travel seat liner

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Your kid might not have a return policy, but we sure do! We offer a 30-day trial period so you can test out Zoe products in the convenience and comfort of your own home. The goal of this policy is to let you test drive the stroller in your home and truly *feel* how awesome our products are. We know that sometimes you just need to see it for yourself and experience the ease, comfort, and simplicity of Zoe. Please be mindful of keeping items in new condition and avoid using strollers outdoors to ensure a full refund. 

•   What can I return?

Most Zoe products can be returned or exchanged within   30 days of purchase   for a full refund or credit of the purchase price.   Returned items must be in brand new condition, unused, unscratched, without wheel tread scuff marks, and with original tags and packaging.

•   What will be refunded, and when will I get my refund? 

While we do provide free return shipping, your original Ground, Express and/or Overnight shipping charges will not be refunded.

As long as everything you return is in perfect condition, you'll get a full refund for your purchase. 

On the crazy chance your item looks like it's been taken around the block (or across the country), a restocking fee of up to 50% may be applied. Examples of restocking fees include $25 for used wheels, $20 if not returned with all original packaging, $25 if item requires cleaning due to pet hair / peanut butter kid hands / etc. If your item cannot be accepted for a refund under the terms of our return policy even with a restocking fee, a member of our Customer Experience team will reach out to see if you would like the item shipped back to you, or if you would like to receive a partial store credit (we try to catch all of these during the returns approval process, but there are a few exceptions). 

Refunds will only be credited to the original form of payment, or issued as store credit.    If you choose to return a gift, please note the refund will be issued as store credit only.

Once your returned item is received and inspected, you will be notified via email. If approved, the refund request will be processed within 5 working days after approval. You will receive email notification of the refund when processed; however, it may take some time for this credit to appear on your credit card statement.

• How do I get started with my return?

We will provide a prepaid shipping label for returns that meet the requirements in our policy. 

You can start a return by clicking on the link below:

Request a Return or Exchange Authorization

Please note: If you ship a stroller back to us as a return, you assume the risk of shipping the stroller. If it is lost in transit or damaged upon arrival, we aren’t responsible for replacing the stroller, and will only award refunds based on the condition of the stroller that we receive.

• Are there any exceptions I should know about? 

We love our long-distance friends (and we'd love to come visit you, Hawaii moms), but unfortunately, we don't process Exchanges from locations outside the contiguous (mainland) United States including Hawaii, Alaska, or international addresses. Any orders that need to be exchanged from these areas must return for a refund, then re-purchase. 

Crazy coupon ladies & discount shoppers, this one's for you: please note that items purchased during significant sale events such as Warehouse Sales or Black Friday / Cyber Monday may not be eligible for returns. Be sure to check the terms of special discount offers before purchasing, as those items may be final sale. Gift cards are also non-refundable. 

The Traveler is fun ction forward – giving you all the essentials you need to get out there, together.

All the product details you could want (and then some).

Rest easy knowing your stroller is covered.

Zoe strollers are under warranty for 1 year-post purchase under normal use, and all accessories are covered for 6 months.

For all warranty details, see here.

Prefer to talk to a human? We'd love to chat with you about our warranty and answer any questions you may have. Contact Us!

Making memories in new places can get a little messy .

Thankfully, our strollers are easy to clean. With stain resistant fabrics, most spills are cleaned after using a warm, damp cloth cloth and air drying.

Each stroller has specific cleaning instructions on the tag. Avoid harsh chemicals, and spot clean with detergent to test before using across all fabric.

Want a little more protection? Check out our machine washable seat liners.

TRAVEL READY

LIGHTWEIGHT

DISNEY APPROVED

Product Details

Four Panel Expandable Canopy with UPF 50+ lining

140° recline

Adjustable foot rest

Durable, lightweight aluminum

Ball bearing wheels

Self standing with invisible belly bar

Easy one hand compact fold

Fits in Overhead Bins

No need to gate check (and risk damage) – with our most compact fold, it fits in overhead compartments.

Disney Approved

The Traveler meets all Disney requirements! It's roomy, lightweight, and perfect for the parks.

With a four-panel canopy and 140-degree recline, The Traveler makes for easy naps on the go so you can keep the adventures rolling.

Your new travel buddy

The compact, easy to maneuver frame is ready for any adventure big or small.

Your questions, answered

While both strollers offer a light-weight, compact design, each is designed with a primary need in mind. The Traveler is best if you find yourself traveling often — particularly airport travel. Its fold is slightly more compact and frame is smaller, allowing it to fit in all overhead bins. The Tour+ is slightly wider with a taller seat back, making it better for day to day use as your little grows and you more frequently need increased storage. The Tour+ also is compatible with our car seat adapter, all-terrain wheels, and an add-on seat — turning it into a Tandem+ for your growing family.

Yes, perfect for traveling - it will fit in airline overhead compartments.

Yes! You can get The Traveler sized snack tray here. It folds into the stroller just like the belly bar — keeping the stroller compact at all times.

We offer a 30-day trial period so you can test out Zoe products in the convenience and comfort of your own home. Think of it as our happiness guarantee. If we're not the right fit for you, we understand (but we're pretty confident you'll love it)! Please be mindful of keeping items in new condition and avoid using strollers outdoors to ensure a full refund. To see the full refund policy, click here. Zoe strollers are under warranty for 1 year-post purchase under normal use, and all accessories are covered for 6 months. For all warranty details, see here .

The Traveler is recommended for children 3 months and up, with a maximum child weight of 45 lbs.

All the essentials for wherever you're headed.

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Reversible seat liner.

$ 39.99 - $ 49.99

Dusty Pink | Cozy Knit

Breathable Light Grey | Cozy Fleece

Charcoal Denim | Cozy Knit

• Description

Shield your stroller from messes and spills with the Reversible Seat Liner.

• Padded, dual sided liner adds comfort and protection while keeping your stroller looking clean
• Easy attachment to stroller harness
• Machine washable

ALICE + REED Reversible Seat Liner

• Water-resistant material reverses to a knit fabric

PHOEBE Reversible Seat Liner

• Water-resistant material reverses to cozy fleece

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Seat Liners

A seat liner adds comfort to the stroller as well as adding a protective layer that catches any spills before they end up on the stroller itself. Not to mention that they add a splash of color. Our seat liners come from brands like Easygrow , Elodie , and Buddy & Hope .

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Keep your baby cool and dry all year round with the Bugaboo dual comfort seat liner. It's fully reversible and features soft, antibacterial fabrics & a 3D mesh for extra breathability, so your baby can lie back and relax no matter the weather.

• Top features

Fully reversible to stay cool & comfortable in all seasons

Summer side features 3D mesh with antibacterial properties, preventing more than 90% of bacterial growth

Comfort side features super soft pique fabrics with Cooldry® effect to regulate body temperature

New design & improved fit on all Bugaboo strollers (except Bugaboo Ant)

High quality and easy to wash materials

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Share your US - Set of 2 dual seat liners - MIDNIGHT BLACK

Share your US - Set of 2 dual seat liners - MIDNIGHT BLACK with your partner, family or friends.

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The Seat Liner attaches easily to Era, Indie, Speed and Indie Twin strollers for an added layer of comfort or pop of color. Remove quickly to wash and save time, water and energy while you’re at it. Made of OEKO-TEX certified 100% recycled plastic bottles (rPET) with OEKO-TEX certified polyester batting (padding) and C-0 DWR (PFAS-Free) finish. This stroller seat liner is also available in  Organic Cotton  with no dye or treatments.

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Love the look of these

Love the look of these! They’re super warm. Great fit for our baby but a little too small for our toddler. Highly recommend for babies!

A cushy addition to our Era

Baby is so much more comfortable with this lightly pillowy accessory. It was splurge, but so worth it. Our little dollface angel adventurer now rides in a smidge more luxury, and the design we chose added a slight delicate flare, giving her wheels a bit of femininity and style.

2019 reversible seat liner

I recently purchased 2 seat liners to go with my 2019 bumbleride indie twin in navy blue. I figured they would help with keeping the actual seats protected and be easier to clean if my toddler and 5 year old made messes. Also the extra padding, while not necessary in an already comfortable seat, would help with stroller naps. Overall, this seat liner met most of my expectations however the one thing that could have made a world of a difference would have been some sort of snap or zipper option to help keep the liners in place on the seat. I am constantly pulling them up and back into place when my kids squirm around which makes me question the ultimate value of these liners. Wish i could have loved them.

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Sleeping Bag Liners

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Save 10% off 1 item, 15% off 2 items, 20% off 3 items and 25% off 4+ items.

Comfort Blend Sleeping Bag Liner

Breeze Sleeping Bag Liner (Insect Shield)

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Reactor Fleece Sleeping Bag Liner

Silk Blend Sleeping Bag Liner

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Reactor Extreme Sleeping Bag Liner

Your next-to-skin sleep layer ULTRALIGHT, THERMAL BOOST AND MOISTURE MANAGEMENT LINERS

A sleeping bag liner is your next-to-skin layer in your Sleep System, or your always-ready set of hygienic sleep sheets when you’re traveling.

