Travel Gear

Once your toddler outgrows a portable crib or pack n’ play, what do you do with them when you travel? The answer is, bring along a toddler travel bed. Portable toddler beds are great for [...]

Millions of Americans will take the road this holiday season. Visiting family and friends for Christmas and New Year’s Day that we can’t see that often throughout the year is definitely part of [...]

If you’re traveling with babies or toddlers then you’ll need to pick the best pack and play to bring along with you. Don’t worry! We’ll help you decide. We’ve laid [...]

If you’re planning a cruise for the first time, but are a bit unsure on how this whole cruising thing works, don’t worry!  Our first time cruise tips cover everything from choosing a [...]

After spending four months travelling in Europe this year, we picked up a few tips about booking flights to Europe and flying around the continent. Flying around Europe is generally really [...]

Searching for the ideal gift for traveler woman in your life? My list of the best travel gifts for her will help you find the perfect present for any woman who loves to travel. I’ve put [...]

On our recent trip to Japan and Korea we had the opportunity to add a layover in Shanghai onto our journey. In fact, it made our flights a couple of hundred dollars cheap to fly home via [...]

Wondering what to pack for Japan? I decided to put together a Japan packing list after our recent trip there. This was my second trip to Japan so I’ve visited once in September/October and [...]

Ever thought about visiting Vietnam with kids? Here’s a little something to get you inspired! Vietnam travel with kids is very rewarding. There’s so many great things to do in Vietnam [...]

I’ve flown on Air New Zealand in both economy and premium economy several times in the past year. Both solo and with my family in tow. For business and for pleasure. This is our Air New [...]

Flying with toddlers is terrifying for some parents. Travel can be stressful and exhausting when you’re on your own but throwing a child into the mix can multiply those factors five fold. [...]

We’ve done a lot of travel this year from our home base in New Zealand and we’ve realised that sometimes we have to think a little differently when it comes to our travel plans. Planning your [...]

Eight countries in five weeks! Our family trip to Europe in Spring 2015 was a whirlwind. Fast paced, eye-opening, stressful at times but amazingly worthwhile. Exploring Europe with kids is a [...]

If you’re headed to Japan and are looking for a Peach airlines review, have a read through and see what we thought of this Japanese budget airline. We recently flew from Osaka, Japan to [...]

Looking for fun and useful cruise gift ideas to give to someone who loves cruising? I have put together my top picks for gifts for cruisers. As an avid cruiser and cruise packing expert my [...]

Being on a plane for 12 hours can be draining to say the least and that’s why I put so much effort into choosing the best travel accessories for long flights. My list of long haul flight [...]

Welcome to our Carnival Breeze trip report! We cruised on the Carnival Breeze in July and had the most amazing week. We loved this ship, the fellow Texans on board and the ports of call we made. [...]

Lucky you! You’re off for some fun in the sun on a Carnival Cruise! My Carnival cruise packing list will help you get organized so you can be fully prepared and totally relaxed once [...]

Milan is often overlooked by visitors to Italy. As Italy’s fashion and financial capital, Milan can feel a bit business-like. It doesn’t have the same pull as Rome or the drama of [...]

Want to know how we travel the world with our kids and use just one suitcase? Let me show you how! Learning to travel with just the one suitcase makes family travel a breeze. We have traveled [...]

We recently tested out the Spirit Big Front seat to see if it was worth it. The Spirit Airlines Big Front seat reviews we read online before our flight made it seem worth it… but was it? We [...]

Many first-time cruises ask me, can you get seasick on a cruise ship? The answer unfortunately is yes, you can feel seasick on cruise ships. I have a few tips on how to avoid seasickness on a [...]

Wondering what to pack for India? It was one of the main things I worried about when planning my two week India trip so I put together this India packing list for other travellers to use. When [...]

Wondering what to pack for Hawaii? My Hawaii packing list will help you get organised for your trip. What to bring to Hawaii depends a little on the type of vacation you’re going on and the [...]

We absolutely love Hawaii. It’s honestly one of the most perfect places on the planet if you want to relax in the sun, soak in natural beauty and enjoy sandy beaches with warm water. If you [...]

Ask anyone what countries are on the top of their bucket list and no doubt Iceland will be included in that list. For me, it’s absolutely top five on my list of must see countries for 2017. [...]

If you’re heading off on an Alaska cruise soon you’ll likely need a night or two in one of the hotels near Vancouver cruise port. We’ve put together a list of the 10 best hotels [...]

Let me help you pick the best place to stay in Bali! Bali is a fantastic spot for planning the relaxing, tropical break that you deserve. Where to stay in Bali depends on the type of holiday [...]

Whale watching in Kaikoura is a must do when visiting New Zealand. Add this to your bucket list and see our amazing photos Kaikoura whale watching!

Wondering where to stay in Hong Kong? We think we found the best place to stay in Hong Kong with kids! There are not many family friendly hotels in Hong Kong. Space is at an absolutely premium in [...]

It’s about this time of year when us Kiwis & Aussies really start itching for a winter break. The days are short, the nights are long and we’ve all got colds. A break from your [...]

With the winter approaching and school holidays coming up next month, now is the time for Kiwi and Aussie families to book a trip overseas. Escape the cold weather, school days and break out of [...]

I've created 12 cruise outfits based on 7 key items allowing you to mix & match, pack light and look fantastic on your cruise! Plus size options included!

