It is time I tell you about our week in Mallorca at the end of August. Every year, we try to plan a family week with the grandparents and this summer we chose Mallorca, the largest island in the Balearics. Why? Because we like Spain and the Mediterranean very much and the budget is very reasonable. I had heard a lot about Mallorca before leaving: so yes it is a very touristy island (and that’s a euphemism!) but most of the tourists are concentrated in the south, near Palma. So, inevitably we went the opposite way, in the northeast :-). Up there, no nightclubs but a beautiful mountain landscape with traditional fincas and quite a few sheep! It was precisely in one of these beautiful old country houses, near Pollença, that we stayed and I must say that our accommodation was undoubtedly the best part of our week’s holiday in Mallorca! It took me a long time to find our finca but I really found the perfect villa, with a dream pool! We spent a lot of time in the garden, on the terraces and in the water! The children have made good progress in swimming!
As for excursions, we visited some villages and crossed the mountain landscapes while staying in the northern part of the island. We also spent a day in Palma, the capital: it is a pretty city that reminded me of a mini Barcelona. We saw many pretty places as you can see on the pictures. Perfect holidays? Yes but… the problem was the crowd on the beaches. I know, in the Mediterranean in August you don’t expect to be alone but you see, it was not our first summer trip in the area and I must say I had never seen so many people, especially for the last week of August. Even on “my” island, Sicily, there are fewer tourists after August 20. Anyway, the crowded beaches weren’t ideal. In addition, compared to the incredible beaches we saw last year in Sardinia, the ones we discovered in Mallorca were beautiful but less “wow!”…. That said, we have seen very few, so I have no doubt that there are heavenly coves on the island.
Here, to give you some ideas for visits, is the program of our week in Mallorca. We rented two cars (budget: 10£/day per car), one for the grandparents and one for us. (Ticoeur and Titpuce always wanted to go in Omi and Opa’s car!).
Our program for a week in Mallorca:
(There is a little heart next to our favorite places).
Day 1: Arrival at Palma airport (~2 hour flight from Paris)
Day 2: visit of Alcudia and Playa de Muro
Day 3: Pollença market ❤ and beach
Day 4: Cala San Vinçen
Day 5: Visit of Soller (very nice mountain road to go there). In Soller: little train, old town and port.
Day 6: Palma with its city centre, the Pilar and Joan Miró Foundation, and then the majestic Cathedral of course. In the late afternoon, return to the north. Playa Formentor ❤ with a wonderful sunset at Cap Formentor ❤
Day 7: Cala San Vinçen
Day 8: departure
In the end, we had a great week with the family. Three generations under the same roof, especially in such a beautiful house! (Many of you ask me for the references of this finca so here is the link).
As for Mallorca: yes, I advise this island as a destination, especially for the pretty villages in the north, but I totally advise against visiting in August! Next time we will choose the Easter holidays. And in the middle of summer, we will test Minorca, the neighbouring island, still in the Balearics, much less visited it seems!
During Winter break, we spent five days in Barcelona with the children and their grand-parents. I wanted to share with you our program and our visit advices for a family trip. We chose quite a quiet rhythm: every early afternoon the children rested, with their grand-parents in the apartment that we booked. Thus, we were together strolling around until around 2pm, and we went out again in the end of the afternoon just to go to the square. During the rest time at the apartment (between 2 pm and 4 pm) and sometimes in the evening as well, my husband and I could enjoy the occasional couple getaway: the advantage to travel on three generations!
Age of the children: Ticoeur 7 years old, Titpuce 5 years old.
I will begin with the visits we made with the children…
The Sagrada Familia: don’t miss it, even with young children!
As I already told you, during my five previous stays in Barcelona, I had never visited the Sagrada Familia, which is a pure madness created by Gaudi, who dedicated most of his life to this masterpiece. This cathedral with original architecture is really appropriate with children. The outside has changed a lot since the first time I saw the Sagrada 15 years ago. I think the work is progressing pretty quickly, even if it will take many years before all the towers and the entrance are finished. The inside is rather complete and you can only be struck by the volumes, the lights, the forms. Overall, counting the museum located underneath the church, we spent 1h30 in the Sagrada; the children loved the church; on the other hand, we shortened the museum part, very rich (all in all, without children, I think you can spend at least 2h in the Sagrada).
