Travelling short-haul from the UK to Europe with a 6-month-old?
Let’s be honest — it isn’t the relaxing sunshine break you once knew. However, it’s very rewarding seeing your children having such a good time.
We travelled to Madeira in August for five nights, staying at the Royal Savoy Hotel in Funchal. It wasn’t relaxing — it was non-stop, as expected — but it was a brilliant first proper family trip and a great test of short-haul travel with a baby.
Here’s the honest breakdown.
Flying to Madeira with a Baby
Madeira is around a four-hour flight from the UK — ideal short-haul territory. Long enough to feel like you’re properly away, but not long-haul chaos.
The Reality
- Our flight was delayed (nothing we could do).
- Baby didn’t really sleep onboard.
- We didn’t do take-off or landing feeds — but a dummy worked perfectly for ear pressure.
- Cabin crew were reassuring and helpful throughout.
Delays are harder with a baby. There’s no escaping that. But once onboard, it was manageable.
Travel Gear That Made a Difference
We travelled with the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 stroller and it was excellent.
- Cabin-approved
- Fitted in the overhead locker
- Quick one-handed fold
- Lightweight but sturdy
Being able to take the stroller into the cabin removed the stress of waiting at the aircraft door or worrying about damage in the hold.
When travelling short-haul with a baby, compact cabin luggage is worth its weight in gold.
Airport Transfer: The Part Parents Stress About Most
For many parents, the transfer is the most stressful part of travelling abroad with a baby.
At home, you rely on your own car seat. You know it’s fitted properly. You know it’s safe.
Abroad, that certainty disappears.
Questions we had:
- Will the driver have a suitable infant seat?
- Will it be appropriate for a 6-month-old?
- Who do you ask?
- What if it doesn’t feel secure?
We pre-arranged a transfer and confirmed in writing that an appropriate infant seat would be provided. This is absolutely worth doing.
Transfer Tips
- If you’ve booked a package holiday, check with your operator to see if a child seat is included within your transfer – many don’t include this
- Book in advance. We booked a private transfer and requested an infant seat.
- Specify your baby’s age and weight.
- Ask for confirmation in writing.
- Double-check on arrival before setting off.
It removes a huge layer of stress before you’ve even reached the hotel. To be honest, when we got to our transfer, the travel seat wasn’t rear facing…nor was it fastened in. We had to think on our feet a little and get the seat fastened in. Thankfully, the transfer was only 30 minutes from the airport. If we were going on a coach, it would have been a sitting on the knee job!
Staying at the Royal Savoy Hotel, Funchal
We stayed at the Royal Savoy Hotel in Funchal, Madeira.
From a travelling-with-a-baby perspective, it worked very well.
Why the Room Setup Helped
Kitchenette in the room
This allowed us to prepare bottles and snacks when needed, rather than relying on restaurant opening times. See the bit about nearby shops below.
Microwave included
This turned out to be more important than expected.
European microwaves can be smaller than UK ones. We use MAM bottles, and some bottles don’t fit comfortably in certain microwaves abroad.
We brought microwave steriliser bags — and they were brilliant. – https://amzn.eu/d/002FRDWT
Just add water, seal the bag, microwave, done.
They saved us from packing a bulky steriliser and worked perfectly for daily use.
If you’re travelling with bottles, I would strongly recommend them.
Travelling with a 6-Month-Old Starting Food
Our child was six months old and just beginning to explore food, which actually worked in our favour.
The buffet breakfast and dinner were ideal.
There was always something suitable:
- Soft fruit
- Bread
- Pasta
- Cooked vegetables
It meant we didn’t have to pack large amounts of pouches or rely entirely on jars. Baby could try small portions of real food — and loved it.
Buffets are hugely underrated when travelling during the weaning stage.
August Weather in Madeira
In August, temperatures sat between 27–30°C.
That meant:
- Early mornings out
- Midday shade and air conditioning
- Plenty of fluids
- Lightweight clothing
- Adjusting expectations
You don’t “do everything” with a baby in that heat. You pace yourselves.
Local Shops & Essentials
There was a small Mercadinho-style convenience shop around the corner — similar to a very small Tesco Express.
We can’t remember everything it stocked and don’t recall seeing nappies, but it was useful for:
- Water
- Snacks
- Basic essentials
There was also a pharmacy up the road, which is reassuring when travelling with a baby.
Further down, an indoor food market had casual stalls serving pizza, pasta and burgers — ideal when you want something quick without committing to a long sit-down meal.
The Honest Summary
This wasn’t a relaxing holiday (and we knew it wasn’t going to be) but we created lot of fantastic memories.
It was structured around feeds, naps, heat and logistics.
Sleep routines changed. Flights were delayed. Days were planned around shade and air conditioning.
But it was manageable, rewarding and it gave us confidence to travel again.
Short-haul Europe is a brilliant starting point for travelling as a new family — especially somewhere like Madeira with reliable weather, good facilities and easy airport transfers.