3 days in Los Angeles is the perfect amount of time for first time visitors to the City of Angels. With 3 days in LA you can actually accomplish quite a lot! The beauty of Los Angeles is that [...]

I love NOLA. New Orleans, Louisiana. It's unlike any other city in the US. Here's why I New Orleans is my new favourite city in the US... possibly the world.

Wondering where to stay in San Francisco on a budget? Accommodation in San Francisco is notoriously bad value. Hotels in the prime tourist parts of town are dumpy, over-priced and get terrible [...]

Swimming with sea turtles in Hawaii would have to go down as one of the most beautiful and incredible experiences we’ve had together as a family. Taking a swim with sea turtles was an [...]

Lucky you! You’re about to explore one of the most magical places on earth. We all know that Hawaii is special but the Big Island is something else. It’s everything you could ever [...]

If you’re travelling with kids or extended family, you know that finding accommodation can be the trickiest part of planning your trip. You need to find something everyone is happy with, [...]

If you've got two weeks in Europe, I've put together an itinerary that covers Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. Plan your 2 week Europe trip in one handy post!

You know we LOVE visiting Las Vegas with our kids. There're are so many great kids' activities in Las Vegas. So, after our latest visit, we put together a list of 10 fun things to do in Las Vegas [...]

If you’re bored of the usual beach break, you’ve done DisneyWorld more than once, and you’re not all that interested in rollercoasters, you’ll be pleased to learn that there are a myriad of other [...]

If you’re headed to Thailand as a family, there’s one things I recommend more than anything for people looking for fun things to do in Bangkok with kids…. Funarium!   [...]

If you’re visiting Thailand with kids, you’ll be on the look out for family hotels in Bangkok. There are a number of kids friendly hotels in Bangkok. We think there’s a lot of [...]

Time to start planning your family vacations for 2018! If there’s one thing I could encourage you to focus on this year, it’s building incredible memories as a family. Buy [...]

Those who have been following this travel blog for a while now will know that, when I turned 30, I resolved to visit 100 countries by the time I turned 40. At the end of every year I do a [...]

2015 was a busy year for us! I’ve already written about the craziest things we did in 2015. We did a lot of travel in 2015 but somehow I managed to actually find the time to blog about most [...]

Some may say New Orleans is not a family friendly destination. I say, they’re wrong. Visiting New Orleans is a cultural experience, one that you can definitely have with your kids along for [...]

2015 was huge! We did a lot of travel in 2015. Most of it was great. Only some of it was tough. After a full year on the road, it’s hard to remember everything we did but a few things [...]

If you’re heading away on vacation to San Diego, there is no better place to stay than right on the beach. Imagine waking up to the glittering Pacific Ocean every morning, and watching the sun [...]

Park City is one of the best little towns in America. If you love to ski or just want a holiday getaway to somewhere snowy and atmospheric, Park City is a great choice for a weekend or week-long [...]

Visiting Las Vegas with kids? Read my family friendly Las Vegas guide to find things to do in Las Vegas with kids, family friendly hotels in Las Vegas and Las Vegas shows for kids.

What are the best family ski resorts in North America? If you’re planning family ski vacations this winter, this is the post you need to read. I thought I would poll my fellow family travel [...]

Choosing gifts for travellers can be tough! My gift guide for families who love travel will help you select the perfect present for your travelling loved ones or yourself!

As a foreigner who has been travelling in the US for the past 15 months, I’m often astounded or dumbfounded by things I come across here. I know US culture from TVs & movies and [...]

After over a year of travel, we've come up with our list of the 10 best cities in the US to travel with kids. Did your favourite city make the cut?

The US is the absolute best country in the world for road tripping. Here are 5 amazing US road trip itineraries for your bucket list. Tried and tested by us!

What do you know about Dutch cuisine? If you're like me and know nothing, an Amsterdam food tour will blow you away! I couldn't believe how delicious and unique the Dutch cuisine was. Read this [...]

Take the risk out of using Priceline Express Deals with my step by step instructions on figuring out exactly which hotel you'll get BEFORE you book! We've been using Priceline Express Deals to [...]

Canada's capital city will surprise you! There are so many great things to do in Ottawa with kids. Home to many great museums, outdoor adventures and entertaining activities, you can easily spend [...]

Nice is the perfect base for enjoying and exploring the French Riviera with kids. The weather is beautiful and there is a lot to love about this part of the world. Here are my tips and [...]

Nashville is an amazing city - the music, the food, the culture. We loved it! Here is my list of the top 10 things to do in Nashville with kids.

New to travelling with kids? Nervous, overwhelmed or just don’t know where to start? I’ve put together a beginner’s guide to travel with kids just for you! In this post [...]

You know we are huge fans of Las Vegas! There is just so much to do in Las Vegas for kids. Families are catered for very well in Vegas and there are some excellent accommodation on offer in the [...]

For most people, travel is a life-changing experience. Having children along for the ride doesn’t change that. In fact, travelling with children can further enhance the transformative power [...]

You’ve heard of Salt Lake City right? Utah’s capital city is a hub in the west. You probably know it as home to the world’s Mormon population and amazing Winter snow sports. But [...]

Seattle is hands down one of my favourite cities! In the US, even in the world. I could definitely see myself living in Seattle. There is a wealth of things to do with kids in Seattle. I came up [...]