We had booked our tickets online for the first time slot of the day and we got in after a wait of only 5 minutes – it was perfect. We took the simple entrance tickets (without a guided visit, without audio guide, without an access to the tower) and I think that it was enough because we were already busy as it was and we were amazed of what we saw.
Adult fare: 15€ / Children (- 10 years): free. To be noted: there is a little playground very practical facing the Sagrada (on the side of the Passion door).
Montjuic and Miró Foundation:
A visit that was really successful with the children: the Foundation Joan Miró. Titpuce declared “All the same, his drawings are quite weird!” This museum is situated on the Montjuic Hill, very nice, with all its vegetation and its views on Barcelona. It is normally possible to climb there with the cable car but it was closed for maintenance. Since the cable car is quite expensive, it was a good option to take the bus. For the museum, we bought the tickets on the spot (12€ for adults and free for children).
The Park de la Ciutadella to let the children run…
I had often walked by this park but this time, with the children, we really spent a long time there, to see the fountain, the fake mammoth and to simply let the children run around. On the other hand, we thought the playgrounds were not so great.
Barceloneta Beach :
Even when it is too cold to bathe, the beach is a safe option with children. To get there, we crossed the neighbourhood of Barceloneta, which was quite nice (we had lunch there – see addresses below).
Strolls in the Gothic Quarter:
Since we were staying near the Sagrada, for all of our visits and strolls of the day, we walked by the center and so by the Gothic Quarter that we visited again and again, little piece at a time. We particularly went back to places that we liked a lot like: the Cathedral cloister (free access in the morning), Plaça Reial, the place in front of Santa Maria del Pi, the Plaça Sant Felip and Santa Anna church. We also had a quick walk in La Boqueria Market and in Santa Catarina Market (less touristic).
If you have never been to Barcelona, you have to remember to put the following places on your list:
Park Güell (adapted for all the family but it’s not in the center), the two famous houses: Casa Batlo, Casa Mila (by the underground Passeig de Gracia), the Palau de la Musica (at least see it from the outside – for the inside it’s only on guided tour and it may be better without children). This time, we didn’t go back to those places but they are staples in Barcelona, to see on a first stay here.
During our next stay in Barcelona, we will take the children to:
Tibidabo: it’s a vintage attraction park with a view on Barcelona. We couldn’t go there this time because it’s closed in the Winter.
Cosmo Caixa: a sort of “City of Science” (the one in Paris) with, among other things, a big greenhouse that makes you believe you’re in the Amazonian forest (it’s pretty far from the center so you should put it on the program if the weather is bad, or simply to please the children).
The children loved to eat tapas!
The children loved the small portions. Ours particularly loved the ham croquetas and the squids. Also playful for the kids: the pintxos, those tapas presented on long sticks. To be noted: as a family, we ate in restaurants for lunch but for dinner, we ate at the apartment with takeaway tapas we bought in little canteens of the neighbourhood: it’s cheaper, it avoided us to cook for six persons, and most importantly, it allowed us to eat on French time and not on Spanish time!
Move around Barcelona with the children:
We simply used the underground tickets (also valid in the buses) loaded for 10 journeys. The fee is the same for adults and children over 5 years old (free for children under 5 years old). It’s possible to only use one card for the whole family so it’s practical. With this same card, we travelled to the airport (you have to take the train in Sants station). To visit the city, we mixed bus/underground and our own little feet. I have to say that my Titpuce amazed me because she walked so much, whereas she usually isn’t a fan of citytrips (she prefers walking in nature.)
And without the children, then?
While the grand-parents, Ticoeur and Titpuce rested in the apartment, we had a little childfree program. We visited the Modern Art Museum (MACBA), we spent an afternoon in a Spa for my birthday, we wandered in El Born neighbourhood that I like very much and we had dinner at a head chef’s house, who received us in his own house (see good addresses below).
Off-road: La Colonia Guëll
Since we already knew Barcelona, to change a little, we went to the suburbs, direction la Colonia Güell. I only advise it to people who already know Barcelona very well and who are fans of Gaudi. Otherwise, for a first stay as a family I wouldn’t put it on the to-do list. I will write a blog post on this topic on occasion.
