Kings and queens of the road

While doing road trips as a couple can be idyllic, adding a child or children to the equation, can add an extra layer of difficulty, even allowing for the joy that all members of the family may derive from their travels.

"If you take a baby along, it takes priority," says Zhou Wei, 30, an engineer from Beijing.

"That means taking care of the child's everyday needs and ensuring its safety. A child safety seat is a must, and the itinerary should not be too onerous."

Zhou and his wife took their daughter on a road trip in the United States in 2014, when the baby was 8 months old. They had to pack everything their daughter needed, ranging from feeding bottles to diapers.

"Children all like to go out to play. Our daughter may not remember this trip, but I think without realizing it will have turned out to be very good for her. For us, as parents, we will always remember it as our first overseas holiday as a family."

As for older children, Xu Jihang, 41, a teacher from Guangzhou, Guangdong province, says it is better to travel with another family, so children have someone who can speak and understand the same language.

He counsels anyone traveling with children not to have them cooped up in a car for very long periods, "otherwise they are going to get bored".

"When I mapped out my itinerary in Australia, did it with my son in mind, so we drove along the coast where we could stop and he could play in the water."

xulin@chinadaily.com.cn