Over the years, Bébé Voyage has been featured in a number of travel, parenting and industry publications. We try to keep this page updated, but sometimes we miss an appearance, so this is not a complete list!
Nov. 27, 2022
by Heather Murphy
[…] Ten Bay Beach, which is brimming with sand dollars and shallow at low tide, also emerged on the suggestion list provided by Bébé Voyage, an online community for traveling families. […]
Mar. 30, 2021
by Debra Kamin
[…] In a March survey on Bébé Voyage, an online community for traveling families, 90 percent of respondents said that amid unclear guidelines on Covid-19 testing, they were searching for flexible bookings. The topic also comes up often on Bébé Voyage’s Facebook page, particularly among parents in the United States. “It’s the Americans in the group that are the most nervous traveling with kids,” said the Bébé Voyage chief executive, Marianne Perez de Fransius. […]
Dec. 22, 2020
by By Tariro Mzezewa, Ceylan Yeginsu, Elaine Glusac and Sarah Firshein
[…] Most notable this year for families, though, was the loss — or pause — of multigenerational trips.
“Intergenerational travel — going someplace with grandparents — is kind of off the books for a while,” said Marianne Perez Fransius, the co-founder and chief executive of Bébé Voyage, a family-travel website and online community of globe-trotting parents. “What people are talking about is going to visit grandparents because they haven’t been able to do that.” […]
But there is one big, unanswered question: Vaccinations for children. None of the vaccines have been tested on kids, and while inoculations are being rolled out for older people first, it’s unclear when they will reach children.
“If kids can’t get the vaccine, one concern I’ve heard is about what happens with tourists,” said Ms. Perez de Fransius. “Are countries going to say, ‘You can’t come in unless everyone is vaccinated?’” […]
Nov. 14, 2019
by Christopher Elliott
[…] I asked Marianne Perez Fransius for her thoughts on babies in flight.
“A crying baby can be annoying,” says Perez Fransius, the CEO of Bébé Voyage, a site for parents who travel with young children. “But the absolute wrong reaction is berating the parent or caretaker for having a crying baby. Parents want their baby to stop crying more than the other passengers.”
Instead, offer to help or try distracting the baby. “Maybe you have a cute video on your phone you could show the baby, or you have something entertaining like a colorful keychain,” Perez Fransius says. […]
Aug. 31, 2016
by Polya Lesova
In Namibia, Simon Perez Fransius touched seals in Walvis Bay and marveled at the Fish River Canyon, the largest in Africa. He took a boat ride around Mozambique’s Bazaruto Archipelago and visited South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope. He has traveled in the U.S. and Europe. He is 2 years and 9 months old.
“We’ve done a lot of safaris with Simon,” says his mother, Marianne Perez Fransius, a 36-year-old French-American. “One of the biggest reasons to travel with our son is to instill in him a sense of curiosity.”
In January 2014, when Simon was 6 weeks old, Ms. Perez Fransius and her husband Andreas, a Swedish diplomat, moved to Mozambique, where he was posted. The family used Mr. Perez Fransius’s six-month paternity leave to travel, including a one-month road trip from Mozambique to Namibia, with stops in Botswana and South Africa along the way.
“The smaller they are, the easier it is to travel with them,” Ms. Perez Fransius says. Last year, she and her childhood friend, Juliet Perrachon, started a website offering advice and support for globe-trotting families called Bébé Voyage. Their Facebook group has around 2,500 members. […]
Sept. 26, 2016
by Anna Davies
[…] Pack only what you really need
Instead of schlepping diapers, wipes and snacks, consider having them delivered to your destination via Amazon Prime or a similar service, suggests Juliet Perrachon, co-founder of Bebe Voyage, a website devoted to traveling with kids. The one essential you’ll want to carry to your destination? A car seat. It’s illegal not to use one in most Western countries, and while renting is an option, the cleanliness of the one you get can be spotty. Most recommended by traveling parents is the Cosco Scenera. Not only is it inexpensive and lightweight, it can also click on to certain strollers, like the Mountain Buggy Nano, to make airport transfers a breeze.
