Travelling is always great, but when the family is complete - with the couple and children - there are many more responsibilities and things to think about, in other words, it's not just putting a backpack on your back and going out like it was when you were single.
The fact is that travelling abroad with children is not something to be avoided, but rather planned and carried out given the good that this practice can do for children, being fundamental in the cultural development of the little ones and in the relationship with their parents, strengthening family ties. After all, travelling always strengthens family ties and brings people closer together.
On the other hand, it is necessary to keep an eye on the various procedures that parents should take before travelling abroad with children. With this in mind, we at Happy Tours have put together a checklist and some tips on travel itineraries for children so that everything goes as smoothly as possible on your next trip! Read on:
Pre-trip checklist: documentation!
Before even setting foot on the road, some precautions are essential when travelling with minors. There are some differences for national and international trips, as well as similarities. Shall we learn a little more?
1. Start with personal documents and travel authorisation
Children travelling with their mother and father must present their personal documents, either an identity card or birth certificate, in addition to their passport, of course.
However, if the children are travelling in the company of other adults in the family, it is necessary to provide a notarised authorisation, which documents the permission and awareness of the parents in relation to the trip. In the case of divorced parents, the authorization must also be notarized or granted in court, since it is necessary to have the consent of the parent who will not be participating in the trip.
This authorisation must be presented even if the parents present themselves at the boarding check-in, at the time of travel, and is aimed solely at protecting the child in both national and international transit by road or air.
Extra tip: teenagers over 16 years old can travel alone, but they also need an express document of release.
Authorization forms (when not judicial), can be found on the website of the Court of Justice of your State (for national trips) and on the website of the Federal Police (for international trips).
2. Your child doesn't have a passport yet? Find out how to get one!
The procedures for issuing passports for minors are simple and can be done without great expense and bureaucracy, since this is a document issued by the Federal Police.
To carry out the procedure, you need to go to one of the posts of the PF with the Authorization of Issue of Passport, and in two distinct moments:
- to take the fingerprints and make the photo of the minor;
- to withdraw the passport ready.
It is clear that, in these two dates, the minor under 16 years old or non-emancipated must be accompanied by parents or legal guardians. Moreover, only on the first visit to the Federal Police it is necessary to bring the Authorization Form for Passport Issuance.
The documents required to remove the passport are: Identity Card, CPF and the Birth Certificate, besides filling out the application on the Federal Police website, pay the fee and schedule the date of service.
3. And the visa, is it up to date?
In the case of international trips, it is necessary that the parents check the country of destination and if it has any regulations regarding tourist visas. In this case, the passport alone will not be sufficient for the stay on foreign soil.
It seems silly to point out this tip, but believe me: the American authorities, for example, are very strict in relation to this requirement and foreigners without this documentation are deported. You don't want to ruin your trip and your children's holidays for a silly thing, do you?
4. Are the vaccinations correct?
In the same line of reasoning as the previous item, some countries also do not require a vaccination card, but others have it as a requirement. This tip is for both parents and children: having the vaccination up to date and having with you the vaccination card of all family members present on the trip avoids the risk of being stopped at the destination country or any connection.
And on arrival at the destination, what should I worry about with the children?
If all the previous tips were followed sparingly, the children can now cheer up: the fun will begin! However, as every care is too little, know that on family trips comfort and convenience are as important as a complete itinerary of places to visit.
With that in mind, we believe that you, the genitor, are thinking of renting a car for the displacements at the destination. We have a super important tip:
If you are hiring a car, remember the car seat!
Travelling abroad is a dream, and regardless of the country you have chosen to spend your holidays in, there are of course countless tourist spots that you have certainly researched beforehand and will certainly want to visit.
But, as there are many places to visit and almost always they are not close to each other, renting a vehicle is always the best option, even more for those who are travelling with children, who do not have the habit of walking much and get tired more easily.
Traveling with the whole family requires a practical, comfortable and time-saving means of transportation so that the whole family can enjoy the destination much more. For those who have small children or grandchildren, the car seat is already part of their daily lives.
The use of car seats by children is a practice that is so important that it should also be applied abroad, since most countries have strict laws regarding this factor. Besides the legislation, we are talking about the safety and well-being of the little ones, aren't we?
It is therefore important to check with the company you are booking your car with to see if they have the car seat for hire or if it needs to be provided by other means. In addition, it is important to evaluate the cost-benefit and compare which option is more worthwhile.
The best car rental companies usually hire child seats for children and the price varies between 10 and 20 dollars. The best car rental companies usually work with child car seat rentals and the price varies from around US$10 to US$20. You should choose the most suitable model according to the size and age of the child, as well as knowing how to install the car seat correctly and safely.
Travel routes for children
Now that parents know what precautions to take with their little ones when it comes to international travel, let's show some of the most chosen destinations to make children's dreams come true!
1. Walt Disney World Orlando - Florida/USA
Florida is undoubtedly one of the American states that receives the most foreigners, and among them children are in the majority. In this location is the paradise of fantasy and imagination: Disney!
Reserve at least a week (7 days) to get to know the whole Disney complex, given its size and immensity of options. Furthermore, it is necessary to respect the children's body limits, and this time will give them the appropriate pace . It is also important to know what the weather is like in Orlando.
Disney Orlando has a few theme parks, and one per day is recommended so that the thematic and gastronomic attractions can be well enjoyed. The 7 most visited parks are:
- Magic Kingdom Orlando Disney Park;
- Disney Epcot Orlando Park;
- Disney Hollywood Studios Orlando Park;
- Disney Animal Kingdom Orlando park;
- Universal Studios Park;
- Islands of Adventure Park Orlando;
- Sea World Park;
- Bush Gardens Park;
- Legoland (40 minutes away from Orlando, so having a car is essential to not depend on transfers).
Don't know Orlando? Write down our 10 tips for those going to Orlando for the first time! Already visited? Then check out our tips on different destinations to discover in Florida.
To learn more about car rental in Florida, we always recommend Happy Tours!
2. Parc Disneyland Paris - Île de France/FRA
Still focused on the biggest destination requested by children, we have Disney France, in Europe. The complex follows the same pattern as Disney's sister parks, and consists of 2 theme parks, plus hotels and shopping and dining villages.
The two parks are:
- Disneyland Park: castles, shows and classic attractions;
- Walt Disney Studios Park: toys and interactive studios;
And about this visit, we have an important tip! Take your tour in an anti-clockwise direction: walk on the left-hand side of Sleeping Beauty Castle so that you will find shorter queues at the attractions and the children will not have to wait long for their turn. This is the direction to go: Discoveryland > Fantasyland > Adventureland > Frontierland.
Again, car hire will enable parents to enjoy Europe in its entirety, driving to Disney Paris and still being able to enjoy the outskirts of Paris on other days. Cool, isn't it?
3. Toronto - Province of Ontario/CA
It may not sound very usual, but have you ever thought of taking the kids to Canada? There are some attractions there that are just as amazing as the ones at Disney, and these are for more adventurous children!
If parents have to make a business trip to Canada, taking the children can be a good idea, because the destination has super cool tours! Want to know which ones? Take a look:
- Ripley's Aquarium of Canada: Toronto's oceanarium is incredible! Children will feel as if they are walking into the sea!
- Canada's Wonderland: the largest theme park in Canada, with 17 roller coasters of different sizes and for different ages, Snoppy's reservation and much more;
- Toronto Zoo: have you ever thought of taking the little ones to the largest and most carefully kept zoo in Canada? it is far from the city centre, which is why public transportation or car rental is recommended!
So, was this content useful for you? Tell us in the comments what you thought. And if you want to stay tuned in to everything that involves travelling and renting cars abroad, the Happy Tours blog is, without a doubt, the right one for you. Continue enjoying all our content by subscribing to our newsletter!
