Travelling with children in Europe

Travelling with children in Europe

Whilst the mere thought of flying to the other side of the world with children would put many people off, there are ways to make the long flight to Europe quite bearable. Planning your journey wisely, with both adults and kids in mind, can make all the difference.  Having survived (and thrived on!) numerous trips to Europe with our children (starting when our youngest was just four years old), we've come up with a list of handy tips to help you plan the perfect child-friendly holiday to Europe.



Many airlines flying long-haul sectors nowadays provide personal entertainment systems in every seat, and these include on-demand movies and music, sports and news, and the ever-popular Super Nintendo consoles.  With over 30 games to choose from, your kids will never be bored, and may even take a little persuasion to have a sleep!  You can also pre-book children’s meals with the airline before your departure so you know your children will actually eat something on the flight.  It's also a good idea pack some lollies and snacks, such as muesli bars, in your carry on luggage to deal with those mid-meal munchies.

Breaking the journey with an overnight stopover is also a good idea.  A direct flight from Australia’s east coast to Asia takes between 7 and 10 hours, by which time both you and the children will be ready for a change of scenery.  Most of the international airlines have special stopover packages that can be pre-booked and pre-paid and include return airport to hotel transfers and your accommodation.  Some packages also include other options such as sightseeing tours.  Whilst most hotels in Asia will only accommodate a maximum of three people per room, meaning you may require two rooms, the additional cost could save your sanity.  After a break, you may even find your children are keen to get back on the plane for the next leg of the journey, as the memories of the Nintendo are still fresh in their minds!!

If you are planning a self-drive holiday around Europe, it’s a good idea to take a couple of CDs from home to play in the car, especially a couple of the kids’ favourites.  On long trips, having some familiar music can keep them happily entertained.  Whilst most radio stations play plenty of English-language songs, of course the announcers speak the local language.

Train travel is a comfortable, clean, efficient way to travel in Europe, and kids love it!  Services between major centres are frequent and give every member of the family the chance to sit back, relax and enjoy the trip.  If your train journey requires you to change trains, allow plenty of time to do so.  Getting on and off trains can take a bit of an effort, especially when you have four or five people's luggage to move, too.

To make your holiday an enjoyable experience for everyone, alternate your sightseeing so that there are plenty of activities for the kids to enjoy.  One museum or church might impress them, but, depending on their ages, they are likely to tire of historic sights fairly quickly.  Why not alternate a 'parents day' with a 'kids day'?  Europe is full of fun things for kids to do - whether it be an amusement park, a bike ride, the local playground or swimming pool, or just some chill out time where they can do the things kids like to do such as kicking a ball around or colouring in.

If you are staying where there are other families, particularly in a camping ground, you may find your kids are keen to stay and play with other children.  Despite language barriers, it's amazing how kids can play together happily for hours without really understanding each other!

Accommodation can make a big difference as to whether your European holiday is enjoyable or just bearable.  Staying in an apartment, cottage, villa or holiday house can make all the difference as they give both parents and children much needed space. The benefits of being able to cook or prepare meals for the family go without saying - not only can you save money by self-catering (see our self-catering guide), you can also cook some of the children's favourites which may not be on the menu of the local restaurants.  This is particularly useful if you have a fussy eater or a child with food allergies.

Encouraging your children to keep a journal or travel diary about their holiday is also a great way to keep them interested in some of the more 'cultural' aspects of the holiday.  Collecting entrance tickets and brochures which they can then stick into their journal, is fun for kids, and whilst they probably don't realise it, they are learning at the same time!  Learning simple facts about the countries they visit, such as population, size, capital city, etc. is very educational.

Kids are often fascinated with discovering the different flags for each country, the different country codes that many vehicles bear, and spotting number plates from different countries makes a good game on a long car journey.

TIP:  Whilst a PSP/Nintendo DS may not be the most educational item to give your child, they are invaluable when travelling.  They will keep your kids amused during those long waits at airports and on long car trips.


The team at Holidays to Europe have travelled in Europe with our kids on numerous occasions (you can see some of our photos here) and we've helped other families to do the same.  Let us help you plan the perfect European vacation that will be enjoyed by both adults and children alike. ENQUIRE NOW for assistance planning your family vacation to Europe.

The information provided above is of a general nature and should be used as a guide only. (Photos www.austria.info and Holidays to Europe.)

© Holidays to Europe.

Order complimentary Europe family travel brochures here >>>










Related articles:

Family holidays in Europe >>
Self-catering holidays in Europe >>
Family-friendly holidays in Paris >>

Family holidays to London >>



Buy our book "Europe with Kids - How to travel Europe the easy way" >>