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Air Travel With Kids - Useful Tips for Family Travelers

By Jamie Jefferson

Air travel with kids can soon leave you feeling as if you need another vacation. Children hate to be cooped up in aircraft even more than adults do. It's not in their nature to sit still, but the last thing you need is them running around shrieking and disturbing everybody else. What can you do to keep them entertained?

Like all difficulties that the family has to face together, air travel with kids is much easier if everyone involved understands the part they have to play. Kids will naturally be excited at the thought of going on a plane, so let them burn off some of that excitement beforehand with activities such as plane spotting and making paper planes.

Indulge their curiosity about how planes work and emphasize how important it is for passengers to behave so that the flight crew can do their job. Let your children feel that they're performing a useful role in making the flight happen by being well-behaved. Where possible, let them assist with small tasks, such as moving luggage and finding seats.

When the plane takes off, your children will be eager to look out of the window and watch the ground moving away below. Seen from above, cities look like maps. This is a good way to introduce the concept of map making. With paper and colored pens, you can keep your children busy drawing maps of where they live, where they're going on vacation, or fantasy places they would like to visit.

Of course, sedentary activities will only hold your children's attention for so long. The biggest difficulty in air travel with kids is the lack of physical outlets for them. One way to get around this is to discuss the importance of stretching during air travel. With kids who are eager to do grown-up things, you should have no difficulty persuading them to try basic stretching exercises, which they can do in their seats. Have them touch their toes or see how high they can reach above their heads. Games that require concentration of the senses, such as identifying objects when blindfolded, can also help to relieve physical tension.

When it comes to games, there are many commercial board games designed for air travel with kids. These can be a good choice provided that your children have a genuine interest in them. Carry a small towel that you can spread out underneath the board to catch any stray pieces, as even magnetic and clip-together games may lose small pieces.

Air travel with kids doesn't have to be a nightmare. Just make sure your children feel positive about it and let them know how much you appreciate their cooperation. If they are well behaved, they'll deserve a special treat after you touch down, and then everybody will have something to look forward to.

Jamie Jefferson writes for Momscape.com, Susies-Coupons.com and Susies-Travel-Coupons.com where you'll find hand-selected online coupons, coupon codes and travel discounts.

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By Dakota D

Many people do not enjoy the actual “traveling” part of travel. They like the being there, but not the getting there. This is particularly true of most people with children, especially younger ones. I actually like traveling, even with my kids. Wait, let me correct that. I enjoy flying. I might enjoy trains. I do not enjoy driving.

It’s all a matter of perspective, and the more you can get into a kid’s way of thinking, the easier to keep them, and yourself, entertained. Airports are a great adventure! They are filled with sights and sound that are not a part of most kids’ daily experience. Take advantage of this opportunity to explore together.

Here are 10 quick tips for enjoying your experience at the airport and flying with kids:

1) Arrive early so you aren’t rushing. If you are stressed out, the kids will pick up on that and no one enjoy themselves.

2) If you have the opportunity or need to take a parking shuttle, do it. Kids tend to enjoy the small buses, and it will save you the frustration and expense of parking at the airport.

3) If there is a train, subway, moving walkway, or similar people-mover in the airport, use it. Kids don’t see these often, and to them, it’s a ride.

4) Watch the airplanes together. Talk about the various sizes, how they fly, watch as they are being refueled and meals or luggage is being loaded. There is a lot to observe – and again, it’s all new and exciting to children.

5) Pack a small bag with surprises in a carry-on bag – small toys, paper and crayons, stickers, a book or two. This will be good to bring out mid-flight when boredom really starts to kick in.

6) Pack a few snacks and bottled water in your carry-on bag or purse. Even if your flight has a meal, or snacks, it may not be something your child will enjoy. Taking along some favorites will also be comforting if your child is feeling overwhelmed by all the new sights and sounds.

7) If you can, take along a portable DVD player or laptop computer and a few favorite movies. This will not only be useful for in-flight entertainment and layovers, but will probably come in handy wherever you are staying during your trip.

8) Make some special games for the trip, such as bingo cards with pictures of things you are likely to see in the airport, on the airplane, and at your destination.

9) Start and help your child keep a journal of the trip. Buy a special notebook for this purpose and during each phase of your trip, encourage (or help, depending on age) your child to write and draw pictures of what your family is doing. You can even take pictures to be added into the notebook later.

