Travel Services For Children

According to our experience, this should be taken into consideration before you start a tour with your kid(s).

Trip Planning

1. Find a destination suitable for you and your children. Take location, weather, safety and hygiene into consideration.

2. Involve kids in holiday planning. Find information, pictures or websites about the places you are going to and introduce them to your children, so they can establish a good background and tell you what they are interested in. Their suggestions can help you plan a fun holiday for everyone. You could also come up with a basic plan and give the children some options to choose from.

3. Make a reasonable and interesting itinerary. Concerning that the children easily get tired and bored, your itinerary should be flexible and relaxed. Remember to add some kid-centric activities just for them, and they’ll be more amenable during the journey. Check and discuss the trip with your medical advisor to make sure that your children are fit to travel.

4. Acquaint yourself with policies that concern children, such as visa, passport, and insurance. In most countries, children no longer share their passports with parents, also usually children’s passports expire faster than parents’. Children need their own visa in their passports (please check the latest information with your local Chinese embassy or consulate). You can also check out preferential measures and discounts on transport fares and admission fees of scenic spots. Contact your travel advisor and discuss about and arrange for the special needs of your children. In China, children often get discounts when they are smaller than 1.2 or 1.5 meters.

Before Departure

Now the trip planning phase is over and here we come to the preparation phase. Let’s see what should be taken into consideration before embarking on the journey.

a) What to Pack

You can pack light because you can basically buy anything from supermarkets and department stores in China. However, it also depends on where you will be traveling and whether your children are used to any particular brands or goods.

If you are traveling in cities, especially big ones like Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou where there is a significant population of expats, you can easily find western brands in upscale supermarkets. But if you will be traveling to the countryside, then it’s best to stock up the necessities in the city to bring along with you. Below is a packing list for your reference.

1. Favorite toys, books and snacks - they will keep the children amused and soothe their anxiety.

2. Medical kit - it’s best to pack a few precautionary items for small discomforts, just in case. On the list are medicine for headache, upset stomach, nausea and allergies, band aids and insect repellants.

3. Infant formula - you can find them in supermarkets. But if your child has any special needs, please bring some from your own country.

4. Feeding bottles and diapers - you can find them in supermarkets. But if your child is used to any particular brands or has allergies, it’s best to stick to their usual ones.

5. Comfortable clothes, pajamas, socks and shoes - layers of clothes would be practical for putting on and off as the weather changes.

6. Disinfectant gel or cream - sometimes they are available in expensive supermarkets, but it is more convenient to bring some from home.

7. Sun lotion (especially for kids), hats and raincoats.

8. Take a sling if you are traveling with a small baby so that your hands are free. For toddlers, take a fold-up stroller.

9. A copy of medical records of your child - in case the child falls sick and needs to be sent to hospital, information on his/her past medical record can help with better diagnosis and treatment.

b) Medication and Hygiene

Traveling in China is safe but not always clean. The chances of picking up some horrible diseases are slim though. There are still some issues you need to know.

1. Consult your doctor before embarking on the trip. Check and discuss the trip with your doctor to make sure that your children are in good shape and fit to travel.

2. No vaccinations are required for a trip to China, except for Yellow Fever if traveling from an infected area. However, it’s always best to take necessary precautions and check with a doctor who knows such things well in advance of the departure.

3. Keep hands clean. Bring along disinfectant gel and wet wipes (Wet wipes are readily available in China), and wash your hands very often. This is your first defense against germs.

On The Road

1. Prevent travel sickness. Some children get travel sickness at some time of the transport. Please don’t let your children keep their stomach empty or eat fatty foods before leaving, try to help them access to fresh air during transport and encourage them to think about other things to engage their attention. If they get travel sickness, give them medicine under doctor’s advice.

2. Dress your children lightly for air travel. You can get blankets from flight attendants. Layers of clothes are practical for putting on and off.

3. Help your kids with seat belts. An infant should be carried in your arms or fixed on a special seating. Do not let your children wander around while on transit.

4. Keep the children quiet. You can make them sleep, let them play with their favorite toys, read some books or eat some snacks.

5. Baby seats & beds

Safety and comfort is even more important when you bring your kids. Especially when driving through back country, roads are not always paved or well maintained. Only a solid baby seat provides appropriate protection and comfort for your children. Please let us know how tall your kids are so we can arrange suitable seats. We provide secure baby seats for children from 2 to 11 years for a small renting fee. Due to usually high demand we strongly recommend to contact us well in advance and book the baby seat before your tour.

Congratulations! Now you have made your way to China, and a wonderful journey is right ahead of you! There are only a few more things you need to notice when traveling.

a) Lodging

1. Contact your travel consultant or the hotel in advance, and discuss about the special cares your children need, such as an extra bed or crib.

2. Familiarize your children with hotel facilities and emergency procedures. Put away any dangerous items that may harm your children.

3. To prevent from wetting the bed, don’t let your children drink too much water before going to bed.

b) Eating & Drinking

1. Never drink tap water. You can use a water heater to get boiled water, or buy bottled or mineral water from any shop. There are also some imported foreign brands of bottled water available in upscale supermarkets.

2. If your children have allergies to certain foods or condiments, tell your travel advisor or the restaurants in advance.

3. Check closely before you let your children eat food purchased from street vendors.

4. There are restaurants offering western food, also known fast food chains can be found in every Chinese city in the meanwhile. The tastes will be very familiar with the kids if they grow tired of Chinese meals.

c) Safety

1. Never let your children go anywhere alone, especially at scenic spots or crowded streets.

2. Let your children carry a note in case they do get separated from you or get lost. The note should include your name, phone number, your hotel's name, address and phone number, your tour guide’s name and phone number.

3. When you need to cross the road, hold your children's hand and wait for the green light. Always check both ways even when the green light is on.

Pack for Daily Excursions

The following list may give you some reference on what to pack for daily excursions in China. Ziplock bags are very useful. You can put dirty clothes and wet washcloths in them.

1. Disinfectant gel

2. Diapers, changing pads and feeding bottle if necessary

3. Wet wipes

4. Some spare clothes (especially during rainy season)

5. Washcloth

6. Sunscreen, Umbrella, Insect repellent and Band-Aids

7. Camera/video camera: Your children might enjoy taking photographs or videos so that they can write their own dairy or travelogue.

Share your travel experience with the whole family and bring your kids to Southwest China! To make your trip more convenient for you and your children we provide additional services. When booking, please inform us of your children's special needs. Our team members and child-friendly tour guides are happy to support you!