Family Friendly Travel Agent in Dublin

Ok so flights are booked and we are on our way to Australia! Ok well not straight away we are off in August for a month of family and friends and taking in the beautiful country that is Australia. We will work our way across the country starting in Adelaide my hometown and ending up in Cairns in top north Queensland for a bit of rest and relaxation, sunshine and adventures with my parents.

A big shout out and thank you to Monica in Abbey Travel on Abbey Street Dublin…  She took care of us the last time we flew to Australia and worked her magic again busting quotes I had received from other travel agents, booking the flights and putting a big smile on my face all within the space of half an hour.

If you are looking at booking any long haul flights pay these ladiesa visit. We highly recommend them as a Travel Agent that is family friendly, knows what is important when travelling with small children, like leaving around ‘bed time’ good stop over times, isle seats and  heaps more. They are experts on Australia, New Zealand, South America and Asia but also book great European deals including to Disney Land, Paris. Find them on Facebook.

I took Amelie with me today and she adored the little teddies and toys hanging around Monica’s desk and was taken by surprise when she wandered off only to find on her return a giant Teddy had taken her chair… so cute.

Loads more ‘Australia here we come’ blogs to follow,

Love and Smiles

Angi x

Travel Tip # 2

Yesterday we posted a blog and talked about the hug-a-bub. I found it to be very useful when travelling to Australia with Amelie. A good baby sling or carrier is essential when travelling solo with a small baby, especially over long distances. There are a few other things that I feel really helped me on my travels. I discovered a great fabric, portable high chair in the Coco Markets in Dun Laoghaire and took it to Australia with me. I do not know what I would have done without it.

Sack’n seat

What is it:

The sack’n seat is a great invention, a fabric take-anywhere highchair. It secures your baby to any chair so you can feed them anywhere anytime, even in those less than baby friendly restaurants and café’s that don’t have highchairs. By slipping the fabric over the back of a chair and using the two clips to secure it to the chair and around your baby. When the sack’n seat gets dirty, as it most definitely will just throw it in the machine with the rest of your laundry.

Why you need it:

It is absolutely essential when you are travelling, be it a day trip to the Zoo or half way across the world.  When in Australia I spent a lot of time staying with different family members and if they did not have a high chair I could just use the sack’n seat. Waiting in departure lounges in the airport, the sack’n seat was a god sent, all you have to do is slip it over a chair and away you go… feeding time on the go made easy.

Where can you get it:

I purchased Amelie’s sack’n seat from the Coco Markets in Dun Laoghaire. The wonderful ladies from the Mayfly store have a stall there; I assume you can find them in their store also at the address below:

64 Pleasants Place
Camden street
Dublin , 8
+35386 3764189 info@mayfly.ie

www.mayfly.ie

Or find it online at one of my favourite sites

www.ethicalbabe.com

Travel Tip # 1

Hi Everyone,

Recently a friend of our asked us to come to coffee to have a chat with a friend of theirs. She was about to embark on a long haul flight to New Zealand with her 9 month old baby girl.  Knowing that I had completed the long haul flight Australia with Amelie and that Tara had jetsetted all over with baby Dylan she was keen for any tips we could give her. We thought that we could share some of our travel tips with you.  

                                            

We thought that we would begin by sharing with you some information on three items that I found to really took the pressure off when I travelled unaided (without the husband that is) to Australia with Amelie. We were in transit for 30 hours and each of these items made me feel confident before I left that I was fully prepared to make the journey. Having confidence and feeling prepared was wonderful and calming, I believe that a calm mummy equals a calm baby and I really enjoyed the adventure I shared with my baby girl.

Today we will tell you about the first item, the next day the second item and information on the third item will follow on the third day, makes sense right? On Friday we will post our top ten travel tips for mothers travelling alone with small babies. I hope that what we share with you will give you confidence to travel with your babies and the calmness to enjoy the journey not just the destination.

Essential Jetsetting Item #1

Hug-a-bub

What is it:

The Hug-a-bub baby sling that is made from 100% natural and organic cotton with an ergonomic design. It allows you to carry your baby horizontally (great for breastfeeding mums) and vertically. I wore it every day when Amelie was small and when I was in 30hours in transit to Australia I could not have lived without it.  The sling is one long piece of fabric that secures your baby against your body so snug with excellent head and neck support for babies from birth.  It does not strain your back or shoulders like other slings and baby carriers I have tried. My Mum gave me this as a gift when Amelie was just two weeks old. I used it then and still use it now that she a year old.

Why you need it:

I travelled from Dublin, Ireland to Adelaide, Australia on my own with Amelie when she was 8 months old. I had to carry my hand luggage, documents and Amelie all on my own. The hug-a-bub allows you to have both hands free all the time while you carry your baby. It also allows you to bend down without your baby coming away from your body. It is only a piece of fabric so if you are not using it, it is very light to carry and does not add too much to your baggage limit. It promotes closeness with your baby from a young age so they just love it and come to know that hug-a-bub time means relaxing time with their Mummy. Any time Amelie gets in the hug-a-bub even now at a year old she either sleeps or knows she is going to share a peaceful relaxing time with me. It is just like the most amazing cuddle in the world.

Where can you get it:

The Hug-a-bub is designed in Australia you can purchase it online from the website

http://www.hugabub.com/

You can also find a full list of stockists from around the world on the website.

The following are stockists in Ireland:

Ecoshop Limited
+353 1 287 2914
Meridian Point, Greystones,
Co Wicklow

Pearl
+358 86 389 3657
30a South King Street
DUBLIN