Sweaty palms, heart thumping, stomach churning, clock-watching, arguing….
The symptoms many of us exhibit if we are catching a flight to go on holiday.
No matter how experienced we may be at flying, the stress of getting to an airport and onto the plane has never dissipated. We worry about timings, car parks, buses, luggage, queues, security regulations…it’s a wonder we ever go away. If we’re travelling with children, whether toddlers or teens, keeping them from screeching, sulking and dawdling makes it all ten times worse.
I’ve always believed that travelling to an airport is a lot like giving birth – painful at the time but all forgotten once it’s over….until the next time.
The best we can do is make every effort to reduce the aspects of flying which add tension to the trip. One way is to choose a local airport which, as well as offering the convenience of being closer to home, often has the added advantage of being smaller, with easy car parking near to the terminal.
KLM have invited Dougie and I to try out our local airport, Humberside, so we will soon be flying hassle-free from there to spend two nights in Amsterdam,  KLM’s original home. Interestingly, where we live in South Lincolnshire, we could also have flown with them from Leeds Bradford, Norwich or Birmingham: all are under two hours drive from our home. In fact KLM fly from 16 regional airports in the UK, more than any other airline. Who knew?
KLM assure me that a shorter drive to the airport will avoid the scenario shown in the video below: it’s a funny clip but my heart was beating fast as I felt the stress building up in the poor mother who is about to explode…
I’ve had a look at Humberside Airport and am delighted to see the car parks are within walking distance of the terminal – that’s reduced my tension levels another notch because we won’t have to wait for the bus. I’m also hoping that as it’s smaller, the queues will be shorter and we won’t have as far to walk to the gate. It should be smooth and quick. More time for shopping? Excellent.
I’ll be reporting back after our trip to let you know how we get on but, in the meantime, let’s have your tips for Amsterdam. We only have 48 hours once we touch down at Schiphol Airport and are looking to see what the city can offer families of all ages, not just a couple of middle-aged empty nesters like us. If you know some quirky attractions, great places to eat or just somewhere for us to stand and stare then let me know.
In the meantime, I have cases to pack…
How lovely, Amsterdam is great. I went there last year with my son, also with KLM. I think my favourite thing there was the Anne Frank Museum. I'd like to have hired bikes to explore the city but my son wasn't a very experienced cyclist at the time. Maybe that's something which you and Dougie could do.
I was hoping to book online to get a slot to see the Anne Frank museum but there are none left. Are the queues as long as they say? Will have to get up early.
You haven't seen Dougie on a bike…… 😉
I've been to Amsterdam once, the second weekend after my DB and I got together. We visited the sex museum which was quite tame really, but a good laugh, and we went for a ride on a river boat which was lovely. I think we tried to get to another museum, or art gallery but it was closed as I can't remember it (and it was 6 years ago).
Finding an authentic restaurant was quite a challenge but we found one in the end. I can't remember what it was called though, and, having just checked my blog, didn't write about it either. Could be closed by now anyway. 🙂
I remember we had a hellish journey there as our flight Paris – Schipol was cancelled (or something) and we had to wait for several hours for the next one. Luckily we had books to read… so tempers were kept (just about). 🙂
Will definitely go on a canal cruise – we loved them in Copenhagen and Berlin.
So you can't remember the museum or the restaurant? Hopeless, Sarah 😉
Flight delays -another thing to add to the stress!
It has been ages, eons, epochs since we've been to Amsterdam. Remember liking it very much, of course the Rijks Museum and because our daughter was young we took her to the minature city, can't remember how to spell its name. Canal boat ride of course.
I haven't seen any mention of the miniature city in the guide book. But yes, will definitely have a canal ride. Can't believe I have never been to the city before – it's only an hour flight, ideal for a weekend away.
Hmmm…last time I was in Amsterdam was during my university days whilst Eurrailing (do they even have that anymore?) and I suspect our agenda didn't include very much that the 2014 me (or you and Dougie) would find very compelling. That video, though. That is us. Every.Single.Time. And it doesn't seem to matter whether we've driven ourselves or taken the Airport Express train – we don't even have any brothers-in-law to blame.
They must stil have some version of it. We called it inter-railing, although I didn't do it.
Glad to see the video hit a nerve. We get stressed even when we leave ample time.
Haven't been for years, but I remember loving seeing the Van Goghs and going to Anne Frank's house and being overwhelmed. Hope you can sort something out there. Have a great time.
We definitely want to see the Van Goghs and will make sure we see Anne Frank's house no matter what.
Thanks Sarah – so looking forward to it.
I haven't been to Amsterdam so can't help you there but I've often thought about going so look forward to reading your blogs about it indue course for inspiration. I had to google Humberside Airport as I didn't realise it existed. Looks like there are 3 flights out tomorrow, all to Amsterdam on KLM. It must be very busy as it's catchment area includes Grimsby, Immingham and several North Lincolnshire villages. I wonder what the shopping there will be like if all the flights are internal to the EU? I suspect in days gone by the only flights that left from there were to Germany with lighter loads on their return – how times change.
I can't believe I have never been to Amsterdam either – looking forward to it.
I think you're right about the shopping – but there is a WHSmith's so that's something. It does seem tiny so I imagine it will be quite pleasant. We often fly from Stansted and although have had no problems there, it is huge and stressful.
You will have a fabulous trip to Amsterdam, I know it! Now if you can just get Lufthansa to fly you both here for a couple of days! I will do the best tour, honest! 😀
I think I might just have to do that!
I was in Amsterdam last week for work! Only one day so I didn't get to do much. But it's so lovely, just walking around the old city is a treat in itself. Apparently it's very easy to hire a boat yourself, and you don't even need a licence….
We're back you you were right, it is so lovely just walking around. At times it didn't feel like a big city, more like little villages joined together.
You'll probably find it a lot less stressful flying from a smaller airport. I'm from Leeds and although its been along time, I always liked the compact size of Leeds-Bradford airport; with fewer people, it's much easier to get in and out. X
Our usual airport is Stansted and from there we fly to tiny airports in Europe. It's strange this times going from tiny here to huge on the continent.
We've used Norwich in the past and that was just right.
Have not been in such a long time (30 years!) I will be well behind. My brother used to own a cafe there and my sisters helped out one summer. Hard to believe. Agree about the small airport. Sometimes You find you're spending a goodly amount of time in the airport on minibreaks so nice to be in a good airport, and actually still quite relaxign without kids i find
Your brother owned a cafe there! Oh I wish I had known before we visited – I could have found it and taken a photo for you.
I LOVE that video and am a great believer in flying as local as poss (although my local is Gatwick but when it was Bournemouth I meant!).
Ah now I like the sound of Bournemouth as a departure airport!