Our good addresses in Barcelona:
Can Mano: restaurant in Barceloneta, a kind of little canteen, very simple, very local, very fresh and cheap fish Calle del Baluard, 12 Barcelona.
Santa Rita: it’s original because it’s not really a restaurant. The chef cooks at his own place and a few tables are settled in his dining room. Great degustation menu (it was for my birthday). Unique menu that changes every season. This option is better without children because it’s a gastronomic experience that takes time (from 9 pm to midnight). To book a table it’s on their website (and you have to book in advance!): Santa Rita.
The Spa Aire which was my birthday present (close to the Park de la Ciutadella).
Accommodation: we had booked an apartment on Airbnb, right in front of the Sagrada (great for the view!). It was perfect (the landlady was really nice, the apartment very pretty) but I only advise it if, like us, you share it between two families, otherwise it’s too big and you could find cheaper options. To be noted: the Sagrada neighbourhood is residential, it’s not the city centre but it’s really well connected via the underground and the buses. If you’re looking for an accommodation closer to the center, I advise you to look in El Born neighbourhood, very animated, and very practical to visit. If you wish to book with Airbnb and you want me to sponsor you, you can use this link to have a discount. And if you know any family friendly hotels, don’t hesitate to give me your good addresses in the comment section because we will probably go back to Barcelona, again and again!
Admiring la Sagrada from our appartment…
What about you? Have you already visited Barcelona as a family?
We have always been big fans of Asia, and when we became parents, Asia was a continent that seemed particularly suitable for our first big family trips, especially to Southeast Asia. Why ? Southeast Asia offers a great change of scenery, rather safe countries, and life there is often very economical. So, for our first trip to Asia with a child, Ticoeur was 18 months old and we went to Malaysia. Since then, we have visited many other Asian countries, which I have spoken to you about on the blog and today I wanted to take stock of all our stays in South-East Asia because a question you asked me often asked by email is: which Asian country do you recommend for a family trip? Here is the fruit of our experience, after having visited almost all the countries of South-East Asia, a large part of which with children:
Vietnam: from north to south, beautiful landscapes to discover…
The +:
Easy to organize your trip in advance or on site.
Cultural change of scenery, colonial architecture, beaches.
Often rooms with 2 large double beds, therefore ideal for 4 people.
Large choice of accommodation for all budgets.
One of my favorite cuisines in Asia (well, it’s very personal…).
THE – :
Cities with very chaotic traffic. Be careful as a pedestrian.
I didn’t like Ho Chi Minh City and I didn’t find Sapa exceptional.
Practical information :
My favorites: Hoi An, Mekong Delta, Hanoi and then there is the Danang region which I would really like to discover / Halong Bay is more suitable for lovers than for families.
The season: from November to April.
Flight times: 11 hours outward / 13 hours return.
My final opinion: An easy trip to manage as a family. Don’t spend too much time in big cities. Travel by plane.
Thailand: a great classic, very popular with families…
The +:
Ease of organizing your trip as a country accustomed to tourism.
We come across many families traveling with children in Thailand.
A change of scenery and pretty islands.
Possibility of traveling by plane at low cost.
Large choice of accommodation for all budgets.
THE – :
Too many tourists on some islands in February.
I recommend avoiding the far north because of malaria.
Personally I didn’t like Chiang Mai.
Of course you have to see Bangkok but don’t stay there long because the city is a bit oppressive with children.
Practical information :
Visits that I recommend: Bangkok, Koh Phi Phi (off season), Koh Lipe, Koh Samui, Koh Tao…
The season: from November to April but possible in summer in the eastern islands.
My final opinion: An easy family trip. I would favor the islands, with air travel.
Bali (Indonesia): an island on a human scale with beautiful traditions…
The +:
Cultural change of scenery, rice fields, lush vegetation.
Beauty of the temples, snorkeling, beautiful traditional atmosphere.
An island on a human scale.
Possibility of combining with the Gilis Islands (Lombok).
Very pretty villas or hotels with swimming pools at low budgets.
