Epic Education Radio: Family Travel Podcast

Teen travel. Tween travel. Budget travel via workaway jobs. We've talked to lots of parents to travel with teens and tweens, but today we're going to hear from some of the kids themselves. These four traveling sisters have been on the road with their parents for over two years so far, and in this episode of Epic Education Radio, we'll hear what they have to say.

Teen Travel, Tween Travel, & Workaway Jobs

If you're a parent considering travel with teens and tweens, then this interview is for you. And if you're a teen or tween yourself, you might want to listen in as well. If you're interested in budget travel via workaway jobs, this would also be valuable.

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Meet Izzy, Kathryn, Lauren, and Rachael Antle, four traveling sisters on the road with their parents for the past two years. Part of this has been fast-paced travel, while other parts have been slow travel using workaway jobs. In this Epic Education Radio episode, we talk about what travel has meant to them, and how it's changed over the last 24 months.

Where They've Been: Teen & Tween Travel

These traveling sisters grew up in Colorado in the United States. Their first destination was Mexico. After some time in the Yucatan Peninsula, they moved on to see much of the world, including lots of time in Asia and Europe. They spent considerable time in Southeast Asia, and then went back and forth between the EU, Morocco and Eastern Europe to comply with Schengen visa rules.

Each of the traveling sisters tells me about their favorite countries so far. Places like Japan, Denmark, Spain, and Penang make the list, and they tell me why. Another favorite place was Morocco, where a workaway job changed their ideas of travel in a big way.

What Are Workaway Jobs?

I've often associated workaway jobs with cruise ships: by working on the ship, you gain free room and board, thus creating a way to travel cheaply.

Today workaway jobs are defined more broadly. Workaway can be a cultural exchange or a job in tourism. It can be part of a homestay or more. In the case of these traveling sisters, it was working at an English school in Morocco in exchange for a place to stay.

Morocco: A Turning Point

All four of these traveling sisters cited their time at a workaway in Morocco as a turning point for them. They met people from all over the world and realized the true potential of travel.

Living in a workaway program also helped them build confidence and a worldview. Kathryn tells me of before their travels: "I remember not knowing where Mexico was..." When the girls first left their home in Colorado for Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, they knew very little about the world, but now that's changed. Kathryn continues: "Now when someone says 'I'm from Spain...I'm from Cordoba, I  know where they're talking about."

Education and Tween/Teen Travel

The girls attended conventional schools back in Colorado, but now have taken control of their education. They cite some of their online resources but do not follow a strict curriculum now. Even during a workaway assignment, their education continues. Indeed, the workaway job itself is an education, as is the act of traveling as a teen in the first place.

In the interview, they talk about how they manage their education on the road, including "student meetings" that they schedule with their parents.

The Future: Teen Travel, Workaways, and What's Next

When I ask what's next for these traveling sisters, they talk about a return to Spain. Izzy (now 17) has secured a workaway job as an au pair and will leave to live with a Spanish family for a while next year. The family will follow later on.

Three of the girls are studying Spanish, while one studies French. Where will they end up? Who knows, but by traveling as teens and tweens, they have opened up a new world of opportunities.

IN THIS EPISODE

• 02:40 Intro - 4 traveling sisters
• 05:04 Travel Style
• 06:23 How Travel Has Changed over the last 2 years
• 10:21 Morocco workaway job
• 12:38 Language learning and favorite countries
• 18:16 Izzy gets an Au Pair job
• 21:09 Education & homeschooling on the road
• 27:28 The future
• 29:17 How travel has changed you

ABOUT

• Names: The Antle girls — Izzy (17), Kathryn (14), Lauren (13) & Rachael (11)
• Hold passports from: USA
• Type of travel: Slow Travel & workaway jobs
• A few places they've been: Mexico, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Morocco and all over the EU and Eastern Europe

GEAR

• Samsung Chromebooks
• Asus Chromebooks
• Android Moto X phones
• One Moto G phone
• Nikon D3300 DSLR
• Kindles
• ENO hammocks
• 2 Big Agnes Air Core mattresses

LINKS & RESOURCES

• Memrise for learning languages
• Lingvist for learning languages
• Au Pair World
• CK12
• Khan Academy
• OpenStax for free online textbooks
• Coding sites: Freecodecamp.org, W3schools.com, codepen.io
• Coursera for free online classes

FIND THE 4 TRAVELING SISTERS ON

Izabel's Blog |Kathryn's Blog |Lauren's Blog

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means, at no extra cost to you,  we might receive a small commission if you make a purchase or book using those links. My opinions are my own and I only recommend places/services that I believe will genuinely help your travel. This post is specifically for those interested in teen travel, tween travel and what it's like traveling with teens and traveling with tweens. These four traveling sisters were a pleasure to talk to and I hope you enjoyed!

Full-on family travel fundamentals. Epic Education Radio is interviews, stories and advice for people who decide to make travel a priority in their family's life...and for those who want to. Tune in each week to hear stories and advice from new traveling families, and hear how they've handled various family travel-related issues like education, socialization, working, budgeting, accommodation, road-parenting, safety, technology and more. We talk gear, websites, apps and other resources for traveling & nomadic families, and answer questions from those who would like to do something similar.

We've been using Airbnb with kids since 2013, and today I'll tell you some of my tips on how to use Airbnb for families.

