Greetings from the National Park! Happy 150th Anniversary to Canada!
I love travelling. Since Mochi was born, we have been on 7 flight trips together. However, travelling with kids could be tiring and pricey if not done right. It may be easy to skip travelling all together or travel without kid. But time spent travelling with kids is such quality memory that would be treasured by the whole family for life. How to continue travelling frequently with kids?
- AirBnb or equivalent: When we stay a city for longer than 2 days, Airbnb is usually our choice of accommodation. In our Airbnb search, we usually pick an "entire apartment" with laundry facilities. We add parking if we rented a car. You get all sort of amenities (e.g. kitchen, laundry) that wouldn't be available in a hotel. You can cook simple meals to enjoy local produce you may otherwise miss out if living in a hotel without kitchen. You get a bedroom and separate living area, which is great for enjoying a glass of wine while the kids are sleeping. How else can you get a glimpse of local life without having a close personal friend in town?
We have had great Airbnb experience so far and hoping one day I can contribute back to that community!
- Picnic: Picnic is a fabulous idea when travelling with kids. Just grab and picnic blanket, a few plates or boxes, some fresh produce, cheese, bread, wine, you name it. Kids can run freely on the grass while you enjoy in peace.
Best way to enjoy a country
- Attractions for kids: There are many attractions that I would not visit if not for Mochi. Like the playgrounds and certain museums. However, not only do toddlers and kids visit for free or discount, those attractions are actually great places for me to experience a new country - like seeing how parents interact with their kids or learning about the history of the city.
Kid friendly attractions
- Bring your own car seat: Not all destinations is driving-friendly. We used to utilise public transportation on trips pre-Mochi. But Mochi is a napping toddler, and getting heavier by the day. To save precioua travelling time, we rented a car on some trips (like Okinawa, Banff, Naantali of Finland). Car rental companies charge you by day on items like Car seat. At US$10-50 a day, the cost adds up. We bought a light and cheap car seat just for this purpose. If you are travelling with the kid, (most) airlines check-in your car seat for free. We easily recovered the cost of the car seat after 1 trip.
Country specific tips
Kid friendly Helsinki, Finland
- Free lunch in Helsinki: Travelling with Mochi to Helsinki, I learn first-hand that Finland cares about children. During summer break, children get free lunches at Helsinki playgrounds! We happened to be at a playground waiting for a nearby restaurant to open. An Finnish-American mother invited Mochi to join her kids to wait for the free lunch. It is a light but healthy wholesome lunch.
Free lunch for kids every summer at specific parks in Helsinki
- Free public transport in Helsinki: Public transport is free for adult travelling with a 0-6 year-old kid with a stroller/pram.
- Free rides at amusement park: At Linnamaki in Helsinki, some rides are free of charge regardless of age (although some has height limit). Mochi was exhausted before we even finished all the free rides. We all had a blast!
Seoul, South Korea
- Seoul Children's Grand Park also has some free rides for kids under certain age / height. However, there are more restrictions. We didn't get to enjoy it as much.
Do you have some favourite kid trip destinations or saving tips for travelling with kids?
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