When Silver Executive Club Member and social media superstar Simon Hooper (@father_of_daughters) isn’t running around after his four children in London, he’s travelling the world as part of his day job as a management consultant. He gives The Club his insider tips for travelling on business and with the brood in tow

Has your view of travel changed since you became a father?
When I’m travelling for work I tend to get in and out of a country fairly quickly. Before, I would have tried to stay on for a weekend and soak up the culture, but when you have a wife looking after four kids by herself back home, you can’t exactly take a spontaneous solo city break.

What’s the main difference to your routine when you travel for business and pleasure?
When I’m at the airport on business, I take full advantage of the lounge. I’m usually working (and drinking the free Champagne), whatever the time of day. When we’re with the kids, we usually arrive three hours before the flight, making sure we’ve got everything – and lounge access is out of the question.

Most surprising family-friendly destination?
We recently visited the Greek Island Paxos. It wasn’t particularly family-friendly in terms of kids’ clubs or activities, but everyone was really enthusiastic about children and didn’t see them as an inconvenience. When people expect kids to stay quiet and behave, it can make life difficult.  

What are your three travel essentials when travelling with kids?
Baby wipes, because they clean up any kind of mess you may encounter. I’d also recommend a tablet or phone, and a colouring book for when the batteries inevitably die.

What’s the best thing about being an Executive Club Member?
Lounge access – when I’m at the airport, I can escape to a quiet place to get on with my work. It makes travelling so much easier.

What do you spend your Avios on?
Upgrades, when I’m travelling with my wife. We flew to Brazil in Club last year and it made the journey so much smoother. We also use Avios for Avis rental cars. With four kids in tow, a rental car can make all the difference. 

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This article has been tagged Opinion, Travel Tips