Whether you’re looking for a Tencel, silk blend, thermal boost or moisture management liner, this essential layer can improve the quality of your sleep by wicking moisture, adding warmth and keeping your sleeping bag clean. A liner can significantly raise your hygiene standards on longer trips, especially if you find yourself being offered less-than-pristine bedding. And when used with a sleeping bag, a liner can prevent dirt and grime from contaminating the liner and shell of your sleeping bag or compromising its insulation. A liner is a great way to protect your investment – using one on every trip will significantly cut down on the number of times you need to wash your sleeping bag. Most of our liners are easy care fabrics that can simply be machine washed. Sleeping bag liners like our bestselling THERMOLITE Reactor Extreme are designed to add warmth to your sleep system in colder conditions. They’re a great way to extend the temperature range of your sleeping bag. Comfort is key when choosing a sleeping bag liner to complete your sleep system. 

Frequently Asked questions

What is the point of a sleeping bag liner.

A liner keeps your sleeping bag clean. It can also manage moisture when it's warm & humid (Breeze) or add warmth when it's cold (Reactor).

What's the difference between silk blend liners and other liners?

Silk blend sleeping bag liners are light, compact and designed for comfort - great for travel.  Breeze sleeping bag liners are stretchy, easy care and wick moisture very well.  Reactor Thermal sleeping bag liners are stretchy, easy care and add warmth to a sleeping bag.

Does the liner have to be the same size as your sleeping bag?

The sleeping bag liner does not have to be the same shape as the sleeping bag - our stretch knit liners has so much stretch, it fits any shape.

How do I store my sleeping bag liner?

No special care is needed for liner storage (except making sure the liner is dry beforehand).

Can you sleep in just a sleeping bag liner?

This answer isn't as straightforward as you think. To learn more about using a sleeping bag liner as a stand-alone sleeping bag, check out our blog: Using a Liner As a Sleeping Bag

Do liners make sleeping bags warmer? How much warmth is added?

All liners will add some warmth to a sleeping bag. How much is impossible to quantify - it depends on how well the sleeping bag retains warmth (not the same as its temperature rating), how well the sleeping pad insulates (not the same as its R-Value) and on external conditions.

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Stroller Seat Liner

Product details.

Made of bamboo cellulose, the Stroller Seat Liner is soft and comfortable. Use it year-round as a washable cover, making clean-ups a breeze.

Care Instructions:

• Wash separately. Gentle action wash warm water, do not bleach, Line dry (do not tumble dry), do not iron, do not dry clean.

Products to Combine:

• All CYBEX strollers

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The Best Portable Travel Potty Options — Because Being Prepared Is *Key* To Ditching Diapers

As your child grows up, new milestones occur. Between the ages of two and four, things can get really interesting. Not only will your child learn how to communicate better, but it also means it may be time to try to ditch the diapers and attempt potty training . It can be a harrowing process but the best portable travel potty options make it easier to leave the house, so you can confidently take your stroller further afield than, say, a sprint’s distance away from your front door.

First, let’s get this out of the way: there’s nothing wrong with putting a pull-up on a child who’s learning how to use the potty but not quite there yet. But, travel potties shouldn’t scare you. In fact, the best portable travel potties are often made with parents in mind. Don’t worry — there are plenty of options that won’t require you to lug both an entire potty set-up and a toddler while peeking into a rest stop Burger King during an extended road trip this holiday season.

Here are the best portable travel potty options available — and all have racked up rave reviews from parents who’ve come to rely on them.

Best Portable Travel Potty

Personally, I recommend this travel potty to everyone. It folds up, meaning that it can easily slip into a diaper bag, or even in the pockets behind your car seats. It fits on any toilet securely thanks to the eight suction cups on the back, and it’s a cinch to clean. It also comes in two colors. And, it’s not just me who loves this option — more than 8,400 Amazon reviewers gave it a perfect five stars.

This is another seat manufactured by Jool, but it has slight differences. This one doesn’t fold up, but there’s a handy hook for hanging up in your bathroom after use. It has a grippy base to keep your kiddo from slipping, and there’s a splash guard to prevent pee from ending up all over the floor. It easily wipes clean, which is helpful on the road. Amazon reviewer Kalina Villa is one of the many fans of this model. “Fit wonderfully on all toilets in the house,” she wrote. “While our child is potty training, we are able to transport this wherever we go so that our child is not directly sitting on toilets. Easy to clean and unlike the traditional potty, don’t have to worry about disposing waste.”

This wildly popular potty is unique in a few ways. For one, it can be used as a stand-alone potty for hiking or outdoor use, if you use a bag to catch the results. It can also be placed on top of public toilets and serve as a clean, safe seat. It even comes with an included travel bag for taking it on the go. Choose from three colors.Amazon Reviewer Amy Slaghtery wasn’t afraid to share her story about when she was in a traffic jam while pregnant and used it for herself. It’s absolutely worth reading her full review but she summarized: “You have truly not lived until you’ve tried to levitate your 6-month pregnant butt above a travel car seat in front of your son and significant other. […]Point is, it works great as a kids travel potty, especially in unfamiliar hotels with unfamiliar toilets, as well as in Cracker Barrel parking lots.”

This is another great 2-in-1 seat that might find a good home in your diaper bag or trunk while out on the road. This Potette Plus bundle comes with a standalone potty that you pair with either the reusable, collapsable silicone liner or with a disposable liner (three leakproof bags are included with your purchase). The comprehensive potty solution would also make a great gift for parents who are just starting their potty training mission. Amazon sells two versions — one in white and gray, and one in teal and green.

I’m not going to lie — visually, this looks like a potty that might come crashing down the second your child sits down on it. But, it’s much more sturdy than it looks. And even better, it doesn’t need any assembly. It’s recommended for the car, for travel, and more. It’s available in three different colors and comes with disposable waste bags and a carrying case.Amazon Reviewer Vickysun bought one and recommends it to other parents. “This has been great as a portable potty for long car rides and places without public bathrooms,” they noted. Better be safe than sorry and have this in your car for emergencies!

Portable Potty For Car/Car Potty

This affordable BATTOP potty is a great solution for life on the road with a kiddo. It’s a 2-in-1 solution in that you can use the ergonomic seat on any toilet, or you can use the standalone model that pairs with disposable bags — and you get 50 bags with your order. The unit is collapsible for easy storage, too. Amazon Reviewer Chris L made sure to point out all the positives. “The potty is well-made,” they wrote. “The material is smooth and solid. Save us a lot of trouble finding restroom for the little one while traveling.”

Looking for something with slightly more durability? This travel toilet is great for kids who are camping or living the RV life this year. This particular model holds 5.3 gallons, and is actually flushable. A lot of reviewers have stated that the toilet seat itself is pretty small, making it even more convenient for kids.

Visually speaking, as far as potties go, this one’s pretty cool. And even better, it can fold and stack in ways you might not guess based on its shape. This compact model can be used indoors or outdoors, and it comes with a squishy seat for comfort. One important note: Even though it boasts a 2-in-1 design, this can not be used as a seat that can be placed on a regular potty like some of the other models on the list.One Amazon reviewer called this a ‘parenting essential’ and raved, “Saves so much stress! We keep this with us in stroller or car, were ever we go, we are ready for emergency. It’s compact and easy to use. Don’t hesitate and buy it”

Imagine if your travel potty was so discrete that it looked like any other standard piece of luggage? That’s what the people at My Carry Potty have aimed for. This potty seat is leak-proof and the handle makes it easier to carry or hang when not in use. As a parent, you’ll love not having to mess around with disposable liners, either.

Portable Potty Bags

So, portable potty chair bags aren’t all that glamorous. But, the best ones will offer parents peace of mind while on the road. This durable set of liners comes with 100 bags that each can  hold up to 5 ounces of liquid at once, meaning that you might want to stock up. Amazon Reviewer Jessica McMullen found that they have multiple uses. “I use them with the oxo travel potty and haven’t had a leak,” she said. “Great for car rides and I even keep a roll upstairs by my cat pan.”

When it comes to things like potty liners, it always makes sense to buy the big pack. Trust me — they’ll be used. But, this pack of liners isn’t great just due to the amount you get (90 liners). These are also top-notch due to the fact that they can hold up to 5 ounces and have disappearing ink on the bottom that can further encourage a stubborn child to go. With kids, the second you make things more fun, the more willing they are to participate.

SHOP THE STORY

This wildly popular potty is unique in a few ways. For one, it can be used as a stand-alone potty for hiking or outdoor use, if you use a bag to catch the results. It can also be placed on top of public toilets and serve as a clean, safe seat. It even comes with an included travel bag for taking it on the go. Choose from three colors. Amazon Reviewer Amy Slaghtery wasn’t afraid to share her story about when she was in a traffic jam while pregnant and used it for herself. It’s absolutely worth reading her full review but she summarized: “You have truly not lived until you’ve tried to levitate your 6-month pregnant butt above a travel car seat in front of your son and significant other. […]Point is, it works great as a kids travel potty, especially in unfamiliar hotels with unfamiliar toilets, as well as in Cracker Barrel parking lots.”

Visually speaking, as far as potties go, this one’s pretty cool. And even better, it can fold and stack in ways you might not guess based on its shape. This compact model can be used indoors or outdoors, and it comes with a squishy seat for comfort. One important note: Even though it boasts a 2-in-1 design, this can not be used as a seat that can be placed on a regular potty like some of the other models on the list. One Amazon reviewer called this a ‘parenting essential’ and raved, “Saves so much stress! We keep this with us in stroller or car, were ever we go, we are ready for emergency. It’s compact and easy to use. Don’t hesitate and buy it”

I’m not going to lie — visually, this looks like a potty that might come crashing down the second your child sits down on it. But, it’s much more sturdy than it looks. And even better, it doesn’t need any assembly. It’s recommended for the car, for travel, and more. It’s available in three different colors and comes with disposable waste bags and a carrying case. Amazon Reviewer Vickysun bought one and recommends it to other parents. “This has been great as a portable potty for long car rides and places without public bathrooms,” they noted. Better be safe than sorry and have this in your car for emergencies!