[…]
Updated Jun. 27, 2022
by Danielle Braff
[…] But in Europe, airlines have been pressured by regulators to seat families together, and Marianne Perez de Fransius, CEO of Bébé Voyage, believes that the United States will catch up to Europe in 2020. “Frankly, it’s ridiculous,” she says, “because what plane passenger wants an unattended toddler sitting next to him?” […]
Mar. 24, 2022
by Jenn Sinrich
[…] Argentina
This South American country isn’t just rich in culture and natural beauty—it boasts high vaccination rates and sophisticated tourism infrastructure. Plus, it can be exceptionally affordable for U.S. travelers. “Inflation is quite high,” says Marianne Perez-Fransius, CEO of family travel community Bébé Voyage, an Expedition partner. “But if you are coming in with U.S. dollars and exchanging them at the ‘blue’ informal market rate, you get double the pesos of the official rate—which can stretch your budget quite a bit.” Argentina’s seasons are the reverse of the Northern Hemisphere’s, which means that in March or April—the end of summer there—you can enjoy dining outdoors in Buenos Aires.
Mar. 16, 2021
by Caroline Morse Teel
[…]
Marianne Perez Fransius, CEO of Bébé Voyage, warns, “If Europe falls significantly behind its vaccination targets because of lack of available doses/slow production/roll-out, they will likely prefer to keep borders closed or restricted to limit rates of infection. But if both the U.S. and Europe have a significant portion of their respective populations vaccinated ahead of summer travel season, they are likely to have a reciprocal travel agreement.”
However, Perez Fransius also points out that the vaccines are only a good indicator of an ability to reopen travel “as long as there are not too many unpredictable mutations and that those COVID-mutations are not vaccine-resistant. With each new mutation comes a risk of a higher transmission rate, and European countries are tending towards keeping those under control.” […]
Feb. 21, 2017
by Michelle Baran
[…] Indeed, a big part of the challenge, according to Marianne Perez Fransius, co-founder of Bebe Voyage, an online community of globe-trotting parents, is that there is a much more negative attitude toward traveling with a baby in the U.S. than exists elsewhere in the world.
“I would definitely say that in North America, traveling with a baby is seen as much more unnatural or subject to criticism,” Fransius said. “In the U.S. in particular, travelers who travel with babies feel like they’re getting the side-eye and feel like they have to fight for things. Either it’s perceived as potentially unhealthy for the baby — what happens if your baby gets sick? — or it seems frivolous — your baby isn’t going to remember this so what’s the point? Is it really worth it, considering all the gear?”
Consequently, Fransius said, when Americans travel with their babies internationally, they’re surprised to find how friendly and welcoming international fellow travelers can be toward their little ones.
“When Americans travel to the Middle East, they’ll say, ‘It was a totally different world. Everyone liked the baby. Everyone was so excited, and they were entertaining our baby,’” Fransius said. “Depending on which part of the world you’re in, it’s a very different experience.” […]
More recently, Bebe Voyage has also become more involved in legislative issues that impact traveling families. For example, it threw its support behind the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Act (Babes Act), which was signed into law in December, just in time for the busy holiday travel season. The law requires the TSA to better train its agents to ensure that parents traveling with breast milk, formula and infant-feeding equipment aren’t mistreated and that breast milk isn’t forcibly tossed out, equipment isn’t broken or flights get missed due to prolonged inspections. […]
Clearly, traveling with a baby is not without its trials. But that hasn’t stopped families from hitting the road with their munchkins. While that puts some travel suppliers in the difficult position of having to please both those traveling with and without babies, the hope among those who advocate for family travel is that ultimately travel companies will view babies as just as much a priority as any other passenger or guest.
Said Bebe Voyage’s Fransius, “In my opinion it would be nice if they started seeing the babies as potential long-term customers.”