Airbnb for Families — How to Use Airbnb with Kids

There's lots of information out there on how to use Airbnb, but most of it is for couples and single travelers or the Airbnb hosts themselves. In this week's episode, I want to talk about how to use Airbnb with kids. There's a lot of opportunities on Airbnb for families, but it helps to follow a few rules to get the most out of the service.

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I've written an extensive post on getting the most out of Airbnb, but how to use Airbnb with kids is still one of the most common questions I get from readers and listeners. That's why this week I decided to make an audio version of some of my main tips on how to use Airbnb for families.

Read All Our AirBnB Tips Here

Airbnb with Kids / Airbnb for Families

One of the first things I discuss in the show is our experience with Airbnb. We've been using Airbnb with kids since 2013 and have had great experiences using Airbnb in multiple countries, including:

• Japan
• Spain
• Malaysia
• Indonesia, and
• Mexico

I discuss some of the benefits that Airbnb for families has over a hotel. These include savings and more "at-home" feeling.

Some people are concerned about safety with Airbnb, but I think that if you know how to use Airbnb properly, then you are able to find the right places to stay.

Tips: How to Use Airbnb with Kids

I try to run through some of my best advice for using Airbnb in this episode. Almost all of this Airbnb advice can help anyone, but some of it is specifically designed to help families learn how to use Airbnb to their advantage.

I break down my Airbnb tips into three main categories:

• Search: How to Use Airbnb
• Contacting the Host: How to Use Airbnb
• Final Research and Double-Check: Contacting the Host

Search: How to Use Airbnb

When you use Airbnb for the first time, it's important to play with the search functions to see what your options are.

Search Broad

Remember to keep your search broad at first. Don't refine your search so specific that some perfectly good accommodation is filtered out. If a kitchen is required, then go ahead and click that box, but try to leave some options open. For example:

• Beds vs Bedrooms: You may need three places to sleep, but sometimes one bedroom may have two beds, or there may be a sofa bed. You can save more money using Airbnb with kids by choosing this way.
• Internet, Wifi & Laptop-friendly workspace: Some Airbnb hosts only check one of these boxes, even though all three may apply. Fiddle with each one to see if you get different results.

In this podcast, I give a few more examples that work well when using Airbnb for families.

Contacting the Host: How to Use Airbnb

This is a very important part of how to use Airbnb for families or anyone else. Airbnb isn't like a hotel, where you just click a button to book a room. Sometimes it's important to contact the host and introduce yourself first. That way, you can ask for specific details about the accommodation and possibly ask for a discount.

Three specific details I ask for are:

• Confirmation of internet speed (both download *AND* upload speeds)
• Availability of two sets of keys (Keiko and I both want our own set)
• Ask for the address of the accommodation (Airbnb doesn't provide — host may or may not offer)
• Specific details on appliances and amenities (Does the stove work? Are there clothes hangars in the closets?, etc)

I'm sure that that last one may seem bizarre to some of you, but we had some early Airbnb experiences that made us wish we had asked earlier.

Final Research & Double-Check: How to Use Airbnb

For this final step in Airbnb for families, I suggest going over your shortlist of Airbnb choices and then doing a little final research before making your decision.

A few things we check before booking:

• Proximity to good things (supermarkets, public transport, etc)
• Proximity to smelly and/or noisy places (wet markets, churches/temples/mosque, karaoke bars, etc)
• Host's familiarity with long-term stays (when applicable)

Conclusion: Airbnb with Kids

This is just some of the advice I'd give to traveling families considering Airbnb as part of their travel plans. We've certainly found it a rewarding experience. Do you have other Airbnb tips to share? Tell us about them in the comments.

Disclosure: This post on using Airbnb with children and tips on how to use Airbnb for families may contain affiliate links. This means, at no extra cost to you,  we might receive a small commission if you make a purchase, book a room or book an Airbnb using my links. My opinions are my own and I only recommend places/services that I believe will genuinely help your travel. 

Full-on family travel fundamentals. Epic Education Radio is interviews, stories and advice for people who decide to make travel a priority in their family's life...and for those who want to. Tune in each week to hear stories and advice from new traveling families, and hear how they've handled various family travel-related issues like education, socialization, working, budgeting, accommodation, road-parenting, safety, technology and more. We talk gear, websites, apps and other resources for traveling & nomadic families, and answer questions from those who would like to do something similar.

Today I talk with Jeff Bogle about cruising with children and his tips for the best family cruises for kids. Jeff is a parenting blogger and travel writer, but he never thought he'd want to take his kids on a cruise. Once he took one, however, he was hooked...

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Tips on the Best Family Cruises for Kids

Jeff Bogle is dad blogger and a travel writer, but he never thought he'd be cruising with kids, let alone giving tips on the best family cruises for kids. He had heard of family-friendly cruises of all kinds, but he had thought that taking a cruise with kids would be "antithetical to the way I like to travel," he said.

It took a press trip on a cruise ship to turn him around.

Now after several times cruising with children for work, he and his wife have booked their own family-friendly cruise for Honduras and Belize next year. "When a travel writer starts ponying up their own money to do something," he says with a laugh, "then that's the best endorsement they can give."

Why Family Cruises for Kids?

