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.

Family Gap Year Ideas

Updated 09/04/2019 By Alyson Long. Any post on this site may contain affiliate links. If you use them, they cost you nothing extra. We make a small commission.

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 ?

Updated 06/06/2019 By Alyson Long. Any post on this site may contain affiliate links. If you use them, they cost you nothing extra. We make a small commission.

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

Updated 28/03/2019 By Alyson Long. Any post on this site may contain affiliate links. If you use them, they cost you nothing extra. We make a small commission.

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

Updated 06/06/2019 By Alyson Long. Any post on this site may contain affiliate links. If you use them, they cost you nothing extra. We make a small commission.

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

Updated 06/06/2019 By Alyson Long. Any post on this site may contain affiliate links. If you use them, they cost you nothing extra. We make a small commission.

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!

Updated 06/06/2019 By Alyson Long. Any post on this site may contain affiliate links. If you use them, they cost you nothing extra. We make a small commission.

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

Updated 06/06/2019 By Alyson Long. Any post on this site may contain affiliate links. If you use them, they cost you nothing extra. We make a small commission.

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 … [Read more...]

Asia With Kids – What’s it Like?

Updated 06/06/2019 By Alyson Long. Any post on this site may contain affiliate links. If you use them, they cost you nothing extra. We make a small commission.

First of all, don't panic. You can do Asia with kids, we did. In fact, it's pretty easy. I normally tell people how to backpack around or through South East Asia with kids, in that I help them with planning, itineraries and travel arrangements. Today I'm going to tell you what it's actually been like. We've been travelling or backpacking with kids for over 6 years now and … [Read more...]

Thailand Itinerary 2 Weeks and 3 Weeks

Updated 06/06/2019 By Alyson Long. Any post on this site may contain affiliate links. If you use them, they cost you nothing extra. We make a small commission.

A reader asked me to write a Thailand itinerary for her 3 week vacation, I think it's best to start with 2 weeks, because that's how long most holiday makers have, and add on some optional extras as trip time allows. A Thailand itinerary is something unique to each person, one man's dream tour is another's trip from hell and Thailand caters to many, often conflicting, travel … [Read more...]

Favourite and Recommended Hotels, Hostels and Guest Houses in Southeast Asia

Updated 06/06/2019 By Alyson Long. Any post on this site may contain affiliate links. If you use them, they cost you nothing extra. We make a small commission.

It's time for us to write a post on our favourite and recommended hotels, hostels and guest houses in Southeast Asia. We've been travelling the world for 5 years now and a lot of that time has been spent in Southeast Asia, some of these places we've used multiple times, others we've used once and really loved them. All are at the lower cost end of the price spectrum but not … [Read more...]

Family Gap Year Blog

Planning a Family Gap Year. First Steps

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