My 3 year old has visited 32 countries AMA

[Dinoswearunderpants]

No doubt I'd get a load of shade about 'bragging' but that's not the intention. If anyone is interested in asking any questions about travelling regularly with a little own, feel free to ask.

I often travel just the two of us as his Dad can't get as much time off work as I do.

Yes, indeed. I said they're amazing holidays, but I don't think they count for travelling bragging rights in this way.

I think they do🤷‍♀️

Who have you booked the cruise with? We looked at a few lines and found most charge adult prices for children. I’d love to do a cruise with the littles!

Side note, I think this is amazing. All this finger pointing about emissions is very “small picture”. Rather than wasting energy posting here perhaps those posters could go after the 100 corporations responsible for >70% of the world’s carbon emissions. Fly with airlines investing in green travel. Realise that the production of EV produces more carbon than just driving some ICE vehicles.

Demand for international travel is increasing so it’s extremely weird to harangue one person about it who has little power to influence the tide of global trends.

I’ve got a question, hope it doesn’t come across rudely!

How do you feel about a weekend or week at home, going for walks, park and just being together enjoying simple things? How do you feel at the prospect of spending some time at home and playing with toys and not much more?

Not buying it. Sorry. Even living frugally your salaries would be a massive stretch to afford Orlando, Bali, Singapore and France before the end of the year (ie 1 holiday every 1.5 months, assuming Bali and Singapore are the same trip) considering all the travel you have also done since 2024 began. There is money coming from somewhere that’s not being owned up to.

It is true that we will be affected. However, some children, like those in India and some African countries, are already being affected. Summer in some parts of India this year was described like living ‘in hell’. Mortality, including child mortality, shot up.
The Uk will not be affected in anything like the same way as countries who are already becoming unlivable, largely due to the actions of western and rich countries. The OPs child, or any child living in Europe today, is very unlikely to experience impacts like this in their lifetime.
Nobody has a right to do silly things like taking 3 year old on ‘32 flights’ now we are aware that we are literally wrecking this world, especially for those who are least able to defend themselves from the hell that is coming.
To think we have a right to continue as we have been is selfish and arrogant

I have never said we've fully experienced every country we've visited.

We always explore the places we visit. Not lunch by the ship. Often a botanical garden, local nature reserve or the town

Genuine question. What would green travel look like? I mean I get Greta travelling by catamaran and that’s brilliant and amazing but to do that with a toddler would be viewed as dangerous. Likewise the wrath on here sometimes about kids on public transport suggests that this isn’t seen positively either. When the OPs kid gets to school then the travel door all but closes due to mad prices / attendance fines. So what is an environmentally responsible way to take advantage of this time if you are lucky enough to be able to use it (I wasn’t btw due to work but pleased to see others who are able to)?

I have a friend who spent last summer interrailing with her DH and DC. I'd consider that environmentally responsible travel. And they visiting loads of countries.

That's with NCL. Cruises are double occupancy so I've had to pay full adult price for him anyway.

Royal Caribbean, NCL and MSC are usually good for family cruises.

It's normal every day life so why would I purposely choose to do it for a week instead of going away?

We go to the park every week. We do day trips to London and go swimming. It's all normal life.

Not buying it. Sorry.

Somehow I dont think the OP cares😆

Its totally possible,I know plenty of people who do it.
Partner and I are not high earners and we manage 5 or 6 holidays abroad a year.
Some people are really good at finding bargains.
It's a hobby for some people so often put in many hours a week searching and comparing. And that's where all their fun money goes.

Between each holiday, we dont go out for food or order takeaway or drink alcohol.
But then on every holiday, we make up for that by eating out for every meal,cocktails every day etc.

It might be alien to you but some people like to live differently and do achieve different things with their money.

Actually, it is your post that is ‘small picture’.
All of us have a responsibility to consider our impact and the rest of the world who inhabit it with us. Taking flights ‘for fun’ is highly environmentally damaging. Most cruises have a worst impact than flying. It’s just silly and ignorant to say that we have ‘little power’ to influence global trends. There are many, many people who care enough to try. As our world burns and problems increase, I am sure that more will wake up.
Why do you think that you have a right to continue to selfishly carry on activities that we know that impact highly on our environment. Why should you take your littlies on a cruise when there are far less impactful enjoyable activities and doing so contributes to the climate hell that is impacting someone else’s ‘littlies’. That is the reality of it. It’s not enough to put your head in the sand and say ‘it’s everyone else and I can’t do anything’. You can, and you should. For the sake of all little ones and before it is too late.

