Tips for traveling with children

On the afternoon of March 17th, at the Travel Fest 2019 tourism promotion festival, co-organized by Travellive magazine and Aeon Mall Long Bien, the audience enjoyed an engaging talk show titled "Traveling with Children." Featuring two experienced mothers, MC Diep Chi and journalist Lam Linh, the talk show provided viewers with valuable information on how to have a smooth and exciting trip with their children.

In response to one of the most frequently asked questions on this topic, "When is your child ready to start traveling?", both guests agreed: "When parents are ready, it means the child is ready too." Journalist Lam Linh, who has been traveling with her child since the age of 10 months, believes that traveling together satisfies the needs of both mother and child. While parents are relieved from their busy lives, children also have the opportunity to step out into the world and experience many new and exciting things.

Unlike journalist Lam Linh, MC Diep Chi and her daughter's first trip was actually her first business trip after giving birth. Despite having to take her child on a trip amidst such a busy schedule, MC Diep Chi said that she only dedicates 4-5 hours a day to work, spending the rest of the time exploring with her daughter. Instead of feeling burdened, she shared: "Thanks to my child, I've been able to travel more. And she is the motivation for me to explore the world even more."

To save costs and make things easier for parents, it's advisable to plan overseas trips a year in advance and, if possible, look for zero-fare tickets from airlines. Ideally, choose off-peak seasons and avoid weekends and holidays. However, note that peak seasons can vary between countries. Additionally, parents can consider staying in homestays, especially those with young children – who knows, you might even get free accommodation like MC Diep Chi and journalist Lam Linh!

While traveling with children offers many enjoyable experiences, it's undeniable that it also comes with certain drawbacks, one of which is the health and safety of the children. For example, in the case of journalist Lam Linh, her daughter fell seriously ill and had to be hospitalized due to heatstroke while traveling. In such situations, especially when traveling abroad, purchasing travel insurance for both children and parents is essential as it covers all risks from travel to medical expenses.

For those who think traveling with children is difficult and expensive, the reality is that children under 4 years old get free bus and subway tickets, free hotel stays, and priority at airports. However, one final important point that not all parents pay attention to is carefully checking their child's passport, as children's passports are only valid for 5 years instead of 10 years like adults. Therefore, parents should carefully review all documents and verify information before planning their trip to avoid unnecessary risks.

Hai Hien