Jeff cites a number of reasons why his family enjoys taking kid-friendly cruises. Whether your cruising with toddlers or cruising with teens, the best family cruises have something for everybody. Jeff spoke highly of the food. Despite being "discerning" when it comes to cuisine, Jeff was impressed with what the ships had to offer. His kids were happy with 24-7 ice cream, as well.

The best cruises for kids also have waterparks onboard, as well as kids' clubs for all ages. Jeff also liked that this gave his children some exposure to kids from all over the world.

The guests were not the only international presence it turns out. Jeff describes how the staff of the Carnival cruise his family took was like a mini United Nations, with representation from Mexico to the Baltic States. The waiters, cabin crew and kids camp counselors held nationalities from across the globe, he describes. This gave his children a chance to interact with people far removed from their hometown. An exposure that Jeff thinks is important.

Tips for Making it the Best Family Cruise

For the longest time, Jeff never thought taking a cruise with kids would be enjoyable. His expectations were turned upside down after his first family-friendly cruise. Here are a few things I learned from Jeff about making the most out of your cruise with kids.

Make the Most of Port Calls

When the ship pulls into port, get out and beyond the tourist area. Rent a car or take a bus and go, when it's a reasonable option. "I'm not an assimilator," he says, and until his first cruise with kids, he thought all activity on a family cruise would have to be in a herd of tourists.

Then on a trip to Bonaire, in the Caribbean, he and his family rented a car and started driving. They saw flamingos. They saw wild goats. The girls were thrilled, and so was Jeff.

On another family cruise, he and one of his girls jumped on a bus in Turkey. The conversation that followed between father and daughter is something he believes was life-changing.

Take Some Time for You and Your Spouse

What many people don't know is that some of the best cruises for kids also double as the best cruises for couples. Those couples are the parents. Once your children head for the kids' club or the waterslides, now moms and dads have a chance to catch up with their spouse over a dinner, a movie, or perhaps just a little private time in the room.

Pack Less & Do Laundry on the Ship

The large cruise ships have laundry facilities, so you don't have to pack a new set of clothes for every day. Bring a smaller suitcase. It makes everything easier and gives you more space in your cabin.

It doesn't always work when cruising with kids, though, and Jeff is the first to admit it. "I always try to get my family to pack less...and I always fail."

Beyond Cruising with Children

Kid-friendly cruises are only part of the Bogle family travel adventures. Living in Philadelphia Pennsylvania in the US gives them a wealth of road trip opportunities. For example, they are a few hours' drive from New York City and Washington DC, and the Canadian border is only a day's drive away.

Jeff tells me that now that he's traveling with a teen and tween, planning travel has become a much more democratic process. When they were younger, he involved his daughters by having them plan an activity wherever they were going. Now he asks them where they want to go.

With one daughter, he went to Ottawa. With the other, they planned a trip using the musical Hamilton as a source of inspiration.

In their home, they keep a wall reserved for pictures of their travels and the flags of the countries visited — a constant reminder of what they've seen and what have left to explore.

Final Family Travel Tips

Jeff has a lot of great family travel tips. In fact, his piece on preparing for international travel is a must-read for newbies or anyone unfamiliar with flying overseas.

Money, Mail, and Plugs

Among his tips, he recommends calling your bank and credit card companies to make sure they know you'll be away. He also talks about putting your mail on hold and researching the power plugs at your destination so you'll have the right plug converter when you arrive. And never, ever use the currency exchange desks in your home airport. Wait until you arrive and pull local currency out of an ATM. More details and tips on the podcast.

Be in Awe

Jeff surprised me when I asked him for his recommended travel resources. None, he said. Many of my previous guests talk about doing extensive research before they arrive at their dream destination. They also look up lots of beautiful pictures and videos to show the kids and get them excited.

In contrast, Jeff tried to avoid doing too much research beforehand. He tries to avoid Google Image searches, too. Why?

"I want to be in awe," he says. It's easy to build up expectations once you seen your destination after it's been shot by a professional photographer in its best light. Instead, Jeff tries to look at the place online as little as possible so that it's new and fresh when he sees it with his own eyes.

IN THIS EPISODE

• 02:20 Intro
• 05:04 Pre-trip Planning
• 12:44 Travel Routines
• 16:34 More Pre-trip Planning for International Travel
• 22:32 Family Cruises for kids
• 33:06 Cruising the Caribbean with kids
• 37:29 Travel Gear
• 45:39 Resources (Don't Use Too Much)

ABOUT

• Names: Family blogger & Iris Award winning photographerJeff Bogle, his wife, and teen/tween daughters
• Hold passports from: USA
• Type of travel: Short-term travel, family cruises for kids, road trips
• A few places they've been: 20 countries and counting, including Turkey, Greece, the UK, Spain, and France. Heading to Honduras, Belize & Norway in 2018.

IN THEIR BAGS

• Sudio Bluetooth earbuds
• Kindle
• iPads
• Samsung NX1

LINKS & RESOURCES

• Jeff mentioned getting a plug adapter: Read our guide to the best of them
• How Jeff's Trip to Turkey Taught His Family
• How Jeff Prepares for International Travel
• Jeff's Best Family Cruises for Kids Experience
• Earthxplorer

FIND JEFF ON

Out With The Kids| Twitter |Facebook |Instagram| Pinterest

Disclosure: This post on cruising with children and tips on the best family cruises for kids contains affiliate links. This means, at no extra cost to you,  we might receive a small commission if you make a purchase or book a room using those links. My opinions are my own and I only recommend places/services that I believe will genuinely help your travel. Whether you're looking for the best cruises for toddlers or the best cruises for teens, I hope that these family cruise tips help you plan the best family cruise for kids ever!

