We - the guys from Nouveaux pères - flew to New Zealand and Mexico with moms and babies at the end of January for our first family trip abroad. Like many parents, we had a lot of questions before takeoff, and one source in particular helped us answer them: BB Jetlag and his book The Travelling Parent's Guide.
We caught up with BB Jetlag founder Sophie Reis to share some of her tips and, who knows, inspire other dads to go on an adventure.
Sophie is the mother of a 6-year-old daughter and a 3-year-old son, who together already have over 80 flights under their belts. She founded BB Jetlag after visiting some fifty countries, many of them with her family. In short, she speaks from experience!
You've traveled to dozens of countries around the world with children. Based on your experience, are there any places you'd particularly recommend for parents taking their first trip with young children?
Sophie: Some countries are very popular with families. Because of my Portuguese origins and the fact that I still have family there that allows me to go there often, I'm a huge fan of Portugal. Portugal. Objectively, it's a destination par excellence for traveling with children. Portugal offers visitors very different landscapes from north to south, and many places are accessible to people with reduced mobility, perfect for people with strollers!
Bali is also one of my favorite destinations, having been there three times, twice with my family. For the Balinese, family is the cornerstone of daily life. Visiting families are therefore welcomed with open arms. We love the Zen-like atmosphere here, and there's something for everyone. Running through the rice paddies and eating sitting on the floor at mealtimes is a delight for the little ones!
We have just returned from Costa Rica where we enjoyed rediscovering this beautiful country. There were so many traveling families on site that our children made friends in every place we visited. Le Panama was also a destination we really enjoyed last year, as was the SloveniaA little-known country where children are welcomed with open arms!
We also love Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Italy, Hawaii... In short, any destination is good as long as we're well prepared!
Whatever the destination, the all-inclusive package is ideal for a first trip with a young child. It's a great way to get to grips with travel and a change of scenery, while reducing the risk of unpleasant surprises.
On the other hand, are there any places or regions of the world you'd avoid to begin with?
SophieAs every parent is different, I would suggest individual reflection to determine what type of trip would best suit our current family situation. Travelling with young children requires a lot of energy, and we need to respect our physical and mental state.
Do we need to rest? Do we need to entertain ourselves? Do we have enough time to prepare for a big adventure, or would we rather spend a week resting in one place? How much time do we have to travel?
Respecting your limits is essential. For some, an all-inclusive package is already a great deal for a first trip, while others will feel ready for an adventure on the other side of the world.
In my opinion, all destinations are good. The main things to consider, however, are the country's political situation, access to health care and the tools you need to adapt to the health conditions in your destination. In the book, I also detail several other criteria to consider in the chapters "What's the best age to travel?" and "Choosing your destination".
For many parents, the fear of flying with young children is a major obstacle to the idea of family travel. We're told that it usually goes well, but since we also have to prepare for the worst, could you tell us about your worst experience with children on a plane?
SophieI think that preparation is the key to having fun flying with young children. I've been lucky enough to experience it more than 80 times with my children, from the age of 2 months, and I have no disastrous memories.
Admittedly, I've already spent a sleepless night between Montreal and Lisbon with baby in the carrier, standing up to talk to the flight attendants in the cabin (the little one categorically refused to sleep); I've already had an "explosive poo" when the seatbelt was on forever and I've also been "lucky" enough to experience many delayed and cancelled flights where camping at the airport was an alternative, but every time, you're amazed at the adaptability of children who are often more patient than ourselves.
We also need to be mentally prepared as parents when we get on the plane. The first three years of a baby's life require parents to be alert and active in flight. Sleeping, quietly reading a magazine or watching a film as you once did suddenly becomes a memory. To reassure you, at 3 and 6 years old, my children are now seasoned little travelers who know and respect ethical and safety rules better than many adults, and...I even manage to write an article in flight sometimes! #hope
BB Jetlag provides a wealth of advice on the essentials to bring when traveling with children. If you had to name just one item that parents often forget about, but that you'd never do without, what would it be?
SophieWhen my children were babies: washing-up liquid! It's often forgotten, but there's nothing more practical than washing small containers, pacifiers, bottles and the like in a hotel room sink!
How are the kids and the tourista?
SophieSuper bien! Although we've been abroad (a little too often!) for medical reasons, the children have never had "tourista" while traveling.
They've been born traveling, crawled on floors in Bangkok, put all sorts of questionable things in their mouths in the sun, eaten sand, savored food from street kiosks from an early age and been exposed to many situations.
Could this have anything to do with their iron health in Montreal? I can't say for sure, but who knows!
What are the main qualities of a good dad?
Sophie: A dad who gets involved in the adventure! Making travel a family project is fantastic! Because moms are on maternity leave, they're often the ones planning the first family trip, but dads would benefit from getting involved. Dads are more than welcome to join the discussion group "The BB Jetlag community, the reference for traveling parents" on Facebook.
And the worst defects?
SophieWanting to travel as much as before and wanting to see everything (and that goes for traveling moms too!). Respecting your limits is essential. We plan a lighter itinerary, allowing parents to catch their breath and little ones to acclimatize. For parents who are explorers and used to visiting Hong Kong or Paris in a four-day marathon, all we have to do is adapt our way of traveling and our expectations, without diminishing the pleasure!
A final word for parents thinking of travelling?
Preparing ahead of time is the key to a successful trip, and that's why I've created the reference site for parent travelers. bbjetlag.com to help parents find the information they need. And the book complements the site, with over 80% exclusive content!
