Tuesday 11 September 2012

Ideas for weekend away from HK: Sanya!

Want a quick 90 minute Dragonair flight from HK?  Check
Want 5 star luxe for adults?  Check
Option to offload your kids into a Kids Club?  Check

Look no further than the Ritz Carlton Sanya (the southern tip of Hainan Island, China)

Now this post is based entirely on an article in Hong Kong's family magazine, Playtimes

They make it look so good I need to go there immediately!

The Kids Club, Petit VIP, offers activities at no extra cost for kids 1 - 6 and 7 - 14.  The club is fully equipped with toys, an outdoor playground and a dedicated kids' pool.

The hotel will provide cots, high chairs, bottle warmers, sterilisers, changing mats, baby baths, prams and even car seats!

I had a quick look at room rates and they were anywhere from 3000 RMB per night.

Quite pricey but just look at the alluring promo photos....



Saturday 8 September 2012

British Airways Infant Booking - Free family seat reservation


Here's some useful information from the British Airways website that you may not have been aware of:


Families with an infant

When you travel with an infant (under 2 years) you can reserve a seat for yourself and everyone in your booking, free of charge, as soon as you've booked.
If you don't choose a seat in advance, we'll reserve a suitable one for you 3 days before the flight.



Thursday 6 September 2012

Flight Review: Air New Zealand - Hong Kong to London (12 hours)

Who:  Claire & her 2 boys (3 yo toddler and 3 month old baby)
What:  Air New Zealand NZ 39T departs Hong Kong 10am and arrives at LHR 4.15pm 

Hong Kong to London
I decided to fly to the UK to introduce family to our new baby, which meant flying alone with my two kids, aged 3 and 3 months. I was anxious about it having never travelled alone with just one child let alone two! Nic assured me I could do it and I thought a lot about ways to make it easier on myself. I felt that a day flight would be better for us since at least I wouldn't be expecting anyone to sleep and wouldn't be tired myself, or certainly no more so than usual! 


Getting to airport
I booked a car to take us to the airport, usually I would use the in town check in but with 2 kids in tow it seemed easier just to sort it all out when we got there. 

At airport
There was a small line to check in but we were taken to check in at a premium economy desk which had no queue, and the very pleasant lady had us all checked in very quickly. She also confirmed that JB would be getting a child's meal, that I could take the buggy to the gate, and that I would have assistance upon my arrival at LHR which I had requested through my travel agent. After check in going so smoothly I felt surprisingly serene as I headed to our gate. 

Almost as soon as I arrived at the gate a charming stewardess came over and said we could board first and that they would do everything to help out and make things easier, which was very reassuring. 

Onboard
Once I handed over my buggy we got settled on the plane, staff were helpful in putting my bags in the over head locker. 
The cabin was clean and it was great to have the bulkhead. I had been hoping that we could lift up the arm rests in case JB wanted to lie on my lap and have a snooze (wishful thinking!) but the tables are in there so you can't. 

Once the seatbelt sign had been turned off they brought out the bassinet, and put a soft blanket in it to make it more comfortable for baby. He fit perfectly and must have been very comfy because he slept for 6 hours out of the 12 hour flight. I couldn't imagine a baby much bigger being very comfortable in it, but having said that the family next to me had their 11 month old sleeping in one with his legs dangling out and he seemed happy enough! One thing that really impressed me, the very first time the drink trolley came round the stewardess noticed I was breastfeeding and gave me a 2 liter bottle of water, so I wouldn't have to keep asking!

JB was not interested in the children's programming available (mostly Disney movies) but I had anticipated this and pre-loaded up the iPad with Thomas videos and some kid friendly apps. His favorites were Monkey Preschool Lunchbox, a drawing app and a dot to dot app. In fact, I needn't have brought him the sticker books or toys, he was delighted to have the opportunity to play endlessly on the (usually strictly controlled) iPad. I got him some great headphones, (kidz gear wired headphones) which are really comfortable and have a sound limiter and also put some audio books on my phone in case the iPad battery ran out. The airline did provide a small bag of kids stuff, just a little notebook, a few pencils and some stickers that kept him busy for 5 minutes. 