Full-on family travel fundamentals. Epic Education Radio is interviews, stories and advice for people who decide to make travel a priority in their family's life...and for those who want to. Tune in each week to hear stories and advice from new traveling families, and hear how they've handled various family travel-related issues like education, socialization, working, budgeting, accommodation, road-parenting, safety, technology and more. We talk gear, websites, apps and other resources for traveling & nomadic families, and answer questions from those who would like to do something similar.

EER127: Adding Cultural Experiences to Family Travel

Cultural experiences make family travel richer. Whether it's cooking classes or celebrating a local holiday, there's something about incorporating cultural experiences into family travel that makes it all more meaningful. Today I talk with Becky Morales from Kid World Citizen about cultural education and how to add cultural experiences to family travel.

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Adding Cultural Experiences to Family Travel

Becky's exploration of other cultures started when she was a child with an adopted brother and sister from Peru. Visiting the country and growing up with siblings from another place helped put her on a path of cultural experiences that continues to this day.

Today she has a family of seven, which includes two biological kids and three adoptions. Becky uses cultural experiences in travel to bring her family closer together and help everyone learn about where they all come from.

Originally from Chicago, Becky and her family moved from Houston, Texas to Merida, in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Here the kids all go to a local, Spanish-speaking school, and they travel at most holidays.

Listen in as we discuss living in Mexico, trip planning, and adding cultural experiences to family travel.

And please share!

IN THIS EPISODE

• 02:43 Intro & Origins
• 07:04 Planning & finding cultural experiences with
• 15:07 Habits & routines
• 18:18 education & putting kids in local schools
• 26:45 Living in Merida, in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula
• 31:50 Mexico destinations & cultural tradition
• 37:54 Time schedules in the Yucatan

ABOUT

• Names: Becky Morales, her husband, and 5 kids (between 3 and 12 years old)
• Hold passports from: USA & Mexico
• Type of travel: Short-term travel, School Holiday Travel & Living Abroad in Mexico
• A few places they've been: China, Peru, Several EU locations, all over Mexico and more

LINKS & RESOURCES

• I mentioned how the Mexico meal & school schedule reminded me of Spain
• Becky mention the Affective Filter when learning a language
• FIND THEM ON

Kid World Citizen | Facebook | Instagram |Pinterest| Twitter

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means, at no extra cost to you,  we might receive a small commission if you make a purchase or book using those links. My opinions are my own and I only recommend places/services that I believe will genuinely help your travel.

Full-on family travel fundamentals. Epic Education Radio is interviews, stories and advice for people who decide to make travel a priority in their family's life...and for those who want to. Tune in each week to hear stories and advice from new traveling families, and hear how they've handled various family travel-related issues like education, socialization, working, budgeting, accommodation, road-parenting, safety, technology and more. We talk gear, websites, apps and other resources for traveling & nomadic families, and answer questions from those who would like to do something similar.

Family RV travel in Europe...with kids? Why not? In today's episode of Epic Education Radio, we talk exploring Europe by motorhome, while homeschooling and building a business along the way!

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Like what you're hearing?

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We would be extremely grateful!

iTunes is a search engine as well, and so when you rate and review us, you help others find us. Thank you!

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Family RV Travel in Europe with Kids

Many people want to explore Europe with kids. Many others want to try RV travel in Europe. For Will and Jessica Suero, they combined the two to have the best (and the rest) of both worlds!

A lot has happened to the Sueros since we last talked in 2016. After living in Costa Rica and Ecuador, they were planning to move to France. Fast forward to today, and they've left their home in France, and have begun to settle into RV travel in Europe with kids. For the next two years!

Homeschooling & Building a Business while Living in an RV

What's it like homeschooling a teen and a tween *and* building a business...all while living in an RV in Europe? According to Jessica, it can sometimes be "a hot mess," she says with a laugh. There's a lot going on in such a small space, adds Will. RV travel in Europe is fun, he says, but living in a motorhome in Europe while working and schooling is a challenge. "What works today may not work tomorrow," he says.

In this episode of Epic Education Radio, we discuss how they manage motorhome travel in Europe, including working, schooling, parenting, and gear.

Listen in! And please share!

