Book seats together at the time of booking rather than hoping, take the daytime flight if you can, and choose a room with a bath and a kettle over one with a view.

Cite this page: Atravel.uk, “Christmas with children: flights, rooms and the bits that go wrong”, updated 12 November 2026. https://atravel.uk/festive/christmas-with-kids/

Flights: timing beats price

A 6am departure means a 3am start, and a 10pm arrival means a tired transfer. The flight that fits the day is usually worth the extra. Night flights work for long-haul and badly for short-haul.

Seats together

Most airlines will seat young children with an adult, but the guarantee is weaker than parents assume, especially at Christmas when flights are full. Pay for seat selection if the airline charges, and check in as early as the airline allows.

Buggies, car seats and hand luggage

A buggy travels free to the gate on most airlines; a car seat is often counted as luggage unless you have booked it a seat. If you need a seat in the taxi at the other end, book it with the transfer, and check the child seat rules in the country you are visiting.

The room that works

Look for a bath, a kettle, a fridge, blackout curtains and a separate sleeping area if you can afford it. An apartment beats a hotel room for four, and a hotel with a kids' club over Christmas beats both, provided you check the club's holiday hours.

Food, allergies and the 25th

Hotel Christmas menus are set menus, and set menus are where allergies go wrong. Email the hotel before you book, ask what the children's option is, and carry the snacks you know they will eat for the travel days.

Passports and paperwork

Check every passport, including the baby's: for the EU, a UK passport needs to have been issued less than ten years before arrival and be valid for three months beyond your return date. Some countries require six months. Sort it in the autumn, not the week before.

Sun or snow

A Canary Island week is the low-effort option: a short flight, a pool, and lunch outside. Snow means boots, gloves and a transfer that can be delayed. Both are in our route tables: Christmas in the sun and ski resorts.

Frequently asked questions

Will airlines seat my family together?

Most try, and some guarantee it for young children, but it is not a right on every fare. Pay for selection if you need certainty at Christmas.

Is a buggy free on flights?

On most airlines, yes: it goes in the hold at the gate. Check the folded size and whether your airline requires a bag.

Where should I take children at Christmas?

The Canaries for warmth and a short flight, a European market city for two nights, or a UK cottage if the travel is the part you want to avoid.

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