Japan or anywhere overseas with an almost 2 year old - too ambitious?

Hi there
DH and I have a heap of frequent flyers we would like to use for a nice trip before we have babe number 2 . If we go overseas we need to book pretty much 12 months in advance to get the flights we want. By that time Zaccie will almost be 20 months old.
We are both quite interested in Japan and our preliminary research reveals it is pretty easy to get around by train.
We might be able to convince DH's parents to holiday with us as well.
I am wondering how easy travel overseas with an almost 2 year old might be and whether it is really feasible?
My concerns are:
1. Longer haul flights
2. Language barrier
3. Unsettling at this age.
My initial thoughts are it could be doable if:
1. A couple of days at least between travelling from point to point;
2. Only one touristy thing per day for a few hours a day.
Any thoughts from those who have or had children this age and travelled anywhere with them.
TIA
Belinda.

Hi Belinda,

Firstly, Japan is beautiful!!

I don't have kids myself, but flew back from Tokyo just last week and there were 2 kids in front of us (one approx 18 mths old, the other maybe 9 months... not the same family!). It was a 10 hour flight (Melbourne - Narita direct) and both kids seemed to handle it really well. They were seated in the middle of the exit row which had 2 fold-down bassinettes on the wall and both kids slept in them, so I'm guessing they were comfortable! Any time I've been on a plane and people have had kids, the airline staff have been pretty attentive and helpful to the parents.

The language barrier definitely exists, but alot of people do speak at least a little english. I didn't spend much time in Tokyo but seeing as it's a big tourist destination I'm guessing that it'd be pretty user-friendly :)

As for the unsettling aspect for Zaccie, as long as mummy and daddy are there he won't mind where he is :)

HTH

Belinda, I think you should go for it. My DP has been to Japan and one of his close friends has lived there for 8 years. My DP loved the visit there a couple of years ago. I can't wait to go myself actually and we plan to take our daughter travelling for sure.

It's definately our plan, to take Madeleine overseas with us in the future and many times!

Hope you have a lovely time if you decide to go.

We flew to Egypt on holiday when Charlie was 15 months old and I'm not going to say it was easy, but I don't regret it. The difficulties mainly lay in the fact that he was sick on the flight over, so cried for a lot of it, and vomited many times over the 2nd leg, and we had a 12 hour transit in Singapore, which was hell, but once we got to Egypt it was really good. There was a language barrier there too but we managed just fine, and Egypt is a lot less progressive than Japan as far as mod cons, so I reckon you'd find it easier than I had as far as getting around and getting what you need for bub. We look back on the holiday with incredible fondness and am so glad we went.

The flight back was easy peasy too with Charlie sleeping for almost all of the 11 hour flight from Cairo to Singapore, and most of the flight from Singapore to Perth, so it wasn't all bad news for the long haul flights. I was stubborn and didn't take something to help bub sleep, and if I had to do it again, I would definitely get something to bring along, but all in all, the flights there was the worst thing about the trip, and not as significant in the scheme of things now in hindsight.

Good luck and have a great trip!

I have been to a lot of places, and Japan remains one of my favourite. I lived there for a year and think it is a truly amazing place. There is so much beauty and culture - and don't get me started on the food - YUM!!

Hi there

We took DD to Hawaii when she was 18 months old and had a blast. She took 12 flights in 10 days including all the small interisland flights. Longhaul was from Perth-Sydney-Hawaii. If you can have minimum stopovers we found that works best - usually once the kids are up in the air they are fine.

Last year we took both kids (DD was just under 4 and DS was 14 months) to parts of Eastern Europe for 2 months. Language barrier was not an issue - people tried talking to our kids in their language and they just nodded or in Alexs case - chattered back. We would spend the whole day out doing touristy things and as long as every now and then we stopped for DS to have a good walk out of the pram he was fine. Another essential was to make sure that each day we stopped for a "good hearty" lunch. It was a good chance to have a break and a stretch and refuel as well. The kids altho not always interested in the sights we were looking at always had more then enough to keep them occupied - sometimes I think they must have had sensory overload from all the new sights, sounds and smells. :lol:

If you can get a midnight flight back I really recommend it - DS slept for 7 hours straight from Dubai to Perth cause we flew out at 2 am. Also if you can afford to splurge and pay for a seat for your son I would recommend that too. Nothing worse then having a squirming toddler on your lap for a long time and you cannot count on seats being empty on an international flight - almost always full.:rolleyes: We have always paid for seats for both our children even if they are under 2 - it just makes it more comfortable for everyone.