10) Brush up on a few games that require no materials, such as “I Spy,” various alphabet games, such as where one person names an animal that starts with A, then the next person has to name an animal that starts with B and so on, and guessing games, such as “I am thinking of X” (animal, song, tv show…etc.) and the other family members have to guess based on answers to “yes/no” questions.

The biggest thing is to remember to have fun. Chances are, if you are traveling with your children, you are on vacation, and FUN is the whole point! In fact, that is our family’s first rule of vacation: Have Fun!

Dakota is a wife, lesbian, mother, writer, law student, Disneyland freak, and more! Visit her at: http://www.disneylandfamilyvacation.blogspot.com/

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  Travel with Your New Baby

3)

Air Travel with Your New Baby
By Beatrice Brown

If you travel with a child you must plan the trip to the last minute. When making your reservation, ask for a stroller or cart ready for you at the airport and one waiting for you at any connection and at your destination. Also ask for the seat on the plane with the most leg room – generally the front row of the coach section. This lets you lay your baby on a blanket on the floor and gives you more freedom. Pack everything you need in a lightweight shoulder bag- disposable diapers, packaged pre-moistened towels, a large bib a non-bulky blanket, a sweater, a few teething biscuits, two small toys, his magic blanket and such food as you may need.

Since you may have to carry this pack, the baby, your purse and perhaps a coat for at least a mile, you may want to hold all beforehand to see if you can do it. Nothing will force you to jettison the nonessentials quicker than this test.

Until your baby is about six months old, you will find it easier to carry him in a sling, but if he’s skittish toddler, consider getting a harness for his safety and your sanity. Use it a few times first, so he’ll feel acquainted with it.

Pack just enough formula and food to use on the plane and for one extra meal. Take a light snack for an older child since he may not like what he’s served. In any case, he’ll get properly dirty which may surprise the people who meet you. They always seem to expect an immaculate mother and child.

To give the appearance of cleanliness, have your child wear a large bib or smock, the sleeveless apron with pockets worn by boys and girls in kindergarten. Remove it just before alighting.

If you weren’t able to reserve a seat and have to take what’s available, sit next to the kindest most tolerant-looking grandmother.

Note: If you find this article useful, you may reprint it on your website, e-zine, or in your newsletter as long as the resource box and credits remain in tact and the hyperlinks stay active. For information, and more weight loss and Baby related articles by this author Visit:

http://www.aboutbaby.org

http://www.weightlossafterapregnancy.com

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Travel Tips - Get the Ticket

Making Air Travel a Breeze- Part 2 -

4)

Travel Tips - Get the Ticket

By Lance Chambers

  There are a number of things you need to know before you head off and get those tickets. Work out all the places you want to visit and determine if you need to arrange flights with stopovers in various countries. Determine the length of your holiday and when you can leave and when you need to return.

Once you know your destinations and timings get your travel tickets to fit in and buy ALL your tickets at one go as it will work out cheaper and will give you sure timings for departures and arrives. Don't forget that you need to book airline tickets first BEFORE you book accommodation, car hire, show tickets, tours, or pay for anything other than luggage, clothing, travel guides or maps. Sometimes you cannot get tickets for the days you want so you need to be flexible and if you have pre-booked lots of stuff you might not get to your destination on the day you have selected. So, get the airline tickets first or you might be up for quite a bit of expense and time re-arranging various bookings.

Now, with your flight bookings in hand, plan the timing for the rest of your trip and make necessary bookings. Book accommodation, theatre tickets, train travel and other short flights you know you will be making. Do not make bookings for things you might not attend or places you might not go - attempts to get refunds can be very time consuming and frustrating and some organisation will not pay a refund.

Be ready to pay a flight or departure tax. Some countries will require that these taxes be paid so make sure you have enough money (in local funds) to pay - having to convert foreign funds can be expensive.