THE – :
Far too many tourists in the south of the island (Kuta area).
Beautiful beaches but not heavenly.
Be careful if you rent a car. It’s not easy to drive in Bali!
Practical information :
My favorites: Amed, the rice fields in the Munduk region.
The season: from May to September.
Flight hours: No direct flight. Go through Singapore or Kuala Lumpur so allow 16 hours at best.
My final opinion: An easy and very pleasant trip with small distances to cover.
Burma (or Myanmar): a more adventurous trip, for informed travelers…
The +:
The smile of the inhabitants!
The cultural heritage, the rice fields, the traditions more preserved than elsewhere.
The natural beauty of the country.
Not too many tourists.
THE – :
Family tourism not developed (so we found few accommodations with 4 beds).
Very long bus journeys. Difficulty moving around in general.
The beautiful beach area is not easily accessible (road in poor condition or plane rather expensive).
Practical information :
My favorites: Bagan! And then Inle Lake and the small towns around Mandalay.
Season: November to March.
Flight hours: no direct flight. Go through China or Kuala Lumpur, so a 15-hour flight at best, approximately.
My final opinion: I found that it was the least simple country for families in terms of logistics (because of journeys and accommodation). If you go anyway, taking a driver is probably a good idea.
Malaysia: more comfort than elsewhere in Southeast Asia and beautiful islands…
The +:
Multicultural country (Chinese, Indian, Malay, etc.)
Beautiful islands and towns with colonial architecture.
Country richer than the others therefore more modern infrastructure (cars, highways, modern buses, etc.).
Domestic journeys possible by plane at very low prices.
For more adventure, also explore the Borneo part (for the fauna and flora).
Possibility of combining it with a visit to Singapore.
Mmmm the kitchen!
THE – :
We haven’t always found nice accommodations.
Practical information :
My favorites: The Perenhtian Islands and Tioman Island.
The season: from November to March, but depending on the islands, also possible in summer.
Flight hours: approximately 12:30 hours.
My final opinion: A country which offers more comfort than the others, with fewer tourists.
Philippines: so many paradise islands!
We went there without children.
We loved the kindness of the locals, the many paradise islands and the volcanoes.
Easy because English is the official language.
Incredibly beautiful nature. Favorite in the Philippines: Camiguin island.
I would hesitate to go there with young children because of the many Jeepney journeys (not very comfortable and often long). And then, overall it’s very far away unfortunately. Let’s say it’s better to go there as part of a longer trip to this part of the globe…
Flight hours: minimum 16 hours with stopover.
Cambodia: an endearing country but not the most suitable for families…
With Ticoeur, we went to Phnom Penh.
Possible without worries to go to Angkor (and it’s magnificent!).
Really cheap.
For the rest, take a good look at malaria and the state of the roads…
No direct flight. Go through Kuala Lumpur for example.
Laos: nature and serenity but long journeys…
We went there without children.
We loved the kindness of the Laotians and the zenitude of the country.
Less touristy and calmer than other Asian countries. Laos is relaxing!
With children I would hesitate because of the length of bus journeys, on winding roads.
Very economical.
Also pay attention to malaria.
No direct flight. Go through Bangkok for example.
***
I especially wanted to focus on Southeast Asia rather than Asia in general but I would still like to make an exception and talk to you about Sri Lanka which, in the same order of magnitude on the budget side, was a big blow of heart for us in Asia and a must in terms of an exotic country to discover with the family!
Sri Lanka: perfect for a first trip to Asia with children…
The +:
Scenic beauty in the tea region, beaches and cultural heritage.
Many animals especially elephants.
Distances not too great (to be done by car with driver and by train).
Nice accommodations a little more expensive than in Southeast Asia.
THE – :
Many beaches in the south-eastern part but not heavenly (unless you have any to recommend to us?). We would like to discover the west coast where it seems that the sea is more beautiful with nice depths.
Practical information :
My favorites: The Ella region, the atmosphere on the beach in Mirissa, Kandy.
The season: from November to March but possible in summer also in the tea region and on the east coast.
Flight hours: approximately 13 hours with stopover.