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Best travel potties: portable potties and toilet training seats Mumsnetters won't leave home without

Are you preparing to head outside the home with your toilet-training toddler? Here are the best compact and portable travel potties, as recommended by Mumsnet parents. 

By Lucy Cotterill | Last updated Apr 16, 2024

Potty training your toddler can be a fairly overwhelming experience. While your child may be fairly confident using the potty in their familiar home surroundings, heading outside the house with your ‘nappy-free’ toddler can be a little more daunting for all concerned. 

Taking a travel potty out and about can really take the pressure off, allowing you to enjoy a day with your toddler without needing to worry about the location of the nearest public toilets. Generally relatively compact in size, the best travel potties can easily be stashed in the basket of your pushchair or even in your changing bag , ensuring you’ve always got a solution to hand in case of toilet training emergencies. They can also help improve your child’s confidence, allowing some independence while reducing the risk of accidents. 

With a range of designs to choose from, including stand-alone potties and compact fold-out designs, a travel potty or toilet training seat is ideal for day trips, travel, camping and holidays. Some travel potties can also be used as a hygienic toilet seat reducer, helping aid the transition from a potty to a regular toilet.  

To bring you a definitive list of the best travel potties you can buy today, we tapped into the hive mind of Mumsnet parents, seeking their tried and tested recommendations on travel potties that have supported their child’s potty training journey. We then researched wider consumer feedback on the products Mumsnetters rate, gaining wider views on the potty’s ease of use and portability. 

Whether it’s a disposable travel potty, a foldable travel potty or a travel seat for public toilets, here are the best travel potties that make toilet training outside of the home simple and stress-free. 

Best travel potties at a glance:

Best overall travel potty: Pottette Plus 2-in-1 Compact Universal Potty | Buy now

Best budget travel potty: Hippychick Tron Travel Potty | Buy now 

Best foldable travel potty: Pottiagogo Travel Potty | Buy now

Best travel potty seat: OXO Tot 2-in-1 Go Potty | Buy now

Best travel potty for car journeys: My Carry Potty | Buy now

1. Best overall travel potty: Potette Plus 2-in-1 Compact Universal Potty and Toilet Training Seat 

Price on writing: £17 | Buy now from Amazon

Size : H7 x W22 x D23cm | Type: 2-in-1 design

What we like

Includes three disposable biodegradable liners

Includes carry bag for travel

Stable rubber feet 

Converts from potty to toilet trainer seat as your child grows 

What we don’t like

The cost of liners can add up

What Mumsnet users say

We used the Potette Plus. It’s a really easy-to-use potty which folds flat and uses disposable liners. It can also be used as a toilet training seat. (Recommended by Mumsnet user MelBushman )

“We have a Potette Plus and I love it. My daughter calls it her 'out and about potty' It folds up for storage, and also right out to act as a little toilet seat so they can sit comfortably on the loo. We're in the throes of potty training and we've used it in a dance studio (loo seat), clothes shop (loo seat) and a park (potty) this weekend. Absolutely invaluable. It comes with plastic bag inserts, which you have to buy more of, but you can just as easily use a plastic shopping bag with a wad of kitchen roll in it.” (Rated by Mumsnet user Rainatnight )

Our verdict 

When asked in the forums for potty training tips, the Potette Plus travel potty was mentioned by Mumsnet users time and time again.

An innovative 2-in-1 design with robust, fold-out legs, the Potette Plus Universal Potty and Toilet Training Seat can be used as a full-sized travel potty with disposable liners, or converted to a toilet training seat for a more comfortable public toilet experience for your child. After use, you can simply fold the legs down flat for compact storage, before popping into the hygienic carry bag and continuing on your travels. 

The set includes three lightly scented biodegradable liners, with others sold separately as a pack of thirty . Making potty training almost fun, toddlers love how the pattern on the liner disappears when they get wet, while parents rate how the liquid turns to gel to prevent spills or leaks. With stable feet and a sturdy design that won’t collapse under your toddler’s weight, the Potette Plus is also really straightforward to clean after use. 

Related: The best potty training pants, according to Mumsnetters

2. Best budget travel potty: Hippychick Tron Travel Potty

Price on writing: £10 | Buy now from Amazon

Size: ‎ 48 x 24 x 9 cm | Type: Disposable 

Small, lightweight design

Pops out for potty emergencies or during travel 

Made from biodegradable materials 

Supports up to 50kg in weight 

Works out more expensive as a long-term option 

More suited to emergency use during travel 

Less comfortable seat than stand-alone travel potties

“I always took them to the loo if nearby, or took a disposable travel potty. They’re by Hippychick and are very good.”  (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user Astromelia )

If you’re going camping, heading to a festival or planning a long car journey where your toddler needs to last longer between toilet trips, you may want to opt for an affordable disposable travel potty that will be easily accessible in case of emergencies. 

These pop-out travel potties from Hippychick are a really practical solution - a convenient, fully-lined cardboard design that simply folds out to create a disposable potty when required. 

Surprisingly sturdy, the Tron disposable potties can actually hold weights of up to 50kg, making them suitable even for older children if required. They’re also small enough to stash inside your coat pocket or handbag, so they won’t take up valuable storage space in your car.

Read next: The best breast pumps Mumsnetters swear by

3. Best foldable travel potty: Pottiagogo Travel Potty 

Price on writing: £15 | Buy now from Amazon

Size: 38.4 x 26 x 6.6 cm | Type: Stand alone travel potty

Realistic toilet shape aids the transition from potty to toilet

Includes pack of 20 liners 

Safety lock to hold securely when in use 

Innovative folding design 

Compact for travel 

Requires two hands to fold back up after use 

Additional liners sold separately

“Pottiagogo potties are really light and compact and have disposable liners. Good luck!”  (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user Pegsmum )

With a compact and lightweight design that easily fits underneath your pushchair, the innovative Pottiagogo travel potty opens quickly and easily with a simple one-handed flick. Converting from a flat portable unit to a stand-alone travel potty in seconds, it’s ideal for those emergency toilet trips, car journeys, camping and festivals, even when your toddler has a habit of going from distracted to desperate in seconds. 

With a soft and comfortable toilet seat and a secure safety lock for stability, this travel potty is suitable for children aged 15 months to 5 years. Thanks to its realistic design, it can also help aid their transition to a full-sized toilet. 

With a pack of twenty biodegradable potty liners included, the Pottiagogo is hygienic and easy to clean. It does require two hands to fold back down, however, with two safety buttons that need to be depressed simultaneously to compress.

Related: The best potty training books for stress-free toilet training

4. Best travel potty seat: OXO Tot 2-in-1 Go Potty

Price on writing: £49 | Buy now from Amazon

Size: 27.3 x 25cm | Type: 2-in-1 potty and toilet seat

2-in-1 potty and toilet seat

Quick to open for toilet emergencies

Moulded seat with a splatter guard 

Flaps hold disposable liners in place during use

Some reviewers felt it sat a little low to the ground for their toddlers

“I had this one for my daughter. So handy and compact; I just had it in my rucksack with a few normal pedal bin liners. Great for car journeys, using in public loos, travelling and everyday use.”  (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user HairyFeline )

“I have a folding potty which you line with a bag, or you can use it on a toilet seat to make it smaller. Oxo Tot. It's been amazing!! Useful for when you're out & not near a toilet.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user Topjoe19 )

Thanks to its folding legs, this compact and portable travel potty converts from a potty to a toilet training seat in seconds, with the legs locking outwards to fit the majority of public toilets.

While this OXO Tot potty is fairly hard to come by and as a result doesn’t come cheap, Mumsnet users praised its compact and portable design that allows them to take it with them wherever they go. 

We love how the disposable liners (sold separately) are conveniently held in place thanks to the flexible flaps on both sides of the seat. With a smooth surface and splatter guard, it's also easy to keep clean and hygienic, no matter how much it gets used on your travels. 

Related: The best highchairs, tried and tested by Mumsnetters

5. Best travel potty for car journeys: My Carry Potty 

Price on writing: £29 | Buy now from Amazon

Size: 26 x 15cm | Type: Stand alone travel potty  

Choice of bright and colourful designs 

Carry handle for portability

Secure locking mechanism and leakproof seal 

No disposable liners required 

Large comfortable seat 

Quite bulky for younger ones to carry by themselves 

“We have a My Carry Potty. Son loves it and uses it everywhere: in the park, in the woods, down the bottom of our (massive) garden. He prefers it over standing but will also happily sit on a toilet at home or in public”  (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user Kindofcrunchy )

“We have a My Carry Potty. My son is a bit funny about using toilets and often has an urgent need for a poo. He won't be able to use it for too much longer as he's quite big for it (he's four in August) but I like the security it brings.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user mynameiscalypso ) 

“My Carry Potty is the best. It just goes in the bottom of the pram. It’s good not faffing with bags/having to clean it immediately because it’s all just sealed away.” (Rated by Mumsnet user Jujujuly )

When it comes to child appeal, they don’t come more child-friendly than the bright and fun characters from My Carry Potty, with a wide range of super-cute designs including everything from brightly coloured blocks to dinosaurs, penguins and ladybirds. 

