5 REASONS ALL COUPLES SHOULD TRAVEL BEFORE HAVING KIDS

Traveling before having kids is one of the most fun things any couple could do. You are in love, with no care in the world and all you have to think about is yourself and the other person. There are tons of reasons of why you should travel as much as you can, but planning of having kids in the future is maybe the most important one. Children are great and they brighten up our lives, but the freedom and carelessness you have now will absolutely change for the next 18 years after having babies. So, you should really take advantage of your current situation and go for that road trip you always had in mind, or plan an adventurous trip now that is still possible. I am not saying that you can’t do all these with kids, but for sure it will be ten times harder. Family vacations are amazing and unforgettable, but going with kids and without kids are two totally different experiences that you can’t miss.  Here are five reasons why you have to make traveling a priority.

1.  It is cheaper. Anyone can understand that paying one more ticket, or two, or three can really make a difference in your pocket. If now you don’t care much about where are you going to stay, whether it is a hostel or a hotel, let me tell you that after having babies you will only search for decent places. You’ll need a clean room with all the accommodations, in a secure location and that means extra $$. When it comes to food you don’t have the choice of fast food anymore, the baby will not appreciate a Big Mac and you have to find nice and healthy food options, because the last thing you need is getting sick in a foreign country. And you don’t want me to start with the museums and sightseeing fees, which are anyway expensive in Europe. What I want to say is that when you become a parent usually your budget is tighter, and either you have to limit the travels you make, either your own expenses.
2. Goodbye spontaneity. I remember when we were dating with my husband everything was so easy, we would decide for a last minute trip and we would book right away, without thinking if it is a kid – friendly destination, or if it has many parks for our daughter to play. We wouldn’t choose a place for the very few attractions it has, because you can’t visit all the museums with a toddler. Life has changed a lot now and I love it. I don’t mind running behind my child all the time or not being able to have a cup of coffee in silence, because it is my choice to have her and I am very happy to watch her explore this interesting world. But it is a whole new situation now but I am so grateful I got to be just me and my husband in all those crazy adventures we have had. Back then, we were the only kids and we were like two silly grownups laughing and playing with each other, not caring if people are watching. And we would take a four hour drive and back again, just to see a sunset, which is not possible to do with a little child because you have to follow her schedule of sleeping, eating and resting.
3. Getting closer to each other. This is something that still will be happening when kids come and for a lifetime if you want to be together, but with a child you are more consentrated to her, your attention is to provide everything the baby needs,cause she cannot take care of herself. So, you don’t get the chance to talk or spend as much time you would like with your partner. On the other side, when it is just the two of you things are very different. Being in a new place, where you know nobody and the only familiar face is his and you are both relaxed and happy,  subconsciously you feel closer to the other and love grows even more. Believe me those moments are so precious and unique. This is actually the main reason of why you should really take him and go to that place you always said you wanted to.
4.  The challenges you face. When traveling together you are most likely to get into difficult situations. As in the everyday life, unexpected things may happen, one of you might not be in the best mood, have a fight, you might get lost somewhere or anything else. But,when you are in a new place, there is nobody to turn to and you have to face the other one right away.  If you both manage and survive any difficulties when you are outside of your comfort zone,then you can handle having kids together. When couples go on vacations any issues in the relationship tend to come in the surface. If you feel uncomfortable or that you miss something when you travel with him, then probably something is not going well and definitely must be fixed before you grow your family.
5. Not all places are for families. Now you could go and explore the Amazon Rainforest if you want to. You could also visit a war zone or take any trip you could imagine, but when a baby comes that is not a choice anymore. There are places that are only for adults and places that are family-friendly. If you plan to travel I would suggest taking some of those trips. I regret that we didn’t go to any of the very far destinations we wanted, while we could. We have her with us at any travel, but I’d think twice about taking her to a 12 hours flight. I know many parents do it and it is not impossible, but I just haven’t felt ready yet.  I hope in 2019 we make it, but it is not an easy decision at all.

You don’t want to miss the opportunity of traveling only you and your other half. Not only for practical issues, but because the whole experience will bring you closer and the memories you will share together, will keep you together.

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PRAGUE WITH A BABY

I feel like Prague is on the bucket list of most travelers. It was on my list too, so this October we visited it. We stayed for three days and as always Amelia came with us. The hotel was in the city center and very close to the Old Town Square. Considering that this city is located in the Northern region of Europe and already being in the fall season I expected to be cold, but to my surprise it was still summer and we didn’t have the chance to wear all the outwear we had taken for the trip, however it was the perfect weather for kids. Sightseeing was what we mostly did, because you can’t get enough watching this place. The Central Square was so atmospheric with large buildings of various architectural styles, full of people waiting for the oldest astronomical clock in the world to strike the hour and the Twelve Apostles to set in motion. In the Old Town there are many worth visiting museums such as Madame Tussauds, Fraz Kafka Museum, Choco – Story Chocolate Museum and what we couldn’t visit because of the baby, Torture Museum. They are pretty small museums, yet a nice choice to spend a few hours, since they are all close to each other. Getting inside a Marionette shop is a must. All kinds of characters from witches, princesses, kings and animals will amaze kids and adults.

I never drink any beverage in general, but I enjoyed an alcohol – free beer. There are so many pubs and restaurants all around the city offering delicious and filling Chezch dishes and all kinds of beers, so forget about your diet when you come here. Seriously it is impossible not to try their comfort food such as Gulas and the Moravsky vrabec. Dimitri couldn’t believe his eyes when I ordered in the middle of the day the Pork Knuckle, because I don’t like eating meat, let alone to pick it myself in a restaurant, but it looked so tempting in the menu. And, how could someone possibly resist to Trdelnik, a rolled dough in snake shape with sugar and cinnamon topping, filled with pastry cream or ice cream? Definitely not us.

Walking along the river side we arrived to the stunning Charles Bridge, which is very large and the view from the Old Town and Mala Strana is unbelievable. It is always very crowed and makes it difficult to walk it through, especially with kids, that is why the best hour to visit it is in the early morning. For some good luck touch the plaque of St. John of Nepomuk Statue, but only with your left hand. After crossing the bridge towards Mala Strana, there is a small riverside beach where children can have fun feeding the ducks and then playing in the Vojanovy Sady park, while the adults may relax and enjoy a cup of coffee or a Trdelnik (!) in the beautiful nature away from the crowds.

At this point you probably have already noticed the Petrin Hill Tower which looks like a smaller Eiffel Tower. Petrin Hill is the perfect place to see the view of the colorful Prague and especially for the children to play with the ponies and the maze. You can take the 30 minutes walk to get up there, but if you have little babies it is preferable to take the lift for an extra fee. On our way down we stopped at a cute café – restaurant, where to all of the Outlander’s fans I swear the waiter was the lost twin brother of Frank. I hope he didn’t think I am some weirdo, because of how long I was staring at him, but I’ve never in my life seen such a similarity between two people. Heading down to one of the most beautiful streets in Prague, Nerudova Street is a great experience, with all the cute suvenir and gift shops. Don’t miss the Gingerbread museum, which looks like Hansel and Gretel’s house, to take photos and buy some cookies.

Public transport system in Prague is easy and efficient. Going around city with metro, buses and tram is cheap and is the best way to take long distances but, every street and spot is very charming so don’t be afraid to walk as much as you can and get lost into. To sum up, Prague is for sure one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and a great destination for families. All restaurants and cafes have baby chairs and kid meals are available almost everywhere. Prepare to take many photos as this city has come out of a fairytale. 

 

 

Anna