It's not even February and I'm already planning our first family vacation abroad. Although, I would have had plenty of days to chill out in January and February due to my BIL's wedding receptions in Singapore and Penang, Thaipusam, City Day and the upcoming CNY celebrations, I still need a proper vacation to revitalize, renergize and recharge my soul. The last 2 years have been rather hectic for us especially with Jeremy's arrival and Brain's constant overseas business travelling. Our breaks in between have far and few and most of trips have been centred around Malaysia and Singapore.
We started thinking about the possible vacation destinations as early as November last year and Brain had this crazy idea that we should go to Hawaii for a week with a layover in Japan since the entire plane journey is more than 14 hours! Jeremy's fine with a 4 hour car ride and doesn't fuss that much until the last 1 hour but a 14 hour plane ride is really something else.
We then looked at the possible destinations closer to home - Phuket, Bali, Siam Reap, Saigon - Doesn't sound like toddler friendly places and besides, Brain decided he wants to go somewhere cold. Which is why we've decided to go to Sydney, Down Under in May since that's the only time that both of us can take our leave. ( I can hear Brain sighing "Not Again" - since he has been Down Under almost every year either for work or vacation)
We are planning to fly out to Singapore and try out the only commercial Airbus A380 in the world currently in service on the route between Sydney and Singapore. Besides, we have compared the cost of the flight tickets offered by SIA and MAS and the former is still much cheaper by RM1,000 bucks! It's a 7 hr 30 min flight to Sydney and I'm still really not sure what to expect when it comes to travelling onboard planes with toddlers. KittyCat has given some useful tips and hints on how to keep a small child occupied during a long flight but knowing Jeremy's span of attention these days, it's going to be hard to keep a toddler still on a long flight despite all the toys, colouring books and nooks and cranny around the plane to keep him entertained. He could either raise hell or charm the pants off the flight attendants and passengers - my guess is that he would be the former.
I've been told that booking a night flight would be better than a day flight as they would naturally fall asleep after tiring themselves out during the day. Someone even suggested giving a mild sedative but I'm just not entirely comfortable with the idea of drugging a child with prescription medication so that everyone can have some peace and quiet during a flight. I mean look what it did to Heath Ledger.
Also I haven't quite figure out what to do during the ascent and descent of the aircraft when his ears ache and pop. Mine ache really badly during the every descent as I suffer from a bad sinus problem every since I was little. Not sure what else to do but to give him water I guess - and that's if he wants to drink it.
Also, I figured that instead of booking a hotel room, we will be taking up residency in a service apartment equipped with all the facilities that I need to have as I will be whipping up nutritious home-cooked porridge for Jeremy. I dun want him to eat too much restaurant food which is full of sodium and other seasoning ingredients. The other thing I haven't figure yet is what do I do when he needs to go potty? I can't exactly bring his potty all the way Oz. Maybe I should really start training him to use the adult toilet by using the toddler size seat on it.
I guess there a lot of things to think of when one intends to take a toddler on an overseas vacation. Any great tips out there to make a plane trip a pleasant journey for the little tyke is most welcome.
We started thinking about the possible vacation destinations as early as November last year and Brain had this crazy idea that we should go to Hawaii for a week with a layover in Japan since the entire plane journey is more than 14 hours! Jeremy's fine with a 4 hour car ride and doesn't fuss that much until the last 1 hour but a 14 hour plane ride is really something else.
We then looked at the possible destinations closer to home - Phuket, Bali, Siam Reap, Saigon - Doesn't sound like toddler friendly places and besides, Brain decided he wants to go somewhere cold. Which is why we've decided to go to Sydney, Down Under in May since that's the only time that both of us can take our leave. ( I can hear Brain sighing "Not Again" - since he has been Down Under almost every year either for work or vacation)
We are planning to fly out to Singapore and try out the only commercial Airbus A380 in the world currently in service on the route between Sydney and Singapore. Besides, we have compared the cost of the flight tickets offered by SIA and MAS and the former is still much cheaper by RM1,000 bucks! It's a 7 hr 30 min flight to Sydney and I'm still really not sure what to expect when it comes to travelling onboard planes with toddlers. KittyCat has given some useful tips and hints on how to keep a small child occupied during a long flight but knowing Jeremy's span of attention these days, it's going to be hard to keep a toddler still on a long flight despite all the toys, colouring books and nooks and cranny around the plane to keep him entertained. He could either raise hell or charm the pants off the flight attendants and passengers - my guess is that he would be the former.
I've been told that booking a night flight would be better than a day flight as they would naturally fall asleep after tiring themselves out during the day. Someone even suggested giving a mild sedative but I'm just not entirely comfortable with the idea of drugging a child with prescription medication so that everyone can have some peace and quiet during a flight. I mean look what it did to Heath Ledger.
Also I haven't quite figure out what to do during the ascent and descent of the aircraft when his ears ache and pop. Mine ache really badly during the every descent as I suffer from a bad sinus problem every since I was little. Not sure what else to do but to give him water I guess - and that's if he wants to drink it.
Also, I figured that instead of booking a hotel room, we will be taking up residency in a service apartment equipped with all the facilities that I need to have as I will be whipping up nutritious home-cooked porridge for Jeremy. I dun want him to eat too much restaurant food which is full of sodium and other seasoning ingredients. The other thing I haven't figure yet is what do I do when he needs to go potty? I can't exactly bring his potty all the way Oz. Maybe I should really start training him to use the adult toilet by using the toddler size seat on it.
I guess there a lot of things to think of when one intends to take a toddler on an overseas vacation. Any great tips out there to make a plane trip a pleasant journey for the little tyke is most welcome.
3 comments:
Hope you figured out your destination already LOL Yeah, all of you can sleep peacefully if the flight coincides with his sleep time! All the best =)
dun worry la. Jeremy is nearly the same age as jayden. We've been to Phuket, Bangkok & Spore last year. He was okay all the way. Just bring what comforts him the most and that's about it. Cannot think too much otherwise it will be a headache vacation for u guys.
Night flight is the best, if possible get it.
Agree with Sasha, just take his favourite book/blanket/toys and everything should be fine.
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