Fun on the road

With the school holiday coming up, here are some tips for a stress-free holiday with the family

WHILE road trips are a great way to bond with the family, they can also be filled with anxieties, especially when young children are involved.

Hotels.com shows you how to survive and enjoy an overland trip across the country when travelling with children. These will come in handy when you travel during this upcoming school holiday.

1. PLAN AHEAD
While the idea of a road trip is exciting, going with children adds another layer of adventure (and some might even say trepidation)! For the sake of your sanity, plan the trip so that your children will not need to spend more than six hours a day in the car. Prepare a few days before hitting the road — think about the driving route, rest stops and start packing so that you have some buffer time to make changes or run last-minute errands.

2. GO LOW-TECH
Electronic gadgets such as DVD players, iPads and video games are great for keeping bored children entertained (and for keeping the peace on the road), but they also insulate people from their surroundings and one another. Instead, bring along board games, colouring books and simple crafts. By keeping the use of electronics to a minimum, your children will develop a greater appreciation of their surroundings and spend some quality time with their family to make lasting road trip memories.

3. PIT STOPS
Restroom breaks can be few and far between, depending on the route and traffic conditions. Don’t take the risk of not going to the restroom when you can, especially with children in tow. Spend some time at every stop, whether it’s for food, to get more petrol or to go to the toilet, and you may potentially avoid a mess in the back seat.

4. RIGHT CAR SNACKS
Bring sugary snacks like candy or chocolate on a road trip with kids and you may end up with a sticky mess in the car that can be quite hard to clean. Besides, sugar-loaded snacks will only trigger more back seat bouncing. Instead, bring tasty, nutritious snacks such as granola bars, carrot sticks and grapes that are less messy and easy to eat in a moving vehicle. Don’t forget to bring lots of water — besides quenching thirst, it will come in handy for impromptu cleanups.

5. DON’T FORGET ABOUT CLEANING UP
You can never be too careful when travelling with kids. Pack lots of paper towels and sanitiser wipes to clean up in case of spills or motion sickness. Hand sanitisers will also come in handy, especially after a visit to a restroom that may be less than sanitary. Last but not least, bring along plastic bags to store soiled towels and rubbish until you can find a rubbish bin.

When on the road, make the little ones as comfortable as possible

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Fun on the road

With the school holiday coming up, here are some tips for a stress-free holiday with the family

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