Use technology to your advantage when you’re travelling in Europe! There are couple of simple tricks that you can do to make travelling in Europe a lot simpler with the right technology. We [...]

I never expected to end up in Milwaukee, let alone while my husband and kids were all the way back in Canada. I’m so used to being with my family 24/7. Travelling long-term with your kids [...]

When you think of visiting the USA for a holiday, I’m guessing your mind will automatically switch to New York, LA, Vegas, Florida, or San Francisco, right? You wouldn’t be alone in thinking [...]

We just spent an amazing five weeks in Europe travelling with our kids. It wasn’t always easy though. There are many challenges to travelling in Europe with small children. I’m not a [...]

  I can’t believe we’re going to Europe in a week! It’s a bit of a detour from our road trip around the US and North America but we had a good reason to head across the [...]

Newsflash: Google is taking over the internet. That’s nothing new. But now they’ve rendered my favourite flight search engines practically useless. See ya Skyscanner. Adios Adioso. [...]

We are HUGE fans of using Priceline to save money on our hotel stays. We stay in a lot of hotels so have got “Pricelining” down to a fine art. We regularly save 20-50% on room rates [...]

Koh Samui is one of Thailand’s best island paradises. Tourists know about it and flock in their thousands. And for good reason. Koh Samui has some of the best beaches I’ve ever been [...]

Visitors to Mexico who focus only the wonderful beaches on the Riviera Maya are missing out! Head inland, just an hour or so from Cancun or Playa del Carmen and you’ll come across a [...]

San Francisco is a great city to visit with children. There is plenty to do in the city! We spent a week enjoying San Francisco on our road trip from Seattle to Las Vegas but three or four days [...]

Flying in business class or first class is wonderful, addictive and something that every traveller should try at least once in their life. But what about if you’ve got kids? Can you fly [...]

Long term travel isn’t for everyone. I get that. Add kids to the mix and it becomes a less desirable option for many people. The goal of my blog isn’t to encourage you to quit your [...]

The US is an amazing country for road tripping in, we should know! We’re on our second road trip around the US. The first was a 3.5 week trip around the Southwestern States (Nevada, [...]

From late August to late September we spent five weeks travelling through America’s Pacific Northwest. An amazing part of the country we saw cities, beaches, national parks and met up with [...]

One of my favourite things about travel is meeting other travellers and hearing about where they’ve been, what they’ve enjoyed along the way. Creating a community of like-minded [...]

Travel with kids is sometimes a polarising topic. Many people, even those who were avid travellers, believe that travel stops once you have children. This doesn’t have to be the case. There [...]

Updated June 2017.   People book the majority of their travel online these days. Booking and paying for travel online can literally take hours of your time. Search through various websites [...]

Key West is a unique destination sitting at the Southernmost tip of the continental USA. It’s charming, historical and old-fashioned. Some might think it’s a little too touristy, or a [...]

You may remember that, when I turned 30 back in 2012, I resolved to visit 100 countries by the time I’m 40. The problem is I’ve kind of been a lazy traveller, choosing to re-visit [...]

If you’re looking for a tropical getaway but are not looking to party with the masses, don’t discount a visit to Cancun. Villa del Palmar Cancun is a great family-friendly resort in [...]

Last year flew by. I feel like I just blinked and missed it. How could it have been almost a year since we bought Hazel into this world in March? Has it really been five months since we set off [...]

We are not package tour kind of people so when we decided on cruising the Caribbean we knew we needed to plan our shore excursions independently. Especially when travelling with children, [...]

I love taking selfies just as much as the next person. It’s about the only time I every get to be in any of our travel photos as I’m the chief photographer in our family. [...]

Want to know how to book cheap five-star hotels in Las Vegas? I’ve stumbled upon an amazing Priceline hack! This amazing Priceline hack will save you hundreds of dollars on five star hotels [...]

When I meet strangers and tell them we’re travelling the world with our small children they always tell me how brave I am. People assume travelling with kids is hard work, infinitely more [...]

Now that we’re happily settled in Las Vegas for the next six weeks, it’s time to sit down and plan out our next round of travels. I had great success asking you all for advice on our [...]

While the USA is a wonderful country to travel around, they are particularly strict when it comes to visa rules and restrictions. If you’re planning a visit to the United States, read this [...]

The USA is a wonderful place to travel and, sometimes, the standard 90 day visa waiver just isn’t long enough to explore this vast and contrasting country. What’s more, the rules for [...]

The Hawaiian Islands are extraordinary. Each one is unique. Kauai is known as “The Garden Island” and immediately on arriving you can see why. A huge expanse of green stretches across [...]

Last year’s travels between Brisbane and Singapore in Etihad’s wonderful business class totally spoilt me for all my future air travel. I learnt how to bid for cheap upgrades on [...]

  Finding accommodation in Hawaii was difficult. Much more difficult than any other location I’ve come across in my travels. We knew we wanted to stay in an apartment with at least one [...]

Burma (or Myanmar) should be number one on your list of places to visit in 2014. This fascinating country is about to undergo a tourism boom. Find out why it’s so wonderful in this [...]

Help plan our summer travels! We’re in planning mode for our next round of travels. It’ll be our first big international trip as a family of four so we’re looking for something [...]

