How to travel with a baby: amenities, safety, and hotel selection

Flight

If you are planning to go on a family trip by plane, we have good news for you. Airlines consider all children under 2 years old to be infants and provide them with a free flight. Otherwise, the rules for toddlers are about the same as for adults:

• There is no separate queue. Parents with infants are checked in and screened on the same terms as the rest of the passengers. But you can count on others to show understanding and let you go ahead;
• There are not always special chairs for babies. When buying tickets, check with the airline whether it provides air bags for kids. If not, you will have to hold the child in your arms for the entire flight;
• You need to think about leisure time in flight in advance. Airplanes do not provide toys, tablets with cartoons and other entertainment for the youngest passengers. Therefore, it is better for parents to stock up on everything in advance that can entertain and relax the child.

If you need to go to the bathroom, you don't have to take the baby with you. Ask the flight attendant to look after the baby for a couple of minutes. Take your child to the bathroom only when it becomes necessary to change his diaper. By the way, minimal amenities are usually provided on board for this purpose: a folding table, water and napkins.

What to take with you

• Food. Stock up on bottles of water, milk, or formula for the duration of the flight. If the baby is breastfed, everything becomes a little easier;
• Powders, creams, spare diapers. Hygiene products are not provided by airports or airlines. Therefore, we will have to create our own strategic stocks in hand luggage;
• A stroller and a portable cradle. Both can be transported outside the luggage compartment, if you meet the required dimensions. It is better to check the permitted dimensions with the airline. If you can rent a stroller and cot at the hotel, consider how much you need these items at the airport and whether you can do without them.

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Health of small travelers

To reduce the risk of illness on vacation, choose your destination very carefully. No matter how much you would like to see the northern Lights or ride quad bikes in the desert, you will have to postpone your trip to very cold or extremely hot places. Choose resorts and cities with moderate air temperatures to avoid hypothermia or heat stroke in the baby.

Be sure to hand in your tickets and cancel your trip in the following situations:

• a baby is teething with pain;
• the child has contracted an infection and/or has a fever;
• you have just weaned your son or daughter from breastfeeding - at this moment, the risk of intestinal infection is especially high.

If everything is going well and the trip is valid, arrange extended medical insurance for the child. This will help save money and nerves if you have health problems on vacation. In such situations, be sure to contact your local doctors right away.

To be prepared for unpleasant surprises, take with you:

• antipyretic;
• antiseptic;
• cotton pads, bandages, plasters;
• remedies for colic, diarrhea, constipation;
• teething gel;
• saline solution.

On-site power supply

There are two main options: choose an all-inclusive hotel or rent a hotel without meals and cook on your own.

It's much easier for moms in all-inclusive hotels. As a rule, such hotels offer a special children's menu, a high chair for the baby, a microwave and everything necessary to heat milk or a mixture.

If parents rent apartments or book a hotel room without meals, they will have to think about how and where to feed their child on their own. There may not be a high chair in such hotels, as well as a microwave. If this is very important to you, check all the information in advance with the landlords or the hotel administration.

In any case, if you have a very small child, we recommend putting juices, purees, mixtures and porridges in your luggage. This way you are guaranteed to avoid unexpected troubles: allergic reactions and stomach disorders in the baby.

Of course, if the baby is breastfed, everything is much simpler. In this case, the mother only needs to continue to monitor her diet and not be tempted, for example, by a glass or two of local wine.

Where to go on vacation with a baby

There are many places in Russia where you can safely go even with the youngest children. These are southern resorts, quiet but cozy cities in the central part of the country, and picturesque remote regions.

We tell you in more detail where to relax with an infant.

Sochi

This city has the most comfortable weather conditions for relaxing with babies at sea: in summer, the average air temperature ranges between +25 °C and +27 °C, the water warms up to +22...+24 °C.

Another advantage of Sochi is its transport accessibility. You can get here from any corner of Russia by train, plane, bus or car. But remember that it is better to choose the fastest and most comfortable way of transportation with a baby.

Sochi is considered a leader in the concentration of entertainment and interesting places for families with children. There are water parks with areas for the youngest, zoos, and an aquarium. And most beaches are equipped with special decking for easy entry into the water.

Of course, the most popular and beloved resort of Russians boasts a huge selection of hotels for a vacation with a baby. For example, in Sochi is located:

• Swissotel Resort Sochi Camellia. A luxurious five-star hotel with a spa, an evergreen park, and stunning views of the city and the sea. Everything is provided for recreation with infants: free cots, cradles, playpens and strollers, a children's menu, game rooms and playgrounds, a swimming pool for the youngest, babysitting services.

From Sochi, you can go to Krasnaya Polyana for a day or two. If you want to stay there overnight, book any of the Accor hotels. We guarantee a comfortable family stay in stylish rooms for every budget.

Anapa

This resort town is loved by adults and children all over Russia. Holidays in Anapa are usually cheaper than in Sochi. At the same time, the weather conditions, cuisine and nature are the same.