IN THIS EPISODE

• 2:36 Intro
• 3:37  In 4th years what's different now
• 7:49 The pride & shame of kids as translators
• 13:32 Tips & Routines for RV Travel in Europe with Kids
• 23:13 Work & building a business
• 35:43 Education
• 41:12 Parenting teens & tweens
• 51:59 Travel gear
• 1:03:00 Destinations

ABOUT

• Names: Will & Jessica Suero, their daughter Avalon (13) and son, Largo (10)
• Hold passports from: USA
• Type of travel: Living abroad, slow travel, long-term travel and RV travel
• A few places they've been: Lived in Costa Rica, Ecuador, and France, now on a 2-year RV trip through Europe

IN THEIR BAGS

•  3 MacBook Pro's, 1 Macbook
•  2 iPhones
• Motorhome 4G Wifi booster & Wifi Range Extender
• Seagate and LaCie backup drives
• Canon G7x Mk II
• Canon 80D
• Rode Video Mic Pro
• DJi Phantom 4 Drone
• Bose Quiet Comfort Noise Canceling Headphones

LINKS & RESOURCES

• Their first episode from 2016
• Preply
• John's Hopkins University Online classes
• Bright Ideas Press
• Laurel Springs online education
• London College of Art
• I mentioned Whitmore & Time4Learning

FIND THEM ON

Worldtowning | Facebook | Youtube | Instagram | Twitter

Full-on family travel fundamentals. Epic Education Radio is interviews, stories and advice for people who decide to make travel a priority in their family's life...and for those who want to. Tune in each week to hear stories and advice from new traveling families, and hear how they've handled various family travel-related issues like education, socialization, working, budgeting, accommodation, road-parenting, safety, technology and more. We talk gear, websites, apps and other resources for traveling & nomadic families, and answer questions from those who would like to do something similar.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means, at no extra cost to you,  we might receive a small commission if you make a purchase or book using those links. My opinions are my own and I only recommend places/services that I believe will genuinely help your travel, whether you're considering family RV travel in Europe with kids or not. 

If you're considering trying some slow travel in Europe with kids, then this is an episode for you. In today's installment of Epic Education Radio, we're talking family travel in Europe, worldschooling, slow travel in Europe and more.

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Slow Travel in Europe with Kids

Meet the Harrisons. They just spent a year slow traveling in Europe with kids. Henry is a filmmaker and Mel is a writer, and their slow Europe family travel trip took them to 13 countries in the course of 12 months. Their journey started in Florence, Italy. From there, they visited Germany, Scotland, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro and many others before returning home to Livingston, Montana in the USA.

Family Travel in Europe

The Harrison's original family travel plan was to buy an RV and travel in North America. But eventually, their plan evolved into spending one year of slow travel in Europe with their children. Why slow travel in Europe with kids? For Henry, the history of the places they'd visit held a lot of appeal. For Mel, the outdoor opportunities were enticing. They write about both on their blog (link below).

Family travel in Europe offers lots of learning experiences for curious families, but it can be expensive as a vacation. Slow travel in Europe with kids also costs more than places like Southeast Asia, but when you slow travel, expenses can drop.

Europe with Kids: Apartment Rentals & Destinations

How can you make slow travel in Europe with kids less expensive? Stay in apartment rentals instead of hotels. Henry and Mel talk about staying in apartment rentals and talk about what they might take with them next time.

Their suggestions may surprise you.

For example, one was a knife sharpener. Why a knife sharpener? Because many Airbnb & other apartment rentals in Europe have sub-par cookware. (And not just in Europe, either). Bringing a knife sharpener means that you'll always have a sharp knife in the kitchen.

Considering slow travel in Europe with children?

If so, then tune in as we discuss homeschooling, the Schengen zone, travel planning and other aspects of slow travel in Europe with kids. Listen up! And please share!

IN THIS EPISODE: Slow Travel in Europe with Kids

• 2:o2 Intro & origins
• 4:48 Planning slow travel in Europe
• 8:36 Habits routines
• 11:17 Work & travel
• 20:43 Travel gear & money management
• 31:17 Education
• 40:27 Destinations for  slow travel in Europe with kids

ABOUT

• Names: Henry & Mel Harrison
• Hold passports from: USA
• Type of travel: One year slow traveling in Europe
• A few places they've been: Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, the UK and many others

What They Carried: Slow Travel in Europe with Kids

• [easyazon_link identifier="B01603DZ2U" locale="US" tag="anepiedu-20" cart="n" popups="n"]Mindshift Backlight 26L[/easyazon_link] camera bag
• Osprey backpacks
• Kindles: 4 [easyazon_link identifier="B00OQVZDJM" locale="US" tag="anepiedu-20" cart="n" popups="n"]Amazon Paperwhite[/easyazon_link] e-Readers
• 2 Laptops: 1 MacBook Air and 1 MacBook Pro
• 2 iPads
• Legos
• Winter clothes: picked up in Croatia and Germany
• Boots: cheap Croatian boots and Oboz
• Mountain Hardware sleeping bags
• 360rize holder 
• GoPro Hero4 Black
• Lanparte H1 gimbal
• Sony A7Sii
• GoPro Session 4
• Sony RX100 mk iii
• iPhone 6s
• Camera Lenses:
• • Sony 16-35 f4
  • Sony 24-240mm
  • Rokinon 14mm
  • Canon 28mm f1.8
  • Metabones speed booster Canon to Sony adapter
• Other camera gear:
• • Rode video micro mini shotgun mic
  • Joby Gorillapod
  • Tiffen Variable ND filters
  • Mefoto travel tripod
  • Squeeze blower and lens cloths

LINKS & RESOURCES for Slow Travel in Europe with Kids

• Chase preferred card
• Charles Schwab
• Khan Academy
• Duo Lingo
• Horrible Histories
• Sketchup App
• Swift Playgrounds
• Online Book Club via Brave Writer
• Masterclass with James Patterson
• I mentioned Diane Vukovic, who camps in Eastern Europe with kids

FIND THEM ON

Traveling Mel | Yellowstone Trips | Facebook | Youtube |Instagram 1 | Instagram 2 |Pinterest

Full-on family travel fundamentals. Epic Education Radio is interviews, stories and advice for people who decide to make travel a priority in their family's life...and for those who want to. Tune in each week to hear stories and advice from new traveling families, and hear how they've handled various family travel-related issues like education, socialization, working, budgeting, accommodation, road-parenting, safety, technology and more. We talk gear, websites, apps and other resources for traveling & nomadic families, and answer questions from those who would like to do something similar.

