SUMMER TRAVEL WITH TODDLERS!
Jul 07 '00
Everyone has heard the same terrible travel scenarios about babies that cry for an entire flight while small children run up and down the aisle repeatedly screaming, “are we there yet?” at the top of their lungs. The only thing worse than being subjected to this ruckus is when it happens to be your little angel that’s sending everyone scrambling for headphones and earplugs. Traveling with toddlers is no easy task, but with a bit of planning, forethought and creativity, you can ensure that getting to your vacation destination will be as relaxing as the vacation itself.
For starters, it is important to consider all forms of transportation and decide which one best suites your family, keeping both cost and comfort in mind. Airplanes offer the fastest and most convenient form of travel. The faster you get to your vacation spot the less time there will be for your toddler to become bored and restless. Some airlines offer a discounted fare for children under 2 and many airlines will allow your child to sit on your lap for free. Although the latter option may save you some money, you many end up sacrificing your sanity in the process. Toddlers are known to be rambunctious and most do not tolerate being held for any length of time. In their own seat they will have more space to move, play, color or be read to. Also, for takeoff, landing and in case of an emergency, your toddler will have their own seatbelt instead of being strapped with you into yours. Unfortunately very few airlines still offer parents with small children the option to pre-board their flight. Trains have the most room for toddlers to move around in because the aisles are fairly wide and they can walk from car to car. On the other hand, tickets are often as, or more expensive than, plane fare and it usually takes days to reach a destination as opposed to hours. Trains do have another nice feature, at the front of each Amtrak car there is an area that can seat four people on two bench-like seats that face each other. There is quite a bit of area in between the benches where a toddler could actually stretch out and play. Traveling by bus is generally not a good idea with a toddler, or any small children for that matter. The seats are often very cramped and offer limited leg and arm room and the aisles are narrow leaving no room for an antsy toddler to pace Buses stop at every station along the way to pick up more travelers and, like a train, it often takes days to get where you are going. Bus stations are often dirty and offer few options for food besides the vending machines after normal business hours. Bus fares are often cheaper than planes and trains, especially during Greyhound’s “companion fare” season.
To help your decision along, check out the following comparison of cost and time between the three types of transportation. (All scenarios are based on roundtrip travel from Detroit, MI to Orlando, FL leaving June 6th and returning June 15th)
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES: http://www.southwest.com
If you fly on a Tues/Weds/Sat you can get a roundtrip ticket for $158 if you purchase 14 days in advance, $198 if purchase is within 7 days of departure. Any other days are $218. If you left at 2:10 pm on the 6th you would arrive at 8:20pm on the same dayh. You must pay the full fare for a child that will be sitting in it’s own seat. Southwest does allow car seats to be used on the plane for children under 2.
AMTRAK http://www.amtrak.com
If you left Detroit on June 6th at 11:55 pm you would arrive in Orlando on June 8th at 4:06pm—2 days later!. The fare is $204 per adult, children 2-15 ride for half price and children under 2 ride free.
GREYHOUND http://www.greyhound.com
If you left Detroit on June 6th at 1:15 pm you would arrive in Orlando on June 7th at 5:45 pm—28 ½ hours later. The fare is $183 and, because of their companion fares, a child over 2 would ride for half price and a child under 2 would ride for free.
Once you know how you’ll get where you’re going you have to figure out how to keep your child entertained. No matter how you decide to travel, the items you use to keep your toddler busy could definitely be what makes or breaks the trip. First, think food. Not all airports, bus or train terminals have restaurants and, if they do, they are usually closed in the late evening/early morning hours. Bring favorite snacks and juices and some raw fruit and veggies, if possible. An easy way to keep them cool is to purchase an ice pack, which can be frozen and kept in the food container.
Second, take along at least two of your child’s favorite toys. In addition, bring a wide variety of activities such as books, coloring materials and cards. Purchase some small toys or novelties, like stickers, that you can give to the child en route as a distraction from boredom. Be creative! Bring glue and make a collage with pictures from brochures of where you are headed or color postcards to send home to family and friends. The name of the game is to keep the kids busy!. It is certainly no fun to start a vacation feeling completely frazzled and already dreading the return trip home.
Third, be sure that your child is dressed for comfort. Although Aunt Susie will find it adorable that your 2 year old is wearing a dress shirt and tie, it’s probably wiser to dress him in clothes he can feel comfortable to both play and nap in. Lastly, be sure that you are visiting toddler-friendly sites. Although a trip to Washington, D.C. sounds great, most toddlers won’t find the Smithsonian amusing. A fantastic place to take toddlers and children of all ages is Sesame Place, located in Langhorne, PA--http://www.sesameplace.com. It is a theme park based on Sesame Street and has musical performances, water slides, inner tube rides and the Teeny Tiny Tidal Wave Pool, all designed for small children. The bigger kids will enjoy the roller coaster, The Vapor Trail, as well as many large water rides.
Disney--http://disney.go.com/DisneyWorld/intro.html is always a hit for the whole family. In recent years they have expanded and improved their toddler area. For example they have removed Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride and replaced it with the more popular (and less scary) Winnie The Pooh Ride. Toddlers are also allowed on favorites like It’s A Small World and Pirates Of The Caribbean.
Enjoy your family vacations! And most of all, here’s hoping your toddlers enjoy it too!
For a list of private campsites: http://www.woodalls.com/campsrch.cfm
National Park Reservation Service: http://reservations.nps.gov
Weather Information: http://www.weather.com
For a discussion on traveling with toddlers and small children http://concierge.advance.net/forums/child/
A site for those of you preferring to drive yourself to your vacation spot http://www.survivethedrive.com/kidstop.asp
A nationwide list http://family.go.com/Categories/Travel/Features/family_1999_06/famf/famf69travelawards/famf69travelawards6.html of 1999’s best places for kids; museums, amusement parks, cities etc.
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