I love sharing travel tips! In fact, my big travel tips post from last year has been my most popular post to date with almost 40,000 people reading it since May 2013! Since you loved it so much I [...]

This is one of the most common questions asked by parents setting out on world travel with small children. There is no definitive answer on this one and, for many, it comes down to personal [...]

Flashpacker Family turns two years old today! When I started blogging back in March 2012 I never thought about where this blogging journey would take me. Two years on, I’ve learnt so much [...]

Just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean you need to pause your travels. You can easily travel if you’re having a normal, healthy pregnancy. Whilst pregnant with my first child [...]

Australia is pricey. There's no geting around it. But here are some tips for making travel in Australia less expensive.

What’s your favourite airline? If you’d asked me a few months ago, I would have said Air New Zealand. Not because I’m a loyalist national but because they always offer great [...]

Singapore and Kuala Lumpur are two of the major airport hubs in South East Asia. If you’re travelling in the region you’re bound to end up passing through one of these cities at some [...]

We spent a month living in Koh Samui in November 2013. If you’re spending more time on the island than a few days in a resort you will probably need a car. Taxis aren’t cheap around [...]

There’s no getting around it – Singapore is pricey when it comes to accommodation. If you’re planning a visit to Singapore you can count on the cost of a hotel being your major [...]

Las Vegas is an excellent place to start your travels in the US. The scenery in the surrounding deserts is unlike any landscape I’ve experienced before. We used it as a jumping off point [...]

Walking onto the plane knowing that you paid much less for your seat than everybody else on board is a great feeling. This is what smart travel is all about. By being a little crafter with your [...]

Car hire is a fantastic option for exploring the US, Europe, Australia and New Zealand but it can be pricey. You have to shop around and, with this simple tips, you can slash hundreds of dollars [...]

What does adventure travel mean to you? Adventure travel sure is different when you have a toddler in tow. It’s about seeking out challenging destinations that are still interesting but [...]

Because travel is a priority for our family, we’re always searching for ways to minimise costs and save money. Before setting out on our travels this year we made a huge effort to downsize [...]

We’ve hit a bump on the road. But… it’s the best kind of bump in the world. A baby bump!     That’s right. We’re having baby number two!!! And we’re [...]

  What’s it like to visit Krabi in the wet season? The wet season for the Andaman coast of Thailand runs from May through until October. We caught the end of the rainy season in Krabi [...]

Not everyone has months to spend bumming around Thailand like us! We appreciate that many people are limit to vacation time from work so, what would we suggest if you’re planning a short [...]

Whether you’re a food lover, a bargain hunter or just a glutton, you’ll find plenty to please at LasVegas’s buffet restaurants. Almost every hotel and casino has their own [...]

After arriving in Koh Samui on Friday and having a great first day at the beach and pool with Reuben, things started to go down hill. As you probably know from my Facebook updates, I spent the [...]

Whether you’re travelling to London on a holiday, or you’re thinking of making it a permanent home, there are bound to be some pros and cons to picking this city, as with every other choice. I [...]

If you’re looking for a luxury hotel in Singapore with a point of difference, this is it! Hotel Fort Canning Singapore is a former colonial building that has been a British outpost, [...]

I like to consider myself a pretty savvy traveller. I’ve been globetrotting, flashpacking or living abroad for the past 10 years. Luckily, I’ve never had any major travel [...]

  Bidding for an upgrade to business class is the latest and greatest way for anyone to try to upgrade their flight. I’ve already talked about our experience using the service on [...]

  The days of free business class upgrades, of batting your eyes at the check-in desk, of dressing spiffily or of claiming it’s your honeymoon, are sadly over. Plenty of travellers who [...]

We have been wrestling a little with our intro to the nomadic lifestyle. It’s not an easy transition and the temptation is to start guns blazing especially when you’ve been dreaming [...]

I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Slurpy, soupy, noodley delciousness. It was the only thing consuming my thoughts. Decision making, deschmision making. In the end, it’s all about [...]

Sydney is a great city by any measure. It’s modern, accessible, beachy, hip and the food is awesome! There are some many fun things to do in Sydney with kids! We spent a week there in June [...]

There’s never been a more expensive time to visit Australia. The Australian economy isn’t suffering to the extent of it’s counterparts in the UK and USA. The Aussie dollar is [...]

Keeping kids motivated for travel, especially on a longer trip, can be a struggle sometimes. The physical act of travel can take it’s toll – bumpy bus rides, jet lag and culture shock [...]

Have you heard of the slow travel movement? This new concept in travel is by far more economical, less stressful and allows for a more meaningful overseas experience. It’s quite the [...]

Vietnam is a country that can polarize the opinion of it’s visitors. Some people love it, others loathe it. I, myself, have had a love-hate relationship with Vietnam over my three visits. I [...]

Think you can’t afford a holiday? Think again. If you make some minor adjustments to how you live your daily life you can watch the dollar or pounds or euros stack up in your savings [...]

Australia is one of the most expensive countries on the planet to visit at the moment and we’re going to be here for the next few months. I’m looking for any way of making travel in [...]

Paris is the number one tourist destination in the world… and with good reasons! Fabulous museums, chic shopping and certain “je ne sais quoi” that no other city on the planet [...]

It could have been just any other ordinary Tuesday on the road. Instead it morphed into a day of luxury in one of the best cities in the world. Australia is one of the priciest places on the [...]