Re unsettling, as long as the child has a few familiar items - teddy, toys etc they will be fine. I always take an unwashed blanket from their cot at home - that way it has their familiar smell on it.

HTH and you have fun planning. :D

Just wrt Japan - pretty much everyone speaks english ( they learn it as a compulsory subject from primary school through uni)...certainly all the staff in hotels and major tourist attractions apeak it. and train system is excellent, although very crowded so a carrier would be best over a pusher.
Japan is an awesome experience, just be careful what ou eat if you are pregnant ;)
Plus it is a non-stop flight to Nagoya and Tokya too from melbourne (about 10 hours or so) and only a 1 hour (behind) time Difference, so it probably wont be too unsettling for Zaccie's routine. AND he will love it - all the people and lights and smells and colours - very colourful!! - he will think it is just wonderful :)
so I reckon you should go for it!

I have been living overseas for the last few years (switzerland) and have traveled home every year. My daughter is now two and has already been to australia 3 times. I have to addmit it wasnt easy the time I traveled alone with her, but the other times when my husband came too, it wasnt so bad, we took turns. The thought of only having to travel 7 hours for me is bliss, I find My baby only starts to get restless after 6 hours, oh and a good tip is if you can take a night flight :)
Have fun on your travels

Jessy

I'll be watching this thread with interest!

We are going to Thailand for 2 weeks in June with DD who will be 26months by then. We did a test flight to Perth last month and I agree that if you can get a seat for your child it will be a lot easier!! On the way over to Perth DD was awake and was good for about 2 hours, before we had to bring out the laptop with the Dora dvd! On the way home we had a midnight flight and she slept the whole way (stretched across the seat so Mummy & Daddy had no sleep at all) but it was so much better having a seat for her.

What are your thoughts on travel to Bali with a one year old?
I am concerned about health safety (getting tummy bugs - not so much me or husband but bub)
also travel - getting to and from places.....
Has anyone been there?
Thanks!xx:lol::lol:

I've travelled to Bali a fair bit but I don't have kids (yet). I think it should be fine for your 12 month old. I'm planning on taking our little one when he/she is about 12mths old.

In terms of hygiene, almost all places to eat are fine and you can tell if a place is dodgy. Wash hands before after and during eating and well basically doing anything lol just to be sure. I take aqium antibacterial gel over so it is easy peasy. Its basically the same things that you do anywhere but just be a bit more vigilant. Drink lots of water but none from the tap. Locals can't drink the water either so they're not going to make you and water is very cheap and readily available.

The Balinese culture is heavily focussed on family and they just adore children. You will be welcomed anywhere and everywhere and they will do everything they can to make sure you and your little one are comfortable. Food wise - I know lots of families take some Aussie food over with them for kids. There is no fresh milk so it's just uht. But you can find most things at the massive supermarket like Carrefour (ie fresh bread, juice, fruit, cereal etc). You can get accommodation that is semi self contained which means you don't get a fancy breaky buffet set up for you but I reckon it'd be great for families. You can always go out and eat breaky somewhere but it's nice to stay in and sort yourself out sometimes I think.

Make sure you have insurance and know the address and number for the BIMC (Bali international medical centre). My little cousin ran into a sign when she was just 5 and had a massive cut to her head. My aunty freaked out but found the BIMC (who stitched her up) to be very clean and good. My mum recently had a turn over there and collapsed due to low blood pressure and exhaustion (obviously needed the holiday!). She was put in an ambulance and taken to BIMC also, she was very impressed with the facilities.

I'd also recommend perhaps buying a cheap stroller to take over and then leaving it there (give it to a family over there) so you don't have to use baggage weight bringing it back. Prams get really hot. The footpaths are uneven and will no doubt do damage to pram wheels. you want something that you can lift easily and collapses easy into the back of a taxi. In regards to transport, you will walk lots and catch taxis. Taxis wont have car seats. If you hire a driver, which you will definitely do at some point, research before you go and get the details of recommended drivers with child restraints/seats as there are a lot that won't have them.

Have a look, and post any questions on Bali travel forum dot com. They're a wealth of knowledge and between all if those bali nuts will have everything you want to know. :)

So all in all I think bali is a very family friendly holiday destination. If you take the usual precautions you will be fine. Sorry for the essay, I just love Bali and think everyone should go at least once (but not while I'm there or it's too busy lol). Hope it helps.

Don't forget the sunscreen!


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