Sharing Travel Experiences

Have Baby, Will Travel

by Andy Hayes

If you have a baby (or are planning to have one soon), and wondering how the heck do you manage, the today’s guest Corinne will certainly open your eyes to some new possibilities. Many consider travel with a very small child too dangerous, too difficult, too…well, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Let’s hear what she has to say on this topic..

Can we start with a bit of introduction?

I’m a mum of two (Megan is 4 and Riley is 8mos) and a Torontonian through and through… I was born and raised in Toronto, which is a great city to live and raise children in (even my Westerner husband will grudgingly agree). I’m a first-generation Canadian, my father is from Oldham, in England, and my mother was from Glasgow. As I was growing up, I spent almost every August “home” in the UK, and we’d travel around from there. I’m sure that’s where the travel bug was planted.

I left my career as a television producer last year to stay home with the kids and work on Have Baby Will Travel, which I launched after I returned to work following my first maternity leave.

Andy’s Note:  I think regardless of what age you are when you first travel, once you have one of those positive, rich, amazing experiences, you’ll never want to stop travelling.  That’s why STE was born in the first place – to educate people on these authentic experiences and encourage people to go out and seek them.  At any age, apparently…

Tell us about Have Baby Will Travel, your travel website?

Have Baby Will Travel was launched in the Spring of 2007. We wanted to take a vacation before my maternity leave ended and I was surprised at how there wasn’t an online destination specifically for first-time traveling parents. I wanted to create a one-stop shop for busy mums and dads seeking information on taking their first (and subsequent) trips with baby. Have Baby Will Travel features baby-friendly destination information, packing lists, useful articles and links, and first-hand trip reports submitted from other parents. Last year we added a blog, where I blather on about various issues regarding traveling with tots and write about the trips we take.

Do you always travel with the children or do you take the opportunity for a private getaway?

We’ve not yet been away without the kids, but we are planning a long weekend in Havana, Cuba next year – sans kids – for an upcoming big birthday of mine (it’s the new 30!)

Andy’s Note:  Great choice – Cuba was on STE’s list of top travel destinations for 2010.

How has having a baby with you on the road changed your perceptions of foreign lands? Conversely, how do you think you are perceived differently?

I think I thought I’d be worried and fretful, but traveling with our kids has really displayed to me the new worlds that only children can open up. Parenthood is a great equalizer, and I’ve been surprised and delighted at how we’ve been able to connect with locals when we’re out and about. Whether you’re a TV producer from Canada or a waiter from Cuba, your goal as a parent is to raise a healthy, happy, and productive human being.

Granted, so far we’ve stuck with family-friendly destinations with good access to medical care. We’re not comfortable dealing with altitude issues or travel vaccinations while our kids are still so small.

What have been the most baby-friendly places for those feeling a little unsure about taking their wee ones on the road?

In my early days of motherhood, I was unsure about leaving the house, never mind the country. We started small and we go small, with a home base in a hotel or resort and then day trips or excursions at a nice, slow pace. Latin cultures LOVE children, so you can never go wrong with places like Cuba, Mexico, Spain, or Portugal. Don’t overschedule your days or overplan your excursions, and you won’t be disappointed that you’ve decided to spend another day at the beach instead of exploring ruins. Those ruins have been there for thousands of years, they’ll still be there if you decide to give yourself a break and visit again another time.

What’s been your most inspirational travel experience?

Our cab broke down on the way back to Varadero from Havana on our first trip to Cuba. We were just outside Havana, by some Soviet-era apartment blocks, and as we watched Cuban families returning home from work we felt a bit like a tourist attraction. I took the baby over to the shade of a bus shelter.

After a few minutes, a truck stopped and the driver chatted with our driver, Maroldi, for a bit, and then produced what appeared to be a juice bottle full of oil. Maroldi came back with the oil and the truck drove away. My husband asked him if he knew the guy in the truck. Maroldi said that he didn’t. We were surprised as it seemed he had just handed over what was probably a fairly valuable resource without even an exchange of addresses or phone numbers. Maroldi asked, without a hint of judgement, “You mean you wouldn’t help someone if they needed it?” From that moment on, I’ve endeavored to always be able to answer that question, “Of course I would.”

How will you future travel as your children grow older?

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss staying in b&bs or smaller spots that may not have the space or amenities necessary when traveling with a baby. So I’ll be excited to return to what feels like a more authentic way of experiencing new places once the kids are older. The nice thing is, they’re already so well-traveled (well my daughter is anyway), that it won’t be long until we’re able to. Also, I’m excited about being able to plan itineraries together, and making travel a real learning experience for them.

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Well, everyone, if that wasn’t inspirational I don’t know what is.  If you want to learn more about the travel-with-a-baby lifestyle, check out Corinne’s tips and tricks over at Have Baby, Will Travel.  Thanks for joining us today, Corinne!