After 25 years in operation, the Sydney Monorail is closing this week. The monorail circles central Sydney taking in Darling Harbour, Chinatown and the city centre. Sure, it held little use for [...]

Before we head to a new city I’m online looking up the best things to do with kids. The Sydney Powerhouse Museum deserves to be close to the top of any itinerary for families travelling to [...]

Like many young Kiwis, London was calling when I was in my early twenties. Striking out on your own for the first time is a big deal but doing it on the other side of the planet can make things [...]

We spent the last week in Sydney and decided to try out some of Sydney’s best accommodation. We attempted to stay in a accommodation across three different price brackets – budget, [...]

Can you stay in hostels with kids? Absolutely. Hostels are no longer the main stay of the grungy backpacker. People from every walk of life stay at hostels. During our stay at Sydney Harbour YHA [...]

Four months ago, I watched this TEDx talk by Man vs Debt. If you’ve got 15 minutes, watch it now or after you’ve read this post… especially if you’re wondering how to [...]

We’re about to embark on a long-term round the world trip with our almost three-year old son. This is a very exciting idea to me but… I’m reluctant to divulge much information [...]

Surprise! We’re heading to….  Sydney, Australia!   Using my super travel ninja skills, I found cheap flights from Christchurch to Sydney on Emirates that I just couldn’t [...]

Last year, for my 30th birthday, I decided to set myself the goal of seeing 100 countries before I’m 40. I calculated that I needed to visit at almost eight countries a year for the ten [...]

Las Vegas is designed to relieve you of as much of your precious cash as possible. If you’re smart, however, there are ways to make a trip to Las Vegas affordable.   Here’s how [...]

It felt like just a few months ago that we were tripping around South East Asia with a tiny not-quite-two-year old boy. Enjoying spicy food, riding third-class trains through rice paddy fields [...]

I’ve been travelling for the past decade and have a tonne of travel knowledge knocking about in my brain. For the past month or so I’ve been sharing a “Daily Travel Tip” [...]

On the surface, budget airlines always appear to be the cheapest option. However, fares aren’t always as they seem when it comes to budget airlines. There’s a myriad of hidden charges [...]

  I wasn’t always lucky enough to have a location independent income. I used to work in an office job for a living as a personal assistant. I lived and worked in London for a few years [...]

New Zealand is famous for it’s great outdoors. Dense rainforest, majestic plains, towering peaks… it’s what draws 2.5 million tourists to this little country every year. How [...]

My head is swimming. I’ve been scouring flight search engines like Dohop and Skyscanner for the flights every which way across the United States. Just when I think I’ve found a cheap [...]

As our family is moving towards full-time nomadic travel, we’re thinking about ways we can keep Reuben connected to his extended family back home. He has a great relationship with his [...]

There’s an article on the Daily Mail website which is making waves across the internet. In it the author, a mother, advocates using anti-histamines like Phengran & Benadryl to drug kids [...]

Yesterday I discovered how easy it is to build a cheap RTW ticket using Skyscanner’s Everywhere search function. I quickly and easily planned out my own 16 country, five continent RTW [...]

I’ve been professing my love for Skyscanner all over my Facebook page these week. Skyscanner conveniently allows you to select “Everywhere” as an option when searching for [...]

  I’m constantly intrigued at the random things people Google and subsequently reach my site. Seriously, there are some weird people out there and some even weirder questions. [...]

I love hearing personal stories from travellers who have enjoyed New Zealand. As a local, sometimes I just can’t appreciate the natural beauty of New Zealand until I see it from an [...]

We’ve all felt it after a long flight across time zones, jet lag hurts and can take days to shake. What does jet lag mean? Jet lag is more than just being tired after a flight. It affects [...]

Nancy Sathre-Vogel is an inspiration. She’s one of the few people in this world who knows what conquering your fears and living your dreams is all about. Nancy is one of the first women I [...]

I’m no expert when it comes to skiing or snowboarding – in fact I’ve only been on the slopes twice in my life. There are plenty of great places to ski in New Zealand so I asked [...]

    Did you know that March is National Umbrella Month? Funny that. How does this relate to a travel tale, you ask? I’m about to tell you how a rainy day in Yangon turned into my [...]

I’ve enlisted the help of an army of bloggers to create an expert list of New Zealand travel tips. They’ve been there, done that and bought the t-shirt. If anyone knows how to travel [...]

I’m always surprised when other travellers tell me they’ve always wanted to visit New Zealand. For many, it’s their dream destination. Because I grew up here, I sometimes forget [...]

What’s the best place in New Zealand? As New Zealand is my home country, this is a question I often get asked by other travellers when I’m out on the road myself. So many people want [...]

Port Douglas, Luxury Resort Town or Family Destination? Since the 1970s Port Douglas in Far North Queensland has been known as an upmarket playground for the rich and famous. Celebrity sightings [...]

A humorous take on house sitting in New Zealand by the wonderful Wanderlusters….     The geographic isolation of New Zealand means that a large proportion of the native flora and [...]

Transport will take a big chunk of your New Zealand budget. For such a small country, the distances between main centres are reasonably large. Diversifying your travel options will most likely be [...]

As a local, I know the ins and out of living in New Zealand but for most of my readers that’s not the case so I asked my friend Kate from Life Outside My Comfort Zone to share her knowledge [...]

