January is full of headlines telling you to grab the new you by the horns. Well, why not do this abroad? With the kids! That’s right, pack up your suitcase and go off on that adventure 

‘A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing and coercion are fruitless. We find that after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us.’ John Steinbeck

Children require planning. So help me, I have had to learn that; miniature food boxes, nappy packs and knitwear for a chill, welly boots for a splash. But through experience, travel is best when it is not scheduled and instead, has an element of spontaneity. Being free to options and zig zagging routes. But what with school, the house, that beloved nap routine you’ve just worked out and all that other baggage, can spontaneous travel and children ever mix.

The answer is yes, absolutely. Children are by their very nature spontaneous and learn through play and experiencing something new. While as Steinbeck said, the trip itself will have its own agenda – bin the plans, you can’t predict the minutes of an adventure and to do so defies the point. Children and travel are both non-static and therefore when combined, the spark of one will push the other, leading to growth and copious amounts of fun. Of course, times will be hard occasionally, but there are those who have gone on great journeys with their kids and come out the other side to talk with great fondness.

Blogger and online shop owner, Fritha Quinn regularly travels with her husband Tom and three-year-old son, Wilfryd. Fritha says: “What I love about traveling with my son is sharing a love of adventure and through him I become more curious about the world around us. I was surprised at how easy it is to travel with a young child is.

Interiors writer and stylist Hannah Bullivant, who recently went on a one-month European adventure with her husband and two-year-old daughter through the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway, agrees: “We gained so much as a family – proper bonding time. No work, just play. Frankie and Dave’s relationship in particular, blossomed. We watched Frankie change before our eyes, obviously thriving in the extended company of both parents. Such an unusual thing nowadays, sadly.

But what about taking that leap? Account Manager Ruth Morris went on a year-long round the world adventure with her partner and 12-year-old son, a few years ago. The 30,000-mile surf based trip included South America, New Zealand, Australia and Bali. “It was a dream we had for a long time. I just wanted to spend a year with my son living a life full of adventure rather than the usual nine-to-five routine and the angst that goes along with it. It was a chance to build memories and an opportunity to teach him to think outside the box.

“It’s difficult because it’s not the ‘usual’ thing to do. There are people who question if you are putting your child’s needs first and this makes you question yourself. You wonder if you are putting them in dangerous situations and yes perhaps in some places we did (the health and safety in central America is pretty much non existent), but you learn to trust in life and take managed risks. The benefits far outweigh the risks, or at least in our case they did.

“We witnessed our boy experiencing situations that were sometimes challenging and saw him grow in confidence as the year passed. Sam is now almost 17 and I’m pleased to say that the bond is still there. People comment on what a confident boy he is and I’m sure that’s largely due to our travels. We became closer and learned to work as a team. We climbed the Machu Pichu together, we experienced an earthquake together, we planned our next move together. We ‘lived’ every moment of that year.”

Discussing the trip still clearly fills Ruth with joy, as she animatedly regales the family’s experiences. She has the following advice for those about to take the leap: “Do it. Start to tell people that’s what you’re going to do and that way it becomes a reality. Stop making excuses and book the flights, read Escape 101! Someone said that the hardest part is getting on the plane, and it’s true, keep that in mind through the planning stages. Honestly – It’s the best thing we as a family have ever done.”

Tips from Ruth, Hannah and Fritha for family travel:

Talk to a younger child about the ‘big adventure’ in the run up, so it’s not a complete surprise. Include all the different elements: “We’ll go on a big boat, then a car. Then we’ll go to stay in our tent and go exploring. Continue to consult with them on the trip; explain what’s happening and where you’re going. Take their opinion onboard, what they want to do. This helps them feel they have some control in a very unfamiliar environment. Bring bedding from home and a teddy they will recognise. 

With a baby, I’d certainly recommend using a sling over a pushchair.

It’s good to remember that before two-years-old, you don’t have to pay for a seat on things like planes.

Getting a family rail card can save you a huge amount of money www.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk

Always have somewhere to nap and go at your family’s pace. Leave when you want, stop when you want. Time long journeys with nap time.

You don’t need hundreds of toys, but a select few things – a basket to collect treasures, drawing things, silk scarves (which can be capes, slings, blankets).

Remember all-weather gear! Head to toe waterproofs and welly boots, a bucket and spade for the beach. Go outside no matter what the weather, or have a wild toddler. 

Keep the home routine on your trip; bed, bath, story time the same, as much as possible. 

Every school is different regarding time away from formal education and if you would like to take your child out of school, you must ask the head teacher. Ruth says of her experience with son, Sam: “We studied one subject per day for around an hour. This not only kept Sam in the routine of learning, but also added some structure to the day. When we returned, Sam went straight into his normal year and has just passed his GCSE’s, so being out of formal education for that year did him no harm whatsoever.”

It’s possible to rent out your property if you are away for a while, it will give you extra funds for your travel and keep your home lived-in. Ensure that you have good tenants and consider using an agency to help with the process.  

Trust your child, they are wiser than you think. Trust your partner they are also wiser than you think. 

Pack lightly, you wont need to pack half as much as you think you do.

The Lonely Planet Thorn Tree travel forum is a great friend. As is Trip Advisor, which allows research of accommodation before booking. Book the first few nights somewhere, then you can always extend or move on as you wish.

With food, get stuck in – within reason. Sample the local foods and eat where the locals do. It’s usually cheaper, tastier and fresher than the overpriced tourist traps.

Book transport as you go along, that way you’re not constrained by travel dates and you can stay longer in some locations, or move on quickly if you wish.

Be sensible; carry your valuables discreetly and ensure your vaccinations are correct and up to date. Ensure you have a first aid kit packed and you know your basic first aid.

If you plan to travel for a year do your research. Read blogs written by other families and learn from them, but don’t over plan, if you allow the trip to unfold rather than trying to control everything then you are able to enjoy the freedom of travel.