This multi-award winning potty may be a bit more bulky to carry than some, however, kids love the portable carry handle, allowing them to take it with them wherever they go. A stand-alone, bag-free design, the seat is large and comfortable with an integrated splash guard suitable for children from 15-36 months. 

We love the secure locking mechanism and leakproof, water-tight seal, helping keep the contents (and odours) fully contained until you reach a convenient place to empty it.

Read next: The best toys for 2-year-olds - Mumsnetters share their top tips

6. Best compact travel potty: The Whizzer by Kiddiwhizz 

Price on writing: £20 | Buy now from Amazon

Size: ‎7 x 7 x 13 cm | Type: Handheld potty

Lightweight, compact, portable design

Suitable for children up to 8 years

Moulded design for privacy

Leakproof when full 

Easy to clean

Handheld design may be less suited to younger children or toddlers with questionable aim

Some reviewers felt the bottle should be bigger 

“I've recently bought a Whizzer to take with us instead of the travel potty - good to have an option in the back pocket if he literally can't relax enough to urinate in a public loo” (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user IvanTheDragon )

“These are brilliant and saw me through potty training both my girls!” (Recommended by Mumsnet user FinallyMrsE ) 

Our verdict

Available in a choice of colours, this handheld travel toilet is made from high-grade silicone and is quickly assembled to create a convenient travel toilet for car journeys, camping or anywhere your child may need a wee outside of the home. 

With a compact design that is small enough to pop inside your handbag, you simply peel off the lid and attach the spout before use. Designed to be used in an upright standing position; the privacy shield allows discrete use for both boys and girls. 

While some users felt the container could be bigger, it can hold up to 250ml, which the brand claims reflects the average size of an eight-year-old’s bladder - plenty to accommodate potty-training children. Completely leak-free when full, you can simply empty and clean the Whizzer when you reach your destination.

Related: The best toys for 3-year-olds - top gifts for preschoolers

7. Best travel seat for public toilets: Pejoye Foldable Potty Toilet Training Seat

Price on writing: £9.99 | Buy now from Amazon

Size: 35.56 x 25.4 x 2.51cm | Type : Travel seat / seat reducer 

Fun frog character 

Compact and portable folding design

Non-slip pads for secure fit

Easy to clean 

Comes with a carry bag to store after use 

May not fit toilets with square seats 

Not as sturdy as one-piece toilet seat reducers 

“You can get folding toilet seats for toddlers. Ours lives in my changing bag as my son is very slight and feels unsteady on toilets even if I hold him and so refuses to use them without a toddler seat.”  (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user Hedgeh0g )

Suitable for kids from 12 months to eight years, this foldable toilet seat is ideal for travelling away from home, creating a hygienic and practical toilet solution for use at service stations, hotels, restaurants or other public toilets.

Stored in its own portable travel pouch, it takes up very little space in your bag, before opening out to create a cute, child-friendly frog character and a familiar toilet training aid for your toddler. 

This comfortable and hygienic toilet seat has non-slip pads that hold the seat securely in place during use, allowing your toddler to use the toilet independently without needing to be held. 

Read next: Best toddler reins to keep your little ones close

8. Best travel potty for comfort: Potette Max 3-in-1 Potty 

Price on writing: £25 | Buy now from Amazon  

Size: 32 x 27 x 2.51cm | Type: 3 in 1 design 

3-in-1 design suitable as a home potty, travel potty and toilet training seat

Hard reusable liner for home use

Legs fold flat to convert from potty to toilet training seat

Three disposable liners included 

Includes travel bag 

More costly than some

Disposable liners can be expensive to buy separately 

If you’re looking for a comfortable full-sized potty that can be used both inside and outside the home, the Potette Max 3-in-1 potty is the ideal choice, with an intelligent design that converts from a home potty to a travel potty and even a toilet training seat for use in public toilets.

The lightweight and compact nature of the Potette Max makes it easy to move around the home, using the hygienic hard liner that allows you to safely dispose of the contents and clean the potty between each use. 

When used outside the home, this versatile potty training tool comes with three biodegradable liners and a travel bag for complete convenience. Just like the Potette Plus, we love how the pattern on the liner disappears when they get wet. 

When visiting public toilets, you can also quickly convert this potty to a training seat by simply folding the legs out flat 

9. Best easy empty potty: Pourty Easy to Pour Potty    

Price on writing: £11 | Buy now from Amazon

Size: 30 x 17 x 24 cm | Type: Stand alone potty  

Handle and spout make it easy to empty

Comfortable seat with a high splash guard 

More suitable for use in the home 

The bulkier design doesn't fold flat 

Less portable than some official travel potties above 

“You can get a Pourty, which is a potty that’s designed to be emptied easily.”  (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user OhhhPeee )

Whilst not technically a travel potty, the Pourty potty has a unique easy-to-empty design that makes it convenient to use, even outside of the home. 

With a sturdy plastic design with a wide spacious seat and splash guard, this potty has a carry handle and pouring duct that allows you to wash away the contents after use. Even better, it doesn’t pour over the areas your child is likely to touch - making it more hygienic and easy to clean.

Whilst it's less compact and portable to use outside the home, it may be a good option for toddlers who are less comfortable using ‘non-familiar’ toilets outside the home. 

What are travel potties for?

An important part of your toddlers’ toilet training journey, a travel potty is a compact, portable and sometimes foldable potty that can easily be used outside of the home - whether that's as a stand-alone potty or a seat reducer for use on a traditional public toilet. 

For toddlers who are early into their toilet training journey and may get caught short, travel potties provide a comfortable and familiar experience when using the toilet outside, on holiday or during travel. 

What types of travel potty are available?

There are a variety of travel potty options and which is right for you will depend upon your child's age, size and stage of potty training 

Disposable travel potties - These are best suited for occasional/emergency use, such as a long car journey with a recently potty-trained toddler who hasn’t yet been tested over longer periods. Whilst relatively affordable, they obviously work out more expensive if used over the long term and aren’t the most sustainable choice.

Foldable/collapsable travel potties - With some big plus points for portability, these travel potties collapse down flat or have legs that fold in to make them more compact and easy to carry when not in use. 

Stand-alone travel potty - Whilst these don’t tend to fold down flat, these more robust travel potties are often more comfortable for toddlers, with large seats that are more similar in nature to a traditional toilet. Some require emptying immediately after use, while others have a seal to prevent leakage until you reach home or a convenient place to empty and clean.

Seat reducer / portable travel seat - Ideal for children who are confident using a potty but may feel less comfortable on a full-sized public toilet, these fold-out seats can be placed on top of the traditional toilet seat to reduce the size. These can help children feel more independent when using public toilets, without the need to be held by a parent. 

Multipurpose 2-in-1/ 3-in-1 seats - The most versatile choice, these designs can adapt to your child’s needs as they grow, switching between a potty and toilet training seat as required for use both inside and outside the home. 

Things to consider when choosing a travel potty

How old is your child? - What stage is your child at in their toilet training journey? If you’re planning to use a travel potty with an older child, you’ll need to check the weight or size limits to ensure they offer a safe and comfortable fit. 

How portable is it? - How easy is the travel potty to carry? Does it fold down flat or include a carry bag? Can it fit into your bag or basket of your pushchair for convenience? Consider how you want to transport it and look for more compact designs if you’re limited on space or prefer a more discrete potty. 

How easy is it to clean/empty? - How easy is the travel potty to clean? Does it need to be emptied immediately or can it contain the contents and odours until you return home? 

Does it require liners?  - Does it require the use of disposable liners and if so, are any included with the purchase? It’s worth considering how much the liners cost to replace and factor this into the overall cost. Other designs such as the My Carry Potty can be used without liners, but tend to be a little more bulky as a result. 

How easy is it to use? - For designs that fold out or convert, how easy are they to use? Can they be set up quickly in the event of a toilet emergency? How robust are they and do they have non-slip feet that can hold it securely in place during use?

How comfortable is it for your child? - Does it provide a comfortable and familiar base for your child to sit on during use? Is the seat spacious enough and how similar does it feel to an adult toilet?

Does it adapt to your child’s needs as they grow? - Can the potty convert to a toilet training seat/seat reducer as your child grows in confidence? 

How much does it cost? - How much are you willing to spend? Some parents prefer to opt for a budget-friendly choice for occasional or emergency use only, whereas you may be willing to spend a little more if you spend a lot of time outside the home with your toddler. 

Tips for getting out and about while potty training

Spending time outside the home whilst potty training can be challenging, but here are some of Mumsnet users’ best tips to make the experience run smoothly. 

1. Take your child to the toilet at regular intervals 

Toddlers can’t necessarily go for a ‘just in case’ wee like adults do, however offering the toilet regularly or simply reminding your toddler that a toilet is close by can help reduce the risk of accidents. 

“I would just take him to the toilet really regularly. There are toilets on most trains, in some stations, and all museums.” (Tip from Mumsnet user Hopeislost )

2. Bring the travel potty

Taking a travel potty with you, even if you don’t end up using it can provide additional reassurance and peace of mind.

