Taking our four month old baby to Spain- info please

ironman1

Hi all, we are looking to go on a family holiday to Spain in September/October.

Quick questions, hopefully someone will know this and it's in the right place!

We have sorted out his passport docs and sent off the form for it over the weekend. Do we need his passport returned to book the holiday? Also do you get any extra hand luggage allowance with a baby at all? Thanks!

MX5huggy

You should not need the passport to book but you run the risk of not having it when you need it, depends on how quick they are turning round passports at the moment.

You won't get extra baggage allowance unless you book the extra seat, (some airlines won't let you book the extra seat some will) but you can normally take as extra a car seat or buggy but it all depends on the particular airline. Are you planning a package with a tour operator or independent flights and accommodation?

Alisha2008

Booking an extra seat does not give you any extra luggage allowance, on any airline!

Buggies are usually free on all airlines (even Easyjet, Ryanair, etc), other baby stuff (like car seats) you need to pay a fee, but they are not too expensive (around £10).

dbt3mummy

You'll need to get an EHIC (the E111) card for the baby.

Nappies are quite expensive in Spain - - we went to Menorca last year with our then 1 year old and am quite glad I took extra nappies.

Baby doesn't usually get allocated a seat unless you pay for one and apart from the buggy usually get no luggage allowance.

Other than that, still use suncream and enjoy your break!!

daveyjp

Your nappy bag didn't used to count as extra luggage - use it to your advantage and get a large one! If you have a pushchair which has a chassis that also takes a car seat you won't have to pay for taking the car seat.

CL

I am also taking a baby to Spain in September and Easyjet allow 2 pieces of baby equipment free of charge. We will be taking a car seat and buggy. Babies do not get their own seat.

vroombroom

ooooh we're taking our littlun as well in Sept, he will be 19 weeks. We're flying with Jet2 and we get 10kg free for the baby but you can take 2 out of these 3 a car seat, a push chair and a travel cot if I remember? (will double check)

We're buying a cheap new buggy, a couple of outfits/swimming stuff, a pack of about 80 nappies (buy more if needs be), two tins of formula and some spare bottles. You can buy sterilising tablets and bags to pop in the microwave/boil to sterilise the bottles with obviously some toys as well to keep him entertained. I'll be making a few bottles up for the plane and buying some cartons when we go thru to departures (I've been advised to ring Boots before we go to see if they have them in stock). You'll have to taste the bottles but need to open the cartons x

lexuslass

Oh crikey!! you've taken me back ...it's only a couple of years ago but seems like ages ago we were taking our two with us and had to take all of the 'baby stuff'!!

We took the Milton sterilising tablets.

We always go to Spain (Mainland) ... formula milk is extortionate.. you can always find an English supermarket that will sell Cow & Gate, SMA etc but the half size tubs are about the same size as you'd get the full sized ones over here!

With nappies... I've always taken a load with us and ran out with about a couple of days to go and you only seem to be able to buy huge packs of nappies in Spain - so we ended up buying the big bags and leaving the rest there :eek:. I would advise if you are going somewhere that you've been to before and know where supermarkets are, then take a handful of nappies with you and buy from the supermarket as soon as you get there so that you will use them all up over your holiday.

I don't know about other airlines but I know ones like Ryanair do not allow any extra baggage for infants. We've always been able to get the pushchair on for free - am not sure about car seats... we've always hired them there with the car (but I would certainly advise, if you can take your own then do so... the ones they hire out to you are nothing like the ones we have!)

Remember to check the weight of your baggage tho!! I piled all of my clothes and the childrens and milk formula etc etc etc into our suitcases one year and I ended up paying over £60 excess baggage charge on each way of the flight (again this was with Ryanair!!) :eek:

HTH!!

Enjoy your hols!!

joess

I'd personally get the passport done before you book anything.

I sent off for my little boys renewal via the check and send service (meant to be a 2 week turnaround) it's now been nearly 4 weeks! I've chased with passport office and they just say it can take upto 6 weeks during busy times

ironman1

Apparently the post office can do a quick send for something like £8 and it is 'guaranteed' to get back to you within a couple of weeks. Anyone tried this? I may have worded some of the above wrong! Was just told this by someone at work who did the same.

lexuslass

ironman1 wrote: »

Apparently the post office can do a quick send for something like £8 and it is 'guaranteed' to get back to you within a couple of weeks. Anyone tried this? I may have worded some of the above wrong! Was just told this by someone at work who did the same.

See the post from Joess above... I've never had a problem with getting passports for my three in good time, but it sounds like they are busy at the moment and I don't think it's 'guaranteed' .. the post office check all your documents, give them you back and then send the forms off for you - which is supposed to make the turnaround process quicker but it's still subject to how busy the passport office are.

Bit worried now as my 12 year olds passport runs out at the beginning of August and we've been looking at holidays for late August thinking we'd get it back in plenty of time!