If you’re like us — new parents debating whether to book that first mini break with your newborn — we hope sharing our stories will help. As a couple who spent most of pregnancy wondering if our travel days were temporarily behind us, we recently returned from a 4-night trip to Bergen, Norway — full of seafood and, frankly, a huge sense of relief. Spoiler: It went so much better than we expected, and those scary stories warning about travel with a baby? Definitely not the full picture.
Why we’re chasing Wanderlust with our baby in tow
It’s quite simple: we’ve always loved to travel. From our home in Henley-on-Thames, less than an hour from Heathrow, we’re usually packing for our next city break in Europe, road trip across the US, or cosy Airbnb near the UK coast. Some people might call it extravagant — but for us, exploring new places, tasting local food, and chasing great travel deals is just part of who we are.
Personally, I love a good bargain. I collect Amex points, redeem British Airways upgrade vouchers, and dig out amazing hotel offers for fun. Friends joke I should be their travel agent — and honestly, I wouldn’t hate that. There’s nothing I enjoy more than a cosy Sunday researching and planning an upcoming trip.
So it’s probably unsurprising when we decided, mid-pregnancy, that we’d take a ‘book it and then we have to go’ approach and decided to lock in a few trips while I was on maternity leave. And what started as one or two plans quickly turned into a full calendar of travel during my maternity leave.
What we couldn’t find
As we prepared for our first international trip with baby R, we realised something — there’s not much in one place that answers the questions new parents like us really have. Like:
- Can I bring a car seat on a plane?
- Is it worth booking a separate seat for a baby on short-haul flights?
- What’s the best way to navigate a hilly European city with a stroller?
(Quick answer: yes, our car seat fit fine despite the Airline’s dimensions stating otherwise — and we’ve booked a seat for R on all our short-haul flights going forward. Most of my mum friends didn’t even know that was an option!). You can now read all these flying tips and more, on my flying with a baby guide.
And, like me, you might be sick of seeing un-relatable Instagrammers enjoying free trips in response for glowing reviews. So in my destination guides, you’ll see real stories and honest opinions.
What you’ll find here
I’m a journalist-turned-marketer, and I’ve always loved sharing practical, detailed tips to help others. Jack (my husband) isn’t the trip planner, but he’s mastered the logistics of baby travel — from airport check-ins to luggage hacks — and he’s not shy about sharing strong opinions on the places I’ve booked!
We’re creating this space to share real, honest experiences from our family travels — the good, the stressful, and the surprisingly smooth. If you’re a new parent who doesn’t want to press pause on seeing the world, you’re in the right place for an honest review and hopefully a dose of inspiration to counter the naysayers who say travelling with a young child is too much faff.
Our travel review scorecard
To make it simple, we’re rating each destination we visit using a system that focuses on what we think really matters to parents:
1. ✈️ Getting there score
Not just flight time — we’ll cover airport logistics, transfers, and whether it was all doable without losing our minds.
2. 👶 Pramability score
Is it stroller-friendly? Were the pavements wide enough (or were there even pavements at all!)? How did we cope with cobbles and hills? Do you need a car seat or can you walk / use public transport?
3. 🍷 Adult fun factor
Let’s be honest — if there’s no enjoyment for you, it’s not worth it. We’ll share what we managed to do (between naps) and whether it actually felt like a holiday.
4. 💸 Cost score
Because traveling with a baby shouldn’t cost the earth — and we love a good travel bargain.
If you’ve got a baby or toddler and you’re wondering if travel is still possible, stick with us. We’ll give you the real story, and hopefully inspire you to keep seeing the world — with a little one in tow.
Is there anything we’re missing from our travel review score? Got questions you’d love answered? Leave a comment, subscribe, or like us on Instagram @littlebritsabroad to follow along as our baby Brit explores the world, one nap at a time.
Allie, Jack and Baby R x