My final opinion: We loved our trip with children to Sri Lanka for the diversity of landscapes and the ease of logistics. We are thinking of going back. We preferred to manage our journeys at each stage by asking our accommodation to recommend someone to us rather than taking a dedicated driver for the entire trip (for the sake of freedom).
***
Finally, without children, we traveled to China, Japan and India. We will happily return to the first two with our darlings. On the other hand, for India I am a little hesitant in terms of health conditions. Maybe in Kerala one day…
***
I hope that our experiences traveling in Asia with young children will inspire you and if you already know Asia, I would be curious to know which were your favorite Asian countries for a family trip?
If you are following us on Instagram, you know that we spent a wonderful week of family holiday in the volcanic setting of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. Like every summer, we organized a trip with the grandparents. This time, we chose this land of fire that delighted us with its landscapes, its great spaces, its climate, its beaches, its little white villages with cubic houses, with blue or green shutters, not to mention the artistic heritage created by César Manrique. We were based in the centre of the island, in Nazaret, with a dozen of volcanoes in sight. Memorable lunar-like landscapes that will be etched in my memory. During a week, we had time to explore the island deeply. I don’t know the rest of the Canary Islands, so I can’t compare to Tenerife, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera, Gran Canaria or even El Hierro, but there is no doubt that Lanzarote is a big crush that I recommend for a trip with the kids, or just as a couples gateway! Finally, I have been delighted to practice my Spanish, especially since we are going back to Spain in a couple of days for the 40h birthday of our friends in Valencia.
Age of Ticoeur: almost 6 years old
Age of Titpuce: 3 years and a half
Winning duo: cactus and volcano!
Playa Grande in Puerto del Carmen
View from our house
Program of the week:
D1: Arrival in Arrecife around 3pm. We get our car then go direction our villa in Nazaret. We enjoy the swimming pool with the view on the volcanoes
D2: Visit of la Cueva de los Verdes, a cave formed by lava. Beach near Orzola. Lunch in Arrieta. Back to the villa: nap and swimming pool.
D3: Craft market of Haria. Visit of la Casa César Manrique. Nap and swimming pool then visit of the César Manrique Trust. End of the day on the beach (Jablillo).
Hello everyone! I’m back to tell you about our roadtrip in Sri Lanka with the children. We came back last night and with the jet lag I woke up at 5am, so I enjoy this opportunity to give you the details of our Sri Lankan family adventures. Clearly, Sri Lanka is a big crush! We are already thinking about going back there. I thought that this country offered a condensed version of Asia: a change of scenery, tea plantations, rice fields, beaches, temples, cultural sites, all of this without having to travel for many miles! A destination suitable for a family trip! I’m looking forward to share with you the enchantment we felt discovering this amazing country.
Train travelling over the 9 arches in Ella
Age of Ticoeur: 5 years and a half
Age of Titpuce: 3 years (that we celebrated precisely in Sri Lanka!)
Itinerary and good addresses:
Arrival in Colombo at 10.40 pm and departure to Bentota in taxi (about 2h).
Chill Island Villas ❤, very beautiful and charming bed and breakfast, nicely decorated and big swimming pool. Perfect to recover from the journey. We had a big double bedroom with a cot for Ticoeur and Titpuce between us in the huge bed.
Bentota (about 10km away) – 2 nights – to begin softly and rest not far from the sea. Accommodation: Chill Island Villas ❤, very beautiful and charming bed and breakfast, nicely decorated and big swimming pool. Perfect to recover from the journey. We had a big double bedroom with a cot bed for Ticoeur, and Titpuce was between us in the huge bed. Activities: visit of small temples, turtle centre and simply swimming pool! Booking: Chill Island Villas.
Turtle centre near Bentota
Chill Island Villas
Bus (between Bentota and Galle: 1h10) – lunch break in Galle then tuk-tuk (between Galle and Mirissa: 1h)
Mirissa – 1 night – nice ideal beach for children, very quiet, touristic but a nice atmosphere with a great restaurant of grilled fish on the beach by night. Accommodation: Palm Villa, ideally situated on the beach, delicious breakfast with sea view. We had a bedroom with a double bed, a single bed for Ticoeur and a baby bed for Titpuce. Activities: beach, visit of the colonial city of Galle.
