It's been 6 years on the road now, what are our travel essentials and what should we have left at home? I spent 12 months thinking about what to pack for this, now epic, RTW trip. I wrote a few posts about travel gear and what I was probably going to pack as a way of getting it straight in my head and curing my terrible packing anxiety. When crunch time came I took a lot less … [Read more...]
Family Gap Year Blog
Planning a family gap year, where to go, destinations, costs, ideas, saving for travel, budgets and our experiences of being on a family gap year.
Our family gap year turned into almost 6 years but we can certainly help you plan a one year round the world trip with kids.
We started when our kids were 6 and 8 and now they are teens. We need to give you all the tips, ideas and destinations you need to plan your family gap year in multiple blog posts, find what you need below.
Planning a Family Gap Year. First Steps
- Convince your partner.
- Brainstorm destinations. Make a list. A family gap year bucket list if you like, of places you just have to go.
- Consider how you're going to escape work, school and mortgage.
- How will you pay for it? Most people fund 1 year on savings and selling possessions.
- Does it look possible? Set a date. 12 months from now is good.
- Tell the world, no going back on your word now!
- Start saving like crazy, sell stuff, simplify, minimise.
- Get your head around homeschooling, or if you prefer, understand worldschooling. Start being your kids educational facilitator, right now. The sooner you start the better.
- Think of creating a remote income stream if your gap year should really be two years, or six. Blogging is good but it's a lot of work and isn't a quick fix. How else could you start an online business or location independent income?
- Look into RTW ( round the world) tickets or just book a 1 way ticket to anywhere and make up your trip as you go.
- Start reading through our blog posts below, we have heaps of information to help you plan, visualise and make your family's trip around the world happen.
Thailand With Kids. No Worries!
Are you worrying about travelling to Thailand with kids? We can help you with that. If you'd like to dip your toe in the water of Asian family travel, taking kids to Thailand would be my top recommendation. We have been to Thailand 20+ times, each trip has been fabulous and problems have been few. Hopefully we can help you get your family to Thailand.First let me say hi, my … [Read more...]
Do I Need Onward Flight Tickets to Fly into Thailand?
This is the question I'm asked most in our Facebook group - Living Differently. Do I need onward flight tickets, or other proof of onward travel, to fly into Thailand. It's not always Thailand, sometimes it's Bali, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, but we'll address Thailand in this post. First I'd like to say that I've flown into Thailand maybe 25 times and never been asked for proof of … [Read more...]
Family Gap Year Ideas
So you're thinking about taking a family gap year or maybe just taking off to travel around with your kids full-time? You're thinking, but not quite yet doing. You want me to give you some family gap year ideas, suggestions that may just push you towards hitting "buy" on that one way ticket.I can do that.You already know how great it will be to spend more time with your … [Read more...]
How Old Should Kids Be for Your Family Gap Year ?
What's the best age to take your kids on a family gap year? How old should children be to travel the world? Should you take babies and toddlers travelling? Is it possible to take a gap year with your teenagers?I've travelled with my kids from babies to now, teens and tweens, and this is what I think. There are benefits to the kids and to parents at just about any age. But … [Read more...]
Returning Home After Long Term Travel
Almost 7 years ago Chef and I sat on the patio and hatched the plan that would change our lives. We were to set off for a family gap year, become nomadic long-term travellers. Last week saw us returning home.In our almost 6 years on the road we visit over 50 countries as well as living for several months in London, a village in Romania and Hoi An Vietnem.We … [Read more...]
Christmas While Travelling
We've had 5 Christmases on the road in the last almost 6 years of full-time family travel. Another one is coming up fast and this one will be "at home" for the first time. Did you know we're almost home?I'm going to count this one as a Christmas while travelling too because returning to an empty house just days before Christmas, fresh off the plane with only the … [Read more...]
Cancelled Go To Gate Flights London to Dubai, Pegasus and Emirates
Yes, it happened, the day we never anticipated. After 5 and a half years of full time travel we met our first major booking related problem. We turned up to board our flight to be told that no, actually, we weren't getting on their plane today. Our tickets didn't exist, our flights had been cancelled and we were standing there at the check-in desk with 2 kids and 6 backpacks ( … [Read more...]
Why Do People Travel ? Because it’s Better Than Staying Home!
What are the benefits of travel, why do we like to travel, what is the purpose or point of travelling and why should we all try to travel abroad or overseas? Top reasons nowadays, below. People ask this all the time. I have one very good friend who just doesn't get it at all, that's OK, it's not for everyone, but I've been thinking about the whys. Why do we travel? For fun, for … [Read more...]
Southeast Asia With Kids. Must Visit Destinations to Plan Your Itinerary
We posted already about our experiences of travelling around Southeast Asia with kids ( for 5 years!) now lets have a look at where you should go in Southeast Asia. What are the stand out, must see places, attractions and destinations.You're probably in the process of planning your Southeast Asia trip, so I suggest you get a notebook and start listing the places you and your … [Read more...]