Despite requesting the child's meal, which was all pretty innocuous (spaghetti bolognaise, chicken and mash) JB wouldn't touch any of it except for the bread and cheese so I was glad to have brought lots of snacks and smoothie pouches. They brought round some sandwiches and snacks between meals, and ice cream. JB was having a short nap when they brought it round and the stewardess saved him one for when he awoke. As you can probably tell I was extremely impressed with the staff on our flight, I have never had such friendly, helpful service! 

There were 4 or 5 toilets near us, all of which had a baby changing table, but 2 of the bathrooms were larger so I tried to get those ones if it wasn't too urgent. Once again, the lovely stewardesses entertained JB while I was off changing the baby. 

Arrival at Heathrow

I had requested assistance upon our arrival from the redcoats, and I was extremely glad I did. I didn't get my buggy back until baggage reclaim and it was quite a walk (about 10 mins). It would've been a real struggle lugging baby and bag while dealing with a tired 3 year old! I was met off the plane and a very friendly guy carried all the bags and chatted away while walking us to immigration and baggage reclaim. We were taken through a very fast channel at immigration, and my redcoat helped me get my suitcase and delivered us to my parents in arrivals. 


Flight Review: Air New Zealand - London Heathrow to Hong Kong (12 hours)

Who:  Claire, hubbie & her 2 boys (3 yo toddler and 3 month old baby)
What:  NZ 38V London Heathrow to Hong Kong

Departs 9.05pm arrives 4.10pm following day in HK

For the return flight I packed all the same stuff omitting the sticker books and toys since they were unnecessary. I had my husband with me for the flight home so didn't request any extra help. 

Check in at Heathrow Terminal 1 was a bit busy and chaotic, and we had to wait in a long queue to get checked in. We were told we weren't sitting together by a fairly surly lady at the desk, but luckily she took pity on us and sorted it out. 

At security I was asked to taste the water in the baby bottle, which I hadn't been asked to do at HK airport. Once again I was able to take my buggy to the gate, and it was given back to me as I stepped off the plane in HK which was great. We were able to board first, and once again the air NZ crew went above and beyond to be friendly and helpful. 

I hoped since it was a night flight (and with the help of some cough syrup) that JB would sleep. Unfortunately he only slept for 4 hours but the baby slept for 10! Once again he iPad was invaluable, I will never fly without one! 

I would highly recommend Air New Zealand and will definitely fly with them next time I fly to the UK. 




What Claire packed in Hand Luggage: Hong Kong to London (12 hours day flight)

What:  Air New Zealand 39T departs 10am and arrives at London Heathrow 4.15pm 
Who:  Claire & her 2 gorgeous boys, Jeremiah (3.5 yo) and Tobias (3 months old)
In Claire's Hand Luggage:

  • 2 pull ups for JB 
  • 1 change of clothes for JB
  • 2 sticker books, Mini magnadoodle, new Thomas train
  • 2 changes of clothes for babySwaddling blanket
  • 6 Nappies for baby
  • Wipes
  • Plastic bag
  • 3 dummies
  • 1 bottle and 1 serving of formula (I'm breastfeeding but brought formula in case an emergency top up was needed)
  • Gripe water
  • Panadol and drowsy cough syrup
  • iPad

In Jeremiah's hand luggage:
  • Favourite cuddly toy
  • 3 Thomas books
  • Snacks and smoothie pouches
  • iPod and headphones

Saturday 1 September 2012

Flight Review: British Airways London Heathrow to Hong Kong

Who:  I was flying back to Hong Kong with 2 kids (3.5 yo, 10 mth old) plus mother in law.  Recovering from an operation, I paid extra for Premium Economy on British Airways.