Family travel with disabilities may offer some unique challenges, but it still has the same rewards. Our guest on Epic Education Radio this week knows all about it.

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:::

Family Travel with Disabilities

Meet Bron. Together with her partner, Andrew, they show their three kids the world. They've been to Sri Lanka, Borneo, Mongolia and more. Oh, and their son Cooper uses a wheelchair. Does that slow them down? Not really. "I think we almost choose places that aren't wheelchair accessible just to prove to ourselves that we can do it and are up for the challenge," Bron tells me. 

Based in Melbourne, Australia, Bron's three kids attend local schools, but she pulls them out for adventure whenever she can. Her oldest son, Cooper, was born with a brain injury. For many parents, this dampens the idea of long-term family travel, but Bron found ways to make it work.

Travel Origins

Bron was first bitten by the travel bug at 15 when she was an exchange student in Germany. Then later at 20 years old, she went to the US, to Lake Taho and taught kids to ski. "I had never seen snow," she says laughing, "never skied before in my life!" She was trained as a teacher, though, and so quickly learned the basics and how to relay that info to kids. 

Wheelchair Travel in Places That Aren't Wheelchair Friendly

Their first trip with Cooper was to Singapore when he was young. The trip was for therapy for Cooper, and there were other families there who had kids with the same condition, so their induction into family travel with disabilities started on the right foot.

Routines, Resistance, & Insurance for Family Travel with Disabilities

Family travel with mobility issues can pos specific challenges to your journey. Bron speaks frankly about some of them, and about some of their routines when flying with a wheelchair.

She also talks about the importance of travel insurance. Unfortunately, they had to find out the hard way that "crappy cheap family travel insurance doesn't work." More on that story in the show.

Despite the challenges, family travel has opened up their lives to new experiences, she says. Listen in as we talk about travel habits, planning, destinations, and other aspects of their story as a family traveling with a wheelchair.

IN THIS EPISODE: Tips for Family Travel with Disabilities

• 02:36 Intro / Origins
• 07:31 Early challenges & deciding on family travel with disabilities
• 10:05 Resistance to family travel with disabilities
• 14:03 Pre-travel routines
• 16:52 Habits on the road
• 20:23 Special considerations for wheelchairs and air travel with disabilities 
• 27:27 Travel gear
• 32:07 Resources
• 34:02 Money, Finances & Planning 
• 35:53 Destinations they've enjoys as a traveling family with a wheelchair

ABOUT: Tips for Family Travel with Disabilities

• Names: Bronwyn Leeks, her partner, Andrew, and their three kids, Cooper (12), Pepper (9) and Woody (6)
• Hold passports from: Australia
• Type of travel: Live in Melbourne & travel during (and beyond) school holidays. Family travel with disabilities
• A few places they've been: China, Mongolia, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, and more. 

GEAR: Tips for Family Travel with Disabilities

• 2 Osprey Porter 46L Backpacks 
• Macbook Air
• iPad Air 2
• iPad Mini 2
• Travel Journals
• Lego (using these boxes)
• Canon 70D Camera
• Keen Shoes

LINKS & RESOURCES: Tips for Family Travel with Disabilities

• Mathletics
• Reading Eggs
• Epic (online library)
• Khan Academy
• AirAsia
• Skyscanner
• Jackets from Kathmandu
• The Food Ranger on Youtube

FIND THEM ON

Smiths Holiday Road | Facebook |Instagram | Pinterest 

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means, at no extra cost to you,  we might receive a small commission if you make a purchase or book using those links. My opinions are my own and I only recommend places/services that I believe will genuinely help your travel.

Full-on family travel fundamentals. Epic Education Radio is interviews, stories and advice for people who decide to make travel a priority in their family's life...and for those who want to. Tune in each week to hear stories and advice from new traveling families, and hear how they've handled various family travel-related issues like education, socialization, working, budgeting, accommodation, road-parenting, safety, technology and more. We talk gear, websites, apps and other resources for traveling & nomadic families, and answer questions from those who would like to do something similar.

What happens when journalists have children. For Katharina Nikoleit, not much changed. They just brought their son with them on assignments. Listen in as we talk about what it's like bringing kids to the developing world.

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We would be extremely grateful!

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:::

When Journalists Have Children

Meet Katharina Nikoleit. She and her partner are journalists who travel to the developing world for work. Their son Tim went to India for the first time when he was three months old. Wait, Katharina says. That's actually not true. In fact, her son had been to India twice before that...in her womb.

Katharina and her husband spend about three to four months a year on assignment. They cover stories in India, Thailand and numerous countries in Latin America and East and West Africa. And they bring their son with them.

