If your family holiday takes place in an area with unfamiliar cultures, do take the time to read up on food, customs and the people. Inform the child(ren) of what is to be expected and what is required in terms of manners.

Keep individually sealed wet wipes (the ones you get on airplanes) for cleaning faces. Restaurants usually have soap dispensers with fantastically coloured gels - great for hands but harsh for faces.

Ask for a bowl of warm water with lemon which will help to minimize the mess. If your outfits need to last the day, keep them smear-free by rinsing hands regularly.

It may sound strange, but packing and taking your own fork and spoon in a zip-lock bag with you, might end up very welcome when suddenly faced with a meal on the street that needs more than your hands. You also have control over the cleanliness of your utensils. If the utensils in your restaurant are chopsticks, ask for disposable, wrapped pairs.

Be wary of anything with dairy in it as you don’t need a funny tummy while on holiday. On that note – it is always advisable to take pro-biotic throughout the holiday. Have the whole family on these everyday. Options for children now include tasty chewable tablets that most kids love. Always remember to discuss any self-medication with a health practitioner before starting.

Always carry some bottled water with you with sealed, spare straws. Buying a drink in an eatery every time you or yours got thirsty can get very expensive – very soon.

Take your leftovers with you and ask for a plastic spoon and serviettes too. This small bonus-portion could be just enough to fill a gap later.

Lastly, select your eatery according to your family’s needs and age-appropriateness. You may enjoy more sophisticated meals yourself, but won’t enjoy the experience if you are constantly restraining your child because of the sophisticated environment. Keep in mind the needs and capabilities of the whole family so that every member of the family can enjoy themselves.