“ Just bring a potty with you and keep asking them if they need to use it. The less fuss you make and the more you keep up with your usual routine the quicker they'll learn. People make the mistake of staying in with trousers off all week, but then forget they still need to learn to stay dry when out the house.” (Suggestion from Mumsnet user strongcupofTea )

3. Don’t be afraid to take pull-ups

If you’re likely to spend a significant amount of time travelling where toilet stops can be unpredictable, don’t be afraid to use a pull-up, even if over their normal pants. This can provide a backup in the event of an accident. 

“We had some long journeys and in those situations, we used pull-ups over normal pants and called them 'travel pants'. We didn't let on that they were absorbent / like nappies but they were useful for reassurance (ours, not the children’s) in case we couldn't make the loo in time. Wearing them over pants means they don't feel like nappies and avoid confusion.”  (Advice from Mumsnet user Elevenplusdilemma )

4. Take spare pants and nappy sacks 

Accept that sometimes potty training takes practice. With all the will in the world, your child may get distracted and forget they need the toilet before it's too late. Take spare clothes and knickers with you on your travel, along with somewhere to stash soiled clothing in the event of an accident.

“Along with spare underwear and pants, take a bunch of nappy sacks. You don't want wet wee-stinking clothes loose in your bag!” (Tip from Mumsnet user MooseBreath )

What is the best travel potty to buy?

Our top pick for a travel potty is the Potette Plus thanks to its stable yet compact and portable design that adapts to your child’s needs as they grow. 

How we chose our recommendations

Recommendations from real mumsnet users .

Mumsnet forums are full of hints and tips from parents about their child’s potty training experience, with many users sharing the methods and tools that have supported their child to become dry during the day and night 

First, we sought out the trusted opinions of Mumsnet users, to get their feedback on the travel potties that they rate, recommend and have used with their own children.

We also looked out for any negative reviews, where Mumsetters highlighted products that they felt were poor quality, difficult to clean or bulky to use outside of the home. 

Expert opinions

Next up, we considered reviews and feedback from trusted industry experts. We want to be confident that the products we recommend are fit for purpose, so we looked out for award-winning products or those that were well regarded in the marketplace.

Authentic consumer reviews

Finally, to bring you our definitive list of the best travel potties on the market, we thoroughly investigated genuine, in-depth customer reviews on retailer sites such as Amazon, Argos and John Lewis to get wider consumer experiences regarding the potties on our shortlist. 

About the author

Lucy Cotterill is a mum of two and a Content Writer at Mumsnet, specialising in baby/child and lifestyle product reviews and round-ups. Having written product reviews on her own blog Real Mum Reviews since 2012, Lucy loves to research and explore the pros and cons of products, scrutinising reviews and consumer feedback to help people make confident purchases. 

With two girls of her own, Lucy knows only too well the fear that can arise when your newly potty-trained child needs a wee (usually at the furthest point away from a toilet). She’s tested a variety of toilet training tools in her time, including some of the brands featured in this piece. 

Originally from a HR background with a degree in Business Studies, Lucy developed a real passion for blogging and writing when her children were young, going on to write for several online publications including US parenting site Pregistry and the Evening Standard. When she’s not manically tapping the keys of her laptop, Lucy loves nothing more than to cosy up with her Kindle and enjoy the latest thriller, or compete in Nintendo Switch rallies with her daughters aged six and 10.

Why you should trust us

We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust and we spend hours scouring the Mumsnet forums and online bestseller lists to find products that real parents rate.

Transparency is really important to us and that's why we're always upfront about where we find our recommendations. We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones that our users would recommend to their own friends and family.

Every product is independently selected by (obsessive) editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission.

The Best Men’s Running Shorts, According to Runners

In this article

• Brief-lined shorts
• 2-in-1 shorts

Half tights

The Strategist happens to be full of runners, so this week, we hit the ground running (literally), testing tons of running gear and interviewing experts to give every kind of runner all the intel they might need. Welcome to  Running Week .

Running shorts have the power to make a run fantastic or ruin it. In my 15 years of running, I’ve tested shorts that feel like a second skin, while others have left me chafed, wedgied, and uncomfortable. Much like a good pair of gym shorts , the ideal pair of men’s running shorts will offer support, but not feel too restrictive; its material should be thin and breathable, but able to withstand everything from the occasional jog to a season of marathon training; and lastly, it should look good.

There are generally three types of running shorts: the most common have a classic brief liner — a good choice if you want something non-restrictive; boxer-brief lined shorts have a longer liner that hugs the thighs; and half-tights can come in lined or unlined options. For any type, one of the most important features for runners is storage: you need pockets to hold your gels, keys, phone, and other items that you take with you. Purely because of their design, many brief-liner running shorts simply don’t have the pockets available to carry a lot of gear. Two-in-one shorts, with their boxer-brief style liners, have more pocket options, but sometimes the liner on these shorts is loose and can feel more like a semi-tight pair of underwear. That’s where half tights come in — they offer a more compressive feeling that eliminates any jostling, and are a great option if you need upwards of four pockets to carry multiple gels for long races like marathons.

After testing close to two dozen different pairs, I’ve landed on some favorites that I would heartily recommend to runners of all levels. Below, you’ll find my picks, as well as top selections from running experts who have logged countless miles in multiple pairs themselves.

Brief-lined running shorts

If you’re looking for a daily workhorse of a short, I’d recommend the Session. I’ve worn both the five- and seven-inch versions of the Session since 2019 for all types of runs, from daily training sessions to track workouts and long runs, and they have shown no signs of wear. Much like the rest of the brand’s apparel, the Session has a collegiate aesthetic with a uniform-like cut, but it has a buttery-soft texture that makes it great for lounging around in, too. It’s also a favorite of Citius Mag founder Chris Chavez .

I’ve been running in my pair of five-inch Nike shorts since 2013, and that longevity is one of the reasons why they’re one of my most frequently recommended shorts . They’re not as soft as the Tracksmith shorts, but Nike’s technical fabric is lighter and slightly more breathable, which makes these great for hot days. Since the shorts have a brief liner, their pocket options are limited to a single zip pocket on the back. But that simplicity is why Danny Perez , a New York City–based editor and marathoner, prefers these shorts for fast workouts. “I use them for shorter distances or speed stuff when I run with my phone in-hand to check pace or times,” he says.

Matt Klein, DPT, professor of physical therapy at West Coast University Center for Graduate Studies, and founder of the blog Doctors of Running , prefers a shorter inseam, reminiscent of racing shorts. “I go through a ton of shorts,” Klein says. “ I am highly biased toward short split shorts.” One of his favorites right now is the Core Sunset Splitz two-inch shorts. “For those of us who wear race day-type shorts every day, this has been a great option,” he says. “The two internal key pockets are also important, as storage is a must!”

Two-in-one running shorts

As I wrote in my roundup of the best gym shorts , these five-inch inseam shorts are my new favorites after testing them for two seasons of marathon training. The standout feature is the fabric, which is surprisingly breathable for how smooth and silky it feels (typical tech fabrics with this texture aren’t normally as airy). The Litewave’s boxer-brief-style liner doesn’t bunch up, and it has a zippered back pocket, plus a hidden phone pocket on the thigh. The Litewave’s liner fits me a bit looser than a pair of half-tights would, so keep that in mind if you like a more compressed feel — or want a more secure pocket for your phone (my phone jostles around in the thigh pocket). Mike Ko, a running shoe reviewer known online as Kofuzi , is a fan of the Litewave. “It’s got a super comfy liner that is stretchy yet somehow able to still hold a phone. The outer shell is light and flowy and feels great for fast runs and easy summer days alike,” he says.

These five-inch-inseam shorts from Ciele have been in my regular rotation of running shorts for the past eight months. Their longer, stretchy polyester liner feels soft and breathable, especially on sweaty runs. (I find the liner more comfortable than some of my boxer briefs, which is why I wear these when lounging around at home, too.) These shorts have a zippered back pocket plus a hidden phone pocket on the thigh.

Similar to the Litewave shorts above, these four-inch inseam shorts from Bandit combine a breathable outer fabric with a comfortable boxer-brief liner. Perez prefers these four-inch shorts for the majority of his running because of the Vento’s storage options (two hand pockets, two thigh pockets, and a back zippered pocket). “The phone pockets on the liner are great,” he says.

These half tights from Janji are the best I’ve tried because of their lightweight feel and smart storage options. I’ve run half-marathons and 10Ks in them, and have used them for daily training in the winter and summer. They have two deep thigh pockets that work well for phones or bigger gels, and two other thigh pockets on top of them for smaller items like additional nutrition. Perez says these tights turned him into a half-tight evangelist, and noted that he’s used them for long runs and his last two marathons. [ Note: They’re a runner favorite and frequently sell out. Keep an eye out for restocks, but also check retailers like REI and Fleet Feet . ]

I’ve been on a yearlong hunt for a pair of half-tights that don’t chafe. (With all that compression, there’s bound to be rubbing down below, especially over the length of a run). While I haven’t found the perfect pair — I’m not sure one exists — these unlined half-tights from Rabbit come very close. Their polyester-spandex feels soft on the skin in a way that doesn’t feel as tech-y as other sport fabrics, and their fit feels secure throughout the whole thigh. Mike Ko agrees: “It fits great, with just the right amount of compression. And it’s got enough pockets to carry all your gels for the marathon.” It has two thigh pockets and a back zippered pocket that’s actually big enough to fit a phone.