Travel bloggers are all over the interweb but Kiwi bloggers are fewer and farther between. Surprising given the amount we Kiwis love to travel. This week I’m introducing you to another [...]

With 17,000 kilometres of coastline, New Zealand is bound to have a few good beaches, right? Absolutely! New Zealand has some wonderfully scenic beaches. Along the East Coast of the country [...]

The aptly named Forest Parks from Everyday Nomad takes on three awesome walks in New Zealand in this guest post.     I remember my first moments in the South Island of New Zealand. [...]

    New Zealand isn’t a cheap place to visit. Some might argue that it’s even prohibitvley expensive especially given the cost involved in getting all the way down here. The [...]

The drive from Christchurch to Greymouth is one of the best drives in New Zealand. It’s a trip I’ve taken hundreds of times, having grown up on the West Coast, making frequently runs [...]

New Zealand seems to be on everyone’s bucket list. As a Kiwi, I know lots of little tips and hacks for making travel in New Zealand cheaper. Check out my New Zealand category for more posts [...]

New Zealand isn’t renowned for a particular type of cuisine. Eating out is expensive compared to every else in the world (with the exception of Australia). There are we Kiwis do really [...]

New Zealand. Aotearoa. Land of the Long White Cloud. Middle Earth.     A firm favourite on the tourist trail, haven for adrenaline junkies and home to four million people… and 60 [...]

This is a guest post by Mary from Bohemian Travelers who spent five years living in Costa Rica with her family. You can follow Bohemian Travelers on Facebook and Twitter. Please do not contact me [...]

We had a fabulous travel plan for 2013. It went a little something like this: Spend two months snowboarding in Utah Fly to Costa Rica for a few weeks Fly to Florida and take a two week Caribbean [...]

Despite travelling for almost ten years, 2012 was the first year in which I blogged about my travels. What a difference it has made to how I travel! I’m so much more conscious of what [...]

London is packed with world-renowned tourist activities, massive monuments and historic sites. In a city as big as London, it’s easy to miss all the hidden little corners particularly if [...]

Utah is primarily known for two things – Mormons and skiing, but The Beehive State has a lot to offer visitors. Salt Lake City, or its suburbs, is a superb base while exploring Utah. When [...]

I have a love-hate relationship with Vietnam. I’ve eluded to it in several posts prior to this so I figured now is the time to elaborate. Vietnam: Love it? Or hate it? Vietnam – The [...]

Venice is one of the most magical cities on the planet. Visiting Venice is like stepping back in time. It’s a different way of life. When it comes to Venice, seeing is believing. [...]

Since we’ve been a family Lee, Reuben and I have visited six countries together. From each of them we learnt a little about ourselves, our family and how we want to live. Picking up a way [...]

Apartment Rental for Families on the Move Increasingly more and more popular with travellers, especially those who are on the road long term, renting an apartment is a great alternative to a [...]

Jenny McIver set out on a one month round the world (RTW) trip in 2006, thinking it would be a one-off “bucket-list-shredding” trip of a lifetime. Instead she ended up with an [...]

Despite my travels, I almost always have Christmas at home with my family. I’ve had the odd Christmas abroad – in England, Egypt and Thailand but none were much of a celebration. To [...]

As Summer draws nearer for those of us in the Southern Hemisphere, Winter is closing in for our friends in the North. Summer in New York City with kids is probably far from many peoples’ [...]

Today’s a big day for America. The world stops and waits to see what America does on election day. Though I’m not an overly political person, I can quite happily say I think America [...]

Good accommodation can make or break a trip. I have three priorities when looking for accommodation on the road – a central location, a spacious room and good amenities. My essential [...]

Hannah from Caravan of One started blogging around the same time as I did. She’s one brave girl whose solo journey around the world has just begun. In this guest post Hannah recounts her [...]

As part of my 30th birthday celebrations last month, I proclaimed that my goal was to see 100 countries before 40. Given that I’ve been travelling seriously for almost ten years, I’ve [...]

This week, Lonely Planet produced an article proclaiming Christchurch as one of the best cities to visit in 2013. Their top ten included the likes of Amsterdam, San Francisco and Beijing along [...]

What is culture shock? Culture shock is… …a sense of confusion and uncertainty sometimes with feelings of anxiety that may affect people exposed to an alien culture or environment [...]

Travelling with kids can be hard work. A vacation with kids can be anything but a vacation for Mom and Dad, often requiring more work than you’d have to put in during your daily life at [...]

This week I’m interviewing my third Alexandra for Flashpacker Fashion Friday. It might seem like I only interview bloggers called Alexandra but these girls seem to have their travel style [...]

Travelling with a toddler is different to travelling solo or even to travelling with a baby or an older child. No matter your experience level, you will find it more of a challenge. Your [...]

Alexandra Pucherelli runs two great sites – her personal travel blog, Fluent in Frolicking, and her new guide to everything Maui, Miss Maui Ali. Ali is currently based in Maui but has [...]

No… this DOESN’T mean I’m pregnant! But it is something I’ve been thinking about a lot. I’m at a point in life where I’m thinking about expanding out little [...]

Oh how I long for the days of single, child-free travel!! Lying on a beach, baking in the sun. Jumping on the back of a motorcycle taxi and quickly zipping around a crowded city. Leisurely [...]

Travelling with a toddler is different to travelling solo or even to travelling with a baby or an older child. No matter your experience level, you will find it more of a challenge. Your [...]

