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10 tips to travel safe with children
Traveling abroad with children is a rewarding experience, but it requires a lot of planning. All countries are so different and  you need to take extra measures to take care of the whole family. That’s why, in Lanzarote airport transfer’s blog we want to suggest you 10 tips, in order to  have a safe vacation with children.
Recommendations for planning holidays
Children, although it seems hard to believe, are able to adapt very well to the adults’ rhythm during the travel. They are full of energy and eager to enjoy the planned activities. If they are very small it is necessary to slow a little bit, but surely they will find energy for the next experiences. In fact, traveling is good for the little ones. A recent study says that children who travel with their families achieve higher scores at school; more days of vacation mean better performance at school. It is not a surprise that during a trip they not only relax and rest from homework but they learn from their own experience. For example, when they go abroad, they get in contact with other cultures and they learn to value and appreciate them. They can also learn about history, art, reinforce their knowledge of mathematics by calculating the change of money and practice another language. A successful vacation begins even before to leave the house. You have to plan the trip properly, making sure that everything is in order. You have to choose a destination of which everyone can enjoy; for this reason it is not advisable to go to very exotic and far away places. Take in consideration your children when you choose the destination, ask them for help. Talk to them, tell them where they are going and what they can do in that place. Consider what risks you may experience and if you need to take extra security measures.
Before leaving home your children should be aware about the risks, how to use an international phone and what to do in case of emergency.
In order to travel abroad without mishaps, we suggest you to prepare an itinerary. It’s no mandatory to respect always the plan, some activities such as excursions in Lanzarote will have their fixed date and time, but you can make some small changes.
As parents, we must guarantee a safe vacation for children. It’s important to look for information about the country and its security conditions and take extra measures if necessary.
In the following paragraphs you will find some recommendations about traveling with children that will allow you to feel more relaxed during your holidays.
1.Be sure to have all the documents required
Make sure you carry with you all the necessary documentation to travel abroad. Keep your passport and ID in a safe place before and during your trip.
Verify if you need further documents to travel, such as a visa, medical insurance or special permission for children. Try to get information by travel agencies or the embassy of the country that you want to visit. For instance in Spain, if a minor is going to travel with people who do not have the same surname like uncles or grandparents, they must present a notarized authorization. This authorization must be sent by the parents or the guardian of the child to one of the corresponding agencies, a court, notary, Civil Guard or police station.
When you have all the documents, make a backup: scan and save them in some software like Cloud, Google Drive or Dropbox. You can also bring some copies with you.
2.Explain dangers that may exist in the country of destination
All family members should know the eventual dangers they may face. Especially children should be instructed to recognize an emergency. Teaching them how to act in a situation of danger can get them out of trouble.Explain to your children how to make calls abroad and how to use international codes. If you go to a country where a different language is spoken, practice with them the words to ask for help.
Tell them that they should not trust strangers even if they seem to be kind and that they should pay attention and check always where are their relatives.
3.Try to prevent illness risks
There are countries that require certain vaccines to people who enter their territory. Find out what are required for your next destination. In the international centers you can inform you about it. Remember to bring the vaccination card with you.
Children should have all their vaccinations. Bring them to the doctor for a check before traveling and to know if they need reinforcement, aboveall if the child suffers of any condition that must be controlled by a specialist
Among the measures to adopt to travel abroad with children don’t forget to carry a bag with the necessary medications for example antiallergics, dizziness pills, thermometer, mosquito repellents, etc.
4.Pack brightly colored clothes
When you are in a crowded place the risk of a child getting lost or that someone tries to take him away from his family, increase. Strong colored cloths are useful to identify children when they are among many people. Never neglect them, make sure you know where they are at all time.
Establish a meeting point, so that if any member of the family separates, they can go there and wait until the rest of the group arrives.
5.Travel safely by car
If you are going to rent a car when you arrive at your destination, ask the company to provide all the proper equipments for the safety of children. Baby seats vary according to age so provide to the company all the necessary information.
Do you have any special request for your transfer? Contact us and tell us which are your needs
6.Set rules about the distance allowed to the children
When you reach the destination, explain the children how far they can go, or on the contrary, if they should always remain close. There are places like airports or theme parks where it’s important always to stay close to the rest of the family.
There are other places that are less crowded, but where they can experience risks as well: for example in camping areas or natural parks.
When children are near the water in swimming pools, beaches, lakes, etc. do not leave them never alone,especially if they are very small.
7.Always bring with you a picture of your children
It is advisable to have a picture of each of your kids during the trip. In this way, in case one is lost you can show it and it can be useful to recognize him. As an extra tip, take the picture before leaving the hotel or your accomodation so that you can show an updated pic of the child with the clothes he wears.
8.Identify people who can help
Emergencies may occur at any time. When you arrive, identify the security agencies and other families with children, so that if something happens, the children can ask them for help.Let them know also that in any situation of risk they can shout and attract the attention of  people around them.
9.Make sure your kids know the adress of your hotel/accomodation
If something happen for example during a walk and the children are far from the group, it is important that they know where they are allocated. This is one of the first question that people will ask them.
It is not always possible for them to learn the name and the address of the hotel, in this case you can give them a business card or alternative to write the address on their arms.
There are also bracelets with which you can identify your children and you can indicate on it the parents’ name and the phone number.Remember that children can become lost even inside a big hotel, among the facilities; make sure you always know where they are.
10.Bring with you water and essential food
Every time you leave a place, remember to bring with you enough water for everyone, especially if you are in a hot and sunny place. Dehydration is one of the main risks during vacations. You should be careful even during the winter: in this season a lot of people forget to drink enough liquid because of the cold. If you travel with children who still drink bottle, bring the proper quantity to feed him  because in some places it could be difficult to find infants products. Follow these tips to have a safe vacation with children. Prevention is always the best weapon Many problems during a trip occur because the appropriate measures were not taken.Stay tuned to our blog and we will continue to provide recommendations for your next trips!
This post is also available in: Español (Spanish)