I run hot. In colder months, I prefer running in shorts or half tights, but still want them in a more substantial fabric while training so I don’t freeze, especially while I’m taking rest breaks in between laps on a track workout. The Allston is the pair I reach for because it has a thick, nylon-elastane fabric and a compressive fit. They have a brief liner (and are available unlined as well), which offers another level of support to keep everything in place. They also have grippy gel-like bands around the thighs that keep them from riding up, which is why I prefer them for fast track workouts and speed work, where there’s a lot of movement, and where I don’t want to worry about my shorts getting in the way of my stride. Much like the Trackmith’s Session shorts, I’ve found the Allston half tights to be supremely durable — the most durable out of the half tights in my rotation.

The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments , rolling luggage , pillows for side sleepers , natural anxiety remedies , and bath towels . We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

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Deal of the Day

Micro sales, greatest hits, most viewed stories.

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Today’s Top Clicked

My family booked first-class 'apartment' seats for an 8-hour Etihad Airways flight. I can see why the private airplane rooms cost $6,000 a pop.

• My family of four used travel points to book a first-class flight on Etihad Airways.
• The luxurious "apartments" typically cost $6,000 a person, but we paid about $33 each.
• It was great, from the personalized check-in process to the amazing meal and  in-flight showers .

My husband is a frequent business traveler, so we're constantly trying to maximize his travel points to pay for some amazing trips for us and our two kids.

Flying has been hectic and nightmarish lately, but letting the best redemption opportunities steer our travel plans has led to more comfortable and luxurious vacations.

Last year, my husband and I planned our family of four's most epic trip yet: flying around the world on 11 different airlines across four continents over 70 days.

Booking Etihad Airways' first-class "apartments" for our flight from Abu Dhabi and London was easily the best redemption of the trip.

Here's what it was like.

We redeemed our travel points to drastically reduce the cost of our tickets.

We have lots of American Airlines points through the company's AAdvantage program, and Etihad is one of its partner airlines .

Although finding award availability on partner airlines can be challenging, the values can be tremendous. In our case, we took advantage of our family's flexible schedule to find last-minute unsold inventory, which is often released just days before the flight.

If your travel plans allow you to book (or, in our case, modify) your flights last minute, you can often find multiple seats on these "unicorn" flights.

The first-class apartment seats we booked on Etihad typically cost more than $6,000 per person. But we redeemed 62,500 AAdvantage miles (and paid $33 per person) for our flights.

We checked in early in the morning.

Instead of the typical airport check-in lines, Etihad's first-class area had sit-down desks with concierge-level services.

Traveling with children can be stressful, but being in a quiet terminal with a personalized experience made it incredibly easy and enjoyable.

From there, we went to the first-class lounge.

We were booked on the final flight using the "old" lounge at Zayed International Airport as Etihad was moving to a new terminal later that morning.

The employees were happy and accommodating, even if the energy seemed bittersweet as they prepared to shut off the lights behind us.

There were fewer than 10 guests in the airport lounge , and we found the service impeccable. After enjoying a fantastic made-to-order breakfast, we had coffee and a mimosa (for the adults) while relaxing before boarding.

We couldn't believe how awesome the apartments were.

The single-passenger apartments on the A380 have closing doors, a three-seater couch that converts to a bed, and a comfortable recliner chair.

Since we booked only a few days in advance, we had less control over seating choices . It was a bit of a struggle at first because we didn't want to end up too far away from our kids.

Luckily, once we boarded, the flight attendants helped move the children to adjoining rooms near us. There were only two other people riding first class, so it wasn't very difficult.

The freebies and perks continued on the plane.

Before departing, we each got a set of comfortable pajamas and slippers.

The adults also enjoyed another complimentary glass of Champagne, and everyone made their lunch selections from the extensive menu.

My husband and I got our own little date on the flight.

The flight attendant asked if my husband and I wanted a "date" for our in-flight meal , which involved setting a table for two in my husband's apartment.

We started with caviar and more bubbly, then my husband had the Arabic mezze and I had the burrata. Both appetizers were exceptional.

For our mains, we both had the well-prepared beef tenderloin. A cheese selection, chocolate, and more wine followed, and everything was amazing.

Lunch was the main event on this flight, but another simple meal was served about an hour before landing in London.

Once we finished lunch, our couches were converted into beds.

Once lunch was over, the attendants came around and converted all of our couches so they were completely reclined.

Our kids were very excited to eat their ice cream in bed.

The flight was eight hours, and the comfortable beds allowed us to get a couple of hours of sleep.

My husband and daughter opted to try out the shower in the sky

Passengers in the apartments can reserve free shower times at the beginning, middle, or end of the flight.

My husband and daughter both chose to end their flight with a shower. During their 30-minute time slots, they each got five minutes of hot water — which could be paused at any time.

Overall, this was an exceptional way to redeem our points.

The Etihad apartments are one of the most luxurious commercial flight options in the world.

Although it took planning, flexibility, and a little luck, I think this was an incredible use of our travel points.

The value of paying about $30 for a $6,000 experience alone had me sold, but every aspect of our trip was outstanding — from the check-in process to the in-flight meals.

I highly recommend it if you ever have the chance (and the points).

• Main content

French hitchhiker Lucas Venner's guide to travelling the world with the help of strangers' generosity

A tall, young Frenchman stands at the side of the road with a familiar weight held across his shoulders — and he hooks his thumb out in a universal language of the hitchhiker asking for a lift. 

When a kind-hearted driver pulls over, Lucas Venner speaks with them about their destination. He isn't picky about where he goes — his holiday sights are dictated by the whims of the road. 

In 2022, after graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering, he took on a common ambition: to travel the world. But he did so with an added stipulation of hitchhiking the entire way. 

Lucas's tour of the world started in Liverdun, in north-eastern France, in February 2023.

Since then, the 23-year-old has travelled across the world in the passenger seat of strangers' cars — with the one exception when he had no choice but to purchase a plane ticket from Timor Leste to Darwin.

The matter of money 

France was one of the nations hit particularly hard by COVID-19 and the lockdowns were commensurate with the situation. It inspired Lucas to travel. 

"I'd never been outside of Europe before. So when I first arrived in Turkey, it was a different world, and the same again with India and China. 

"After university it was the perfect timing, [with] no job, no house, it is easier to travel and to undertake such a big trip." 

While some travellers choose to work odd jobs on the road to make ends meet, Lucas earns extra money through his travelling via a sponsorship with a candy company and a couple of schools back home. 

"I take pictures of their candy in front of famous places: the Taj Mahal or the Great Wall of China, and in exchange the company provides me with some money," he said. 

"And I also have some schools in France, I call the children every two weeks and present them with the countries I'm in.The animals, the landscape and the everyday life of the local children.

"Because in some countries I have been to, eight-year-old boys are not going to school, they don't have the opportunity to do so."

See anything, meet anyone

Lucas had a goal of meeting as many different people as he could from a range of different cultures, nationalities and regions.

After spending time with more than 1,000 drivers across 25 countries, and travelling more than 50,000km, he might have achieved it.

"You're putting your faith in the hands of other people, and I have been really surprised by it; in some countries they have nothing but they want to share it with you regardless," he said. 

"They would say, 'Come to my house, come to see my family', and they don't have a lot of food, they don't even have meat and they want to give it to you — it is really mind-blowing, the kindness."

Over the course of his travels, Lucas went through a range of countries, from high to low-income nations, and was touched by the generosity of people.

"They are so poor, but they would try to help you, they want to give you the best they can," the traveller said. 

"It is really affirming and touching. It is really, really special. Before my trip I would not have thought that people could be so generous with a complete stranger.

"But in so many countries, they would open their homes to me."

Journey's end

Coming to the final leg of his long hike across continents, Lucas touched down in the Northern Territory in April this year and has since made his way through South Australia and on to the east coast.

"One of the things I like with hitchhiking is there's no defined plan or fixed destination, so I will ask people, 'What do you like in your country?' What should I go and see?' and that is how I ended up in Renmark," Lucas said.

"Those people told me to visit the Riverland, that it is beautiful."

He said he would continue across the country throughout May.

"After Australia I will go to New Zealand and more precisely Chatham Island because that's the exact opposite of France on the globe," he said.

"I would like to be back in France for the end of June to attend the Olympic Games in Paris." 

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The most usual (and easiest) route from Europe to China is via the classic Trans-Siberian Railway , shown in blue on the map below.  But there is another route now open to foreigners, the so-called Silk Route via Kazakhstan, shown on the map in yellow.  Let's be clear, if you want to travel between Europe and China, the main Trans-Siberian route is faster and easier to arrange, both in terms of visas and train tickets - for a start, just one Trans-Siberian train will get you all the way from Moscow to Beijing.  The Silk route will take a little more thought and organisation, with more visas, train tickets and stopovers to arrange.  However, this page will explain routes, train times, costs and how to buy tickets.  You can also use trains to reach Central Asia from Europe and Moscow.

Important update 2024 :  All trains between western Europe and Russia are suspended, originally due to Covid-19, now due to the war in Ukraine & sanctions.  Travel to Russia is no longer advisable.  International trains between the Stans and China are also remain suspended since the pandemic.  This route is currently not viable.  Nor is a route via Iran feasible, given the difficulty in getting visas.