Lainie and Miro have been slow travelling through Central and South America for the past three years. They’re on the road permanently and each still manage to keep their own sense of [...]

I’ve never been to a country where more people wanted me to take their picture than in Burma. I rarely came across anyone who spoke English. Snapping someone’s photo and sharing a [...]

Morocco seeming to be calling my name at the moment. Every time I tune into a travel or cooking programme on TV, there it is. I’m stumbling upon blog posts about it constantly. Morocco has [...]

Travelling with a toddler is different to travelling solo or even to travelling with a baby or an older child. No matter your experience level, you will find it more of a challenge. Your [...]

Today’s my birthday!   I wasn’t sure I wanted to announce to the world that I was turning the big 3-0. If I’m honest, it makes me feel old…. and what woman wants to feel [...]

Christine Amorose is a yoga-lover, Francophile and self-confessed beach bum. C’est Christine follows her journeys around the globe, after packing in her job for a life on the road. From [...]

When Dr Jessie Voigts of Wandering Educators offered to write a guest post for Far Away Thursday, I knew exactly what I wanted her to write about! I’ve been thinking for some time about how [...]

Keeping kids entertained on the road is all about keeping them sane. Just because you’re travelling doesn’t mean their interests will change wildly. They’re still going to want [...]

Alexandra Jimenez launched Travel Fashion Girl last month. Travel Fashion Girl is “A Traveler’s Guide to Practical & Stylish Travel Gear”. Alex shows off key pieces and [...]

If you’re planning a Round the World (RTW) trip you’re in for a whirlwind adventure before you even leave your home. There’s so much information to consider, it’s really [...]

The desire to make a connection with a local is what sets a traveller apart from a tourist. Travellers strive to really get to know their destination of choice and getting to know a city or [...]

Austria was the first country I visited “on the continent”. My first glimpse into European life after a few short months of living and working in London. (To me, as a New Zealander, [...]

Top 10 Things to Do in Bangkok with Kids: Updated December 2015   Bangkok is paradise for the hedonistic. The nightlife is legendary and things can certainly get wild. Posh party-goers, [...]

Chinatown in Singapore is a great place to explore. A cluster of lovely little coloured shophouses surrounded by the usual highrise apartment blocks. This crumbly quarter is perfect to walk [...]

Bangkok is one big crazy city. If you’re not careful, it’ll kick your butt. Know what you’re getting yourself into and you can have a grand time in this sticky, heaving [...]

The West Coast of the South Island is a wild and beautiful slice of New Zealand. It’s been a long time since I’ve been back to my hometown of Greymouth. While the town itself is [...]

The Petronas Towers Kuala Lumpur’s iconic Petronas Towers are some serious good-looking buildings. They dominate the skyline of central KL. They’re astounding and glamorous from every [...]

Post updated Feb 2018.   Paris is the number one tourist destination on the planet. And with good reason! If you haven’t been to Paris, you’re really missing out. There are [...]

  The Perhentians are two wonderful islands off the mainland of east coast Malaysia. They offer spectacular snorkelling in the clearest, bluest water I’ve ever seen. It really is a [...]

After a week in Georgetown Penang, it was back to the beach bungalows for us for the final time on our two-month journey. This time we were going to the Perhentians Islands – a set of two [...]

My baby boy was two years old yesterday. As luck (or good parental planning) would have it we finished up our latest round of travels and found ourselves at home, able to celebrate his birthday [...]

It’s the Fourth of July. American Independence Day. A day that our US friends celebrate the indepedence they gained from the British and a celebration that symbolises freedom. America was [...]

Food is a big deal in Penang. The locals are very proud of their cuisine. There a restaurants, food courts and hawker centres everywhere. Hawker centres are a fantastic concept. Picture an [...]

Penang is the island you come to when you don’t feel like being on an island. It has all the amenities of a big Asian metropolis but is compact, charming and diverse. Penang is a place [...]

I’ve always been a creature of change. I like to be a little different and to go against the grain. As a child, I was constantly picking up new hobbies (and dropping them a few months [...]

One of Reuben’s all time favourite books is “Beautiful Butterfly”. It’s simple, cute and colourful. Who is going up and down in the tree? Dragonfly flutters by. Follow me. [...]

Nakhon Si Thammarat to Hat Yai On our last night in Nakhon, we stumbled across an outdoor fairground. It was a little beaten up but the rides were cheap and toddler-appropriate. The whole thing [...]

We sadly just finished up our time in the Southern Gulf islands. We spent almost three weeks in total between Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. Despite Reuben’s meltdowns, we really enjoyed these [...]

The beginning of our week on Koh Phangan was somewhat of a trainwreck, marred by tantrums and generally feeling bummed. Reuben’s mood was bringing me down and my thoughts on everything else [...]

….or are we in hell? Things are pretty miserable for us at the moment. It doesn’t matter where in the world you are, a tantruming toddler can successfully ruin anything. For us, [...]

Koh Samui has never appealed to me. I’ve flown in twice and headed straight from the airport to catch a ferry to Koh Phangan or Koh Tao. Once, I had the misfortune of spending an afternoon [...]

Koh Samui is one of the most popular islands in Thailand. If you’re coming from the capital there are a couple of ways to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui. Some are easier than others. And [...]

