Travel confidence is returning, and many families are booking international holidays, and in particular they are choosing to head back to their favourite destinations.
Data from comparison website Finder shows 24 per cent of parents with kids under 18 plan to travel overseas in 2022 with Bali, Fiji and Europe high on the wish list for holidays.
Haydn Long, spokesperson for Flight Centre, said: “Confidence is gradually increasing, which is what we anticipated would happen.
“International travel has certainly picked up significantly since most countries, including Australia, started relaxing and removing travel restrictions.”
However, if a whole new climate of travel isn’t complicated enough, it can be tough when have your little ones along with you. As well as finding out where Aussie families are setting off to, we’ve also gathered all the information you need on travelling internationally with children in this new era of adventure.
Where are Aussies going?
Mr Long said: “Of the international destinations, the stand-outs for families are currently Bali and Fiji. These have traditionally been hotspots for families because of their proximity, affordability, culture and climate.”
Within the top 10 international destinations, Delhi, Manila and London are popular with Australians keen to take their family to visits friends and relatives.
Travel agent Lana Kanchik from TravelManagers said people are looking at a range of destinations all over the world.
“There are no shortage of families wanting to travel to international destinations such as Fiji, the USA, Thailand and now Bali, as all of them are quarantine-free. Lots of families are booking skiing holidays for next year in Canada, Japan and New Zealand.”
What are the rules?
As far as vaccination goes, all travellers over the age of 12 must be vaccinated in order to travel from Australia, unless medically exempt. Both you and your children (aged five years or older) may also have to submit a negative Covid-19 test at check-in, depending on your destination.
However, you also need to be aware of the rules at your destination. For example, to enter the UK and US you do not need to be vaccinated if you are under 18, but those entering the US over the age of two must return a negative test.
As far as wearing a mask goes, this will also depend on where you’re travelling to – and you can use smartraveller.gov.au to check the local public health requirements of your destination.
USA
If you are over 18, you must be vaccinated to enter. Everyone aged two years old and older must return a negative test taken no more than one day before travel, or have documentation showing that they have recovered from Covid-19 in the last 90 days.
UK
Traveller aged 18 and above must be vaccinated or otherwise adhere to strict testing requirements. If you are fully vaccinated, there are no testing requirements. Those 17 and under do not need to be vaccinated or return a negative test.
Bali
Adults must be fully vaccinated and children 12 years and older must be fully vaccinated. Below 12 years, they will need to return a negative test on arrival.
Fiji
Only travellers aged 18 and over must be vaccinated. However, travellers 12 years old and above will need to return a negative test taken no more than 24 hours before the flight’s departure.
Europe
Different countries in Europe have different restrictions. For example, Iceland and Ireland have scrapped all entry conditions and restrictions, and in most European countries fully vaccinated travellers and children do not need to present a negative test.
When are Aussies going?
Mr Long says the upcoming Easter holidays are a big draw las always, but there’s steady interest for travel throughout the year.
“Easter is generally a busy time for both domestic and international travel. People are certainly booking internationally for those two weeks, but there’s also increasing interest in holidays later in the year. Peak seasons for European travel are obviously more around July-August.”
What to know about insurance?
Gary Hunter, insurance expert at Finder, says most travel-insurance policies will include children at no extra charge, but there are still some tips and tricks to know.
“Most policies will cover kids for free if they’re travelling with the parent or guardian listed on the Certificate of Insurance. You usually need to be under 21 to be eligible as a dependent, though this varies between brands.
The best policy for a family is one with unlimited medical and trip cancellation cover and enough luggage insurance to cover all your belongings. In these times, it’s also worth going with an insurer that covers Covid-related expenses.
“Make sure that your travel insurance policy covers you for cancellation or rearrangement costs if a family member (usually referred to as a ‘fellow traveller’) catches Covid-19.”
Mr Hunter says when travelling with the family, you can generally get a better deal on a single insurance family policy than individual cover.
Final advice
Ms Kankick says it’s time to stop waiting.
“Go for it. We’ve been waiting for two years to be able to travel. Explore the world, life is too short and could change at any time.”
Mr Long says book early and book flexible.
“Typically, the best advice is to book early because the cheaper airfares tend to sell first, leaving only the more premium offerings available closer to departure. In the current climate, it’s also a good idea to keep up to date with any changes in government policies, in relation to things like RATs and PCR tests.
“Things are changing – generally for the better – daily. Also, while things are typically improving, look for flexible fares and deals – just to provide additional protection if you do need to change plans unexpectedly.”
Kids and Covid-19 travel checklist
* Bring plenty of distractions to prepare for longer wait times, and keep snacks on hand
* Carry games, puzzles, electronic devices or whatever else you might need in case you end up in quarantine
* Be well-stocked with face masks, over-the-counter medications and hand sanitiser, just in case
* Make sure you double-check the individual restriction policies of each country you visit
