Airport fun…
If you’re flying with children, make sure that you check the website of the airport you depart from beforehand. With kids, it’s advisable to arrive at the airport in time; not only to avoid stress (and fights with your husband :-)), but also to make sure that you get good seats (meaning next to each other) and that you will really get that bassinet or special meal you reserved beforehand.
Because you’ll have to spend some time at the airport (and assuming not all of you have a platinum frequent-flyer card allowing you to get in those chic private lounges), it’s good to know about all the children’s facilities around. You want to keep the kids entertained, as you don’t want them to sleep BEFORE the flight!
Take for instance our ‘homebase’ airport here in Amsterdam: ‘Schiphol‘.
Did you know that Schiphol is the first airport in the world to have a museum in its terminal? And not any museum — it is an annexe of the famous Rijksmuseum! So while waiting for your flight, you can show your kids ten works by famous Dutch masters (like Jan Steen, or Rembrandt)! There’s also a temporary exhibition to enjoy; currently ‘Books in the age of Rembrandt’ (until October 2008).
Or, visit the ‘Babycare Lounge’, where parents can take care of their babies in private — bathe them, feed them and/or let them sleep in one of the seven bed cabins, which include comfortable seats for the parents. Sounds good, no? (Well, I guess they could have thought of a bed for parents too)!
You can also let your husband take the kids to one of the indoor playgrounds, or to the Panorama terrace to look at all the aircrafts and the platforms, while you visit the XpresSpa for a manicure, pedicure or massage! This, in fact, might be the best option!
Whatever you choose to do, make sure you leave for the gate in time — with children it might take you longer than normal to get there…
xxx Esther
P.S. Always check if your child is entitled to his own frequent-flyer card! Better to start early than late — he might be able to bring you to those chic private lounges before you know it!
2 COMMENTS - Add your own
I had no idea Schipol was THAT cool. I mean, I know I like it because it’s really organized and well planned-out (very Dutch), but I had no idea it had so many different facilities. A museum in an airport?? How cool!
a different galaxy from italian airports where if you ask for a high chair they look at you as if you were asking for miracle there and then!!