London - Moscow

You can travel from London to Moscow by train, for times, fares, how to buy tickets and Russian visa information, see the London to Russia page .  Direct sleeper trains run to Moscow from Paris, Vienna, Prague, Warsaw, Berlin, Budapest, Helsinki and many other cities, go to this page and select your starting city, then select Moscow .  You will usually need a Belarus transit visa as well as your Russian tourist visa, see the visa section on the Russia page . 

Trains to Russia were suspended due to Covid-19 and remain suspended due to sanctions .

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Moscow - Almaty & Astana (Kazakhstan)

Trains link Moscow with both Almaty and Astana in Kazakhstan.  A direct train links Moscow with Astana every 2nd day.  The time-honoured direct Moscow-Almaty train Kazakhstan was sadly discontinued in June 2017 (nobody knows what RZD is playing at here), but it's still possible to travel between Moscow and Almaty with a change at Saratov as shown below.  Or you can travel from Moscow to Astana then Astana to Almaty, which may be better.

The best place to confirm days of running & times, including times of border crossings (and therefore entry dates for visa purposes) is at the Russian Railways site www.rzd.ru .

The Saratov times shown above are Moscow time.  Local time is one hour head of Moscow time. 

UPDATE:  After decades of running to Moscow time, from 1 August 2018 trains are shown in local time on Russian timetables, usually with the difference from Moscow time shown in brackets, for example (MCK +5) .

Train 7 & 8:   Kupé (4-berth) and platskartny (open plan berths).  There are no 2-berth sleepers.  Southbound, train 8 departs Saratov on even dates (2nd, 4th, 6th etc of each month).  Northbound, train 7 departs Almaty also on even-numbered dates.  The train passes from Russia into Kazakhstan, but briefly transits another part of Russia before re-entering Kazakhstan.  However, it is reported that you just need single-entry visa for Russia to travel on this train.  Multiple-entry visas are not required for this.  In fact, this Kazak visa question may have been resolved completely, as Kazakhstan has removed the need for UK & some other nationalities to get a visa from 2014 onwards -please check the latest Kazak visa situation.  Moscow to Almaty is 4,017 km in total.

Train 17:   A Russian domestic firmeny (quality) train with spalny vagon (2-berth), kupé (4-berth) and platskartny.

Trains 83 & 84:   Train 84 leaves Moscow's Kazanski station on even-numbered dates (2nd, 4th, 6th etc of each month).  Train 83 leaves Astana on even-numbered dates.  The train has kupé (4-berth sleepers) & platskartny (open plan dormitory cars) plus restaurant car.  There are now no 2-berths, but you can book 4 tickets in a 4-berth to have sole occupancy for one or two of you.  Moscow to Astana is 3,105 km.

Fares:   Moscow to Astana costs around £247 in kupé.

How to buy tickets:   You can book train travel in Russia, including this train, through several reputable Russian agencies, including:

You can make arrangements for trains, hotels and tours in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan through local agencies such as www.tourasia.kz .  You will need Russian tourist visa for this journey (by all means double-check, but at the time I write this Kazakhstan no longer requires UK & some other nationals to get a visa.  For information on Russian visas, see the visa section on the Russia page .

What are the trains like?

Moscow-Almaty better via Astana than direct?   Traveller Chris Nuttall suggests going Moscow-Almaty via Astana:  "I travelled from London to Almaty (Kazakhstan) and back last autumn (2009). On the return journey I travelled via Astana and as a result made the journey from Almaty to London in under 5 days, about 13 hours quicker than using the (then) direct train from Almaty to Moscow.  I departed Almaty 2 station at 19:28 on the daily Talgo overnight train to Astana (train number 1/2) and travelled in Platskartny which consisted of 4 berth compartments, the same as the 'Tourist class' on the Spanish railways own Talgo sleeper trains, rather than the usual Russian semi-open carriages.  According to my sister, who lives in Almaty and has used this train on a number of occasions, this service has a reputation for arriving punctually, unlike many other trains in Kazakhstan.  I then used train 83/84 to Moscow as shown on your site.  As well as being quicker and giving me the opportunity to explore Astana for a few hours, this route only crosses the Russia / Kazakhstan border once. I know you mention that only single entry visas are required for train 7/8, but I couldn't find further information on this, so my chosen route gave me added peace of mind."

Moscow - Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan )

A train called the Kirgizia links Moscow with Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan, with 4-berth sleepers & restaurant car.  No 2-berth sleepers.

The best place to confirm days of running & times, including times of border crossings (and therefore entry dates for visa purposes) is at the Russian Railways site www.rzd.ru

Fares: Moscow to Bishkek costs £295 in 4-berth kupé.

How to buy tickets:

Moscow - Tashkent (Uzbekistan)

There is a train running 3 times a week from Moscow to Tashkent in Uzbekistan.  This is the Uzbekistan , with Spalny Vagon (2-berth sleepers), kupé (4-berth sleepers) and platskartny (open plan dormitory car) plus restaurant car.  The train passes from Russia into Kazakhstan then it enters Uzbekistan.

The best place to confirm days of running & times, including times of border crossings (and therefore entry dates for visa purposes) is at the Russian Railways site www.rzd.ru . 

Fares:   Moscow to Tashkent costs around £415 in 4-berth kupé or £461 in 2-berth spalny vagon.

Visas:   You will need a Russian tourist visa and Uzbekistan tourist visa for this journey.  For information on Russian visas, see the visa section on the Russia page .  By all means check the latest Kazak visa situation but at the time I write this Kazakhstan no longer requires UK & some other nationals to get a visa.

You can make arrangements for trains, hotels and tours in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan through local agencies such as www.tourasia.kz or www.advantour.com .

Travellers' reports

Traveller Jeff Mortelette travelled Tashkent to Moscow in 2016:  " The boarding arrangements were crazy.  We arrived an hour early and made our way to the security check.  There were tons of people pushing to get in.  I think there was another train leaving right before us, so a lot of people were trying to get on that train.  We waited in line for about half an hour before we realized we needed to start pushing our way to the front if we wanted to catch the train.  We finally got through with about 10 minutes to spare and hustled to the platform.  We got on our car with a few minutes to spare.

The train left Tashkent at 18:50.  About half an hour later we spent 80 minutes at the border while Uzbek border patrol went though.  They had me open some bags and answer some questions about where I was going and why.  They spoke no English.  We went for 20 more minutes and did the same thing with the Kazak border control.  It was pretty similar when we left Kazakhstan/entered Russia.  We only entered Russia once. 

On the train there were a few power sockets.  One at each end and one in the middle, but none in our cabin.  A nice feature is each car had shot water dispenser people used for noodles or tea.  We also had one employee of the train assigned to each car and ours was really helpful, especially when crossing borders.

There was a restaurant car that served Uzbek staples:  plov, lagman, and dumplings.  In addition sometimes people would go by our cabin and sell the food the restaurant cooked.  My friend and I got two bowls of plov and scopula beers for around $7.  It was pretty good for plov, but there was not much variety.  We paid in Kazak Tenge, but you could also pay in som or rubles.  It would help to not carry big bills;  I couldn't use my 10,000 Tenge note.  In addition to he food on the train, many stops of at least 20 minutes had places you could buy food.  Mostly crackers, potato chips, candy bars, water and soda, and uncooked ramen noodles.  Each car of the train had a place where you could get hot water that many people used for tea and ramen noodles.  In Samara, we could find more food for sale:  cheese, bread, sausage.  In general the closer we got to Moscow the more choices we had when we stopped."

Tashkent - Samarkand - Bokhara - Urgench (for Khiva):  See the Uzbekistan page

For train service within Uzbekistan, linking Tashkent, Samarkand, Bokhara & Urgench, see the Uzbekistan page .

Tashkent - Almaty

There is now a train every few days between Tashkent and Almaty, using a modern Talgo train.  You can buy tickets at tickets.kz .

Almaty & Astana (Kazakhstan) - Ürümqi (China)

Direct train twice a week.

Two trains per week link Almaty in Kazakhstan with Ürümqi in China, one using the original route through Druzhba/Alashankou, the other via the new much shorter route through Horgos/Altynkol.  One train per week carries through cars Astana-Ürümqi.  One set of carriages is Kazak with 2-berth and 4-berth sleepers, the other set Chinese with modern air-conditioned soft class 4-berth sleeper compartments and hard class open-plan bunks.  A Kazak restaurant car runs Almaty to the border, and a Chinese restaurant car runs from the border to Ürümqi.  If you use this route, please let me know !

Update:  International trains to/from China remain suspended due to Covid-19.

One train is operated by Kazakhstan Railways, the other by Chinese Railways.  Astana is now also known as Nur-Sultan.

Which station in Urumqi?   There are two main stations in Urumqi, plain Urumqi which opened in 2016 just northwest of the city centre ( see map ), and Urumqi Nan ( see map ) which is the original Urumqi station, south of the city centre, and confusingly called plain Urumqi until 2014.  These trains use the new Urumqi station.  Urumqi has an unofficial local time 2h behind normal Chinese time, but the times shown above for Urumqi are all the official Beijing time zone used by the railways.

Check your train times & dates carefully as times and days of running have changed regularly over the years, and there is much conflicting information online depending where you look .  You can get more definitive info at the Kazakhstan Railways online timetable at epay.railways.kz but you need to be clever with cutting and pasting Cyrillic place names алматы for Almaty and урумги for Urumqi.

Fares:   Almaty to Ürümqi costs around £123 in 4-berth or £138 in 2-berth.

