Six of the best family travel blogs
Drivin’ home for Christmas? Or flying to warmer climes for the New Year? The festive season is coming, and many of us will be visiting friends and relations near and far.
For those of you staying put this December, your thoughts might already be turning to the family skiing trip, Easter break or summer holiday you plan to book in the January sales.
Whatever your travel story this Christmas, who better to advise on travelling with kids than six of the nation’s best family travel bloggers. We share practical tips, insider knowledge and inspiring family holidays that will get you reaching for your passports.
Adventure Travel Family
If you’re feeling anxious about an imminent long-haul flight with your kids, read the Adventure Travel Family blog. Writer Hannah Canavan has ten travel toys that never fail to keep toddlers and young kids happy onboard. She also has some excellent advice on preventing jet lag in children.
Hannah and her tribe have just returned from a mind-blowing gap year in Asia. The lessons they learned will save adventurous families’ time, money and tears if they want to follow in their footsteps. Her list of backpacking family essentials on a budget is a must read: “After 8 months of hardcore budget backpacking (we were without running water for 3 weeks in Sri Lanka) we have pretty much nailed what the backpacking travel essentials are.”
Dais Like These
“Does the idea of taking road trips with kids fill you with dread?! It needn’t!” writes Daisy of Dais Like These. And, having travelled almost 5,000km in a car with her three children, husband and dog last year, she should know. Daisy’s handy road trip survival guide will make the annual Xmas exodus a cinch.
Daisy loves travelling with her brood and doesn’t let being a mum stop her from seeing the sights. So if you’re longing for some culture on your next family holiday but can’t see how you’ll ever get them out of kids’ club, check out Daisy’s posts on treasure hunting around the Uffizi Gallery, tackling the Alhambra with young kids and making the most of a family trip to New York.
TraveLynn Family
Are you embarking on your first Christmas roadtrip with a new baby? Jenny of TraveLynn Family explains how to sync your drive around nap times and pack the car so you’ll know exactly where everything is when you need it.
Jenny and husband Jason fell in love in the Lonely Planet section of their university bookshop. They’ve been travelling ever since, with sons Arthur and Ezra joining them in recent years. Their blog will inspire you to be more adventurous with your family travel. From trekking in the Himalayas to overlanding Africa in a Land Rover, this family shows that “independent, adventure travel with kids is indeed possible and we can honestly say it’s more fulfilling, rewarding and enjoyable with them along for the ride”.
Travel Mad Mum
Wondering if you really need to bring car seats with you on holiday? Karen Edwards, AKA Travel Mad Mum, can help. She’ll also tell you about the insider’s guide to airport services that will totally transform your journey with little people.
What this adventurous mum doesn’t know about travelling with young children isn’t worth knowing. Karen and husband Shaun took daughter Esmé backpacking when she was just ten-weeks-old and their little girl has already visited over 40 countries and counting. Stand-out posts include packing for a family of four in just one suitcase and feeding a fussy baby while travelling the world.
Globalmouse Travels
If you’re dreaming of a skiing holiday next year, Nichola from Globalmouse Travels knows how to bag last-minute ski deals. Or if you’d prefer to catch some winter sun, she has the perfect winter itinerary for a family holiday to the Algarve.
But this family’s specialist travel subject is family cruises: “Cruising with kids has become one of our family’s favourite things to do… There is something about cruising with kids which just allows every member of the family to really relax,” she writes. Nichola answers every question you could have about cruising with children. Not convinced? Check out her kids’ perspective on the cruise experience.
Single Mum Travels
Family travel as a single parent is a whole different story. Plane, train and even automobile journeys are a lot trickier without that extra pair of adult hands to help with children and luggage. If you’re travelling solo this Christmas, get a contingency plan for anything and everything, writes Tina-Louise of Single Mum Travels. Her 20 useful tips for single parents travelling with young children is a great place to start.
Tina-Louise embarked on her first adventure with son Josh in 2013, travelling around the Peruvian Amazon Jungle. She hasn’t looked back and is working her way around the world with him and baby daughter Rosa. As well as describing inspirational trips to stunning destinations, Tina-Louise has tonnes of useful advice like this packing list for pregnant travel and no less than 45 ways to outsmart mosquitos.
Wherever you’re heading to this Christmas and New Year, we hope you have a safe and stress-free journey. Bon voyage, and be sure to tag us in your holiday snaps on Instagram @RexLondonUK or with the hashtag #RexLondon for us to see!