What:  BA 27 London Heathrow departs 10pm, arrives Hong Kong 4pm

Check In
You can't check in online if you are travelling with an infant.  Allow at least 2 hours before your flight.

At T5 we were directed to an 'Assistance' counter as most are labelled 'Bag Drop'.  A rather surly member of check in staff then informed us we weren't all sitting together.  Had I been upgraded to First and my baby down to Economy?  No such luck but fortunately as the flight was empty the problem was rectified.

I took the stroller to the Gate and then switched the baby to an Ergo carrier.  On the Hong Kong side the stroller was returned promptly - there's nothing worse than a long wait with a heavy, crying baby.

Whilst approaching the Gate, a member of staff spied our kids in tow and informed us we could board first.

Onboard

The cabins of BA's 777s have a newer feel to the 747s.  We trudged grudgingly passed a delicious looking business class and located our Premium Economy seats. I was impressed with the cabin; clean seats that were slightly larger than economy, foot rests and bigger TV screens.  The only downside is you can't move the armrests.  If you are in a bulkhead seat you don't have much space to put your belongings but once the bassinet table is in place you can stash things on there.



The flight was half empty and we departed on time.

Bassinet
As soon as the seatbelt sign was off, the staff came to set up a Britax car seat.  My baby was pretty comfortable in there and slept a solid 6 hours. However, at 10 months I'm not sure how much longer she's going to be able to fit.
Frustratingly every time the 'fasten seatbelt' sign comes on you have to remove your baby.  Yes even if it's taken 4 hours to get them to sleep.



Food
Unlike other airlines e.g. Cathay, BA don't provide an infant meal.  I had also forgotten to book a Child's meal for my 3 year old (why don't I take my own advice?).  However, she tucked into the adult meal happily, a rather average beef dish with pasta salad to start and lemon posset dessert.  Breakfast was BA's usual egg mush with a sausage.  BA also put out crisps, raisins and biscuits in the Galley during the flight.

BA's cabin crew are a mixed bag.  You get some real gems who engage your kids and regularly offer you help.  Others are snarly and downright rude.

Entertainment
My toddler is usually given an Activity Pack but wasn't offered one on this flight.
The Video on Demand was excellent. There were plenty of kids movies and TV shows to keep my toddler entertained.  Her only complaint was that the headphones were too big but I didn't ask the staff if they had kids ones.

Changing Facilities
As the flight was empty, I changed my baby on the floor of the bulkhead.  There is a long walk from Premium Economy to the toilets at the back of the plane on a 777.  The toilets did have changing tables which flipped down over the toilets.  The toilets were kept in a good condition.

What I packed in Hand Luggage: 12 hr flight London to HK

Who:  Me and the girls (3.5 yrs old and 10 mths old)
Where:  BA28 London Heathrow to Hong Kong, departs 10pm arrives 4pm the next day

What I packed
  • Spare sleepsuit for baby
  • Piriton, 2 calpol sachets, 1 nurofen sachet, syringe all in clear plastic bag
  • Topsy and Tim Aeroplane sticker book for toddler
  • Baby Touch Words book
  • Box of 2 dummies for baby
  • Notebook and pen
  • 1 soft bib and 1 food bib
  • 3 bottles
  • 1 formula dispenser containing 1 serving (I had pre ordered 4 Aptamil cartons from Boots airside)
  • Grobag
  • Chewing gum
  • Sleep mask
  • Passports
  • Small purse for UK currency
  • Wallet, phone, keys
  • Small nappy kit with 6 baby nappies, nappy bags and 1 half pack baby wipes
  • Baby comforter
  • Snacks - organic rice crackers and apple sweets
  • Camera
I forgot to bring the Trunki so I found an old bunny backpack in my sister's room. I made my toddler carry in it:
  • 2 sleep nappies for toddler
  • 1 small book for her
  • Her teddy