taking 2 little kids round the world - all advice welcome

[nappybaglady]

Dh and I are planning to buy round the world tickets this weekend for ourselves and 2 children - DD (4y) and DS (18 m). The vague plan is to go to New York to buy all the stuff we might need then Canada (Toronto and Calgary/Rockies) to visit friends/family. After that we'll probably head somewhere like San Fran or Yosemite before heading for Australia then NZ. Probably stop somewhere beachy/ Singapore on the way home. We're going May/June/July. Dh is on unpaid leave and I've resigned.

Yup, you're right, we must be asolutely mad. Clearly DD will remember some of it and enjoy it but who, in their right mind, chooses to go on a trip to the supermarket with their 18 month boy, let alone right around the world. However the deed is done. I've handed in my letter of resignation so now we just need to make it happen.

If anyone has any advice, particularly about mustsee/mustdo stuff for Australia (in June/July)or about travelling with little ones in general please let me know. I've started trawling through the travel bit of MN, not to mention lots of serious googling but any advice welcome

Thanks

sounds brill

you should get several thrown in

are you going for STAR ALLIANCE FLIGHTS?

They include singapore airlines + Air New Zealand both very good

so good they named them twice

eidsvold - whereabouts in Brissie are you. My sis in law lives in Windsor - we are off there for three weeks in late April/early May with twins (will be 6 months then). Mother in law lives in St Lucia. I lived there for a year in 95, part of the time in Bardon, part in St Lucia

Hope that star alliance fits into our plan because they sound much better than BA group. Not sure quite how much freedom you get when booking ticket - am sure you can go exactly where you want if you can pay but obviously we're trying to keep costs down where poss

really looking forward to going to travel agent on sat. Have got babysitters so that we can have a sensible conversation for as long as it takes.

yes you can deffo go where you want

nappybaglady when are you going to be in Aus exactly?

oooh Harrogatemum, we'll fly past each other sometime in May.

I grew up in Harrogate. Often lurk on the yorkshire meet thread dreaming of when i eventually get back there

crossed posts

no exact dates yet but probably Oz in June, NZ in July (NYC, toronto,calgary san fran in May)

It is deffo worked out by MILES

so a price band 30,000 - 35,000

then 35,000 - 40,000 and then so on.

The bands may be different but that is the idea IYSWIM

Getting more and more excited every time I come to MN. Making it seem real. Might spontaneously combust before we go

gosh nappybaglady would I know you? which school did you go to? You should CAT me and find out more!! If you are going to Brissie my sister in law would love to see you, no joke she is the most hospitable person on earth, has a lovely house with a deck, two girls aged 3.5 and a year and Aussies are just the best when it comes to being lovely to people who they dont even know!!

had some great news today. Boss offered me a contract to sign before I go so that I'll have a job to come back to. I knew that they might want me back but didn't think they'd get me signed up before we go.

HGmum - left school and harrogate 1989. Better not blow alias online! Were you at school in hgate too?

Will check on insurance but think it was QUANTAS INSURANCE

most compnaies do not cover long trips but they did up to 90 days

SO as we went all "round the world in 80 days" that worked for us

If you can wait til weekend I can tell you exact details of the deal we got. [our folder is in sussex and so will look @ weekend]

If the travel agent has better then go with them

RTK - the mileage thing might be quite good for us as we're sort of going straight round without too much toing and froing.

wonder if it might be cheaper to book online but feel the need for human contact as it's quite complex hence we're making a big trip to Manchester for Trailfinders

nappybl - left school in 1990 so surely we are a similar age!! I was at Rossett - I'm sure as a harrogate veteran you know it well!

crossed again - I'm really not quick enough. RTK you're an absolute star. Thanks for all your help. Insurance can certainly wait - we'll just get a quote at the w/end so def interested in yours

HGmum - will CAT

Oh no crying baby.

prob won't be back til monday

Have a good w/end all

ps - not that I think he'll cry til monday, just won't have chance

we used quite alot going to maldives via singapore

As we wanted to go with singapore airlines we went back and forth

Have you seen TRAVEL 2 and TRAVEL 4 brochures?

They are very good as they are for independant travel IYSWIM

The roundtheworldflights.com shop I mentioned had a brochure from Preferential Insurance which we took out. Was very cheap for the two of us.

know where they are harrogate mum - my mum grew up in Windsor - I am on the northern outskirts.

RE: star Alliance - most are brilliant only one I have problems with is United - absolutely refuse to fly them... each time I did - cabin crew were vile and it spoilt the travel.... so I now refuse to fly them.

Depending on your bank - we got our travel insurance as part of dh's credit card package... with Lloyds.

Rving from Cairns to Brisbane would take you three days at least.... but you can stop at some of the major provincial cities on the way.

Mackay is great/Airlie Beach - gateway to the reef and whitsunday islands....

WE'VE BOUGHT OUR TICKETS (OUCH - £5000)

WE'RE GOING

WE'RE GOING

WHOOPEE

Can't stay online - we're not at home now but just wanted to let you know. Thanks for ALL the advice so far - was v useful. Will post more on Mon

Whoops - didn't use any of these