In this episode of Epic Education Radio, we talk about what it's like traveling in the developing world with a child. As extraordinary as it may seem, I was surprised to hear how normal it is in many ways. Aside from their camera gear, they don't carry that much in terms of specialized equipment. As they work, their son Tim makes friends with local kids.

Is it safe traveling in the developing world with kids? Katharina thinks so, and so do we. "We're not working in conflict areas, " she says. In fact, she continues, traveling with children in the developing world actually makes things easier. Everyone loves and relates to families more than individuals, she explains. Now you can talk about the child's health: what he eats, how he sleeps, etc. Working in the developing world with kids helps break the ice.

Listen in as we discuss traveling routines, education, recommended destinations and more details of what it's like bringing kids to the developing world.

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IN THIS EPISODE

• 02:16 Intro: When Journalists Have Children 
• 05:20 Incorporating their child into their work / easier with kids
• 09:23 Habits routines - bringing kids to the developing world
• 11:35 What's he doing while mom & dad are working?
• 15:30 Safety routine - bringing kids to the developing world
• 18:37: Education at home & abroad
• 22:44 Resources
• 29:37 Travel gear
• 32:03 Recommended Destinations

ABOUT

• Names: Katharina Nikoleit, her partner, Christian Nusch, and their son Tim (9 years old)
• Hold passports from: Germany
• Type of travel: Travel in the developing world for work 3-4 months a year  (both mother & father are journalists).
• A few places they've been: India and numerous other locations in Asia, including countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh. All around East Africa and Latin America.

THEIR GEAR

• Rimowa suitcases
• Crumpler Backpacks
• SOS capsule (when son was younger)
• Two Lenovo laptops
• Tripod: Sachtler FSB 4
• 3 Microphones: Sennheiser and Beyerdynamic
• Recording device: Zoom H4n
• Photo Camera Body 1: Nikon D90
• Photo Camera Body 2: Nikon D7100
• Video Camera: Panasonic AG-AF101E
• 1st Lens: Nikon AF-S 70-200
• 2nd Lens: Nikon AF-S Nikkor 35mm
• 3rd Lens: Nikon AF-S DX ED 17-55
• 4th Lens: Nikon DX ED Fisheye
• Lenses fit both Photo and Video Cameras

FIND THEM ON

"Travel with Kids" on Facebook (in German) | Personal Site 

Full-on family travel fundamentals. Epic Education Radio is interviews, stories and advice for people who decide to make travel a priority in their family's life...and for those who want to. Tune in each week to hear stories and advice from new traveling families, and hear how they've handled various family travel-related issues like education, socialization, working, budgeting, accommodation, road-parenting, safety, technology and more. We talk gear, websites, apps and other resources for traveling & nomadic families, and answer questions from those who would like to do something similar.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means, at no extra cost to you,  we might receive a small commission if you make a purchase or book using those links. My opinions are my own and I only recommend places/services that I believe will genuinely help your travel.

If you're like me, then you really want to know how to build a business while traveling with kids. We've been on the road for over four years now and we're still trying to figure it out.

You know who's figured it out? Ka Sundance. We talk about it in this episode of Epic Education Radio.

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Like what you're hearing?

Then please subscribe, rate & review Epic Education Radio.

We would be extremely grateful!

iTunes is a search engine as well, and so when you rate and review us, you help others find us. Thank you!

:::

How to Build a Business While Traveling with Kids

Meet Ka Sundance. He and his wife Katie have six kids and spend most of their time out of their native Germany. They travel extensively, while presently using Costa Rica as a home base.

As Ka puts it, there never was a time when they weren't a traveling family, as Ka and Katie started a family while traveling. But how to build a business while traveling with kids? It wasn't easy, but Ka explains some of the steps they've made over the years.

Building a Business While Traveling

Ka talks about how he built his business while living overseas. Once a machinist in car factories, he explains how they started building a business around eBooks and courses.

Traveling with Six Kids

When they first arrived in Costa Rica, they carried 18 suitcases with them. Eighteen! But by 2016, they were down to two. Read that again: two suitcases for eight people. "You can do that in tropical countries, " says Ka. We know from experience, as well. Travel in colder places, and you need to pack warmer clothes, which take up space. Travel in Vietnam, Malaysia or Indonesia, however, and you just need a swimsuit and a few pairs of shorts and T-shirts.

Read that again: two suitcases for eight people. "You can do that in tropical countries, " says Ka. We know from experience, as well. Travel in colder places, and you need to pack warmer clothes, which take up space. Travel in Vietnam, Malaysia or Indonesia, however, and you just need a swimsuit and a few pairs of shorts and T-shirts.

Ka also talks a little about his daily routines and how he finds time to work and play with his children every day.

