For many of us, travelling is a luxury that we can only dream about. Seeing the world’s most popular tourist attractions and feeling the excitement of exploring a new place are things that everyone wants to experience. But for some, the thought of leaving their homes and families behind and going on a big trip can feel daunting. That’s why we’ve put together some guidelines on how to travel with probiotics that need refrigeration. They’ll help you make the most of your trip with less stress and more enjoyable.
Take The Time To Plan
This is especially important if you’re going on a long-haul flight, where you’ll be sat down with little ones queuing up for the snack tray. It can be a real chore to just react to what’s on offer, especially with the constant changing of menus and the constant bustle of cabin crew trying to serve all their hungry passengers. Travelling with young kids isn’t easy, and it’s best to prepare for the trip as much as possible. If you’re going to be delayed, you don’t want to lose all the fruits and vegetables that you’ve packed away in your baby’s first aid kit.
The moment you land at your destination, the first thing you should do is unpack and repack. This way, you’ll feel more comfortable and less like a tourist in your own country. Plus, it’ll give you a change to explore the place in a different way and see the sights that locals see. It’s also important to note here that many places do require you to have a tourist permit, which you can get for free from your hotel. However, you won’t need a permit to explore the local area outside of the hotel. (This being said, many places do heavily enforce the collection of trash, so be mindful of that when exploring the outskirts of the towns and cities.)
Bring Spare Clothes
When you go on a long-haul flight, the last thing that you want to do is spend half the journey in a cold wet rag. We know that when it comes to infants, you can’t always predict the weather and you never know what conditions the plane will be flying through. (In cases where it’s particularly cold and icy, you can usually tell what’s what by the look of the clouds and the feel of the air.)
If you’re staying in a hostel, you can always ask the staff about the weather conditions and whether that particular location of the hostel is cooler or hotter than the air temperature would suggest. If it’s the latter, you might want to consider moving to a different location or bringing some clothes to change into upon arrival. In extremely hot countries, you might also want to bring a fan to keep your baby cool. Sometimes it can feel like an all-night flight, and a little bit of air-conditioning can go a long way.
Try To Plan Your Car Rental
Nowadays, we’re fortunate enough to live in a world where renting cars is so easy. But those who are less fortunate might find that it’s not so easy to navigate the intricacies of renting a car. Especially not one that is suited for infants and children. While it’s great having a family member who’s able to drive and pick you up wherever you want to go, it can be stressful trying to figure out all the details of a car rental and working out where to go with the vehicle. Trying to make sure that everything is coordinated and that you don’t end up in a pickle because the car wasn’t suitable for small children is a nightmare. (The person who rented it might not have booked a child safety seat or had enough knowledge about child safety.)
An easy way to avoid all this stress is to try to plan your car rental in advance. Call the company a few days before your trip and make sure that everything is set. This will help you avoid any last-minute hassles and give you a feeling of comfort and confidence that everything is taken care of. You can also ask the staff at the counter about any special offers that might be available and whether or not those deals change depending on the season or time of day. Special discounts are often available during the off-season and at night. So, if you’re planning on travelling during those times, be sure to take advantage of them. (Also, some companies will give you an additional credit when you’re using a credit card, so make sure that you tell them that you’re a parent.)
Bring Spare Clothes For The Baby
As we’ve established, when you’re flying with a baby, the last thing that you want to do is have to stop off at the baby gear store and load up on babygrows and other baby supplies. When you land, you’ll be thankful to have your arms free and to be able to change your baby’s nappy or bathe them. (Wondering how to bathe a baby? Check out our guide on how to bathe your baby in an airplane lavatory.)
When you get to your hotel, it’s vital that you unpack and repack the items that you brought with you. This will be especially important if you’re staying in a hostel. (By the way, when unpacking, be mindful of the weight limit and avoid overloading.) You’ll find that many hostels have a laundry service, which will be especially convenient if you’re travelling with a lot of baby clothes. (They’ll also be able to help you wash and dry any items that you’ll want to keep.)
Be Mindful Of The Locals
Being mindful of the locals will help you get the most from your visit to their country. In some places, especially those in developing countries, leaving a little rubbish behind isn’t such a big deal. (In fact, in many places, you’ll be encouraged to leave more behind as it shows respect for the culture and the environment. This being said, many hostels and hotels have a responsibility for waste and try to encourage their guests to be mindful when disposing of their plastic.)
In some places, especially those in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, it’s common for hotels and hostels to provide you with a list of recommended doctors and clinics, which they say are familiar with dealing with tourists’ health issues. (In these places, being a tourist can be hazardous to your health as you’ll be faced with many diseases that you’re not familiar with. Some of these diseases are even curable, but you’ll need to be extremely careful and attentive to avoid infections.)
Choose A Travel Agent
When you land at the end of your journey, the first thing that you should do is contact the travel agent that you worked with previously. This will ensure that all the details of your trip are taken care of. In some places, especially Malaysia and Thailand, there will even be people there who can speak English. (Others, like Vietnam, will have people there who can assist you in English, but don’t expect everyone to be fluent.)
Travel agents are typically very experienced and can sometimes even arrange things like babysitting services and English speaking guides if necessary. (For more on this, check out our what to expect when travelling with a baby guide.) If you’re looking for ways to have a more enjoyable trip, consider working with a travel agent. Besides, they can also give you tips on where to go and what to do while you’re there. And last but not least, they can also warn you about any potential diseases that you might encounter.
Learn The Local Language
Learning a new language is not easy. Especially when you’re a tourist and you’ll be surrounded by people who speak English. But if you want to fully participate in the local culture, you’ll need to learn the language. In most places, you’ll find that everybody will try to help you out. Tourists are generally looked upon with a certain level of respect, as people who are supporting the local economy. So, if you’re determined to learn, there’s no shortage of people who will be willing to help you out.
If you’re in Indonesia, for example, you might want to consider taking a crash course in Bahasa Indonesia. (This being said, many people will understand English and you’ll be able to get by with little or no knowledge of the language. Just remember to try and keep your sentences short and simple. In addition, take note of the tiniest details, like how people say “hello”, how they ask questions and how they respond to each other. Learning how to speak Indonesian will not only make it easier for you to navigate the country, it’ll also allow you to enter into a dialogue with the locals, discover more about their culture and maybe even make some friends.