Aug. 20, 2021
by Michelle Baran
[…] When it comes to official government policies regarding travel restrictions for kids amid the pandemic, often “there is no clear guidance,” says Marta Conte, editor in chief of online family travel community Bébé Voyage. “This is why everyone is asking, ‘What’s happening with the kids? What documents do we need?’ A lot of time there is no information at all. Kids are very much left behind.” […]
May 28, 2020
by Tatiana Rokou
CHICAGO, IL and LONDON, UK – Nearly half of millennial parents say that their ideas of travel have changed since the implementation of stay-at-home orders and travel restrictions due to Covid-19. Bebe Voyage, experts in connecting globetrotting parents, surveyed parents of young children to find out how they will alter travel plans because of Covid-19. Respondents stated in different ways that the evolving nature of the crisis makes it difficult for them to plan or process implications for their long-term travel habits.
Long-term, many respondents (52%) plan to travel the same amount, but they say they will travel differently. The most consistent changes to travel habits include: traveling closer to home (26%) and focusing on “staycations” (17%).
Short-term travel plans are much more unpredictable, they say, because there are so many unknowns regarding the virus’ progression and potential resurgence. Most respondents want to see Covid behind us before they start planning any vacations (45%) or start traveling at all (44%). However, quite a few respondents (39%) were still considering travel for late summer/early fall. Others are focusing on outdoor adventures (28%) or “staycation” holidays (16%).
Bebe Voyage community members live all over the world and across locations, their desire to travel is mostly fueled by wanting to visit extended family. The pause also brought out more existential reflections around travel. Many respondents feel they want to be more mindful: focusing on sustainable travel, giving back to communities they visit and building greater empathy through experiences.
This baseline survey was administered between April 4th and 19th, 2020 with 69 respondents from around the world.
Oct. 24, 2018
by Tatiana Rokou
[…] Bebe Voyage Trails not only offer concrete family-friendly ideas, but they also help users plan their day to the last detail. They make visiting families with children feel like a friend is walking them around their city, offering insider tips and showing off their favorite places. Before heading out on the trail, users know whether the trail is stroller-friendly, what their budget should be, whether they will need to book ahead, a sense of timing, what weather to take the trail on, and anything else they might need to know ahead of time-making traveling that much easier.
The initial launch includes 18 trails across seven cities for curious, adventurous families. These trails are housed on the newly redesigned Bebe Voyage website which also includes travel guides for the aforementioned cities, information and experiences of traveling families in additional locations, as well as advice and gear portals. By organizing everything for parents traveling with babies in one place, Bebe Voyage has become a leader in the family travel sector.
“Why do we think families traveling with toddlers will like this new feature?” Juliet Perrachon, Bebe Voyage President and Co-Founder says, “So many of the questions that come up in Club Bebe Voyage revolve around how families can realistically plan a day in a foreign city. Our trails do just that – they give you one day in a city created by a local parent spelling out everything you need to know.” […]
Apr. 13, 2017
by Valerie Silva
[…]
“With the advent of social media, millennial parents can find and be inspired by other parents who travel with their babies and children, thus dispelling a lot of the fear and anxiety that perhaps kept previous generations of parents closer to home,” says Marianne Perez Fransius, CEO of Bébé Voyage, an online community of globe-trotting parents. “Millennials seek out experiences over stuff and so are more likely to spend on travel over products.” According to a recent survey by MMGY Global, this is especially the case for millennial families, who travel more often and more internationally than couples and singles of the same demographic.
Family First
Airlines looking to bring a family focus to their operations will need to question the assumptions that underpin their facilities and offerings. Aircraft cabin architecture prizes privacy and limits interaction, menu revamps veer toward refined cuisine and online booking platforms rarely support the unique demands of parents traveling with infants, such as booking a bassinet or purchasing a seat for a child under two. “Families have to call the airline and explain their situation to the customer service representative … I think families would greatly appreciate the ability to do all this online,” Perez Fransius explains. […]
Curating Family Fun
We’ve all heard of captive audiences, but no audience is as captive as a child in flight. “For kids, often the plane ride is just as exciting, if not more so, than the destination,” Perez Fransius says. Some airlines foster that excitement by reducing stressors with early boarding, parental controls on in-flight entertainment systems and seating families together; others go a step further, curating unforgettable experiences that highlight the magic of flight. […] “The airline industry could probably take a cue from the high-speed train in France, which … offers family cars.” says Marianne Perez Fransius, Bébé Voyage. […]
Oct. 24, 2018
by Mia Taylor
Bebe Voyage, an online community of globetrotting parents, has just launched a new series of geotagged, family-friendly trails in cities around the world for those traveling with babies and toddlers in tow.
