travel advice, please 5 hours in Paris stop over

Hi all !!!

I am eager to go and nervous at the same time. We will only be in New Delhi( big city) and pretty much stau=ying at home except for wedding functions and dinners. I would appreciate any and all advice on travelling. We are taking good start RTF in 8 oz cans and we have not begun finger foods yet so only gerber 2nd stage will be eaten.
so, the whole new strange water issue is covered.

I could use some advice from experienced twin travellers.

Thanks all.

Oh, Matthew and Amy will be 9 1/2 months when we are in India. We leave on Nov. 9th and return on the 26th.

 

We just flew with our 9 month olds. Granted it was only to Chicago, but still...

Overall they liked the flight - We were a captive audience - they had our undivided attention and ate that up. Are you getting them each a seat or will you have room? The only issue we had was space. On the way there we ended up in an empty row so we had both car seats and plenty of room. VERY pleasant. On the way back we had just 3 seats. One car seat and one lap baby (we alternated). It wasn't that comfortable for the one on our lap, because they don't really like to fall asleep being held anymore. That was really the only issue. We packed a backpack full of various hand-held toys and just kept rotating them.

You have a 5 hour layover? Yikes. I wonder if there's somewhere where they could nap and move around? Friends of ours did the India trip last year with their almost 2 year old. I think they may have even gotten a hotel room close to the airport so they could have a place to really rest and be comfortable. Just a thought.

Will the family in India have high chairs, cribs and that kind of stuff for you? Even toys - anything that they can have set up will make things easier.

Also, I don't know if Good Start had it, but Similac has bottles of premade formula that you just screw the top and nipple onto. Our FAVORITE for travel. All you have to wash are the nipples and the ring top.
Good luck!!!!

- Patty

 

I have quite a lot of experience, unfortunately. It's not my favorite thing, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

Our family is in Europe and we'll be returning end of this year as well. My oldest has done 7 transatlantics between age 3 months and 3 years, basically twice a year. She's done lap economy, lap business, seats in economy and seats in business. Don't need to explain what I prefer. At the end of this year we'll go back with 5 seats in economy, that's how we flew to the States last time as well. There is NO way I would consider not getting their own seats on long flights. It's 7 1/2 - 9 hours with a 7 hour time difference, but direct, so that's good. Luckily the company pays our tickets once a year, but if they wouldn't I would still buy seats.

The twins have done 1 return transatlantic and a couple of other domestic and Carribean flights.

In general I hate everything about it, I am not going to lie. I hate TSA, hate the long flights especially after an hour of 3-4 it's getting less nice. Overall, my kids have been fine, pretty good travellers (my oldest hasn't cried for 30 minutes on a flight). It's just the lack of sleep, the time zone changes, etc. that makes them overtired, and we all know that overtired children aren't very enjoyable, especially in such a small space.

I take plenty of snacks, a few new toys, take walks and rely on a DVD-player (my oldest will easily watch 5-6 hours straight). The flight to Europe is a night flight, so at some point they'll usually crash. However, by the time you get there, it's morning in Europe, and about midnight in the US ... go figure. I expose them to daylight, have them take a nice nap, with a scheduled wake up time in order to secure an early, but not too early bed time, and then hope for the best overnight. It usually takes 3-4 nights. My oldest is already fine after 1 or 2 nights, but that's only since recently. I also know moms who are struggling for a week (they usually say 1 day per every hour time difference). Key is to go back to your regular schedule as soon as you arrive, and expose them to daylight / outside when they are awake.

Don't forget to bring plenty of diapers, clean clothes for all of you, bibs, medication, etc. Be prepared for delays. Personally I hate Charles de Gaulle airport, it's a dump, except the Air France terminal (they take good care of themselves). My friend recently flew back from Buenos Aires via Paris and had a 24-hour delay, staff was horrible ... luckily she was without her twin boys! My parents had a very similar experience ... forgot my mom's suitcase as well!

Most people I know make the flight via Amsterdam, which is our "home" airport, very nice, clean, a lot of walking but one terminal and good kiddie facilities (maybe for next time?!).

Anyway, it will be hard, but I forget quickly as well ... I did it so many times, you know it's pain, but you know you have to do it, you'll deal with and once you arrive you forget pretty quickly ... when the jet lag is over.

 

QUOTE(brooke78 @ Oct 30 2007, 12:35 PM) [snapback]473623[/snapback]
Oh, Matthew and Amy will be 9 1/2 months when we are in India. We leave on Nov. 9th and return on the 26th.

We're planning a trip to India in February (Bangalore and then small cities in Gujarat). My twins will be 10 months then. Really curious to hear how the trip goes. I hope you'll let us know. I'm just working on getting their passports now.

I love India (my husband is Gujarati). I hope you have a terrific trip.

Sotto

 

I dont have twins so dont have any advice for twins specifically, but when we flew with my singlton to Mumbai(another big city you may know it as Bombay) , I found that she was soothed much quicker while I was carrying her in a sling\carrier. Infact I even slept like that on the Paris-Mumbai sector
Right now I am in Mumbai and here are a few things which might help

• Pls carry all your baby food , it is not easy to find jarred baby food
• do NOT drink outside water - either boil or have mineral water , this goes for adults too
• Diapers In India are not as trim and absorbant so you may need to change more often , infact with the humid air it is a good idea to change diapres often and air their bums for 10-15 mins between every change some babies with sensitive skin did not do well with these diapers but my daughter had no issue
• keep sunscreen handy -even in winter
• mosqitoes (sp???) may be an issue depending on where you are , pls carry repellent if you need

 

Just one more thing , If you have not seen in before (actually even if you have) , pls try and see some of our country .. Tajmahal is very near from Delhi and it is an experiance not be missed

 

i've only flown cross country with the girls, most recently a week ago. You got great suggestions already, i just want to second the one about going to see the taj mahal. If you're schlepping all the way to india and havent' yet seen it - GO, it's worth it, it's astonishing.

But if you do go - take the train, DO NOT drive; it's five hours on ghastly roads. Train is something like two hours each way.

Good luck!

 

No advice, but I would love to hear -- in detail! -- how it goes. I've been to India many times (most of my family is there), but have never taken the kiddos -- not brave enough yet, but someday I'd like to do it....