Myths

• A round-the-world ticket is cheaper than a selection of different tickets for different flights and airlines - false - it is not always the truth that one ticket is cheaper than a swag of them. It depends on what you want or need. It is generally a fact that tickets by local airlines will be cheaper for flying around a country than any attempts to get your round-the-world airline to fly you around, lets say China or Europe. Also a ticket from New York to England and back is certainly a lot cheaper than a Round-the-World if all you want to do is visit Europe.
• Reroutable tickets, those ones that let you select your next destination as and when you want are a lot more flexible than any other type - false - check the fine print. Sometimes these tickets will limit the direction of travel (eg must keep heading East to West and cannot, even for a short trip head the other way), can be limited by time (eg must be used up in three months), can have limited numbers of stopovers (eg max of 5), of limited duration (eg can stay at any one stopover for no more than 2 weeks), limited distance (eg no more than 18,000 kms) and have a limited number of destinations (eg usually limited to the destinations the carrier flies to).
• Tickets are cheaper at the last minute - false - Sometimes you will have to pay a premium for a last-minute ticket. The airline assumes it's an emergency and will gouge you for the privilage of getting you to your destination. Today the problem with most airlines is overbooking not underbooking. So the opportunities that used to exist with cheap standby passangers are almost over. However, sometimes you can be lucky but do you really want to wait for, maybe up to a week, to see if you have got a cheaper ticket - that wait can totally use up you vacation time. Time you could have spent enjoying your trip rather than waiting at home for a call from an airline.
• You can trust yuour travel agent - false - they are human too and are as likely to fleece you as your local used-car salesman. The first thing to do is ask for the cheapest flights from a number of airlines. Let them know you will also be checking with a number of other agents as well and that they need to compete for your business. Also check out fares on-line.
• The best ticket is the cheapest - false - the reason some airlines are cheap is because they cut corners. Check out those airlines that are notorious for crashes and you might just see a pattern. Travel with Air Burundi if you want - I don't want! Check this out as an example.
• You must hold a ticket from the airline to get on the plane - false - today many airlines allow you to check in just with a name using a self-service terminal where your boarding pass will be printed for you. Also some airlines, especially if you book over the internet, will e-mail you an itinerary and that will be sufficient for you to book in at the airport. (Note: it is a good idea to keep a copy of your complete travel iteinerary on you at all times and to also have copys of IDs [passport pages - the one with the photograph on it, credit cards, drivers license, at least one type of photo ID, etc.]).

Buying tickets online is safe and will require you submitting your credit card details. My personal experiences of using the internet to make purchases, including airline tickets, have been great. Nothing has ever gone wrong yet and I find it far more convenient than having to visit a travel agent - especially if you know exactly what you want and where you want to go. If you book this way you will not receive a physical ticket but will instead be e-mailed an e-ticket with a booking number that is registered in the airlines computer. When you book into your flight at the airport they will need to sight your e-ticket to issue you your boarding pass. Print out all your itineraries and keep them with you on your trip. Attempting to remember dates and times can be very difficult and a missed flight is not something you want to experience.

Budget airlines and cheap ways to travel are things you should keep your eye out for if you are budget challenged. The only real disadvantage is that most budget airlines only fly major routes so they are fine for flights from and to capital and major cities. If you need to take those short hops to strange and out of the way places you'll probably have to use a local carrier (ie Air Zimbabwe or some such). Also budget airlines are 'frills free.' If you want something to eat or drink you might have to supply it yourself so be ready to take bottles of water and tons of snacks aboard for a long flight. If you do have to get as meal or drink on a budget flight expect to pay for it. Note that these flights are NOT for those in illhealth or with children - get on a carrier that can offer you some comfort and maybe even a bit of childcare.

Charter flights are also a good way to grab a bargain if ones available. A friend caught a charter flight from London to Greece that came with 5 days accommodation in Athens - just where he wanted to go for the first leg of his Meditteranean trip. He purposefully missed the return flight because he wanted to travel around and the charter flight was cheaper than a one-way flight with a regular airline - especially as it has the accommodation included.

This article is copyrighted by Lance Chambers a senior partner at www.accommodationnear.com You are at liberty to copy and distribute it as long as no changes are made to the content and this bio is included as is.

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Ensuring a Smooth Trip

Airplane Travel With Infants

5)

Ensuring a Smooth Trip - Airplane Travel With Infants   
By Susan Heim

If you're pondering a trip to visit out-of-state family members, meet Mickey Mouse, or get away from the stresses of daily life, you may find that getting there can be just as stressful, especially if you're traveling with an infant. The key to ensuring a smooth trip is to plan ahead. Of course, nobody can be completely prepared for all complications, but there are a few things you can do to make the trip as pleasant as possible.

- Call the airline or check the airline's website ahead of time to make sure the flight is on time. You don't want to spend five hours at the airport with an infant because your flight's been delayed. Also ask how early you should show up before the flight ... and then add a little extra time because everything takes longer with young children. You'll want to allow yourself enough time for unexpected diaper changes, and so on.