The new offering, Bebe Voyage Trails, are “tours you can do with a baby in a day,” states the website.
“After three years of listening to the over 10,000 members in the Club, the Bébé Voyage Team identified that one of the greatest needs its community has is knowing what to do when you arrive in a new city with babies and toddlers in tow,” the company said in a statement.
Thus far, the trails have been created for seven major cities: Paris, London, Chicago, Tokyo, Sydney, Stockholm, and Reykjavik. […]
Dec. 20, 2016
by Rich Thomaselli
[…]
In large part, the bill became law thanks to a huge push by Bébé Voyage, an online community and resource for globetrotting parents. Bébé Voyage rallied its members to send petitions to lawmakers urging them to pass the bill before the close of the legislative session.
“We are so grateful to Congresswoman Herrera Beutler for introducing this bill and garnering bipartisan support on it,” Marianne Perez Fransius, Bébé Voyage CEO, said in a statement. “Traveling with a baby is a harrowing experience and thanks to her leadership and all of Congress’ participation, we are looking forward to improved conditions when going through airport security. This truly is an amazing holiday present for our community.”
Feb. 24, 2018
by Juliet Perrachon
Travel and kids. Two uncontrollable variables thrown into the same mix. Some new parents are so terrified of the whole ordeal that they just put travel on hold for the first few years of parenthood.
But in today’s world, where so many parents live at least a flight away from family, putting off traveling is simply not an option. And many of us still believe that going on vacation with kids will somehow be relaxing. Traveling with your family is definitely worth it–don’t get me wrong. But getting there or coming back can be… something else entirely. […]
Jan. 14, 2017
by Kate
[…] Signed into law, largely because of the support and push from Bebe Voyage, an online community for traveling parents, the bill was pushed to fly before the close of current legislation. It passed just before the holidays – an early sort of Christmas present for parents who travel.
“We are so grateful to Congresswoman Herrera Beutler for introducing this bill and garnering bipartisan support on it,” Marianne Perez de Fransius, BeBe Voyage’s CEO said in a statement. “Traveling with a baby is a harrowing experience, and thanks to her leadership and all of Congress’ participation, we are looking forward to improved conditions when going through airport security. This truly is an amazing holiday present for our community.”
Oct 23, 2018
Bébé Voyage, the premiere community of globetrotting parents, together with Crumbdrop, a technology platform that generates instant animated slideshows, releases Bébé Voyage Trails.
After three years of listening to the over 10,000 members in the Club, the Bébé Voyage Team identified that one of the greatest needs its community has is knowing what to do when you arrive in a new city — with babies and toddlers in tow. As a complement to their Traveling with Toddlers Travel Guide Series, Bébé Voyage took it a step further by creating geo-tagged, image-rich family-friendly trails in cities around the world. Created with local ambassadors, moms, and dads who like to explore and share their travel hacks, Bébé Voyage has launched trails in seven major cities: Paris, London, Chicago, Tokyo, Sydney, Stockholm, and Reykjavik.
Bébé Voyage Trails not only offer concrete family-friendly ideas, but they also help users plan their day to the last detail. They make visiting families with children feel like a friend is walking them around their city, offering insider tips and showing off their favorite places. Before heading out on the trail, users know whether the trail is stroller-friendly, what their budget should be, whether they will need to book ahead, a sense of timing, what weather to take the trail on, and anything else they might need to know ahead of time–making traveling that much easier!
The initial launch includes 18 trails across seven cities for curious, adventurous families. These trails are housed on the newly redesigned Bébé Voyage website which also includes travel guides for the information, and experiences of traveling families in additional locations, as well as advice and gear portals. By organizing everything for parents traveling with babies in one place, Bébé Voyage has become a leader in the family travel sector. […]
