Is it time to refresh the idea of your family travelling the World or completely rethink your next trip with your kids?
If you are tired of the same old destinations for family holidays and don’t want to consider the stock standard family resort holidays again then you need to read on!
When we have kids nobody warns you that this now means trawling the stock standard child friendly holiday websites to be offered the same deals and destinations year after year with the same mundane travel advice. All delivered to you by agents simply trying to meet sales targets rather then finding you the best solutions.
Becoming a parent has brought about immense changes already for you. You now leave the house with no less than three bags, several NASA inspired child moving devices and a stock pile of nappies, wet wipes and enough snacks to keep your little one in a state of peaceful contentment for just two hours of rapid-fire shopping.
Little wonder this new complexity leaves parents squirming at the thought of planning a much needed holiday with little feet in tow….. and it sure as hell makes us doubt that we can tackle intrepid, adventurous style travel anymore.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a relaxing resort holiday as much as the next person and it can be oh so tempting to seek out the best all inclusive family resort deal you can find and hop on board the plane. It can be the perfect antidote for exhausted mums and dads who need some rest and relaxation on an idyllic beach with the odd massage, and a good dose of down time from helpful and enthusiastic kids’ club staff.
If that is what the doctor orders then by all means this is a fabulous holiday option and you can read on to find some awesome resort holiday ideas - Best Phuket Resorts for Families and Fiji with Kids.
But sometimes I think we all need something a little more. Life with kids is already full of ‘too hards,’ ‘it is different now’ and ‘more complicated’ when perhaps it doesn’t need to be.
You can get an indepth guide to making travel with kids not only easier but also loads of fun.
With travel being my number one passion in life (after my husband and kids of course!) I wanted to create a website for parents who want to keep travelling the same way they did before kids.
Big Adventures for Little Feet was born out of the desire to motivate parents to tackle adventure travel with kids without fear or hesitation. To bask in new places and challenge your kids (and you) to be braver, stronger and more ambitious than what they feel they are capable of.
Okay so not everything can be exactly the same cause you might need to have a plan for where you might stay. Sleeping on the beach or in an 8 person dorm might not be quite as feasible with a 1 and 3 year old and jumping on the back of a moped is not a feasible solution either.
But hey some small sacrifices don’t need to dampen the overall spirit or intention. We can still aim to make travel with kids exciting, different and inspiring.
The thrill of travelling with kids comes from taking on the challenge of getting to experience and explore new places despite adjusting the way we now plan for these adventures.
If you need some help navigating the challenges of travel with kids make sure you check out my tips for travel with kids articles providing helpful tips for everything from navigating meal times, to what to pack or the best tips to make family travel fun.
Kids have an appetite for travel that cannot be replicated as an adult. Do you remember the first overseas place you visited? For me it was Paris, and I still remember the vision from the plane window of the Eiffel Tower across the city landscape as we descended into Charles de Gaulle on a bright sunny morning.
That awe inspiring moment when you realise just how amazing and different the wider world is to our everyday lives.
For children this whole process is amplified. They notice the strange food in the supermarkets, they learn and laugh with other children different to themselves, and they revel in the weird and wonderful ways people travel that doesn’t involve cars.
More importantly kids will relish the time spent with you when travelling – their parents! Travelling as a family has brought us closer together as we get to spend valuable time without outside distractions. We travel without phones and without work and personal expectations which means uninterrupted family time that cannot be replicated at home.
So shut those regular family travel websites and start thinking bigger. Just like you did before kids you can still plan a full and interesting travel schedule – just with a little extra luggage!
Remember don’t limit yourself or your family’s capabilities. Don’t use a travel agent - not to take away from them as I used to be one in a long ago life – but take the plunge and design YOUR kind of holiday and fill it with your own interests and hopes. Fill it with meaningful life experiences for YOUR family. If you want help to design your dream travel experience with kids you can take a look at my travel planning services.
There is still a whole lot of fun to be had travelling as a family and endless opportunities to explore…..you just need to believe that it isn’t too hard.
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Next: After some more inspiration? Check out these awesome destinations for adventure travel with kids.
Destination Guide: Canada with Kids
Destination Guide: Switzerland with Kids