New mum on the road? Here’s everything you need to know about flying with children, from air travel comfort to the right kind of packing and safety tips

Travelling with a kid can be intimidating for new mothers. You are constantly concerned that you will forget to pack something. Depending on your child’s mood, the journey can also feel twice as long. But do not fret. Here is a quick guide for mothers travelling with children.

Pack Smart

All mothers of toddlers know how important it is to pack the right things in an organised manner. Packing cubes and Ziploc bags can help you organise clothes and other stuff.

What To Carry

Carry weather-appropriate clothes, such as sun hats in the summer and sweaters and gloves in the winter. Make a checklist of lotions, creams, pain relievers, and ointments you may need. Take along favoured dry snacks, toys and books for distraction and sleep time. Bring your child’s favourite stuffed animals as they might be a comforting element during stressful situations. Check that your hand luggage contains everything you might need, including anything from wet wipes to hand sanitiser to toys and books.

Airplane Travel

When reserving tickets, book seats with extra space on the plane. Take a window seat as during beverage service, aisle seats might be dangerous for kids. You should also try to book off-peak flights. They will be safer because there will be fewer people at the airport. Try and get to the airport much before the time of departure.

For Ear Pressure

When flying, breastfeed your infant throughout takeoff and landing. This will assist to protect your child’s ears from ear ache caused by variations in cabin pressure. Pack hard treats like lollipops for older children. The difference in air pressure as you take off and level out at altitude can be excruciatingly uncomfortable, but it’s extremely difficult for those who aren’t used to it. Sweets can help ears pop and return to normal pressure.

The Right Accommodation

It is advisable to take your children’s requirements in mind while choosing a place to stay. Many places cater to families, offering amenities such as children’s menus. Or you could rent a bed and breakfast, a vacation apartment, or book a homestay.

Plan A Kid-Friendly Itinerary

Study your destination and create a fun itinerary with places, activities and attractions that your children will enjoy. This way, you’ll keep your children happy and entertained. Focus on sustainable travel, supporting local experiences, and ethical encounters. Most places have an excellent repertoire of child-friendly vacation ideas and things to do.

For Safety

Keep a wristband with your phone number on it on your youngster. Nobody wants to think of their child going missing, but if they do, this is a fantastic way for anyone who finds them to contact you.

Here’s a quick list of 10 tips to help you keep your camera safe while on holiday so you can enjoy yourself and not worry about your photography kit.

1. Make A Checklist

Before you leave for the airport make a list of all the equipment you’re taking with you, writing down the serial and model numbers, too. It’ll also help if you take photos of your equipment for your records.

2. Check Your Insurance

Make sure you have the right insurance just in case your equipment’s stolen or damaged. If you’re unsure if your equipment’s covered, read your policy or ring your insurer.

3. Put Your Equipment In Your Hand-Luggage

Camera gear is fragile so don’t pack it in the case you plan on checking in at the airport. If you do, you run the risk of equipment getting damaged. Do remember to check the size and weight restrictions on luggage with the company you’re travelling with as airlines tend to have different rules/restrictions when it comes to luggage you can carry-on.

4. Don’t Take Trips On Your Own

If you’re planning a few day trips don’t go alone. That way, when you’re framing up your shot, your ‘buddy’ can watch your camera bag and any other equipment you have.

5. What’s Your Bag Look Like?

Don’t use a bag that screams: “Look! I have a very expensive camera in here.”

6. Don’t Put Your Bag Down

Even when you’re taking a photo don’t leave your bag on the floor and never leave it unattended. When you’re in busy locations such as markets, carry the bag on your front as if it’s on your back, there is the chance that someone could access it without you knowing. You may think you look a little silly but that’s better than finding all of your gear’s gone.

7. Carry Spare Memory Cards

Don’t just take one memory card with you as if it’s stolen or lost that’s it. Always carry a spare in your bag and keep one locked away in your hotel room too, just in case.

8. Try To Fit In

Having confidence and looking like you know where you’re going (even if you don’t) will mean you’re less likely to be bothered. Try to blend in rather than stand out as a tourist.

