1

I found the Southern European countries more friendly towards children than Germany. Turkey in particular they seem to love children. Does Germany have a particular attraction for you?

2

Hi,

Thank's for replying!

We are going to Germany to visit friends who are moving there. It's only going to be a week holiday/sightseeing and a chance to see how we get on. The children are used to travelling, anne they are looking forward to going away in the future. We look at the atlas every day, talk about where we would like to go!

Lynne

3

Yes, I think you should put the children to travel to various countries for them to learn different cultures. I also think traveling in Germany is a great idea.

4

sounds like an opportunity to grab - but they should have started school so you need to think about some home schooling. It is only six months but they should do a bit so they are not behind when you come back.

they won't remember much of the trip (can you remember anything from when you were six?) or take in much of the 'different cultures' thing, but they will enjoy it and hopefully so will you.

with that budget you can have a pretty good time and stay in some great places. Enjoy.

5

They are at school, but I home schooled before the eldest started school so I've had some experience of it.

Have you got any itinerary suggestions? I've been reading about it and am a bit overwhelmed to be honest!

Thanks!

6

There are LOTS of families (of all different configurations too) who have and who are traveling. We spent 12 months last year traveling SEA and India with our then 3 and 5yr olds and it was a very worthwhile experience.

check out this site http://www.vagabondfamily.org/family-profiles/ to meet other families who are planning/doing/done it! Like us, many have links to their blogs, facebook pages, etc on this for more info. it's a great resource and you'd be amazed to see how many are listed on it--it's very inspiring.

good luck to you :)

7

We go away both with and without our children. Have been with them (4 now) to Europe, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and SEA. (Currently in Hanoi). We'll have been away for about six of the past ten months ...

Is very different experience. On the positive side the kids are a joy at best, and revel in having their parents 24/7. It's also a great learning experience for them - the eldest (10 & 12) excel when they return to school and are reported by their teachers to have a greater knowledge of geography, different cultures, history, currencies, etc than their peers. Locals, particularly in Asia, are much more outgoing and welcoming where children are involved.

On the flip side, we're pretty much over the travelling with younger kids thang. Our three year old has proven to be the beastie everyone warned us we'd have - really picks his times to act out. Is much more expensive with kids, you need to be more organised/less spontaneous in your itinerary (when travelling without, we always prefer to be ad hoc), and security and hygiene become more important. Fortunately, my eldest are now chomping at the bit to do the more fast-paced, exotic/budget/challenging trips ...

8

Hi there
I travel whenever with my son, now 6 years old. Last year we travelled India and we did a trip for 3 months to Asia. Easy life. Bring as little as possible. India, Malaysia, Indonesia are favorites and cheap, and you meet many kidsfamilies.
Cheers from Heidi

9

Thanks everyone!

I'm starting to get the house ready to sell, and have bought some lonely planet guides. It's exciting and scary at the same time!

10

Hi Lynne
Before I had kids I had never backpacked ... Just tomas cooked it and booked it!
Then when my kids started school they never really settled so when my youngest was 6 we went backpacking around Egypt for 7 wks my kids learnt all the gods name because we would play games they know about the temples and afterlife the Egyptians where so mad on , if fact when we returned they had missed nothing and ended up wining awards for their knowledge on Egypt , so that was it I was-converted - we planned our next adventure to Ethiopia
We spent 9 wks backpacking around this amazing country and again I took my kids out of school ... And when we came back again they had missed nothing , but the school kids where doing a great rift valley project- there's the photos I said you can see the Things my kids have learnt!
I too am a single parent , and I want to give my kids the best education I possibly can sometimes it can means full time school , sometimes school and backpacking or sometimes just homeschooling . Whatever the method, it's education that's important , and for my family it seems to work much better when they see and experience these things ,
P.s before I leave this world I will not say "I wish I had time for this and that , I will be happy with my memories!
Good luck and all the very best