FAQ: One Year of International Family Travel, 40 Countries, and a Lot of Luggage Tetris
So, you’re curious about our big adventure? Maybe you’re considering taking a year off for international family travel or planning your own Family Fun Year. Or maybe you just want to know if we survived all that family togetherness (spoiler: we did!). Either way, we’ve rounded up some of the most common (and some of the most bizarre) questions we get asked about our trip on this travel blog.
Q: What was the craziest thing we ate?
A: I’m not sure we can narrow it down to just one, but top contenders include camel spleen, live octopus, and Witchetty Grubs (if you don’t know what those are, I suggest not Googling them before lunch). The one thing we just couldn’t bring ourselves to try? Guinea pig. We saw it on menus, we saw people eating it, but we just couldn’t get past the fact that it looked like someone’s beloved childhood pet.
Q: How did the twins do school?
A: The kids made it very clear that homeschooling was a hard no for them. So instead, they enrolled in Laurel Springs School, an online, self-paced program where they submitted assignments and received feedback through the same dashboard. It worked well—well enough that they didn’t demand to be left at the nearest international school along the way.
Q: How much luggage did we take?
A: Each of us had a small checked suitcase and a backpack—except for Ash, whose suitcase was one size larger. Why? Because he was also the designated gear mule, carrying everything from sleep sheets and headlamps to hiking boots and an entire travel pharmacy—essential when tackling long-term international family travel.
Q: What did we pack?
A: Since we left in June and mostly hit warm destinations for the first seven months, we packed light on cold-weather gear. For exceptions—like Alaska—we had a separate bag just for that trip. In Nepal, warm parkas were provided, so we mainly layered our lightweight clothing.At the seven-month mark, we stopped in Melbourne for a family visit and did a major luggage reassessment. Knowing we were headed into colder climates (China, Japan), we left warm-weather clothes with Ash’s mom (thanks, Grandma!) and hit Kmart and Target for sweaters and boots. The swap-out system worked beautifully!
Q: Did we stay in hotels or Airbnbs?
A: Both, but mostly hotels. Since we moved quickly (40 countries in a year!), we didn’t get the cost benefits of long Airbnb stays. We maximized hotel points and loyalty programs—after 180+ nights with one brand, they really start to notice you. But beyond hotels, we embraced unique family travel experiences: tents in Kenya, teahouses in Nepal, and pub inns in Ireland. Whether it was a luxury stay or a local guesthouse, every family vacation felt like a new adventure.
Q: How did we do laundry?
A: However we could! Sometimes we used hotel laundry, sometimes local laundromats. Our wildest experience? Goa, India. We couldn’t find a place that could wash and dry our clothes in the time we needed (humidity is no joke). So, against all common sense, we handed our laundry to a restaurant owner who promised he’d have it done. Two days later, we returned, half-expecting to have lost all our clothes forever. But—miraculously—it was there, clean and neatly folded. Shoutout to that guy.
Q: How far in advance did we book travel?
A: Some big things—like an African safari and hiking in Nepal—were booked way ahead since permits and guides were required. But after that? Nothing.Why? Because our Nepal trek ended in Lukla, home of the "world’s most dangerous airport." With about a 50% flight cancellation rate due to weather, we had no idea when (or if) we’d get out. So, we booked nothing past that point, only reserving one night in Kathmandu, just in case. After successfully escaping Lukla (whew), we spent a day frantically booking our next stops. Lesson learned: flexibility is key!
Q: Where have we not been that we still want to go?
A: Many places but the big one is Antarctica. The elusive seventh continent. Someday, penguins… someday.
Q: What’s our current country count?
A:
Twins – 51 countries
Me – 74 countries
Ash – 86 countries
Yep, he’s winning. For now.
Q: And our current count of U.S. states?
A:
Twins – 33 states
Ash – 40 states
Me – 49 states (North Dakota, you remain the final frontier. Someday, I will visit you.)
Q: Since this was a year of international family travel, what were our favorite destinations?
A:
It's almost impossible to choose a favorite, but if we were hard-pressed to decide, our top destinations from the year (which might be different from our all-time favorites) would be Nepal for Ash, Finland for me, the Maldives for Lila, and Japan for Cooper.
Trekking in the Himalayas, chasing the northern lights, relaxing in overwater bungalows, and experiencing Japan’s blend of tradition and technology were all unforgettable highlights. Every destination added something unique to our journey, but these were the ones that stood out the most.
Q: Where are we now?
A: San Diego! But we’re always looking for the next adventure and traveling whenever we can. If there’s a flight deal, we’re there.
That’s the scoop! If you’ve got more questions about international family travel, planning your own family vacation, or how to make a long-term trip work, feel free to send them our way. We love sharing what we’ve learned.