9. Put Your Equipment In A Net

You can buy safety nets which you place your equipment in and then you fasten the net to a solid object that’s fastened down.

10. Use A Safe

Most rooms have safes that will fit memory cards, chargers, a smartphone or a small DSLR body in. If you have lots of kit or there’s no safe in your room, ask at reception to see if they have them available at the desk. Just make sure you make a note of everything you hand over and take images so you have proof if anything goes missing.

Tired of your travel adventures involving little more than booking flights to all those world-famous destinations? OK, if you’re anything like us, then you’re probably not that bored of taking that approach to travel. However, it’s fun to mix things up every now and again, especially when there are so many different ways to explore the planet.

If you’re looking for a fresh way to discover the world and all it has to offer, then check out the three alternative travel ideas we outline below.

Follow Fictional Tales

It’s normally when we’re sitting on the couch watching Netflix that we decide it’s time for some adventure in our lives, and that’s because so many shows take place in such beautiful destinations. So, why not use your favourite shows and movies as a basis for your next trip? It’s hard to feel drawn to Paris after watching Emily in Paris, or Thailand after watching the third season of The White Lotus. You’ve seen it on the screen; now’s the time to see it first-hand and live your own main character moment.

Attend a Sporting Event

Looking for a fun-filled adventure that also offers a fair amount of adrenaline and excitement? Then consider attending one of the world’s major sporting events. The Super Bowl, World Cup, and Wimbledon are just three of the leading sporting competitions that everyone should have on their travel bucket list. If you’re after something a bit more casual yet still hugely memorable, then you can look at attending The Kentucky Derby or The Grand National — they’re two of the biggest horse racing events on the planet, offering the perfect balance between sporting prowess and social fun. Grab your friends, pack your best outfit, and enjoy a few days of world-class racing in a uniquely fun environment.

Music Festivals

Prefer music over sports? Then consider attending a music festival. There’s no shortage of events to choose from, so really, whatever type of music you enjoy, you can have confidence that there’ll be a festival taking place somewhere on the planet. If you’re simply looking for an awesome experience, then take a look at the world’s biggest music festivals, such as Glastonbury, Lollapalooza, or Burning Man. There are also plenty of smaller — yet just as good — festivals taking place in stunning locations around Europe, such as Bulgaria’s Butik Festival or Albania’s Kala Festival. The perfect getaway for adventurers looking for sun, good vibes, and plenty of lifelong memories.

Soak up the sun and shake off winter’s chill in one of these warm-weather destinations.

Living in areas with four distinct seasons can be invigorating and wonderful. Sledding, skiing, skating, ice fishing — there are so many things you can enjoy in a winter climate. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a treat to schedule a trip to a warm, sunny location when the temperatures back home are at their lowest.

Thankfully, many warm-weather destinations are old hands at hosting travelers and are well-stocked with tourist attractions and sites. Here’s a look at some of the best U.S. places to visit when it’s chilly and snowy back home.

1. San Juan, Puerto Rico

This location’s historical monthly average temperatures for the month of:

• December: High of 86 degrees Fahrenheit, low of 68
• January: High of 85 degrees Fahrenheit, low of 66

Soak up some sun amid the Spanish rhythms of Puerto Rico – and since it’s an American territory, you don’t even need a passport to get there. There are nonstop flights to San Juan from many U.S. airports, the U.S. dollar is the currency, and Americans don’t need to worry about international phone plans.

You can relax on powdery white sand beaches, explore the cobblestone streets of the old walled city, and marvel at the historic Castillo de San Felipe del Morro, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that dates to the 1500s.

2. Key West, Florida

This location’s historical monthly average temperatures for the month of:

• December: High of 78 degrees Fahrenheit, low of 68
• January: High of 76 degrees Fahrenheit, low of 66

Want to go south? Key West is the southernmost city in the contiguous United States. As fans of the late singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett know, the island is as famous for its laid-back attitude as it is for its latitude.

For a small island, there’s plenty to do. The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum offers guided tours, and it’s home to dozens of six-toed cats, many of whom are descendants of the legendary writer’s own pet. Enjoy the island’s Cuban food, fresh seafood, deep-sea fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling, and don’t forget to raise a margarita glass in Buffett’s memory.