Mirissa beach
Palm Villa
tuk-tuk (between Mirissa and Tangalle: 1h30).
Tangalle – 1 night – here, the beaches are wild and deserted, with big waves. Accommodation: Patini Bungalows ❤, with an adorable reception of Séverine and her family. The bungalows are very beautiful and high quality, with terrace. We had a double bedroom with two extra mattresses on the floor. Activities: beach and also an excursion to a stunning temple (Mulkirigala) not touristic although it is pretty extraordinary, like the Dambulla temple.
Tangalle beach on my birthday!
Patini Bungalows
Tuk-tuk (between Tangalle and Udawalawe: 1h30).
Udawalawe – 1 night – only purpose of this step: going on a safari with the children in the National Park of Udawalawe, famous for its many elephants. I will tell you all the details of this safari in a blog post dedicated to it. Accommodation: Superson Guesthouse, very simple but a very nice welcome from the family and our host booked everything for our excursion. We had a bedroom with one double bed and two single beds.
Elephant in the National Park of Udawalawe
Superson’s GH
Car with driver (between Udawalawe and the Morning Mist close to Ella: 2h).
40 min away from Ella (in the middle of nowhere 😉) – 3 nights (and we could have stayed 4): the magic of the tea plantations and the mountains, an exceptional panorama. Accommodation: Morning Mist ❤, not to be missed, for its beautiful location, and the excellent cooking of Pat’. For the family, there is a little individual villa with 2 bedrooms, bathroom and kitchen, so perfect in terms of space. Activities: visit of the neighbouring tea plantation of Amba State (very interesting because it’s a very small plantation which is selling its delicious tea to Fortnum & Mason in London!) Excursion in Ella (hiking at Little Adam’s Peak, waterfalls), and above all bathing in the river, down the Morning Mist and little walks in the plantations.
River close to the Morning Mist
The Morning Mist
Tuktuk to the station then 1st class train to Haputale (45 min).
Haputale – 1 night – Stroll in a tuktuk until Lipton Seat, wonderful point of view from where Sir Lipton loved to observe his plantations. Simple accommodation but with a beautiful view from the balcony: The Mist Holiday. We had a little bedroom with two double beds.
On the road to Lipton’s seat
The Mist Holiday, Haputale
1st class train (Haputale->Kandy : 5h).
Kandy centre – 1 night: we had read rather negative comments about Kandy but we really liked it. A lot of colonial buildings around the lake. Accommodation: Vino Villa (we wanted stay in the Mc Leod or the Queen Hotel but it was full), so, our accommodation didn’t have the charm of the colonial residences but it was comfortable, brand new (a double bedroom and two extra beds). Activities: Temple of the Tooth, botanical garden.
Botanique Garden of Kandy
In the street in Kandy
Tuk-tuk
1h away from Kandy (still in the middle of nowhere 😉) – 2 nights – in the enchanted setting of a tea plantation in the Madulkelle Tea & Eco Lodge❤, a unique location for a charming break in the middle of our stay. Everything is perfect: amazing swimming pool with a view, the high quality lodges, restaurant diners and the reception. I will detail all this with pictures because this place was so magical! We had a lodge with a double bed, a single bed and an extra mattress. Activities: farniente in front of the plantations, visit of the Hatale plantation (it was very interesting because all of the engines were working), walks.
Madulkelle Tea & Eco Lodge
Tea Plantation
Tuktuk between Madulkelle Tea Lodge and Sigiriya (4h).
Sigiriya – 3 nights – we chose Sigiriya as a starting point to visit the cultural triangle, which is the zone with the main cultural sites of Sri Lanka. Accommodation: Lakmini Lodge, simple but adorable reception of the landlord who loves children and who is very impressive in terms of efficiency to organize all of your excursions for interesting prices! We had a bedroom with two double beds. This way, we visited : Sigiriya Rock, Dambulla cave, the old city of Polonnaruwa (all of this in tuktuk). Booking: Lakmini Lodge.
Sigiriya Rock
Dambulla
Polonnaruwa
Breakfast hut in the Lakmini Lodge
Tuk-tuk to the station of Hanarana then 2nd class train (until Ragama: 5h) then tuktuk then bus until Negombo (1h).