- Ask for bulkhead seats, which allow for a little more leg room that makes it easier to move around with your baby. It also prevents some nasty looks as your little one can't kick the seat in front of her.

- If you can afford it, buy a separate seat for your child, especially if you're on a cross-country or international flight. It's well worth the money to have the additional room. If you aren't able to afford an extra seat, ask if your flight is full when you check in. They may be able to place you next to an empty seat.

- Pack plenty of supplies, including snacks, formula, diapers, wipes, bottles, sippy cups, etc. Pack more than you think you need in case your flight is delayed or you miss a connecting flight. Start keeping a list weeks in advance and add to it as you think of more items.

- Include extra clothing for your baby -- and yourself, in case you get spit up on! You can also layer on clothes if the plane gets cold. Bring a few extra receiving blankets for this purpose, as well.

- If your child uses a pacifier, bring extras in case it gets dropped on the floor or lost. Sucking also helps soothe your baby's ears as the plane is going up or down. If your child doesn't use a pacifier, have her suck on a bottle or breastfeed.

- Pack lots of entertainment for your child. Bring some new things along that she's never seen before and dole them out slowly. If you're okay with your child watching TV, you might want to bring a portable DVD player with her favorite movies.

- Be sure to look up current security restrictions so you're not held up during check-in if you're carrying items that aren't allowed.

Traveling with a baby can be challenging, but with adequate preparation -- and a relaxed attitude -- you may find that getting where you want to go is half the fun!

Susan M. Heim is the author of "Oh, Baby! 7 Ways a Baby Will Change Your Life the First Year" and "It's Twins! Parent-to-Parent Advice from Infancy Through Adolescence."

Visit her web site at http://www.susanheim.com

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Baby Travel Tips For Airplane Travel

Baby Travel Tips

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Baby Travel Tips For Airplane Travel
By Joseph Peterson

Baby travel on an airplane can be challenging. Here are our baby travel tips to make baby travel on airplanes a more enjoyable experience for mom, dad and baby.

1. Try to travel on flights that fit within your baby's routine. Night flights are good for long-haul journeys.
2. Ask for extra legroom. Bulkhead seats at the front of the plane offer more space. If the bulkhead seats aren’t available ask the airline check-in staff to move you and your baby to a spare row of seats if the flight isn't full.
3. When you book your flight explain you have a child. When reserving your flight make notes about reference numbers, services that are available on the plane, etc. One day before the flight call to check that your reservation is in order and that they have your baby’s travel noted on your file.
4. Prepare for delays. Have extra food, a change of clothes and diapers in your hand luggage.
5. If you have to change planes, ask for a courtesy cart between gates. Conserve your energy as much as possible.
6. To keep baby's takeoffs and landings pain-free feed your baby at take-off and landing for comfort and to equalize the ears. An alternative is to have the baby suck on a bottle or pacifier during takeoff and landing. The action of sucking will help baby clear their ears safely while changing altitude.
7. To keep baby safe and secure during the flight consider using a sling-type baby carrier like a Heart2Heart Baby carrier. It keeps the baby close and secure to you.
8. During the flight you and baby should drink as much water as possible—air flights are dehydrating—bring extra bottles with water for the baby to suck on during the flight.
9. Some airplanes are equipped with baby changing tables but this is not always the case. If possible use a diaper bag that has a built in change pad. The gr8x Traveler diaper bag has a built in change pad.
10. Make sure to ask the flight attendant about the safest area to change the baby, and also ask if there is an empty seat that you could do the change on.
11. Pack smart. Bring a plastic bib for your baby. They're invaluable for containing pureed carrot and preventing several changes of clothing a day.
12. Bring a baby blanket so baby can have a familiar item to help them nap.
13. Prepare individual baby clean-up plastic bags with a face cloth and wipes—so you don’t have to haul your entire hand bag to the washroom.

Baby Travel Planet provides baby gear and baby travel tips that make travel with baby happier, safer, easier and affordable!

Baby Travel Planet researches and writes informative baby travel tips and articles and finds and evaluates baby gear that is the easiest to use, is a good fit for active families with babies and provide terrific value for the money invested.

FREE ebook Baby Travel Advice and Tips

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Flying with Family? Air Travel Tips

Flying with Family

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Flying with Family? Air Travel Tips
By Robin Cooper

Planning a family vacation that will take you far from home? If you are, then it is quite likely that, much like millions of others, you will be booking a flight for your jaunt. And why not? After all, air travel is the quickest and, even with today’s restrictions, most convenient, cost-effective, and safe way to get where you need to go. Air travel with the whole family, especially with younger children, needs to be well planned, though, to make it an enjoyable rather than horrifying experience. From the entertainment of the kids to planning the minimum amount of interruptions or delays, a bit more thought needs to be involved.

