What I packed in hand luggage: 12 hour flight from London to HK

Here's my hand luggage list for a flight taking off at 7pm UK time.

I think I did quite well this time although we were delayed on the ground for 2 hours so I wish I had packed the DVD player!  I also forgot to pack any snacks for Daisy but luckily enough when we were delayed the BA crew handed out some pretzels.

• Passports and birth certificate for baby
• 2 sleep nappies for Daisy (3 yo)
• Piriton (antihistamine) and nurofen sachets
• Grobag for baby
• Little soft baby book
• 1 food bib and 2 soft bibs for baby
• Cool pack containing 3 Ella's Organics pouches
• 1 cool bottle bag containing 1 sterilised bottle with water ALSO 2 further sterilised bottles, 1 container of 3 Aptamil powder servings, 1 Aptamil cartons
• 5 baby nappies, wipes, metanium nappy cream
• Spare plastic bag
• 3 dummies
• Spare sleepsuit
• It was Daisy's birthday on plane so some cupcakes and birthday card

All in all I think I packed much better than on the way over.  To save space you definitely don't need a big changing mat.

Hotel Babysitting Services

If you are going to use a hotel's babysitting service, always check in advance the terms and conditions. I was recently stung, having planned a fun night out in Macau, to learn that the hotel would not provide a babysitter for my 7 month old, only for children over 1.
Babysitting services are often expensive (so budget for this on your holiday planning!) and usually require a minimum of 3 hours.  The other thing I've just discovered is that they will charge per child - double the cost for me!
We've used many hotel babysitting services over the last 3 years and I have always been happy with the sitters provided.  Whilst the baby is normally asleep, I try to prepare my 3 year old by explaining someone fun is coming to look after her while mummy and daddy go out.  Our most recent babysitter in Langkawi came armed with chocolate biscuits so Daisy was delighted.

A kid friendly minibreak from HK: Macau!

My father in law is in town so we decided to head to Macau for the weekend.  I booked the hotel and ferry tickets through my friendly agent (Daryl at Concorde Travel) and off we went.
This was a particularly busy weekend for Macau travel due to the public holiday but I would always recommend booking your ferry ticket in advance as the standby queues can be long and no fun with kids.
The journey is one hour and we took the Cotai ferry direct to the 'Vegas' strip.  We were staying at the Galaxy Macau, one of the newest hotels and took the Galaxy shuttle direct from the ferry terminal.
In true Macau style, the Galaxy was over the top glitzy and gold but the service was good and we checked in fairly quickly.  Even though I had prebooked a cot and rollaway bed, neither were in the room but they arrived quickly.  And I have to say the cot was the nicest I have seen provided by a hotel!

I had booked the Galaxy as it has a big wave pool and I thought my 3 year old would love this.  Indeed she did and she was also rather taken with the fab kids pool and man made beach.  In addition to the bouncy castle, there is a designated 'Kidz Island' indoors which hotel guests can use free of charge.  Children under 5 must be accompanied by an adult.

The hotel would not provide a babysitter for my 7 month old (only children over 1 year) - BTW THIS IS A GOOD FUTURE TIP TO ALWAYS CHECK THIS IN ADVANCE.  So we took the kids with us over to the Venetian (free hotel buses to the Venetian complex) and ate at the delicious Brazilian restaurant there
FogoSamba
The rooms were spacious and clean.  There's a big shopping mall within the complex with pharmacies, coffee shops, designer stores and restaurants.  I would say for the wave pool, this hotel was a lot of fun but I preferred the vibe at the Hard Rock and would probably stay there again.

Travelling through HK Airport late at night (11pm)

Off again to the UK on my own with the 2 kids.  I was on the 11.45pm BA flight.  Travelling at this time means that HK airport is pretty quiet... as are the children...  There was no queue at check in (you can't check in online if you have an infant) and security usher you through the Family Channel.
I didn't take a stroller this time so carried my baby in the Ergo and my daughter was fairly happy to walk. When she started to get a bit tired you can pick up mini luggage trolleys and I stuck her in there.
I tried to find the kids zone which I had stumbled across on a previous visit.  I was too bleary eyed to actually ask anyone so armed with my coffee I plonked myself and kids on the carpeted floor of the gate nearest to Starbucks!
For future reference, here are details of where the kids zones are at HK Airport:

Children Play Areas

The colourful children's play areas provide young passengers with a feast of fun during their stay at Hong Kong International Airport.

Location	:	Between Gate 23 and 25, Departures Level, Terminal 1
Location	:	Between Gate 509 and 510, Departures Level, North Satellite Concourse

Ergo Ergo Ergo!

With my first baby I struggled through with a Baby Bjorn.  Once the second arrived I knew I needed a better baby carrier, especially as it's difficult taking a stroller on the streets of Hong Kong.
I did my research and had so many people recommend the Ergo.  It was expensive in HK so I bought it for 70 pounds on Amazon UK and had my parents bring it over.
I absolutely LOVE IT!!  You carry the weight around your hips and I can carry my 6 mth old around for a couple of hours without difficulty. There is also a useful small zip pocket on the front.  I highly recommend this product to anyone who will get lengthy use out of a baby carrier.

Ergo Baby Carrier

Flight Review: Malaysia Airlines Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi

I booked this flight with Malaysia Airlines online which was very easy and also pretty cheap.
The plane was clean and staff very friendly.  This was a one hour flight and we were served peanuts and drinks.
We had already cleared immigration at KL so our arrival into Langkawi and luggage pick up was very smooth.

Kuala Lumpur International Airport - the long walk to domestic

Not quite as bad as Bangkok Airport but be prepared for a short train ride and then a longish walk to KL's domestic terminal.  In fact I think if you are flying Air Asia and some of the budget airlines, you have to go to an altogether completely different airport.
We had about 2 hours in between landing from our Cathay flight and then catching our connecting Malaysia Airlines flight to Langkawi.  The international side of the terminal offers lots of restaurants and shops.  The domestic side is more sparse and whatever you do, don't eat in Malaysia's version of KFC!  Even the kids turned their nose up at the nuggets!