Is Family Global Travel with Kids Safe?

In this blog, we will answer the question "Is travelling with kids safe?" We will answer as honestly as we can and provide insights and tips for families venturing into the world of travel with their little ones.

Our answers will be based lots of previous short term travel but mostly on our last 10 months of long term travel around South East Asia. It’s not just about safety but also how you can try and make travel fun and less stressful for both you and the children.

And by the way, we think travel with kids is safe & worth the risk given all the benefits!

• Broadening Horizons: Travel exposes children to many different cultures and languages, nurturing open-mindedness, tolerance and acceptance.  It broadens their perspectives.

• Building character:  Exposure to diverse environments and experiences can improve their social skills, stimulate their curiosity, creativity and critical thinking abilities.

• The world is their classroom: It encourages a love for learning, exploring and problem solving.  Visiting historical sites, museums, and natural wonders can ignite curiosity and enhance learning beyond the traditional classroom.  Children have the opportunity to witness history come to life and develop a deeper appreciation for the sheer diversity in this world?

• Family Bonding: Shared experiences and quality time spent together during travel strengthens family bonds.  This has been particularly important for us over the last 10 months.

As a large family, we are also lucky that travel with siblings provides constant companionship and the children entertain each other, fostering sibling bonds and shared experiences.  Although that’s a double edged sword when they play up and start getting on each other’s nerves!!

We have built a checklist which we think you will find useful.  Hopefully it will give you peace of mind and make travels smooth and safe with your kids.  It’s a long list and one you may not entirely agree.  You may not think some of them are important to you but better to have considered it before dismissing it.  In some of the points below, we have had to learn their importance the hard way.  Hindsight is a wonderful thing!

Research your chosen destination and accommodation thoroughly, considering factors such as safety records, healthcare facilities, weather patterns and kid-friendly attractions and excursions.  Carry essential items such as comfortable clothing, snacks, toys and entertainment options to keep the kids engaged during the journey.

Ensure all necessary travel documents, including passports and visas, are valid and up to date for each family member. Make copies and store them separately in case of loss or theft. Don’t overstay on your visa! We learned this the hard way as we overstayed by one day in Indonesia and had to pay a fine of 400GBP!!

Teaching children about personal safety is crucial. Set clear boundaries and rules, emphasising the importance of staying together in public places and avoiding interactions with strangers unless you are with them. Teach your children how to recognize and seek help from trusted adults or authorities when needed.

Develop a plan for unexpected situations, such as getting lost or separated, and ensure that everyone knows emergency contact information. You can do this by putting identification tags or bracelets on them with their names, contact details, and any relevant medical information in case they get separated from you.

Despite all that, you should still always keep supervising them. Keep a watchful eye on your children at all times, especially in crowded places or unfamiliar environments. This is so VERY important. We lost Skyla and Aniyah last week at Legoland and we ended up getting a call from their security office asking to come and collect them. Dionne and I are now taking this personal safety tip much more seriously.

Whether you're travelling by air, land, or sea, being safe as you travel is essential. Before booking flights or any other means of transport, research reputable companies with good safety records. Ensure that car seats or appropriate restraints are available and correctly installed for younger children. Encourage seatbelt use for older children and emphasise the importance of following safety guidelines during travel

Keep familiar routines for mealtimes, sleep schedules, & playtime can provide a sense of stability across changing environments.

Shield your children from the intense South East Asian sun by applying sunscreen, dressing them in lightweight, protective clothing, and ensuring they wear hats and sunglasses. This won’t always be possible but do take regular breaks into air conditioned buildings. Keep water on you at all times and constantly encourage them to drink water regularly. We don’t take this lightly out here in SE Asia and have been really good with this and on the whole, the kids have always fared well but we have seen other families not do so well with kids getting sunstroke or passing out.

Both can be dangerous if you are not vigilant. Even a pool. Stating the obvious here but most pools don’t have lifeguards so its your responsibility to watch your children, even the good swimmers can get in trouble. On beaches, there are many dangers. Watch the flags lifeguards use to inform you of what the currents are like and where not to swim. Kids love playing in caves and rockpools. If they do, we advise you go play with them and keep watch. Keep an eye out for stuff in the seas such as urchins and jellyfish.

Where possible, be careful with where you choose to go to eat and drink. It’s difficult when you are travelling and constantly moving around as you want to discover new places and try new food. Trust your instincts. Stick to bottled water wherever possible. Some countries are ok such as Malaysia where you can drink tap water.

Try not to ask for ice in your glass if you can’t be sure the water in the ice has come from a clean source. Careful with salad on your plate as again, the water used to wash it may also not be clean. Keeping practices such as regular handwashing and asking for safe food handling is very important and can definitely help prevent illnesses.

Although the internet tells you to ensure all family members are up-to-date with vaccinations. What they don’t tell you is that in some home countries, this can cost thousands especially if you have a big family like ours! We decided that it was too expensive to have EVERY single recommended vaccination and chose only the ones which we considered to be most important which were related to personal hygiene and food and water contamination.

This was our personal choice but it may not be yours. For the jabs we didn’t take up, they were mostly related to mosquito carrying diseases. All we can say on this is always try and use insect repellent and wear clothing that will cover you up and key biting times such as dawn or dusk. Another area to be careful with are animals. Especially the ones you can get up close and personal with. We have been to various petting zoos and made friends with so many stray cats and dogs. Kobie has twice caught some form of tapeworm from making friends with stray dogs!!

Depending on where you are going, always carry a basic first-aid kit for minor injuries or illnesses. You never know when you might need it. We have used it quite a bit for cuts mainly as the Arshad kids don’t like staying still … or wearing footwear!!!

Carry a reliable mobile phone with a local SIM to stay connected and reach out for help if needed. Always have useful info saved on your phone in case you need to urgently use it and password protect it if it’s sensitive. Install relevant travel apps for emergency information, local maps, and language translation assistance. Also always carry a power bank to make sure your phone is always charged. Technology is such a valuable tool for ensuring family safety while travelling.

Adjusting to new time zones can be challenging for children. If you can, gradually shift their sleep schedules before the trip and encourage outdoor activities during the day to help them adjust faster.

In our opinion, travelling with kids is safe and immensely rewarding. The benefits outweigh the risks.  By taking necessary precautions, prioritising safety, and planning thoughtfully, families can embark on incredible journeys that nurture their children's growth and create cherished memories. So, pack your bags, buckle up, and get ready to discover the world with your little explorers!

We hope you have found our blog useful.   If you have tips to share or would like to comment on this blog, we would love to hear from you.  And don’t forget to follow and support our journey.  We would love that.  You can catch us on the usual socials.  Click on the links at the top of the website.