Top Tips To Travel Safely As A Family

Traveling as a family can be very rewarding. New experiences, food and culture can be very beneficial to young children, but for the parents, the changes to routine and worry about accidents and illnesses can make you more worried than relaxed during your trip. Here are some of the best ways to travel safely with children and make treasured family memories.




Update Your Travel Medical Kit

If you’re traveling with children, it’s a good idea to pack up some basic medical supplies, just in case. No parent wants to be scanning the shelves in a foreign pharmacy where you don’t speak the language, trying to find a suitable medicine to give a child who is running a fever back at the hotel room.

Take any medicines your child needs on a regular basis, or any equipment like their inhaler for asthmatic children. Add in a pain relief medication that you use at home and something to fight a fever. Cough or cold medicine is a good idea to include, as is an antihistamine for allergic reactions.

If you are travelling with medicines for any medical conditions, or equipment like needles for insulin, ask your doctor if you will need a note from them to travel with them.

Create A Medical Portfolio

If something happens to you when traveling abroad with a child, the child may struggle to ask for help. A medical portfolio does the communication for you. It should include information like emergency contacts back at home, who is authorized to make medical decisions for you and details of any existing medical conditions or treatment you are receiving. Include details on the health of all the family and keep the portfolio with you when you’re out and about. Hopefully, you will never need it, but should you be taken ill or have an accident, the portfolio will make it much for local medical care to help you. Don’t forget to include contact information for your doctor back at home and for your travel insurance provider.

Remember That Safety Standards Will Differ

In some countries, there are very strict rules about things that keep us safe, like safety regulations about cribs or play areas. Remember that other countries will not always have the same regulations or be as strict, so use your own common sense. Make sure hotel room is safe for any little ones, and check things like the gap between the railings on the balcony. Keep a close eye on the children when you’re at the swimming pool or the beach, especially if there is no lifeguard.

Attitudes to driving are often different too, so be sure to safely buckle everyone in before travelling. If you’re hiring a car, and use a car seat, make sure you know how to put it safely and securely into the car. If you are involved in an accident, contact car accident lawyers with a history of success to help you.

Also, when visiting exotic destinations such as the Dominican Republic, it would be good to plan the means of transportation in advance. Consider arranging your transportation from Punta Cana Airport ahead of time or look here for more details on reliable transportation services that cater to your specific needs and destination. By booking your transportation ahead of time, you can save yourself the stress of searching for transportation options upon arrival and ensure a comfortable and efficient journey throughout your trip.

Always Get Travel Insurance

Whether you’re staying in the same country or heading abroad, never travel with proper insurance. Many companies offer free coverage for kids, so you don’t have to worry about the cost. Look for policies that cover trip cancellations caused by the school year being extended, emergency medical care, transport home for children if you are hospitalized and assistance to help with local care and emergencies.

Be Prepared for Airport Security

Airport security can make adults nervous, never mind children. Before travel, spend some time explaining to your children what will happen, so they know what to expect. Make sure they understand to follow any instructions they are given and explain that it’s all just to keep us safe. Don’t frighten them with specifics and keep the conversation age appropriate. If you’re flying somewhere that will have armed guards at the airport, warn them so they aren’t shocked and frightened if they see men with guns.

In some countries, you may have to answer some questions when leaving the country, as child trafficking is still a worry in some places. They may also ask your child some questions to confirm they are actually your child, so prepare them for this too, and make sure they know to answer the questions properly.

If you’re traveling without your child’s other parent, take a notarized letter from them saying that you have their permission to take the child out of the country. If you’re bringing a friend of your child with you, the same letter from their parents is a good idea. You may also need this paperwork if your child has a different surname to you, for example after a divorce.

3 comments

  1. I haven’t traveled with any of my children over seas. I was always nervous! Especially after 09/11/2001
    We went on an European tour the April following 09/11. I was thinking of canceling, but the trip was already paid for and my husband said that this was probably the safest time to go. Everyone and airlines were on high alert! We usually buy travel insurance and we update our medical portfolios & meds before we go. That is so important!! An ounce or two of precautionary measures will help us have a more enjoyable trip! Pin worthy! Thank you for sharing!!

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  2. Its amazing the things you need to do now in today society , just to travel but I would rather take these ideas and tips you have here than get stuck sick or something over in another country..
    @tisonlyme143

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  3. This is very helpful information! I hadn't thought about having a medical portfolio. That would definitely be important!

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