Bravefreetravel

Bravefreetravel A family on a mission to enjoy life to the fullest and inspire you to travel with kids.

10/21/2025

When the guy told me I couldn’t board the bus because the baby didn’t have a carseat I panicked 😩

We left the girls car seats behind on purpose because US car seats aren’t up to par with European regulations and we’re relocating. We figured we’d get some new car seats once we arrived in Europe…

I meticulously planned all our travels for the last 1.5 months on public transport so as to avoid having to worry about the carseat situation.

But one thing I did not expect was for long distance buses to require car seats 😦

After riding the bus from Rome to Florence, it actually makes perfect sense why they’re required: you go on a fast highway and the bus moves A LOT, but this never crossed my mind because in years of travel I’ve never seen a bus require restraint systems….

The worst part? It was clearly stated on the bus company’s website 🤦‍♀️ 😩 this mama just was too busy planning everything else and missed that tiny (but vital) detail 🤦‍♀️

The good news:

👏 this is only for long distance buses, like from Rome to Florence as was our case, not for inner city buses.
👏 the bus station in Rome had a shop selling car seats and it was $100 usd total so not a bad deal for a last minute situation

The bad news:

👏 not all stations have them available, like the one in Florence, so plan in advanced if you’re taking this route Florence to Rome, for example.

Also :

👏 trains don’t require them so if your luggage situation allows this is a better option IMO

Where else have you seen this? Share below so other families can plan their trips accordingly 🙌 and share this post with a family traveling to Europe with littles soon so they can prepare.

Hi 👋 I’m Marae and I travel the world with a baby and a 4 year old. Follow me for inspiration, tips, and real travel content of what it’s actually like to travel with littles.

10/21/2025

The amount of times I heard that babies weren’t accepted or welcomed in Japan 🤦‍♀️

But that couldn’t be further from the experience we had. And we’ve been there twice now with both girls.

Comment sushi for my Japan with kids guide including hotels and baby travel tips!!

10/21/2025

And the difference this makes 😭

We’ve had this happen a few times in Asia and it’s been the sweetest to see. They treat kids like the guests they are, and they go above to help them feel special.

It’s the best!

This was during our last trip to Japan and a resort I wish we could go back to every year.

Comment SUSHI for all my Japan hotels and a full guide on where to go and what to do with kids.

Has this ever happened to you? If so where?

10/20/2025

Do you agree with her?

I remember the first flight with my baby when I asked the flight attendant about using the bassinet for my baby, and she simply said, “She’s better off on your lap.”

She then went on to explain that bassinets are:

🚫 First come, first served (even if you book the bulkhead seat)

🚫 Generally only available if you reserve in advanced with the airline

🚫 Only usable when the seatbelt sign is off (so you have to take your baby out for turbulence, take off and landing as they offer no security)

🚫 Sometimes too small for older or more active babies

At that point, I started wondering if it was even worth the hassle. She even went on to say “ a baby carrier or holding her would be the same” 😦

What do you think—lap or bassinet?
Let me know in the comments!

10/20/2025

When I learned this my mind was blown 😂 and I learned this with my second kid 🤦‍♀️

So if this is news to you, share with another mom friend who may not know 🫂

10/20/2025

You remember the stress when we had a week to go and I didn’t have her passport still 😂

If you’re new, 👋 hi! Here’s the short version: I got my baby’s birth certificate a week before our flights were meant to happen, so I knew it was impossible to get my baby’s passport on time, even if I opted for the expedited service at the post office or passport agency. And to make matters worse when I went to check if my documents were in order, I was told the passport photo I had wasn’t good because her mouth was open 🤦‍♀️

So I found out some stuff that I think could be helpful if you’re in the same situation:

👏 you can get passports done in as little as 1 day as long as you have travel dates within the next 14 days (or 30 if you need a visa)
👏 this is done at an official passport agency that handles last min/ urgent passport cases but you have to make an appointment
👏 you can’t make an appointment if your travel booking is further out than their minimum date requirement (14days)
👏 these agencies aren’t everywhere, usually in state capitals or big cities so make sure you research the closest one to you before you make plans. Mine was one island away, I had to fly there 😂

Send this to a new mom or travel loving family if you think it can be helpful for them ❤️ and follow me if you want more family travel tips especially for baby and toddler.

10/20/2025

World with sand or rocks 👏

Make sure you put the weighted part towards where the wind comes from, otherwise you won’t be chasing an umbrella but you probably won’t have much of one left by the time the wind does its thing either 🤣

Follow me for more mom hacks!

10/20/2025

Here’s how 👇

Once they turn 2 (or as soon as you buy them their own seat) they officially qualify for collecting their own miles, so you can sign them up for mile accounts with the airlines you fly the most, and soon enough they will have enough miles for free tickets 😝

As soon as they turn 2 (or as soon as you pay for that first plane seat) 👇

1. make them an email address
2. Sign them up to collect miles with the airline/s
3. Accumulate their miles until they’re enough for free seats.

AND many airlines allow for family pooling for even more benefits 👀

With airlines running more mile promotions than ever, this is the best time to start, Even if your kiddo is past the 2 year mark.

Pro Tip: make folders in their inbox with each airline you sign them up for, so it’s easy to find the miles number and login info later on 😉

Follow me for more family travel tips with babies and toddlers.

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We are a team who quit the corporate and traditional working world in the pursuit for a more purposeful life and more personal growth through travel. This is our journey.