We’ve been back in Bangkok for a few days now and the city is definitely back in our good books. After a disastrous first five days in Bangkok we’re taking it easier and not [...]

Where is Siam Ocean World? Siam Ocean World is in the basemet of Siam Paragon, the fanciest shopping mall in Bangkok. Getting there is easy. It’s on the BTS Skytrain – head to the [...]

On a warm evening in Bangkok (are there any other kind?), we set out for a sunset drink over the city skyline. Dressed in our best travel clothes, which aren’t necessary that great but [...]

We were plagued with indecision today. It’s one of our worst qualities as a couple, as well as indviduals. Not so much with the big decisions like should we sell our house and live a [...]

This morning started out lazy again. We ate breakfast, swam in the pool and played in the garden. It’s nice to get a little routine going, even if it is ust for a few more days. We [...]

Another relaxing day in Kanchanaburi. After last night’s storm the morning was lovely and clear. Plenty of blue sky and sunshine. The hotel includes a light breakfast – tea, coffee, [...]

After a relatively miserable first five days in Bangkok we were ready to get the heck out of dodge. As per our original plan, we decided to head west to Kanchanaburi. A perfect, peaceful antidote [...]

We’ve been in Thailand just over a week but already our two months in Australia seem like a distant memory. It seems so long ago but our flight from Brisbane to Bangkok via Singapore went [...]

We’re not loving Bangkok. Lee and Reuben in particular. It’s funny because it’s a city I loved coming to before I had a family. I even fancied living here for a while. Things [...]

My first blog post from the road! We’ve been in Bangkok for five days now and it doesn’t feel like we’ve gotten up to much. Day One We arrived at our guesthouse, New Siam II, [...]

A typical day for us in Mooloolaba goes a little something like this… 6am: Reuben wakes us up. The sun rises at around 5.30am here so it’s hard to sleep in. He’s pleasant in the [...]

We’re on the countdown to our first big trip around Asia. Four more sleeps to go. I am now (slightly) regretting booking the Emirates flight from Brisbane to Singapore that leaves at [...]

We’re less than two weeks away from our next big adventure – two months travelling from Bangkok to Singapore. I’ve been spending a lot of time getting organised. It’s [...]

I’ve been researching the best travel insurance policy for our upcoming trip around South East Asia. We’re limited as to what insurers we can use because our travel [...]

Updated July 2016.   Visiting Vegas with the family? Looking for free things to do in Las Vegas with kids? Las Vegas is full of fun things to do with your kids… without spending a [...]

We’re a little over three weeks from leaving for our trip to South East Asia. We have a rough plan and want to stay flexible but I do need to book that pesky flight out of Singapore so [...]

I participate in a couple of travel forums and questions regarding visas for Thailand come up almost every day. The rules aren’t that complex but because many people travel in South East [...]

Not having to wait until the weekend to have fun is one of the things I love about being a location independent family. We get to do interesting activities every day, as a family, while most [...]

School holidays ruin everything. The Australian and New Zealand School holidays have ruined my plans for keeping our end date on our trip to Asia as flexible as possible. We were hoping to simply [...]

Today we headed down to Brisbane to get our visa for Thailand processed and to have a bit of fun on the South Bank. Brisbane is about an hour and a half drive from where we are on the Sunshine [...]

Having some fun this afternoon. Pushing his face up against the fly screen door. This is a face that only a mother (and father) could think is beautiful. Reuben you are oh so funny. My little [...]

We’ve only been waiting for two weeks but we’ve finally go some sun here on the Sunshine Coast. What a relief it was to get outside today and enjoy it. I only managed a couple of [...]

When you think of Las Vegas, you think of Sin City and everything that term conjures up – drinking, gambling, night clubs, drunken weddings to strippers. While those adult activities are [...]

I’ve been blogging away here for two weeks now. I have yet to write anything about where we are now. Why? Because it’s raining. It’s been raining for two weeks. Two weeks of [...]

Last week I posted Our Travel Wishlist. After posting, a friend asked me: What about all the great stuff in New Zealand? Why isn’t any of that on your list? New Zealand sees 2.5 million [...]

In less than six weeks we are heading for our first family trip to Thailand (and Asia for that matter). I’ve been to Thailand loads of times, more times than I can count without checking [...]

1. Book your rental car from an overseas website. Booking from within the US can work out more than twice as expensive. Check the .co.uk, the .com.au and the .co.nz versions of car rental sites. [...]

Over three weeks in November and December 2011, we hired a car and did a three week roadtrip across the South West of the United States of America.  Our trip covered four states – Nevada, [...]

On our recent trip to the US we spent the bulk of our time in a gorgeous apartment in Las Vegas. The rest of the time we stayed in 4-star hotels. Typically our accommodation costs were around [...]

This week we booked our flight to move on to South East Asia at the end of April.  I went through countless hours of research to find the best possible combination of price plus airline.  Staying [...]

Now is a great time for Australians and Kiwis to travel to the United States.  The Australian and New Zealand dollars are both at record highs against the Greenback so accommodation, eating out [...]

Our most recent flight had us routed from our home in Christchurch through Auckland and into Brisbane. Normally we’d pick the most direct flight given the option however our Auckland [...]

Welcome to the first post on flashpackerfamily.com!   We have created this blog to document our semi-nomadic life, share our travel knowledge, encourage location independence and connect with [...]