Kids love airplanes, so if the children are older, they should be easily entertained by the experience of flight. However, smaller children, with more needs and much shorter attention spans, may require some craftiness on the part of the parent. First and foremost, anything that you think you may want to have on hand while onboard needs to be compliant with current rules and regulations of both the individual airline and the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA). Information can be found on the web, and it is generally quite current, so checking the restrictions the day before or even the day of travel can assure you that you will be allowed to board with your carry-on items. This will include toys for the kids, food items to soothe them or generally keep them sated, and so forth.

Also, air travel with the kids may need to be modified when considering the schedules the kids are used to. Smaller children are creatures of habit, and any deviation from their routine can cause quite a problem, as any parent can attest. Consider how long a particular flight may last. What is best for your family—a really long flight, or a layover in another airport? Another point of air travel that may not matter to adults, but can be a huge problem for families, is whether you want to have the children on a very crowded flight. If you would rather be on the plane with fewer people for the kids to disturb, then book accordingly. Choose off-peak times and dates for your air travel, if possible.

In the end, air travel with the children is still the best bet for going long distances. Though extra planning and possibly extra items need to be taken into consideration, air travel for the family is the absolute best way to get where you need to be, and quickly.

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Robin Cooper wants to share her knowledge to help you book the perfect air travel vacation. Visit Robin at Travel In Prosperity today!

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Making Air Travel a Breeze- Part 2 - Getting to Your Flight

Making Air Travel a Breeze- Part 2

8)

Making Air Travel a Breeze- Part 2 - Getting to Your Flight
By Justin Burch

While navigating airport security has obviously become more complicated in recent years, you can still get to your flight quickly and without hassle. If you have an understanding of the current airport procedures before you travel and pack your bags accordingly, you probably won’t even notice the issues that cause problems for so many travelers.

Like any other aspect of the travel process, the key to navigating airport security quickly and easily is preparation. Therefore, it’s a good idea to organize your belongings before arriving at the airport so that you can move as efficiently as possible through the security process. Here are a number of suggestions to help you through security and onto your flight:

• Dress appropriately – Make sure you avoid wearing metal when traveling. This includes everything from belt buckles and shirts with metal snaps to under-wire bras. If you are wearing any type of metal jewelry, place the items in your carry-on baggage until you have cleared security.
• Have your documents ready – As you approach the security checkpoint, keep your photo ID, passport and boarding pass in hand to avoid delays.
• Be prepared to remove your shoes – Airport rules now require all passengers to remove their shoes and place them on the conveyer to be x-rayed. Don’t argue with personnel about this procedure; you will be inspected more thoroughly if you do, at risk of missing your flight.
• Clean out your pockets – Place everything from keys and loose change to cell phones and PDAs in your carry-on baggage before approaching the checkpoint. By removing as many items as you can from your person, you drastically reduce the possibility of setting off a metal detector.
• Charge your batteries – When you place laptop computers and other electronic devices on the x-ray conveyer, you may be asked to prove that the devices are functional. If you are unable to turn on any of your devices, you are guaranteed an additional delay.
• Follow the rule of 3-1-1 – Concerning toiletries – especially gels and liquids like toothpaste and shampoo – you are only allowed to carry on bottles that are three ounces or smaller. All of your toiletries must fit into one quart-size zip-lock bag. This single bag must then be removed from your luggage and placed on the conveyor to be x-rayed. Any items in containers larger than three ounces will be confiscated.
• Verify your prescriptions – Make sure all medications are in their original bottles with your name listed. You certainly don’t want to have essential medications come under scrutiny. • Don’t complain – If airport security asks to search any of your bags, cooperate and be friendly. In all likelihood, you were chosen at random for an additional search and are not the victim of profiling or any other suspicion. It has also been advertised at checkpoints recently that the security area is a “sarcasm-free zone.” It is the responsibility of airport security to take all threats, jokes and complaints seriously. Simply, act calm and respectful while passing through security and you won’t experience any problems.
• If you don’t need it on the plane, check it – Removing clutter from your carry-on bag will allow screeners to process your luggage more quickly. Furthermore, as there are strict limitations on liquids and gels, it is a good idea to place all nonessential items inside a checked bag.
• Understand your itinerary – If you are traveling to the Caribbean, you might be asked about your travel plans by customs personnel. Make sure everyone in your traveling party knows the details of your flights and the name of your resort. If customs personnel hear conflicting details about your itinerary, you may have to sit through additional questioning.
• Check the restricted items list before heading to the airport – While pretty much everyone is aware that weapons and explosive materials are forbidden on planes, there are plenty of items that you might not know are restricted. However, if you have something like a pocket knife or lighter in your possession, you can still place it in your checked baggage before proceeding to the checkpoint.

