Our Round the World Tickets are booked - GULP, advice pleaaaase :-)

[dejags]

After what seems like a hundred itinerary shuffles it's finally booked

We are officially taking our two small children on a 40000 mile odyssey around the world. So if any of you have any brilliant travel tips for the following destinations I would love to hear them.

8th May - 15th June USA by Campervan
16th June - 29th June - a couple of weeks on the beach in Fiji
29th June - July 25th - a month in NZ, we hope to ski
July 25th - Aug 25th - a month in Australia
Aug 25th - Sep 25th - a month in China
Sep 25th - ?? South East Asia, for two or three months.

We are excited and terrified. Nappybaglady if you are around I would love to email you and get your perspective as your kids were the same age as mine.

Advice welcome

Dejags, sorry I took so long to return. RL is a bit heavy at the mo. Am going to be unemployed shortly which is a bit of a disaster since we spent all our savings gallivanting around the world last year. Still, I wouldn't change our trip for a minute.

I missed your update on your previous thread before Christmas but have had a good read through now.

DD was 4y 4m and DS was 19m when we set off, so very similar to your children. DD has always been a great sleeper but DS is a much lighter sleeper - doesn't take much to disturb him. We had a few bad nights but generally he did very well, whether we were all in the same room or in different rooms. We took a travel cot with us. This was partly so that he would have a familiar bed but mainly because we have sometimes been provided with such grotty and sometimes dangerous travel cots when staying places previously. Whilst the travel cot is quite a big bit of luggage it doesn't really matter because the only time we had to carry it was to/from taxis or off/on luggage carousels. With small children in tow we were hardly hiking around with rucksacks on our backs so the extra bulk simply didn't matter. Also, because we booked a seat for DS we had four luggage allowances so never got charged for XS baggage.

You mentioned carseats in one of your posts. We took DSs carseat with us (maxicosi priori). Couldn't use it on Virgin - they provided their own 'infant care seat'. No probs using it on singapore or AirNZ. Again this meant that DS had a familiar place to sleep whilst flying and kept him conveniently trapped when he was awake. Also was ideal so that as soon as we jumped in a taxi at airport we could strap him in and be confident about saftey. Went on a couple of flights when DS didn't have seat booked (not all of our flights were included in RTW ticket because it was cheaper for our itinerary) so he just sat on our knees...and clambered around everyone else's. On theses flights we had no hassle in checking the carseat into the hold as 'outsize baggage'. Airlines would help us to package it at checkin desk and fortunately it never got damaged although I suppose it could have done quite easily. We must have been a bit of a nightmare at checkin desks with our kids, mountain of luggage, buggies and carseats. However we had paid for our seats and for the airline to ensure our safety just like all the other passengers. We always tried to get to airports reasonably early so that we had loads of time to patiently sort our stuff out.

OK, now onto your itinerary. Looks FAB. NY was superb, so much for the kids to do. If your eldest child knows Miffy you could get him Miffy Loves New York (we got it on Amazon) before you go. It's quite cute and has some tourist info as well as a vague Miffy story.

We didn't really like San Fran/California but I think that was more to do with us than the place - we were slightly in the doldrums when we got there.

Computer keeps crashing at mo so better post this then start the next chapter!

Chapter2!!

Campervans....I think I ranted about them somewhere previously. Just make sure you book ahead so that you get a nice one. The one we had was just so hard/slow to drive and too small. I'm sure, even with kids as young as ours, we would have had a better time in a bigger van.

You're going to NZ for most of July. Will be cool and damp - rather British. DH went skiing at Mt Hutt near Christchurch in June. Slopes were just opening up then. Christchurch and the area around it is great. We had a fantastic drive from Christchurch via Twizel and Queenstown to Milford then back up the East Coast to Christchurch. Took 6 days of driving at least 3h per day but was great. Just phoned ahead for motels which cost between $100-160NZ. Can give you names if you like. Glad that we weren't ina campervan on South Island. would have been pretty chilly at that time of year. NZ doesn't seem to do central heating but everywhere has good heaters and wonderful electric blankets. We still ended up wearing practically all the clothes that we were travelling with one early morning in Queenstown.

