Brought to you by Stena Line.
Remember those days when you could pop a book in your hand luggage, order a gin and tonic and relax en route to your holiday destination?
Yeah, the minute you add a kid or two to the mix those days become a distant memory.
In their place, however, lie plenty of hilarious, lively and crazy memories to be made as you transport your brood from one country or county to another.
If you're a first-time parent however, you'll likely have some notions about how it's all going to go. Here's some tips from the front line courtesy of the brave mums and dads who've been there...
1. There will be a nappy explosion.
If you don't yet understand what a nappy explosion is, boy are you in for a treat. Bring twice the number of nappies you normally tote, fold up some plastic bags to hold dirty onesies and stock up on wet wipes. Extra points for packing a spare top for yourself in case of emergency.
2. You will forget something
Spending ten minutes considering this carefully before you leave the house will help you avoid hitting the road without someone's beloved teddy or their favourite dummy. Keep 'must bring' items near the car keys and passports.
3. You will hear the words 'are we there yet?'
The first utterance of this sentence generally happens 20 minutes after you've left the house. Split the journey into segments, with something the kids can look forward to in each segment. For instance, a breakfast picnic in the morning (any roadside stop will do), a big game of I Spy for an hour in the afternoon, a meditation CD (these can even lead to a nap) and an ice cream treat in the evening.
4. You will bring way too much stuff
Travelling with one kid will double your luggage needs overnight. Travelling with two or more kids will turn your roomy vehicle into a comedy clown car, stuffed to the rafters with necessities. Look into renting items like bikes and buggies at your destination to free up some space. And create a capsule wardrobe for each member of the family, packing some washing powder so you can get two wears out of each item.
5. You'll need to learn to go with the flow
Ever tried to stuff an octopus into a net bag? Yeah, that's what it's like to travel with children. The best laid plans will likely be blown to smithereens by a car-sick toddler or an epic tantrum from your most easygoing kid. Try to keep it light using distraction to soothe escalating situations. Oh and make sure you stop for coffee en route. Lots and lots of lovely coffee.
Kids go free on Stena Line until July 31st so get booking your North Wales trip now. Drive onboard and your little holidaymakers can get stuck into the play areas, computer games, kids entertainment, movies and WiFi.
