Mums do travel

Travel with and without teens

  • Home
  • Destination
    • UK
      • London
      • Kent
      • Northern Ireland
      • Wales
      • Elsewhere
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Croatia
      • France
      • Gibraltar
      • Greece
      • Hungary
      • Italy
      • Netherlands
      • Norway
      • Portugal
      • Russia
      • Spain
      • Turkey
    • North America
      • USA
      • Canada
      • Carribean
      • Costa Rica
    • Africa
      • South Africa
      • Tunisia
    • Asia
      • Thailand
      • Bali
      • Singapore
    • Australia
  • Inspiration
    • Things to do in…
    • Things to do in London…
    • Where to stay
    • Language learning
    • Family travel interviews
    • The journey
    • Recipes
  • Published in
  • About
  • Contact
  • Travel shop
Home / Tips & ideas / Travel advice

How to pack for hand luggage only: 11 top tips

November 2, 2019 by Gretta Schifano 4 Comments

Hand luggage-only packing tips

If you think that you’d never manage to travel with just hand luggage, this post is for you. Until I was forced to travel with only one small bag, I didn’t think that I’d be able to do it – but I’d never really tried to. And then I was booked on a flight with […]

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Categories: Travel advice, What to pack
Tags: backpack, Cabin bag, luggage

Which vaccinations do I need for Thailand?

August 1, 2019 by Gretta Schifano Leave a Comment

Which travel jabs are needed for Thailand?

If you’re planning a trip to Thailand you may be wondering what to do about travel vaccinations and antimalarial tablets. Before my Thailand holiday with my husband and two teenage children, I researched which jabs we needed, and whether or not we should take antimalarial medication. A few people have asked about what we did, […]

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Categories: Thailand, Travel advice
Tags: antimalarials, travel jabs

The one where I claim flight compensation

April 7, 2019 by Gretta Schifano 2 Comments

Airport departure board. Copyright Gretta Schifano

When my flight from London to New York was cancelled, I was rebooked on a flight the following day, from a different airport. On my return, I claimed compensation for the cancellation. I’m sharing how I did this here, in case it’s helpful for you. This is what happened. The closer it got to our […]

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Categories: Finances, The journey, Travel advice

Travelling with a child who has anxiety: advice for parents

October 19, 2018 by Gretta Schifano 8 Comments

Travelling with an anxious child

I have to start by saying that, luckily for me, I don’t have anxiety issues. I’m writing this from the perspective of parenting a child who does, and of seeing what works for my family and for others. What is anxiety? We all feel anxious sometimes, for example if we’re starting a new job, or […]

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Categories: Parenting teens, Teens, Travel advice
Tags: anxiety disorder, mental health

8 reasons why families need to sit together on flights

May 25, 2018 by Gretta Schifano 7 Comments

8 reasons why families need to sit together on flights

Apparently one in five airline passengers are separated from their travel companions if they don’t pay to choose their seat. On some airlines (I’m looking at you, Ryanair) more like one in three people are split up from their mates or family. Unless you prefer not to sit with your friends and relations, this is […]

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Categories: The journey, Travel advice
Tags: flight safety, Ryanair, seating charges

How to go Interrailing when you’re a teenager

March 23, 2018 by Izzy Schifano Leave a Comment

Train, Porto, Portugal. Copyright Gretta Schifano

This post is by my daughter, Izzy, who went Interrailing two years ago. It was the first time that she’d travelled abroad without an adult and I was a bit fretty about it, but it was a great experience for her. I wrote a post about how I felt when she left: What to do when your teen goes travelling for the first time. […]

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Categories: City, Teens, The journey, Travel advice
Tags: Gap year travel, train travel

10 easy ways to use less plastic and help save the world

March 16, 2018 by Gretta Schifano 1 Comment

Plastic waste in sea. Image from Pixabay.

Plastic is an endlessly versatile and useful product. It’s found all over the place, from supermarket carrier bags and food packaging to contact lenses and clothing. But the cost of our dependence on plastic is huge. Millions of tons of plastic waste end up in our seas every year, and it can be fatal to […]

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Categories: Travel advice
Tags: recycling

The one where I decide to apply for Italian citizenship

December 8, 2017 by Gretta Schifano 20 Comments

Houses in Cinque Terre, Italy. Copyright Gretta Schifano

This week I started the process of applying for Italian citizenship and passports for me and for our two children. I’m sharing my experience here in case it’s helpful to you. But please bear in mind that I have no expertise in this area, and I’m not in any way telling you how to do […]

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Categories: Brexit, Travel advice
Tags: Brexit, EU, Passports

Family holiday planning checklist

November 16, 2017 by Gretta Schifano 3 Comments

Suitcases packed. Copyright Gretta Schifano

These days it’s really simple to travel independently, even if you have kids in tow. All it takes is some planning – and family members who are willing to take part in your trip (if this is an issue, check out my post What to do when your teenager doesn’t want to go on your […]

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Categories: Travel advice
Tags: travel advice

How to keep your mobile devices safe while travelling

October 5, 2017 by Gretta Schifano 4 Comments

At the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, Florida. Copyright Gretta Schifano

If you and your family take mobile phones, tablets or laptops with you on your travels, how do you protect them? And how can you keep your children safe online when you’re away from home? Protecting your mobile devices Mobile devices can contain a huge amount of personal information, and if they’re lost or stolen […]

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Categories: Travel advice
Tags: internet safety, travel insurance

Next Page »

Search site

Follow me!

Email: gretta at mumsdotravel dot com
Follow me on FacebookFollow me on Google+Follow me on TwitterFollow me on InstagramFollow me on YouTubeFollow me on PinterestFollow me on Bloglovin

You'd like posts by email?

Booking.com

Most popular posts:

  • How to pack for an 8 kg luggage allowance
    How to pack for an 8 kg luggage allowance
  • Where to find Mary Poppins film locations in London
    Where to find Mary Poppins film locations in London
  • What to do when your teenager doesn't want to go on your family holiday
    What to do when your teenager doesn't want to go on your family holiday
  • Thailand with teenagers: a two-week summer itinerary
    Thailand with teenagers: a two-week summer itinerary
  • 60 free things to do in London with a teenager
    60 free things to do in London with a teenager
  • What’s it like to stay at Elephant Hills, Thailand?
    What’s it like to stay at Elephant Hills, Thailand?
  • Itinerary for a three-night Berlin sightseeing trip with a teenager
    Itinerary for a three-night Berlin sightseeing trip with a teenager
  • How to shop in the souks of Tunis medina, Tunisia
    How to shop in the souks of Tunis medina, Tunisia
  • Top things to do in Sicily with teenagers
    Top things to do in Sicily with teenagers
  • Jane Austen tour: the places where she lived and wrote
    Jane Austen tour: the places where she lived and wrote

Recent Posts

  • How to apply for Italian citizenship: everything we’ve done so far
  • How to explore London’s top attractions from home
  • Amsterdam virtual museum & gallery tours
  • Introducing Armchair Travels
  • How to explore Florence, Italy, from home

About

  • About
  • Published in
  • Contact

Disclosure

This is a personal blog written and edited by me, Gretta Schifano. Sometimes I’m given products or sent on trips to review, but I always make this clear and give my honest opinion. See my About page for full details.

Copyright © Mums do travel 2019
Header by Suzanne Barton
Website by
Callia Web

Sign up for my free newsletter:
Subscribe to the Mums do travel mailing list... it's FREE!
You'll receive family travel news, offers and competitions. Once you sign up you can download my tips for saving money on family travel.
Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.
Sign up for my free newsletter: