Travel Tips with children – it can be fun

Long car journeys are hard to handle for most children. Keep them in a good mood on the back seat, with snacks, an audio book, playing cards and plenty of breaks. Ideally you should set off early in the morning or in the evening – and hope that the kids will sleep for a few more hours. Drive outside of rush hours, so that you avoid traffic holdups as much as possible. And pack an emergency bag in case you have to spend the night somewhere en route.

Traveling by train is very similar to the car: You are stuck sitting in a restricted space and the landscape is flying past outside. But in an open-plan railroad car, every little conflict has an audience. In most long-distance trains you can reserve seats in a compartment – or even book seats in the family zones. Then you will be less conspicuous when changing full diapers, reading out fairy tales or singing children's songs. By the way, you will travel with much less stress between 9 am and 4 pm, because there will be hardly any commuters on the train.

Most children think flying is great – but not getting up at four in the morning. Let your kids sleep in the clothes they'll be traveling in, it will save you time. Include an extra hour in your timetable, then you won’t have to drag the kids through the check-in lounge like stubborn mules. And stay cool when your two-year-olds throw themselves to the ground in a tantrum at the gate: It may well be that 200 people get to witness it. But 100 of them are thinking, "I've been through that myself”, and another 50 are thinking, "I was just like that." The only one who is getting upset is you.

A travel insurance covers cancellation costs if a child unexpectedly falls ill and pays for repatriation in case of an accident in the travel destination. Assistance protects you in case of breakdowns, and you can insure your luggage through household insurance. If you include super theft, the insurance even pays for necessary replacement luggage if your suitcase is mistakenly sent to another location.