Next Chapter...

Chapter 3...

Sydney - fab but crappy weather last July. We stayed in wooloomooloo (maybe not spelt right!!). Walked from there right round waterfront one day. Took ferry to manly. Loads of other stuff to do. Aquarium is great. DS ran around shouting 'I found Nemo mummy' much to everyone's amusement. There's a little soft play place in aquarium entrance, next to the cafe and BAR. We had a civilised hour sitting down while the kids played in there.

Another thought that popped up. What are you doing about pushchairs? We took a 3wheeler with us when we set off then bought another 3wheeler shortly after getting to NY (at about half UK price). We were possibly the only couple to ever push 2 3wheeler buggies on the NY subway but we got as many offers of help as looks of amazement. After a while our old buggy fell to pieces so we replaced it in NZ with a v cheap umbrella-type buggy (which DH subsequently ran over in the campervan but it still worked!). Having 2 buggies allowed us to get around at our pace without exhausting the kids. Clearly at 4+ DD doesn't usually go in a pushchair but there is no way she could have walked around NY/Sydney etc all day. In fact at that stage she was still having an afternoon nap most days (I did say she was a good sleeper) so she would snooze in the buggy.

Back to stuff about Oz. We drove from Cairns to Brisbane. can give you names of places we stayed if any use to you.

Stayed at the MN-recommended Swisshotel Merchant Court in singapore. 5 nights of luxury before returning home. Warm weather, swimming pool, big room...bliss

That's about all I can think of for now
although I'm sure there's loads more. Keep in touch via posts or CAT and let me know if you'd like specific details.

And let me know when you're starting packing. It took me the best part of 2 weeks to get exactly what we needed for both hemispheres, all weathers, wellies and sandals, swimsuits and waterproofs into 2 bags.

Just one note about packing

Don't take rigid suitcases they will take up too much room in campervan

Take squidgy holdalls that can be flatterned

Excellent, dejags! Can't wait to read the book!

Fraser Island is fab in Oz as is Whitsunday islands. Cairns won't suit too much - very backpacker party place. but Cape Tribulation in Rainforest lovely. Western Australia - Albany and around the south is nice if you get there.

Perhentian Islands were fab - not sure what they are like now as it was a while ago. We satyed on the big island. Take alcohol with you as it is muslim so can't buy it there. Also I seem to remember the fishing boat we went over on had to rescue people from another one that was sinking...

In Thailand Ta Thon (sp?) north of Chaing Mai was very beautiful and peaceful.

Ubud in Bali very nice as is the north coast of the island - can go dolphin watching there - very early start though.... aslo nice fresh water swimming pools..

Are you going to Sarawak or Sabah at all? We got a discover Malaysia airpass one time we went which was a bargain and you get to see a lot! In Malaysia the taxis are also very cheap for getting around town to town.

New Zealand - glacier walking fun on south island but your two mnight be a bit young for that. You can do helicopet trip over it though...

Campervans.

Agree about squashy bags, you spend a lot of time moving stuff to front to sleep and then to back of van to drive. Take warm clothes they get chilly at night. Get an electricity connector so you can plug in at camp sites. A lot of hostels will let you stay and you pay a nominal fee just to use toilet/shower but you sleep in van.

hi, did the round the world thing 2 years ago and loved it.
loved in melbourne for a year too, st kilda is a perfect place to live, hope you get chance to go. gorgeous craft markets by the beach on sunday mornings. casino is quite special too, often has shows which kids coud watch for free.
fraser island also stunning and fab for kids, walk to the top of indian head early morning and you can see for miles out to the ocean. we spotted dolphins, a whale, sea eagle etc, cant explain how amazing it was.
sailing on whitsundays is also amazing but only if you dont get sea sick!
spent quite a while in asia too before oz but not sure if i went anywhere you'd want to take the kids! oh actually, sentosa island off coast of singapore (you get bus from centre across the bridge) was quite nice too. loads to do there but not very cultural, depends what you want to see.
in nz you have to go to milford sound, think its probably the most beautiful place ive ever seen. there are loads of nasty biting flies though but cant remember what time of year that is.
sorry have gone on a bit havent i? get a bit over excited at the thought of being able to take dd one day sorry!!
hope that all helps!

