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Original poster

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

150 replies

dejags · 12/01/2006 17:54

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

OP posts:
popsycalindisguise · 17/02/2006 20:34

That is fantastic!

Good luck to you all! I daren't tell dh about this thread as eh is mentionng this more and more

laundrylover · 17/02/2006 20:55

Dejags,

Just found your thread and am very excited for you! We did two big trips pre kids and have been to Argentina with an 11 month old so far. Next one due soon and we are planning a USA camper trip so will look at your link nearer the time. Do keep us updated and I'll look out for your posts. By the way we took 10 cloth nappies which were easy peasy if you use them already....
My cousin lives in Siem Riep and the temples look amazing- what is the malaria advice for there now? Tempted to go - maybe next year though!

nowanearlyNicemum · 18/02/2006 12:53

have been thinking about this loads.
we did a 6 month trip in 2003 just before getting pregnant with dd and are now expecting (just) number 2 so we can't exactly start planning a trip yet but we're definitely hoping to be able to do it in the not too distant future - will keep an eye on your posts, that's for sure.

Original poster
dejags · 18/02/2006 18:07

oh I have been googling Fiji. What a place!!!

re. the cloth nappies - I think this sounds like a great plan. I am sure we will need to do laundry at least every 3 days (I won't personally do it - I'll give it to a washing service). What I mean is, is that it'll be a heck of a lot cheaper than washing service + disposables and a lot less bulky.

We went looking for travelling goodies last night - I looked at tote bags, document carriers and lots of other exciting things

I have also approached a well-known Guide-Book company to see if they will be interested in our story - wouldn't it be lovely to see our story published?

OP posts:
Original poster
dejags · 18/02/2006 18:10

Nowanearlynicemum/Laundrylover,

we have been umming and ahhing about this trip for well over a year. We decided about a year ago that we were definitely going, then just before booking the tickets we decided that our DS2 was too young (he was only 4/5 months then).

Now he is older and starting to potty train himself (unbelievable I know), I think it will be easier on everybody. No worries about bottles, special food etc.

I still get the odd pang of "are we mad" but on the whole I am just incredibly excited...

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nowanearlyNicemum · 18/02/2006 19:02

you're not MAD -
you'd be MAD not to go!!!

where abouts in S E Asia are you planning to go? the choice is endless isn't it? that was the hardest thing about 'planning' our trip - trying to limit the number of countries we would be visiting. And we still ended up goign to 9 countries in 6 months.
now that's MADNESS

Original poster
dejags · 19/02/2006 10:23

nownearlyanicemum

We'll be going to Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand in SE Asia.

Our trip totals 8 countries (excluding the UK) and we'll be gone for six months.

On average we'll spend a month in each of the big countries, except the US, where we'll be spending 6 weeks.

I am starting to really think about logistics now - Visas, packing lists, first aid kits etc.

My DS2 has been an "ear-infection" baby. He has grommets in his ears now so is much much better but our ENT Surgeon has suggested that we travel with dry (unmade) antibiotics just in case he gets an infection and we cannot access a good doctor.

The list of things that are necessary is endless but I know that I will have to cull it down to bare bones and rely on the fact that most things can be bought in most countries these days.

Our other worry is vaccinations. I have made sure that both children will be up-to-date on their normal vaccination schedule. There is still Yellow Fever and Malaria to worry about though.

I could go on and on.... (and probably will ), I am using this thread to organise my thoughts.

OP posts:
Original poster
dejags · 19/02/2006 10:26

BTW - STA Travel are by far and away the best value for money for their RTW tickets.

Our tickets were just under £1000 (ex taxes) for the adult fare. Total of under £5k for all of us including taxes.

If we had bought the tickets in SA, the same itinerary would have been double the price.

OP posts:
nowanearlyNicemum · 19/02/2006 10:53

feel free to organise your thoughts - I may be taking notes

I'm sure packing must be an enormous headache but I suppose the most important things have got to be the first aid items - good idea about the dry antibiotics as long as you know exactly when you need to be using them.
most of the countries on your list have pretty good medical care available (obviously depending on where you happen to be at the time) As far as SE Asia is concerned, Thailand in particular is a good place to be ill. Although I'm sure you'll all stay fit and healthy all the way round

how do the vaccinations work for the little ones - can they take anti-malaria medication at such a young age?

sorry if I'm pumping you for info at a time when you need advice yourself

tilbatilba · 19/02/2006 11:08

Very very exciting. It will be the coldest time to be in Melbourne...if you do Melbourne in late Aug it will be better. I think a month in China might seem like a very long time with little children, personally I would spend longer somewhere cruisy like SAE or in Oz.....
You will have such a great time!

nowanearlyNicemum · 19/02/2006 11:13

a month in Oz or a month in China - it's not really the same budget is it?
but that might not be a concern, I don't know.

tilbatilba · 19/02/2006 12:02

Well I was including Hong Kong in the month in China as Dejags said she was taking the train there. HK is seriously expensive for a family to stay anywhere reasonable adn day to day living is astronomic. China is hard going on a budget, especially with a family . Australia can be very affordable to travel and SEA more so. It was just a suggestion. I know I would prefer an extra week on a beach for my little children to enjoy than a week in a city in China.

bubblerock · 19/02/2006 13:17

Not sure if this site will help you at all? What a fantastic adventure!!

