Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
15
Flying or Driving with Kids
FOR A PLANE TRIP
When tra veling with k ids, c onsider pack ing the f ollowing in y our carr y-on
bag:
• The number of diapers y our child w ears in a da y, plus an ex tra three
• A chang ing pad in case the tin y r estroom in the airplane has no pullout
changing table
• A minimal number of t oys—one c oloring book and a stuff ed animal will
suffice, not 10 of each!
• Bottles for infants, sippy cups and snacks f or toddlers
• A goodie bag with surprises , like a Discman with a CD of music or st ories,
topics, or small plastic t oys
For more comprehensive advice on flying with children, see “Getting There,”
later in this chapt er, and pick up a c opy of
Frommer's Fly S afe, Fly Smar t,
by
Sascha Segan ( Wiley, 2002).
FOR A CAR TRIP
If you will be r enting a car in Chicago , inquire about r eserving a child saf ety
seat; most major rental-car agencies have these available for a small fee (Avis,
for example, charges $5 per day or $25 per week).
Driving to Chicago? Long-distance car travel with kids presents a completely
different packing challenge. Pack the f ollowing to help y our car trip go mor e
smoothly:
• A cooler with drinks , snacks, fruits, and v eggies.
• A flashlight t o help locat e it ems that ha ve rolled under y our seat f or the
10th time in the last 5 minut es.
• Window shades f or the sun.
• Audiotapes of st ories or childr en's songs . M any par ents put a TV/VCR in
between the two front seats so kids can watch videos, which can be a great
help for long str etches with nothing t o do.
Other items to consider bringing include a first-aid k it, a bo x of wipes f or
cleanups, blankets, plastic bags f or motion sick ness, and a change of clothes .
Always have a cellphone in case of emergencies
2
3
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
PASSPORTS
New regulations issued by the Department
of Homeland Security now require virtu-
ally every air trav eler entering the U.S. to
show a passpor t. As of J anuary 23, 2007,
all persons, including U.S. citizens, travel-
ing by air betw een the U nited States and
Canada, M exico, Central and S outh
America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda are
required to present a valid passport. As of
