Travelling with kids can be an educating and exciting activity, which brings a lot of joy, discovery, and learning experiences for the kids. However, bringing kids out on travels can also entail a bit of chaos, as it involves navigating bustling airports and constant need for entertainment and activities to keep everyone happy on the trip. In other words, travelling with kids can both be rewarding and a challenge. Being prepared is key for parents taking the family travelling.
The airport hustle: How to manage the chaos
Getting through the airport and making the flight is a challenge that should not be downplayed: Making sure everyone gets their stuff checked in, nothing is left behind or has been packed wrongly, and getting from A to B in large airports can be a hassle, on top of the already existing stressful environment that is an airport. Throwing kids into this mix brings a new level of difficulty. Kids often also means parents dealing with baggage, strollers, passports, and potentially also some temper tantrums along the way.
Luckily for parents, not all airports are created equal, which means that some airports have ensured more family-friendly facilities. Some of the best airports in Europe has ensured that travelling with kids becomes bearable. Number one on the list is Istanbul airport, which offers the perfect blend of efficiency, comfort, and quality services. Second on the list is Porto airport, which has a huge focus on customer satisfaction. On third, fourth, and fifth place you will find Athens airport, Prague airport, and Zurich airport, which all offers great shopping opportunities, and great connections around the airport. Opting for these airports can therefore ease the family travel situation for parents going on a trip.
Best tips for a smooth airport experience
Surviving the airport experience with kids contains preparation. The more prepared you are for the situation and potential scenarios, the smoother the experience will be. The best and most significant way to embrace this experience is by arriving early. With the extra time, you will provide yourself with a time buffer, which gives you more time and less stress through security checks, and the potential unexpected delays that can arise.
A crucial survival tip is to keep the kids occupied. By ensuring they always have entertainment, whether that being small toys, colouring books, or snacks, you buy yourself some concentration time to navigate the airport. In addition, ensure that you leverage the family-friendly services in the airports. Many airports on the list offers priority security lines for families, so you can avoid long waits. Furthermore, research kid-friendly amenities such as playground, kid-friendly restaurants, and bathrooms with changing tables (if you need this for your kid), so you know where to go in case you need the extra service.
Speaking of family-friendly airports…
If you are planning a family getaway, and you would like to plan your holiday around the smooth experience of a good airport, you could consider Porto as a travel destination. Seeing that Porto airport is second best in Europe, you will be off to a good start when you arrive in the country. Additionally, Porto is a family-friendly city to visit, offering a great variation of history, architecture, and great food. There are many great kid-friendly activities in the city. One is the World of Discoveries, which is an interactive museum. Here, visitors can travel back in time to the Age of Exploration, the time when Portugal’s explorers navigated around the globe.
If your family contain book lovers, then visiting Livraria Lello is a must. It is one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world, and rumour has it that is inspired J.K. Rowling’s depiction of Hogwarts. In Porto, you will also find many beaches which provides hours of outdoor fun. If the outdoor is popular among the kids, then Serralves Park and Museum is a great spot to spend many hours. This park and museum contain beautiful gardens, walking paths, and a Treetop Walk.
Why Porto works so well for families
It is not only a great variety of kid-friendly attractions and activities, which makes Porto a great place for families. Porto is also an affordable destination, which is a huge plus for families. Both hotels and other types of accommodations are reasonably priced, and many often also offer family-friendly amenities. In addition, dining out is affordable, and the local cuisine offers many new flavours, even for the adventurous little eaters.
A big advantage of choosing Porto as your next family trip destination is the laid-back pace of life in the city. Where other bigger cities in Europe quickly becomes fast-paced and busy, Porto is less overwhelming. This makes it less stressful for families when exploring the streets of the city. Furthermore, the city has a compact size, which means less walking for little legs.
Concluding remarks
All respect to parents spending the time and energy on bringing the whole family on trips. Even though travelling with kids is a great way to create memories and educate kids in different cultures, it can also be a stressful experience. However, with the right preparation, especially when it comes to the airport experience, and picking the right family-friendly locations will make the travel experience smoother.
