International trip... with KIDS??

[CampusLady]

We are planning a trip to Rome this coming Spring Break and have never taken our children on a plane.  I'd love to hear any tricks and tips for:

1.) Long flights

2.) Long walks

3.) Things to do with kids in Rome

4.)  Experiences (both good and bad) in Rome, and Rome in April in particular. 

[kater]

Jun. 28, 2007 at 9:24 AM

ages 2  & 12 years....oh boy.....please keep in mind that i'm going based on our trips to & from england, pre 9/11, with one and three kids, all under 6.  we also took a trip with all four from MD to AZ at christmas.  not exactly seasoned, but i plan well in advance.

1) long flights: you will get absolutely no rest.  if you know that now, you won't be as irritable when you realize an hour before landing that you are not going to get any rest.  they each get their own carryon stuffed to the gills with toys, games and books, 2 changes of clothes and toiletries (toothbrush, wipes, etc in case of delays).  i'd pack dried fruits, cookie/cracker mixes and sippy cups (empty, of course) with lids for snacking purposes.  make sure your sippy lids have the regualr drinking hole and an additional hole (pierced with a hot needle if necessary) for relieving pressure.  DON'T use the ones touted as spill proof.  they are most likely to explode in the air pressure changes.  i use lids to keep entire cup contents from dumping into laps, not for keeping every drop inside the cup.   colored pencils and lots of blank paper as well as puzzle books for your 11 yo.  i'd highly suggest a gameboy, or whatever they are called now, with ear buds.    do not bring any kind of toy that sings, barks, squeaks, plays music for your toddler, no matter how educational it may be.  everyone within 6 rows will want to choke you by halfway through the flight.  wrap something new and surpise them halfway through the flight - both ways.  travel in sweats or jammies for the kids.  practice changing diapers in your lap.  there are no diaper changing facilities on the plane.  no place in the bathroom at all, unless you want to do it on the lid of the toilet seat.  call the specific airline you are travelling or visit their website and ask if they have more tips for overseas flights.  you can check boxes as luggage as well, but keep in mind that any piece of checked luggage over 75 lbs comes with an overlimit fee.  bring an empty suitcase for souvenirs.  usually we plan to buy jackets and/or sweaters where we visit as souvenirs and that is one less thing i have to pack pre-flight.  i would suggest a brita water fliter pitcher or something similar; you'll go broke buying water at kiosks, especially if you are trying to fill a camel pack!  bring a calculator for converting money, if you need to.  if you are renting a car on the other side, bring your carseat.  it will count as checked luggage.  you really don't want a carseat on the plane.  you lose so much wiggle room.  if you aren't renting, leave the carseat at home.  as crass as it sounds, if the plane goes down, the carseat won't do a whole lot.

 empty your purse & wallet.  you won't need your library card or gas card, etc, so leave them home.  find out where the us embassy is before you leave the us.  even if you only have a phone # and street address, at least you have that in case of an emergency.  make copies of all passports, front & back of credit cards & photo ID, basically anything you intend to take on your trip from your purse & wallet; also of your itenerary, including flight info, hotels and send it to a relative or trusted friend.  give them the embassy info (and instructions on how to call from the us) to that person.  if anything gets lost or stolen, you have all the info available.  place those copies in the hotel room safe as well.  call your credit card co's and tell them you'll be in rome or they may disapprove charges thinking the card's been stolen.  take only the things you will need on your daily trips with you.  leave the rest in the safe.  you are most likely paying for the safe whether or not you use it!   

 2)  long walks:  invest in a "camel pack" or two...the backpack that carries 2L of water and a tube-like straw.  costco sells them (usually this time of year) for about $20.  pack it (empty of course) in your checked luggage.  they have awesome packs that you won't even need a purse they are so roomy.  we have packed a picnin lunch and snacks for our family of 6 in two of them with room to spare.  you can also buy teeny luggage locks for the zippers if you feel your valuables (passport, money, id, etc) should be better secured than a backpack.  umbrella stroller with a canopy.  strollers can be checked at the gate or checked with your luggage at check-in.  make sure you all have broken-in new shoes.  wear the socks you'll be wearing on the trip when you buy them.  don't take long walks in sandals or without socks.  bring comfort foods (dry ones, obviously) things you KNOW your 2 yo will eat, no matter what.  i found my son was so distraught at all the changes in our schedule that he only ate bread, cheese and tomatoes for four days, and not usually in the same meal.  he was NOT a happy boy.

 3)  to do:  use the hotels website (if they have one) to find kid stuff in the area.  rome doesn't strike me as kid place to go, but i'm sure they have kids there who aren't bored.....i googled kids activities rome italy and came up with lots of pages of kids stuff.  i didn't read any of it, but i'm sure there are calendars for april 2008 in there somewhere.

that's all i can think of off the top of my head.  have a great time planning your trip! 

[CampusLady]

Jun. 28, 2007 at 4:02 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions!  I never thought of the spill proof sippy cup thing.  That is especially good to know.  I think I'll have the baby in pull ups to make diaper changing easier.  We are only staying in Rome, and will not be renting a car (we always walk or take the subway/tube/metro) so no need for a car seat, only the small pop out stroller.

 We've been to Europe plenty of times before, just not with the kids.  So we are pretty use to the Euro and all that jazz. 

Thanks again for all your suggestions! 

 

(Original Poster)