3. San Antonio, Texas

This location’s historical monthly average temperatures for the month of:

• December: High of 65 degrees Fahrenheit, low of 42
• January: High of 63 degrees Fahrenheit, low of 41

San Antonio may not be as warm as some other winter destinations, but there’s so much to do, you won’t notice.

The famed Alamo, site of the historic 1836 battle, is on the bucket list for many Americans. And downtown’s River Walk brags that it’s the top attraction in Texas, featuring a bustling dining and entertainment scene that includes twinkling holiday lights and even a boat parade complete with Santa.

4. New Orleans, Louisiana

This location’s historical monthly average temperatures for the month of:

• December: High of 66 degrees Fahrenheit, low of 49
• January: High of 64 degrees Fahrenheit, low of 47

Skip the crowds of Mardi Gras and visit New Orleans in the winter.

Bourbon Street is popping with live jazz, zydeco and every other form of music you can think of. The food – from beignets to po boys to gumbo – still can’t be beat. And you can take a cemetery tour, gawk at the elegant homes of the Garden District, take a guided tour of the home where impressionist painter Edgar Degas briefly lived, and much more.

5. Honolulu, Hawaii

This location’s historical monthly average temperatures for the month of:

• December: High of 82 degrees Fahrenheit, low of 69
• January: High of 81 degrees Fahrenheit, low of 66

Devastating wildfires on the island of Maui in August shook the Aloha State, leaving many travelers grappling about whether visiting is appropriate. As of late August, state officials were encouraging visitors to help the heavily tourism-dependent state resume normal activity.

Honolulu, of course, is located on Oahu, not on Maui, and wasn’t damaged by the fires. Breathtaking Waikiki Beach, one of the world’s most famous, was once a retreat for Hawaiian royalty. You can also hike, dine on poke, poi or slow-roasted pork, and watch and learn hula dancing at a luau. And Pearl Harbor, with its historic USS Arizona Memorial, is just a half-hour drive away.

6. Palm Springs, California

This location’s historical monthly average temperatures for the month of:

• December: High of 69 degrees Fahrenheit, low of 45
• January: High of 71 degrees Fahrenheit, low of 47

Fashionable Palm Springs is not a spring-break style, party-all-night throwdown. Instead, expect a laid-back, kitschy winter escape, where many tourists are older and some are snowbirds, renting homes for winter months to escape the chill in their home states. If you love art, midcentury architecture and golf, but don’t mind the lack of beaches, spring on over to Palm Springs.

7. San Diego, California

This location’s historical monthly average temperatures for the month of:

• December: High of 66 degrees Fahrenheit, low of 50
• January: High of 66 degrees Fahrenheit, low of 50

San Diego may not be as hot as some winter destinations, but it’s usually sunny and there’s plenty to do.

The world-famous San Diego Zoo is a must, with animals from koalas to giraffes in naturalistic habitats. You can also tour the USS Midway, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier that was decommissioned in 1992 and is now a floating museum displaying more than 30 military aircraft. And wander the lively streets of Old Town, packed with shops, authentic Mexican restaurants and live entertainment.

8. Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

This location’s historical monthly average temperatures for the month of:

• December: High of 85 degrees Fahrenheit, low of 75
• January: High of 84 degrees Fahrenheit, low of 74

Lively Charlotte Amalie, the capital of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, is filled with enticing attractions for when you’ve had enough beaching. Don’t miss taking the famed 99 Steps up to Blackbeard’s Castle, a watchtower from the 1600s, or visiting Fort Christian, now home to the St. Thomas Museum. The Skyride to Paradise Point takes travelers up 700 feet in a gondola for amazing views.

9. Orlando, Florida

This location’s historical monthly average temperatures for the month of:

December: High of 74 degrees Fahrenheit, low of 53

January: High of 72 degrees Fahrenheit, low of 50

You know about Orlando’s numerous theme parks, which include Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Universal Orlando and Legoland. When you’re theme parked-out, there’s also plenty of nightlife, restaurants and bars of all sorts. You can also take a scenic boat tour in nearby Winter Park or drive about an hour east to space out and visit the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.