RTKangaMummy · 19/02/2006 15:11

we took dry antibiotic powder for DS and had as letter from GP explaining what it was and why etc

As well as his steriod tablets for asthma

He didn't need any of these extra medicine only his normal asthma drugs

RTKangaMummy · 19/02/2006 15:12

Are you taking needles and syringes ???????

Original poster
dejags · 19/02/2006 19:26

Thanks for the link Bubblerock... will look at this as soon as I am done on here.

As for China/Hong Kong - China is our long term dream. We will spend at least 10 days to two weeks in Beijing alone. We want to take our time and really, really enjoy ourselves. We have already booked into a Hutong B&B which looks fabulous for a whopping $30us for all of us for two rooms a night. It's a backpackery type place but with more.

Tilbatilba - how long did you spend in China? How expensive is expensive iyswim? . Reason I ask is that all my research has shown that it (China) will be cheaper than Aus/NZ (obviously that excludes HK).

We'll only spend one or two nights in Hong Kong at most because of the cost.

The casualty of the weather war on this trip was unfortunately Melbourne . It's just one of those places where we had to sacrifice the weather in order to fit in with the itinerary. It is impossible to get everything you want weatherwise when visiting both hemispheres and as we are ultimately going to live in Melbourne we thought that we could live with the bad weather.

OP posts:
Beetroot · 19/02/2006 19:29

Have best mate inMelbourne dejags whois a teacher so please cat me if yo need someoe to talk to over there

Original poster
dejags · 19/02/2006 19:29

RTKM - we'll probably take a few syringes with us but no needles. The doctor is going to give us a letter which I'll have translated into Chinese if necessary.

Tilba - we will be spending loads of time on the beach (or at least for us). We aren't very beachy people so the 2 weeks in Fiji and month in SE Asia will be more than enough for us. Really interested to hear more about your experiences in China.

OP posts:
Original poster
dejags · 19/02/2006 19:31

Cheers Beetroot - I'll definitely do that. I am going to need loads of practical advice if our application for migration is accepted. Especially relating to schooling and infrastructure for littlies.

OP posts:
Beetroot · 19/02/2006 19:32

she left uk to move to melbourne so am sure sh e will help.

laundrylover · 19/02/2006 20:22

Hi Dejags,
Just a few notes on the nappy front. We took ten prefolds and a few wraps and liners and washed them every night or so by hand. This is OK if poos are solid!! We just bought a solid bar of soap which lasts forever. Buy one of those pegless twisted elastic washing lines which can fix up in your room in case there isn't a washing line at the hostel/hotel. Then when we were able I took them all to the launderette/washing lady along with our clothes. I tell you what though Tilly generated far more washing than us two put together! We also packed about 6 Moltex which saw us through the long haul flights.
Keep pushing the potty training though - Tilly was dry at 18 months and having just one night nappy on your travels would really make a difference. Is there such a thing as a travel potty??
Afraid we did China by tour and stayed in posh hotels due to time limits but reckon it will be cheap as chips DIY. Over there the babies just have a hole in their pants and poo on the pavement!!!

Original poster
dejags · 19/02/2006 20:22

Bubblerock - what a FABULOUS site. I have spent over an hour browsing.

So much info - I think I am going to burst.

OP posts:
Original poster
dejags · 19/02/2006 20:26

Laundrylover - I think I'll be changing my name to Laundrylover2 by the time this trip is finished .

Funny how something so mundane can be such an issue when travelling with small kids. Unfortunately cloth nappies are not available at all in South Africa, so I'll have to wait until we get to the UK to buy them and then hope for the best that we get on.

I am going to buy a stack of lightweight bibs for DS2 in an attempt to keep his clothes fairly clean and to try and limit him to one change of clothes a day.

OP posts:
laundrylover · 19/02/2006 20:32

Sadly laundry is one of my favourite things when travelling - a but of routine if you know what I mean!!
Why not pick up some nappies on MN and get them when you come to the UK? Lots cheaper than new. Sorry but mine will be back in action very soon or I could've helped out!

laundrylover · 19/02/2006 20:34

We use those plastic bibs now for Tilly which you can wipe clean and they collect all the bits too. Would be ideal for you I think and less bulk than many cloth ones...