Nobody has a right to do silly things like taking 3 year old on ‘32 flights’ now we are aware that we are literally wrecking this world

🤣🤣
I have the right to go where I want, when I want. Don't be so silly.

You do not have a moral right to carry on activities that we know are contributing to climate hell for others. To be honest, you sound really very immature.

I would be exhausted and so would be my kids. Downtime and routine is important for children and it sounds like a very exhausting lifestyle. I had a friend who travelled with her child about 5 times a year because SHE didn't want to stop doing what she loved... when her child started school he couldn't cope with rules of sitting down working etc so she started to home school him ..., but her child was not nice to be around and when they were at home he had no idea how to just play and my kids didn't want me inviting him round any more. Said child is now 18 and says he hated his childhood as he had no roots or friends and works in a bank now and has a cat!!!!! He lives in the rented flat and his mum has found herself a rich boyfriend to travel with now!! Now he has a stable job and somewhere to come home he is a lovely grounded young lad and him and my DD often go out although when he was a child my DD begged me to not have anything to do with him. He was here the other night and he said he never needs to go on a holiday ever again!!!!!

Do you have children? Only because you say ‘partner and I’ without mention of DC.

Im very impressed if you manage 5-6 holidays per year on average wages with DC in tow. Mostly due to the costs associated with DC when not on holiday.

It’s very far from ‘pointless vitriol’ and is genuine shock and sadness about the immaturity of all this.
’Because I want to’ is incredibly selfish. Our activities all impact on others and we should try to minimize this. No three year old needs to visit ‘32 countries’. They do however need a world to grow up in. As do their peers in Africa and India etc.

And no, I am not jealous. Travelling with a 3 year old sounds hell to me. I could afford it, but I haven’t taken a holiday abroad for years, largely because I genuinely feel that it isn’t justifiable any more

@HouseBui1d

No, no kids and I did say that earlier in the thread.

We make 60k between us. No kids, partner has a small car. We rent and still manage to save aside from holidays, so not living beyond our means in order to have holidays or anything like that. We just make it work.

Its amazing how differently people manage their money and what they can do with it.

Stuck to having one. I feel huge guilt for having brought them into the world but doing my best to try and create the best life I can for them.

I didn't comment regarding the climate but it was my first thought when I read your AMA.
As a family we have chosen not to fly for the last few years and have let that influence where we holiday and visit. It's positive action, and we really want to feel we are doing some good. My children are fully on board.
I absolutely don't buy from Shein and the like. I'm definitely not perfect on any front but I do make sacrifices and try to be responsible.
Not everyone commenting will be in a glass house.
Few actions are as damaging as frequent flying. You may have to have difficult conversations with your child later down the line about these choices.
It sounds wonderful to be having all these amazing adventures with your child, but the cost to the planet is too dear and I couldn't do it.

We are hoping to do this next year. Friends of ours did last summer and loved it.

It really is. Still doesn’t stop me having my doubts the OP is funding this entirely from their joint salary whilst paying a mortgage, living in London and funding a 3 year old. But as you somewhat rudely pointed out upthread I doubt she cares anyway.

You do not have a moral right to carry on activities that we know are contributing to climate hell for others. To be honest, you sound really very immature.

It's totally fine for you to have that opinion of me, you sound extremely unpleasant and overbearing. We all have our faults🤷‍♀️

You dont, however, get to dictate my rights.

@Fluufer thanks. Yes I’d agree Interrail with older kids. I’m hoping to take my 14 yr old on a 7 day/ month pass next summer. I asked because for the younger squad, whose parents have the opportunity to travel (maybe for the first time in years), having ‘to hand’ green alternatives would be good. My bil travelled with his parents when he was young buying passage on cargo ships (long time back). His mum always spoke of it as an adventure but I wonder now how easy that would be.

What a wonderful, responsible attitude to have as a family and also a wonderful example to your little ones.
None of us can be perfect, but doing what we can is such a great start.