How to buy tickets:   You can book these trains for westbound journeys at www.chinahighlights.com/china-trains (click International Train from China above the journey planner) for westbound journeys.

Traveller's report

Traveller Tom Earwaker reports:   "Departure was 23:14 on Monday 14/10/19, Beijing time.  Note that there's an unofficial local time in Urumqi, 2 hours behind Beijing, but train times are all in Beijing time. The train had around 10 carriages, I only counted about 18 people getting on! I had a 4-berth compartment to myself up to the border crossing and there was a nice German couple in the next compartment.  It was an old train, but clean and comfortable, with bedding and hot water provided.  Got to the China side of the border around 9am where security checked passport, looked around compartment and asked some questions about reason for travelling, where we went in China, etc. Got off the train 09:30 with luggage, more questioning (about purpose of visit, my job, and whether I liked China!), luggage search and they took fingerprints.  They also looked though the photos on my phone for quite a while and the books on my kindle.  It was quite thorough, but they weren't unfriendly about it.  Back on the train and left the station around 11:00, reaching the Kazakh side of the border at 11:20 (09:20 Kazakh time) There was 1.5hr of security checking passport, checking bags, questioning and waiting, all carried out on the train. Then we had to get off the train for another 1.5hr and wait at Druzhba station while they changed the wheels over.  There was a small cafe at the station serving typical Russian/Kazakh food (Borscht, Samsa, Plov etc.) and I was able to exchange Yuan for Tenge at the station's convenience store (also a bank nearby with similar exchange rate).  We left at 12:40 Kazakh time, and the train very quickly filled up over the next few stops. Arrived in Almaty 2 station at 05:50 next morning (16/10/19)."

Ürümqi - Xian - Beijing

All these trains have soft & hard sleepers and most have a restaurant car, see the Train Travel in China page for general information about trains in China.  There are other trains available between Ürümqi and Xian and between Xian and Beijing, see the Train Travel in China page .

Fares: Ürümqi to Beijing costs around RMB 901 ($146) in soft sleeper or RMB 566 ($92) in hard sleeper, if bought at the station.  Ürümqi to Xian costs around RMB 768 ($124) in soft sleeper.

You can check times & buy tickets at www.chinahighlights.com/china-trains .  Not all trains are shown here!

* Trains Z179/Z180 use Beijing main station, not Beijing West.

Planning your trip

Probably the best way to plan a trip like this is to start by reading up on all the possible routes, trains and stopovers, then plan out an itinerary and budget using a simple table or spreadsheet:  How to plan an itinerary & budget .

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Musk arrives in Indonesia's Bali for planned Starlink launch

Tycoon Elon Musk arrived on the Indonesian island of Bali on Sunday ahead of the planned launch of SpaceX's Starlink internet service, which the Indonesian government hopes will boost internet penetration and health services in remote parts of the sprawling archipelago.

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How to get front-row seats to an active volcano in Guatemala

This challenging hike offers a rare opportunity to witness one of the world’s most active geologic wonders.

Frequent and dramatic eruptions make Guatemala’s 12,346-foot-tall Volcán de Fuego one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Adventurers seeking an up-close encounter with this pyroclastic marvel head to the summit of neighboring Acatenango Volcano—at 13,045 feet, the third highest in Guatemala—which provides an unparalleled vantage point. The strenuous hike goes from lush coffee plantations at the mountain’s base to the cloud forests on the mountainside, up to the otherworldly terrain near the peak. Here’s what to know about this awe-inspiring trek.

Acclimatize in Antigua

Before embarking on the journey to witness Fuego’s eruptions, acclimatize to the altitude in Antigua Guatemala . Just over an hour west from the country’s capital and sitting in the shadow of volcanoes Agua, Acatenango, and Fuego, the charming colonial town of Antigua has cobblestone streets, vibrant markets, and picturesque plazas.

While exploring this UNESCO World Heritage site, visitors can find local flavors at Café Condesa ; experience traditional barbecue and live music at Restaurante Las Antorchas ; and absorb the tranquility of the baroque La Merced Church, built in 1767. Accommodations range from the convenient Posada del Angel to the luxurious Casa Santo Domingo, located in a former late-17th-century convent.

Choose a one- or two-day hike

Hikes usually start at the village of La Soledad, where the path to Acatenango begins. From here, climbers can expect a challenging but rewarding ascent, passing through different ecosystems, from farmlands to coniferous forests. The hike to the top can take from 5 to 6 hours, depending on pace and weather conditions. There’s an option to go on horseback for the initial segment of the journey, as the final stretch to the top must be done by foot.

At Acatenango’s crater, amid the clouds and above the canopy, the explosive power of Fuego is on full display. Many adventurers opt for a two-day expedition to be able to overnight at the summit, experiencing the spectacular sights and sounds of glowing lava and pyroclastic material set against the starlit night skies.

Be prepared for a dramatic range in temperatures due to the high elevation, with daytime temperatures over 68°F and below freezing at night. Whereas the two-day hike allows for a paced journey, the Acatenango day trip packs the ascent and descent into a single, more strenuous day. Offered by Casa Santo Domingo and outfitters like Antigua Tours and OX Expeditions , this trip starts early at 5 a.m. to ensure hikers return by dusk, usually taking between 10 to 12 hours, including a shuttle to and from Antigua.

(What you’ll discover on a journey through Guatemala’s Western Highlands.)

What to know

Trekking to Acatenango is not for the faint-hearted. This adventure requires physical fitness, preparation, and a spirit of adventure. Pack warm clothing, sturdy hiking boots, water, and snacks. The dry season, from November to April, typically offers clearer views of the volcano.

For safety, it is important to stay informed about the volcano’s activity through official sources, hiring a local guide for the trek, and following the guide’s instructions. Outfitters like OX Expeditions lead overnight hikes that include a bilingual guide, meals, tents, and shuttle to and from Antigua.

Trekkers are encouraged to leave-no-trace and preserve the beauty of this natural wonder.

For Hungry Minds

Related topics.

• ADVENTURE TRAVEL
• MOUNTAIN CLIMBING

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Iranians vote in a parliamentary runoff election after hard-liners dominate initial balloting

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei cast his ballot on Friday as people in the country voted in a runoff election for the remaining seats in the country’s parliament after hard-line politicians dominated March balloting. People in 22 constituencies across the country will elect 45 representatives from a pool of 90 candidates, 15 of whom are considered moderate. (AP video shot by Moshen Ganji)

Staff members of a polling station attend to their stations during the parliamentary runoff elections in Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 10, 2024. Iranians voted Friday in a runoff election for the remaining seats in the country’s parliament after hard-line politicians dominated March balloting. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

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An Iranian woman arrives as a man leaves a polling station during the parliamentary runoff elections in Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 10, 2024. Iranians voted Friday in a runoff election for the remaining seats in the country’s parliament after hard-line politicians dominated March balloting. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei arrives to vote for the parliamentary runoff elections, in Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei votes for the parliamentary runoff elections, in Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Staff members of a polling station talk during the parliamentary runoff elections in Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 10, 2024. Iranians voted Friday in a runoff election for the remaining seats in the country’s parliament after hard-line politicians dominated March balloting. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

An Iranian man votes for the parliamentary runoff elections at a polling station in Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 10, 2024. Iranians voted Friday in a runoff election for the remaining seats in the country’s parliament after hard-line politicians dominated March balloting. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

A staff member at a polling station speaks with a voter during the parliamentary runoff elections, in Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 10, 2024. Iranians voted Friday in a runoff election for the remaining seats in the country’s parliament after hard-line politicians dominated March balloting. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

An Iranian police colonel votes for the parliamentary runoff elections at a polling station in Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 10, 2024. Iranians voted Friday in a runoff election for the remaining seats in the country’s parliament after hard-line politicians dominated March balloting. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

An Iranian woman votes for the parliamentary runoff elections at a polling station in Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 10, 2024. Iranians voted Friday in a runoff election for the remaining seats in the country’s parliament after hard-line politicians dominated March balloting. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks with media members after he voted for the parliamentary runoff elections, in Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei waves to media after he voted for the parliamentary runoff elections, in Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranians voted Friday in a runoff election for the remaining seats in the country’s parliament after hard-line politicians dominated March balloting.

Voting was extended for four hours because it was a weekend holiday.

The official IRNA news agency said that counting began immediately after polls closed. Final results were expected by Monday, though counts in smaller constituencies will likely will be announced sooner.

People in 22 constituencies across the country voted to elect 45 representatives from a pool of 90 candidates, 15 of whom are considered moderate.

In the capital, Tehran, 16 representatives will be chosen from 32 candidates, all hard-liners.

Iran’s parliament plays a secondary role in governing the country. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has the final say in all important state matters.

State television showed Khamenei voting on Friday immediately after the polls opened. He urged people to vote and said the runoff election was as important as the main one.

Other Iranian leaders, including President Ebrahim Raisi, also cast ballots.

The new parliament will begin its job on May 27.

The March election saw hard-liners win 200 out of 245 seats, with more moderate candidates taking the other 45. A total of 25 million ballots were cast, for a turnout of just under 41%, the lowest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that brought Islamists to power. The previous lowest turnout was 42% in the 2020 parliamentary election.

Those politicians calling for change in the country’s government, known broadly as reformists, were generally barred from running in the election. Those calling for radical reforms or for abandoning Iran’s theocratic system were also banned or didn’t bother to register as candidates.