They called us mad. They said we would not make it and that the odds of survival were slim. But we did it anyway.
Armed with nothing but some travel agency experience and sheer determination (or insanity?), we embarked on an impossible mission: a successful holiday with two girls under the age of 2. Okay, okay, it’s not that big a deal. But there are definitely things that can make or break a family holiday when half the crew is still in diapers.
When you take a pinch of grandma, a pair of little ones, a big dollop of dad and a sprinkle of mom and mix them all together in a pot of traveling, you get a recipe for success or disaster depending on one key element: planning! Did I do everything correctly? Definitely not. Did I learn a thing or two that I would do differently and that could help other families? Yes-siree! Was it all worth it still? You bet your bottom dollar it was. I have split my planning into three groups: 1. The Packing, 2. The Accommodation and 3. The Transport.
1. The Packing: As I Like To Call It, the “Ugh” Part
My least favorite part of any trip (aside from trying to get sand out of awkward crevices) is the packing. It stresses me out. I try making lists so that I won’t forget anything, and then I forget to put things on the lists. Packing for a beach getaway with two under 2 required a strategy that prioritizes organization and foresight. Our approach centered on smart gear: a single large hard-shell suitcase, which doubled as a toddler taxi, was perfectly organized with one side for clothes and the other for all the baby essentials, toys, and toiletries. This, combined with a trusty diaper bag/backpack for daily excursions and a double stroller that also served as a napping spot, streamlined what we had to carry. A baby carrier was crucial for navigating non-stroller-friendly terrain like soft sand and steps.
When it came to content, we learned not to assume anything would be available. Despite a nearby “super”-market, crucial items like swimming diapers and baby shampoo were simply not in stock, and what was there carried a hefty premium. Packing your own towels is absolutely vital. Not only did the pool not provide any, but our hotel supplied only disappointing disposable towels that were essentially oversized paper towels. Bring your own beach supplies, like sand castle toys (the ones provided by the hotel were abysmal) and a second swimsuit for everyone (one to wear while the other dries), and don’t forget extra outfits for the inevitable ice cream spills and sand that gets *everywhere.* Finally, our pro tips: Pack a water bottle for rinsing feet to bypass the fiddly QR-code-operated paid water stations at the beach; by the time the water runs, you’ll be running after your toddler! And bring bedtime books and toys, but only ones you won’t mind losing to the hotel ghosts – a lesson I learned the hard way with an eternally missing puzzle piece from our favorite game.
I have included a nice packing list to help you check off essential items. Scan the QR code below!
2. The Accommodation: A Little Research Goes a Long Way!
While there is an overwhelming number of options for accommodation, and some very well-known names, I discovered that many of these beach towns offer very nice, multi-bedroom, full apartments that have the same or even less expensive nightly rates as standard/single rooms at the well-known hotels. With a newborn and a toddler, neither of whom sleeps properly through the night, we had one child with each parent in a room, and we had my mother-in-law with us. We also wanted the option of making simple meals, since eating out for every meal is neither healthy nor cheap (especially since the small towns can have limited options). This made it important to have a kitchen that provided the option of making simple dishes and keeping refrigerated foods and drinks, not to mention ice and ice cream in the freezer. In Beidaihe specifically, we found the Meisheng hotel group in Seatopia that offers great three- and four-bedroom apartments ranging from RMB 540 to RMB 900 per night, depending on how big they are and how many amenities or features they have (like a private splash pool or kids’ jungle gym, for example). I also checked in advance to make sure that the accommodation was within walking distance of the beach and food spots. Not needing to constantly hop in and out of Didis or keep the kids in their seats is essential with such tiny travelers!
3. The Transport: To and Around the Town
As you might recall from my previous article, we took a car service one way and a speed train back home. Both options comfortably accommodated our double stroller and luggage. The car service was definitely more efficient and convenient, but the economy seats on the speed train were cheaper. One benefit of the train was being able to walk our newborn up and down when she needed to be calmed, offering an open seat for our toddler to sleep on. While it wasn’t a long ride and worked out fine, I would invest in an extra seat if we take the train again next time (as little ones don’t automatically get seats) for our kiddos to have for playing or napping (That’s if we don’t book first class seats, which we still want to try as they fully recline). We easily booked a Didi to get to the train station when it was time to come home, but small towns don’t often have six-seaters available, so our little party of five had to book two separate cars to get there. This meant deciding in advance the best way to divide up the luggage (and children) between the cars. For us, this meant my husband, the big suitcase, and the diaper bag went into one car, while the kids (the smallest in the carrier) and the stroller came with my mother-in-law and me in the second car.
4. Bonus Tip – Daily Plans!
Travelling with two under 2 has one certainty: It is impossible to have a planned itinerary. From a night of bad sleep leading to a late morning to taking an hour to get ready to leave the house due to your newborn’s sudden wave of three consecutive poopy diapers while your toddler is evading getting dressed with the slick agility of a freshly made jiaozi (饺子) slipping through my clumsy chopstick abilities or even just unanticipated rainy days and, in our case, the pool closing for the day due to cleaning, it is almost guaranteed that any rigid plan will flop marvelously. But there is an awesome hack around this. Instead of making an itinerary, compile a list beforehand of the activities your family could do at your holiday destination, noting how much time they require and which conditions (like weather) need to be met. That way, you can pick an activity based on whatever situation you are working with, rather than wasting another hour trying to rehash your plans and figure out your next move.
Despite the hiccups and long list of things I would change on the next trip, we had a great time. Though the task seems daunting, going on a holiday with two little ones can still feel like a holiday. My final advice? Don’t be hard on yourself. It is okay if you don’t get to do everything on your activity list. It is fine if you spend a whole day at the apartment, doing the same things you would have done at home. Nobody will die from your baby having a big cry on the train ride. In essence, be kind to yourself, enjoy the parts of the trip that go as planned, and don’t beat yourself up over the things that don’t.
Images: Janita Shahsavari