IN THIS EPISODE: How to build a business while traveling with kids

• 02:22 Intro & Origins
• 04:47 A day in the life: schedules, habits, and routines
• 08:22 Travel day habits & routines
• 15:03 Eight people, and only two suitcases
• 17:15 Electronics he uses for his online business
• 21:25 Education while traveling with kids
• 26:13 Resources
• 29:21 How to build a business while traveling with kids
• 42:57 Good places to start an online business

ABOUT: How to build a business while traveling with kid

• Names: Ka & Katie Sundance and their six children (presently aged 16, 13, 11, 7, 4, and 1)
• Hold passports from: Germany
• Type of travel: Long-term travel, slow travel, living abroad in Costa Rica and elsewhere
• A few places they've been: Costa Rica, Guatemala and many other places in Europe, North America, Latin America, South-East Asia, Africa, and Australia

IN THEIR BAGS: How to build a business while traveling with kids

• iPhone 7
• MacBook Pro
• Nikon D5300 DSLR camera
• Canon Vixia Mini X (for Vlogging)
• Sony HDR PJ540 (for landscape and zoom-shots)
• GoPro 4 Silver (for Action-Shots)
• DJi Mavic Drone
• Lots of iPads
• Lots of Kindles

FIND KA SUNDANCE ON

Sundance Family | Youtube | Facebook |Twitter| Instagram

Full-on family travel fundamentals. Epic Education Radio is interviews, stories and advice for people who decide to make travel a priority in their family's life...and for those who want to. Tune in each week to hear stories and advice from new traveling families, and hear how they've handled various family travel-related issues like education, socialization, working, budgeting, accommodation, road-parenting, safety, technology and more. We talk gear, websites, apps and other resources for traveling & nomadic families, and answer questions from those who would like to do something similar.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means, at no extra cost to you,  we might receive a small commission if you make a purchase or book using those links. My opinions are my own and I only recommend places/services that I believe will genuinely help you as you learn how to build a business while traveling with kids

Homeschooling, unschooling, parenting, and backpacking with toddlers. These are just a few things we discuss in this week's episode of Epic Education Radio.

:::

Like what you're hearing?

Then please subscribe, rate & review Epic Education Radio.

We would be extremely grateful!

iTunes is a search engine as well, and so when you rate and review us, you help others find us. Thank you!

:::

Backpacking with Toddlers

Meet Jen Lumunlan. Like many of us, she was told that travel stopped once you have children. And like many of us, she didn't believe it. At the time of writing, Jen and her daughter Carys have been hiking and backpacking in Colorado, the UK and several places in Europe.

Granted, Jen has been doing much of the actual hiking thus far, with Carys riding along on her back. For example, when they hiked the roughly 90 miles of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path in Wales, Jen explains that she hiked "approximately 89" of those miles. That's what backpacking with a toddler is like, but the rewards far outweigh the steps taken.

Jen notes the origin of her travel bug to be when she traveled through the United States by Greyhound Bus when she was 18. Fast forward to the present, and now she has begun backpacking with her daughter, hiking through some amazing territory.

After her daughter was born, Jen realized she knew nothing about being a parent so she returned to school for a Master's in Psychology focused on Child Development.  Each episode of Jen's podcast, Your Parenting Mojo, explores the scientific literature on a topic related to child development, and turns it into actionable information parents can start using immediately. Listen in for parenting conversations that cover everything from potty training to raising a bilingual child.

In addition to podcasting and backpacking with toddlers, Jen is a passionate advocate of child-led learning. We discuss homeschooling, unschooling and other forms of unconventional education. She also has a homeschooling course and offers a USD $20 discount to Epic Education Listeners. Simply use the discount code "EPIC" at checkout.

IN THIS EPISODE

• 02:03 Intro
• 04:00 e-biking
• 06:27 Origins
• 09:35 Routines when backpacking with toddlers
• 12:31 Travel gear
• 18:07 Education
• 27:55 Main questions about homeschooling
• 47:27 The value of Youtube 
• 45:07 Resources

ABOUT

• Names: Jen Lumunlan and her daughter Carys
• Hold passports from: USA / UK
• Type of travel: Mostly backpacking so far
• A few places they've been: Backpacking trips in Italy, France, Switzerland (via Tour du Mont Blanc), Ireland (via Dingle Way), Wales (via Pembrokeshire Coast Path), Colorado (Breckenridge to Aspen), and Italy (Cinque Terre)

IN THEIR BAGS

• Peapod sleep tent
• Ergobaby carriers
• Bitybean pack
• Deuter Kid Comfort 2
• GB Pocket Stroller
• gDiapers for compostable diapers
• Gossamer Gear MARIPOSA 60 BACKPACK
• Asolo TPS 520 GV EVO Hiking Boots

LINKS & RESOURCES

• Your Parenting Mojo
• Your Homeschooling Mojo
• The Reggio Emilia method
• John Holt GWS
• John Holt's books
• The Alliance for Self-Directed Education
• Cicerone hiking guides in Europe
•  Series of in-depth articles on backpacking the Tour du Mont Blanc with a baby
• Green Trails maps in the Pacific Northwest
• Ground Truth Trekking blog for backpacking with a baby
• I mentioned our electric bike in Japan

FIND THEM ON

Your Parenting Mojo | on iTunes | on Stitcher

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means, at no extra cost to you,  we might receive a small commission if you make a purchase or book using those links. My opinions are my own and I only recommend places/services that I believe will genuinely help your travel, whether it's backpacking with toddlers or otherwise.

Full-on family travel fundamentals. Epic Education Radio is interviews, stories and advice for people who decide to make travel a priority in their family's life...and for those who want to. Tune in each week to hear stories and advice from new traveling families, and hear how they've handled various family travel-related issues like education, socialization, working, budgeting, accommodation, road-parenting, safety, technology and more. We talk gear, websites, apps and other resources for traveling & nomadic families, and answer questions from those who would like to do something similar.