alarms and give a neighbor the code for your burglar alarm in case it goes off accidentally.
• Day Before. Ensure you pack your passport, money, tickets, driving license, insurance documents, emergency phone numbers, camera, film, batteries, power-socket adaptors, sunscreen, insect repellent, headache tablets and antiseptic spray. Switch off your gas and electrical appliances.
  

What To Do When Disaster Happen During Traveling?

There are some quick fixes to problems commonly encountered while traveling. You’ll know what to do when it all goes wrong:

• When your flight is delayed. If you’re using a regular ticket, ask your airline to endorse you to another airline. Inform your hotel and the people you’re meeting about any changes without delay.
  

• When you have to cancel or reschedule your trip. Call your travel agent or airline. There is usually a last-minute penalty for cancellation, but it can be waived for valid reasons, such as sickness or death in the family, with the presentation of pertinent documents.
  

• When you lose your baggage. If you lose your luggage while flying, seek help from airline personnel and present your luggage tags. If the airline locates your luggage, ask to have it sent to your hotel. If you lose your baggage outside the airport, inform local authorities.
  

• When you lose your travel documents. Present photocopies of your documents if you have them. Be prepared for delays. If you lose your plane ticket, inform your travel agent or airline so they can send you a substitute ticket. If you lose your passport or visa, you can go no further on your trip. Visit the nearest embassy for your country to arrange for temporary travel documents.
  

• When you have too much luggage. Weed out what you can leave behind and what you absolutely have to bring home. Be ready to part with some of your luggage to keep within your weight allowance or to pay for excess baggage.

• When you run into trouble with authorities abroad. Get in touch with your country’s embassy or consulate officers immediately.

Traveling on Long-Haul Flights

Traveling on long-haul flights is torturous enough. But what if you’re flying with the whole family, including young children? Here are some handy hits to make long-haul fun:

• Choose your in-flight entertainment - Check websites and consult a travel agent for airlines with diversionary activates such as video games. Even better, seek out those with individual in-seat audio and video systems with dedicated kids’ channels. Or take a portable DVD player or MP3 player with your own movies and music.
  

• Choose flight times carefully – If you’re spending most of the time airborne at night, that’s good thing. There’s more chance your kids will sleep and less need to entertain them. If bedtime is usually 8p.m, choose a flight that leaves in the late afternoon – lots of time for a meal and a movie, then slumber.
  

• Give a helping hand. Jet lag affects everyone, including toddlers. Encourage your kids to drink more water than usual. Take a stopover if you can. Your kids will get a chance to slowly adjust to changing time zones.

Tips for the Physically Challenged Traveler

1. If flying with a wheelchair, ensure that your batteries operate on gel. If your wheelchair has a “wet cell” battery, it will have to be disconnected, taken out of the chair and placed in a special container.
2. Have your chair serviced one or two weeks before you leave.
3. Talk to your travel agent about these needs:

• Is the resort or cruise ship wheelchair accessible?
• Is your room and washroom large enough to accommodate a wheelchair?
• What electrical current does your resort or cruise ship use? If 220 volts is required, make sure this will be provided.
• Ensure you have transportation from the airport to your destination, and back.

4. Before travelling overseas, phone the consulate or embassy or any countries you will be visiting. They may be able to supply information on appropriate local medical and transportation services.

How to Overcome Jet Lag?

If you shift time zones by more than six hours on a trip that’s at least three days, it’s worth taking these steps:

• Adjust your watch before boarding the place or even the night before. On the aircraft, act according to your “local time.”
  

• At your destination, force your body clock to adapt straight away. If you need to stay awake when you feel like sleeping, listen to upbeat music, work on a crossword, take exercise, eat chocolate or drink coffee. To make yourself sleep, darken your surroundings, drink milk, eat yogurt, chicken or tuna, takes aspirin or a herbal sedative (such as passionflower).
  

• Take melatonin supplements when you’re on the plane and it’s your destination’s bedtime. Combine with either a sleeping pill or alcoholic nightcap, and use for several further nights.

Keep Your Kids Healthy Abroad

There are several traveling tips that you have to know in order to keep your kids healthy abroad:

• Vaccination schedules can be different for children. Ask your doctor at least six weeks before travel. If bringing medication, ensure it’s legal in the country you’re visiting.

• Diarrhea affects up to half of travelers, particularly the young. Avoid uncooked food unless you can peel or shell it. Eat fish and meat only hot and well cooked. If you have doubts about the water, stick to bottled (even for brushing teeth) and avoid ice in drinks.
  

• Dehydration, often caused by diarrhea, can develop quickly in children. Replace lost fluids and salts with safe water and re-hydration tablets. If it does not settle in 72 hours, or it there’s a fever or blood in stools, get medical help.

• Child’s skin burns easily in the sun, so take sensible clothing, use high-SPF sunscreen and stay in-doors at midday.