26 Must Read Family Travel Safety Tips

Seek out safe and less risky food options for the family. Your holiday could be ruined if everyone comes down with a stomach bug. Always have safe snacks and bottled water on hand for the kids, to cater for their thirst and hunger until you can find a safe meal option for the family.

Re-emphasise to your kids the importance of road safety. Remind yourself and drum into your kids that cars may come from the opposite direction (or any direction in some countries) to what they’re used to. Look both ways multiple times before you cross any road and walk calmly across as a group.  Particularly in Asian countries, running over the road or any sudden movements can be dangerous, as this may not give drivers enough time to adjust their vehicle’s direction to avoid hitting you.

Kids are adventurous, but extreme and fun activities like bungy jumping, jet skiing or white water rafting overseas for the first time in a less developed country may not be the best idea.

Swimming pools probably won’t have fences, roads can be more dangerous, tap water can be contaminated and towns can be busier.

The combination of inquisitive children in a new environment, fatigue, or you being more relaxed in your supervision and lower standards of health and safety regulations at your destination can be a dangerous one.

If you’re heading overseas on holiday there’s a fair chance you’re going to the northern hemisphere where the seasons will be the opposite and winter can be far more extreme. 

You may need to buy thermals, jackets, beanies, gloves and shoes specifically for the trip as your Australian winter woollies probably aren’t going to do the job in a northern hemisphere winter in Asia, Europe or North America. 

Alternatively, you may be going straight into summer from our winter and need the sunscreen, hat and rash vests.

Check weather and clothing advice for that time of year and the weather forecasts just before you leave. Make sure you also pack appropriate clothing in your carry-on bag in case your luggage is delayed or lost, and the clothes the children have on may not be appropriate for your destination.

Putting on a pair of thongs makes you feel like you’re on holidays, but they aren’t the safest shoe to be wearing on holidays. A good pair of trainers is a much better choice for walking on uneven footpaths and roads, slippery and wet surfaces and up and down a lot of stairs, which are all very common overseas, especially throughout Asia.

Food and hygiene is likely to be of a relatively higher standard in the main towns and where tourists frequent. They are also probably going to be closer to medical assistance in the event your children or you need it. Check out online hotel reviews for the best places to stay for families.

You may not want to know this, but hotel rooms don’t always get a full anti-bacterial clean after every guest checks out. Young children are more susceptible to germs, so wiping down the surfaces your children will be touching is a good idea. This is especially important if you have young ones who are crawling or just starting to walk, and will want to touch everything in their new environment.

Particularly in less developed countries, up the hand washing regime and sanitise your kid’s hands with wet wipes or hand sanitiser before every meal.

You can then treat any minor injuries or illness before it has the chance to turn into something more serious. Pain medication, band-aids, antiseptic cream, anti-histamines, a thermometer, calamine lotion and Imodium are all good items to pack.

Know what food is going to be available at our destination so you can plan what’s going to work for your children, especially if you aren’t going to western countries. If they don’t like the local food, if the food is going to upset their stomach or they do become ill, bring some vegemite or something similar with you so you can spread it on the local bread, or they can eat dry to get them through the day.

You may need multiple injections for a vaccination over a period of time, and some vaccinations require a period of time to take affect prior to your departure. A GP at a vaccination centre can also provide some helpful health and safety advice for your holiday and destination.

Scooters are a common mode of transport, especially throughout Asia, but that doesn’t mean they’re safe, especially if you’ve never done it before. Stick to taxis, buses and trains.

Many countries can have a more relaxed attitude to seatbelts than the compulsory one we have. Whenever you’re booking a tour, bus or airport transfer, request a vehicle with seatbelts and make sure they all work before you start your journey.  Take your own booster seat with you for younger children or arrange to hire one at the airport.

If catching a taxi, check it has operational seatbelts before you commit to taking it.

Kids will be kids, so there’s not much chance of curbing their enthusiasm for adventure in the weeks leading up to your holiday, but where you can, you may want to limit riskier activities such as contact sports or downhill mountain biking. 

No one wants to be sick on holidays, so all family members should try to avoid:

• Hospitals
• Anyone you know is sick, such as friends, family and those in the workplace
• Day care centres when numerous children are sick

If your children take regular medication, visit your GP a few weeks prior to departure to discuss your medication requirements such as prescription medication, including Ventolin for asthma. 

It’s a good idea to carry the medication in your hand luggage instead of in your check-in luggage in case it’s delayed or misdirected.

You’ll find it more difficult in some countries than others to cater for food allergies. Contact your airline, hotels, tour guides, restaurants, resorts etc beforehand to find out if they can cater to your circumstances. 

It’s a good idea to take your own food, at least to get you through the first few days until you’re used to your surroundings and what they offer.

Read our guide to food allergy and intolerance.

You already know how hard it can be to round up the whole family to make it out the door on time to get to school or to a party. When travelling, you need to throw security checks, delayed flights, peak hour traffic, language barriers, immigration and being in an unknown city into the mix, so give yourself plenty of time.

Read our practical guide filled with health and safety tips so that your holiday, whether by car, train, plane or boat is as enjoyable and trouble-free as possible.