Negombo – 1 night: this fishermen town is ideally located near the airport so it was perfect for a last night before we left. Accommodation: Thisara Holiday (nothing special but convenient, clean and comfortable + it’s easy to organise your transfer to the airport – however we didn’t see any swimming pool…). A bedroom with a double bed, a single bed and a cot bed.
Sunset in Negombo Beach
Our itinerary in pictures:
From Colombo anti-clockwise…
Practical information:
Season of the trip: February. We had 28-30 degrees and the weather was really nice every day, with a little rain sometimes by the end of the day twice or thrice, and gloomy weather the last two days. Because it was Winter Break, there were a lot of people in some areas.
Duration: 16 days
Plane: around 11h of flight with a call in a Gulf State (Oman for us because we travelled with Oman Air) or a direct flight with Sri Lanka Airlines. The children mostly watched cartoons. They didn’t sleep much, although it was a night flight, because there was too much light.
Jetlag: 4h30 with Paris – Since we arrived late and tired from the trip (no big sleep in the plane) we had no trouble adjusting to local time.
Equipment for children: only the Ergobaby for Titpuce but we didn’t use it much because she walked a lot. A few diapers (that we didn’t use either) and two waterproof protections in case one of them wet the bed (only happened once 😉).
Health: there are few cases of malaria in Sri Lanka, but not in its most severe form. It is recommended to take a treatment in case you stay more than 10 days but, in agreement with our doctor, we didn’t take any medicine. However, I used a mosquito repellent treatment on our clothes and I brought an anti-mosquito adapted for infested tropical areas. We mostly used long sleeves T-shirts and trousers, and of course, you have to be extra careful if you have a fever. Still following the recommendations of our doctor, the children were vaccinated against hepatitis A. Important: you should also check with your doctor before you leave.
Transport: it was the only unknown factor of our trip. Everything else was booked in advance. We improvised on the spot, following the advice of our hosts, or following our intuition. This way, on every step, we organized, with the help of our guest house or hotel the transportation to the next step. As you could read above, we travelled a lot in tuk-tuk. We felt at ease with this mode of transport, that seemed safer, more comfortable than the bus, and half the price of a car with a driver. Once again, you should experience to make your own opinion because I don’t want to say that, concerning security, it was perfect! (no seat belt). Be careful, by the way, if you are renting a car with a driver: if you are to pay a more expensive price, make sure the vehicle you rent has seat belts in the back (it’s not always the case!). Concerning the train, we didn’t make much sense out of the booking system. We had booked our tickets before, on the internet (at a tourist price) because it was said that the trains were overcrowded. But, once on the spot, there were plenty of places! For our last journey, we bought our tickets only a few minutes before we went on the train. In first class, there is air-conditioning and cartoons. In 2nd class, since the windows are opened, the heat is not overwhelming, except when the train stops. Thus, with a baby, I would advise you to travel in 1st class.
Meal: Mainly, you have to like the chicken curry 😉. The children only ate the rice without the curry so, in restaurants, we ordered fried noodles for them. We loved the fresh fruits and fresh fruit juices! We also all loved the hoopers (some kind of pancakes with coconut milk). We found some sweetened plain yoghurts.
Budget: for information purpose, we spent:
600€ for the round trip flight per person
100€ on the spot per day, for the four of us, consisting of: 50€ on the accommodation + 20€ on transportation + 20€ on meals + 10€ on visits. We would have spent less on accommodations but we chose to focus on charm and comfort; we could have spent less on meals, but mostly we had diners in the bedrooms of our guest houses or hotels for an easier organization; we could have travelled only by bus (but it’s more complicated!). In a world, it could be possible to get to 70€/day (maybe less?). On the other hand, if, like many tourists, you choose to rent a car with a driver for your whole stay, you have to consider a 45€/day budget for this benefit. Finally, if my husband could have had an international driving license delivered, we would have rented a car, in spite of the advice against it (this is a personal choice, I will let you make your own opinion about it).
The « plus side » for the children?Many activities are suitable for children, especially when it’s about seeing animals, but also the beaches and some walks. We came across many families. Some of them even with small babies. I will soon tell you what the children loved!