sorry that should of been lived in melbourne not loved
freudian slip i guess!

dejags - eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeekkk! Sep 2004 mum goes global!! I'm very jealous. Since arriving back from Canada I've been to Aberdeen and Belfast. It's just not the same

Promise us you'll post with news of all your adventures!

Wow! Thanks for all the information - will print this off.

13.5 weeks and counting

Amazing, well done! Can't wait to read the posts! hope to follow you next year (still working on dh...)

skiing - Treble Cone in South Island, NZ, near Wanaka, up a winding dirt track which is a bit scary but we really liked the runs.

wow, I'm jealous!

BTW did you win the lottery?

ssd - I wish ,

no we are just taking a massive risk - i.e. going away with no jobs to come back to.

It's something we have always wanted to do and I believe in taking chances [another gulp]...

good on you then!!

have a brilliant time too!

Thought I'd revive this as I am starting to get seriously excited...

10 weeks, 2 days and counting until we leave. We slightly altered our itinerary before paying the tickets (they cost £4600 including taxes for four of us - both kids have seats).

So, this is us:

1st May - Cape Town to London
8th May - 15th June, USA (NYC - LA overland)
15th June - 29th June (Fiji, beachy relaxing time)
29th June - 25th July - NZ, skiing
25th July - 25th Aug - Australia, Syd, Mel, Great Barrier Reef
25 Aug - 25 Sep - China (Beijing, Xian, Shanghai - sleeper train to Hong Kong)
25th Sep - 25 Oct - Malaysia and Cambodia
25th Oct - Home!

I cannot wait, it's the most exciting thing I have ever done.

Oops 10 weeks, four days and counting...

DEFFO BRILL

Where are you going in FIJI??????

sounds fantastic dejags.

so you have to take clothes for everytning from beachwear to skiing!!

how much luggage are you taking?

Oh for your benefit NBL - this will be our home while we are in the USA.

What do you reckon?

RTKM - our Fiji itinerary is not yet fixed, we fly in Nadi. I am hoping to spend some time in the next few weeks researching where we want to stay.

As for packing eeeeek. We traditionally travel very light. Our plan is to send a shipment back at the end of each country - that way we can travel fairly light.

We are taking a very lightweight stroller, a baby carrier for the toddler and two backpacks and a carseat for the toddler.

Whatever we can't fit in, we'll either buy or do without.

We had very weird packing but fleeces are the way to go

For heat in Las Vegas in the morning to thick snow in Toronto in the afternoon

We went shopping for gloves for DS and the bloke in the shop thought us very weird as it was the end of the winter season and we were buying winter clothing

We boxed up stuff and sent it from NZ to my parents home

You will love FIJI

ooooh I'm sooo jealous!!!
just out of interest dejags, how old are your little ones?

RTKM - Oh you are making me even more excited (I'll be off to look at Fiji after this).

Nowanearlynicemum - 2ds's. DS1 will be 5 and DS2 will be 21 months.

Oh wow - this is something that DH wants us to do. he travelled for a year after university. South east asia places he loved were: moorea (island near fiji), raratonga.

However, he was still n a student frame of mind when he went...

Good on you for taking the risk! Dh would do this like a shot!

To be truthful Popsycal, I think we are having some sort of early midlife crisis

Neither of us are happy in our careers, we haven't settled down in Cape Town very well (we moved here in November 2004). We firmly believe that we "can't take it with us when we die" so we decided what the hell. We think it'll be an incredible opportunity to really spend time with our kids away from the humdrum of life.

One of the things that most excites me about this trip, is that I will be homeschooling my DS while we are away. He tells everybody that he cannot wait "for mummy to be my teacher"