Tips for Families

If you have enough trouble getting your kids out of the house in the morning, dragging them thousands of miles away may seem like an insurmountable challenge. But family travel can be immensely rewarding, giving you new ways of seeing the world through smaller pairs of eyes.

On airlines, you must request a special menu for children at least 24 hours in advance. If baby food is required, however, bring your own and ask a flight attendant to warm it to the right temperature.

Arrange ahead of time for such necessities as a crib, a bottle warmer, and a car seat (in England, small children aren't allowed to ride in the front seat).

If you're staying with friends in London, you can rent baby equipment from Chelsea Baby Hire, 31 Osborne House, 414 Wimbledon Park Rd., SW19 6PW (tel. 020/8789-9673; www.chelseababyhire.com). London Black Cab (tel. 0845/108-3000; www.londonblackcab.com) is a lifesaver for families; the roomy interior allows a stroller to be lifted right into the cab without unstrapping the baby.

You can find babysitting available at most hotels.

Before you go, help your kids check out London Tourist Board's Kids Love London at www.kidslovelondon.com, a site created to give kids the lowdown on kid-friendly attractions and events.

Recommended family travel Internet sites include Family Travel Forum (www.familytravelforum.com), a comprehensive site that offers customized trip planning; Family Travel Network (www.familytravelnetwork.com), an award-winning site that offers travel features, deals, and tips; Traveling Internationally with Your Kids (www.travelwithyourkids.com), a comprehensive site offering sound advice for long-distance and international travel with children; and Family Travel Files (www.thefamilytravelfiles.com), which offers an online magazine and a directory of off-the-beaten-path tours and tour operators for families.

A Frommer's guide specifically for families is Frommer's London with Kids.

Traveling with Minors -- All children must have their own passports when traveling to London. To obtain a passport, the child must be present -- that is, in person -- at the center issuing the passport. Both parents must be present as well. If not, then a notarized statement from the parents is required. Any questions parents or guardians might have can be answered by calling the National Passport Information Center at tel. 877/487-2778 Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm Eastern Standard Time, or log onto the U.S. State Department website at http://travel.state.gov and do a search for "Foreign Entry Requirements."