If you know what to expect when approaching airport security, you won’t have any troubles. More importantly, you won’t cause yourself any unnecessary delays and will always make your flights with time to spare.

Justin Burch writes articles about Aruba (http://marriott.com/hotels/travel/auaar-aruba-marriott-resort-and-stellaris-casino/) for the Marriott Resorts.

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Making Air Travel a Breeze- Part 3 - Enjoying the Ride

Making Air Travel a Breeze- Part 3

9)

Making Air Travel a Breeze- Part 3 - Enjoying the Ride
By Justin Burch

So, you’ve made it through security and are ready to get your vacation under way. Unfortunately, you still have a long flight to sit through. Yet, flying doesn’t have to be a miserable experience – even if you are traveling with children. Here are some travel tips to help your whole family enjoy your time in the air.

As “airline food” isn’t exactly a mouthwatering phrase, it is a good idea to pack some food in your carry-on bag. While it may be difficult to pack an entire meal, there are plenty of healthy snacks that can fight your hunger. Start with healthy items like dried fruit and granola. If you are looking for a little more protein, add some jerky to your bag. If you have plenty of healthy options in your bag, you can more easily resist the urge to munch on the less-healthy fare aboard the flight.

Keep in mind that the air inside of airplane cabins is always very dry. As a result, you might experience a thirst that can’t be quenched by the irregular, less than generous drink service. An extra bottle of water or juice in your carry-on bag can go a long ways towards eliminating this discomfort.

If you are one of the many who experience motion sickness, consider taking a pill before boarding the plane. For international flights to the Caribbean or elsewhere, a motion sickness medication may also help you to sleep through much of the flight, allowing you to awake rested and relaxed at your destination.

You have to try your best to relax. Everyone has a different outlet for relaxation, so here is a list of activities to keep your stress at a minimum – whatever your interests may be:

• If you have a laptop computer, you can easily listen to music, watch DVDs or even get some work done. Just make sure you charge your batteries before flying.
• While MP3 players are nice, you don’t need the newest gadget to zone out airplane noise. You can plug noise-canceling headphones into any type of portable music player.
• Books and magazines are great ways to pass the time. If you find the noise irritating, you could even put on noise-canceling headphones without music and eliminate most distractions.
• Simple games like crosswords and sudokus can alleviate stress and exercise your mind.

One of the best tips for air travel with children is to secure seats in the front row of the cabin. In the front row of seats, your family will be granted some extra space and privacy – luxuries that are especially helpful when flying with infants or toddlers. If you have toddlers, you should also find it easier to let your children play, stretch or wander a little at the front of the aircraft.

When flying with children internationally, most travel professionals recommend non-stop flights. Non-stop flights can be helpful as they allow your children to sleep uninterrupted and prevent potentially stressful hours of flight changes. Additionally, your kids will certainly be happy to arrive at your vacation destination as soon as possible. However, there are some benefits to taking breaks between flights. For instance, if you are flying to the Caribbean from the northern U.S., your children might become impatient on such a long flight. With a brief layover in a southern city, you can relieve some of your family’s stress from being cooped up for a whole day. A break between flights will also allow you to pick up snacks and drinks, while your children can stretch and walk around freely for a little while.

You should also make sure that you pack all the things your children might need in a carry-on bag. This includes everything from food and medications to extra clothing and a blanket. Older children will probably be entertained by many of the items on the adult list above, but also consider packing items like stuffed animals and art materials. You should try to avoid toys with small parts – such as board games, building blocks and model kits – and your child’s noisier playthings. If all else fails, just remind your family that you are all en route to a wonderful Caribbean vacation.

Justin Burch writes articles about Curacao (http://marriott.com/hotels/travel/curmc-curacao-marriott-beach-resort-and-emerald-casino/ ) for the Marriott Resorts.

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