The Anapa suburb of Dzhemete is particularly popular among vacationers with toddlers. There is a quiet sandy beach and a safe entrance to the water. And you can make mashed potatoes or juice from local organic fruits for your child.

To make your vacation with your baby at sea in Anapa as comfortable as possible, book a room at Mövenpick Resort & SPA Anapa Miracleon. This is a five-star hotel with Ultra All Inclusive accommodation. The hotel hosts concerts, shows for children and adults, and offers babysitting and photography services. You can put a cot in the room, and rent a stroller for free for walking around the city.

Kaliningrad

In the Kaliningrad region, you can combine a beach holiday with an urban one. Kaliningrad itself has many attractions, a large zoo, and restaurants with local dishes on the menu. And in the village of Yantarny there is the best beach for babies. The water here is clean, the beach is sandy, and there are all the necessary amenities. But if you plan to swim, calculate your vacation time wisely: the water in the Baltic Sea warms up to a pleasant temperature only in July and August.

Comfortable accommodation is available in Accor Group hotels located in the center of Kaliningrad:

• ibis Kaliningrad Center. A budget option. This hotel has bright interiors and a restaurant with a children's menu. The rooms are spacious, cozy and equipped with all amenities. However, you will have to take your cot and stroller with you from home;
• Mercure Kaliningrad Center. A comfortable hotel with a fitness center, sauna, hammam, restaurants with a children's menu. You can put a free baby cot in the rooms, which is offered by the hotel.

Samara

An ideal city for a relaxing family vacation and leisurely hiking.

Samara has one of the longest embankments in Russia. It offers a view of the majestic Volga River. If you get tired, relax on one of the benches or in a cafe. During the summer season, you can relax and refresh yourself on the city beach.

Samara also has many parks and gardens, museums, restaurants, and ancient buildings. Take a stroller, put your baby in it and go explore the cozy city.

You can stay at the ibis Samara hotel. It is located on the banks of the Volga River — very close to the city beach. The hotel provides easy access to the city center and attractions. The cozy rooms are equipped with comfortable furniture. The hotel offers free cots and a children's menu for the youngest, as well as breakfast in the restaurant.

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Moscow Region

Moscow may seem too noisy and bustling for traveling with kids. But in the Moscow region, you can find options suitable for a relaxing family vacation.

There are many pet farms, children's clubs and parks in the Moscow region. You can get to them from Moscow itself or from some city in the region. For example, from Stupino. The hotel ibis Stupino is located here with comfortable rooms at affordable prices. The restaurant offers a children's menu, and you can put a cot or cradle in the room for free.

If you want to stay closer to Moscow, choose ibis Moscow Domodedovo Airport. There are even more facilities for children here. In addition to a crib and a children's menu, the hotel offers playpens, playgrounds and rooms.

Moscow

For those who want to visit the capital with a baby, we have only one piece of advice: make a plan in advance, choose the most interesting and suitable entertainment from all that Moscow offers. There is a huge list of options where to go with the baby. These include play spaces in cultural centers, pools for the youngest, non-standard cafes, and many more.

And to take a break from activities, book a room at Mercure Moscow Paveletskaya or Mövenpick Moscow Taganskaya. The hotels are located close to the center and metro, so it is as convenient as possible to get to the sights. In both hotels, vacationers with children can use cots and playpens, and spend time with the kids on the playground.

There are especially many facilities for infants in Mövenpick Moscow Taganskaya. Upon request, parents are provided with feeding pillows, cradles for babies up to six months old, and baby food for breakfast. There are even cute baby slippers and a bathrobe. Grown-up children in the hotel are also not deprived of attention: they are given sweet compliments.

To find out about other Accor Group hotels in Moscow and book a room in the capital, go to at.

Irkutsk

Holidays in this city are chosen because of the proximity of the legendary Lake Baikal. Families with children go for walks around the lake all year round to enjoy the incomparable views and the cleanest air.

Before traveling to Lake Baikal, we advise you to weigh the pros and cons. There is no doubt that a trip here will give you memories for a lifetime. But you need to understand that the flight to Irkutsk from most points in Russia takes a long time. Not every kid can handle such an adventure without stress.

But if you still decide to relax with the whole family on Lake Baikal, we recommend staying at the ibis Irkutsk Center hotel. The hotel is located close to the sights and the Angara embankment. It is also convenient to go on day trips to the lake from here. The hotel offers a free children's menu and cots, and there is a game room.

Once again, briefly about the main thing

• Get ready for the flight. Take hygiene products and spare diapers, food and toys with you;
• Think about possible health problems for your baby. Avoid places that are too cold or hot for vacations, pack a basic first-aid kit and get medical insurance for your child;
• Specify all the details of the accommodation. Find out if the hotel provides cots and strollers, special menus, and entertainment;
• Book a room at the Accor Group Hotel. Our hotels are located in many regions of Russia. Choose any of them on this page and make a reservation online.