Written by Christi Sparrow
Before I dive into all the fun stats that we’ve logged during our first six months of traveling full time, I feel compelled to address the current global crisis that has seemingly overnight changed not just the way we travel, but has also inherently altered the way we live.
For our family and for countless other families, the COVID-19 pandemic has reached far beyond merely interrupting travel plans. It has shaken our sense of security, induced anxiety, and forced us to have difficult conversations about risks and benefits, our health, food supply, immediate and long-term plans, and basic safety. I know we are not alone. Thankfully, this is the extent to which our family has been affected thus far. Our hearts and prayers go out to families who have suffered infinitely more. We are doing our part to act socially responsible and are taking our civic duty to help stop the spread very seriously.
I started drafting this article just before our six month travel anniversary, which was March 7th, before the COVID-19 crisis escalated here in Australia. How quickly times have changed, and how quickly we’re seeing our world differently. But we still need to celebrate the wins and record our accomplishments, however small or seemingly insignificant. Positivity is so powerful. So here we go… below is a glimpse of our first six months of traveling full time!
Wow, have we really been traveling full time, living out of suitcases and backpacks for six whole months? The truth is, time flies no matter where we are. And although some days I feel like we are hanging by a thread, we are forever grateful to be making awesome memories in unique places. When I reflect on our past six months of travel, I am simultaneously and equally proud of all that our little family has experienced, tried, learned, and overcome, as I am humbled for having had the chance.
Here are some of our travel statistics and FAQs through 7 March 2020 that we’ve compiled to celebrate our six month anniversary of traveling full time. We’ve come a long way in more ways than one!
So, exactly where have we been?
We have landed on 4 Continents: North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia
We have visited 10 Countries: United States, Italy, Croatia, Germany, Austria, Hungary, England, Wales, Thailand, and Australia
We have been to 16 Cities. Click here to see them all!
Our toes have felt the sand of 10 Beaches:
- Cervia, Italy
- Bacvice Beach, Croatia
- Colwyn Bay, Wales
- Busselton Beach, Australia
- Gnarabup Beach, Australia
- Surfers Point, Australia
- Hamelin Bay, Australia
- Cottesloe Beach, Australia
- Fremantle’s South Beach, Australia
- Rottnest Island, Australia
How did we get where we were going?
- Flights: 14
- Trains: 14
- Busses: 5
- Ferries: 3
- Rental Cars: 4
Below Image: Pre-boarding for one of the many flights we have taken on this trip.
Where did we lay our heads at night?
- Airbnb / apartment rental: 160 nights
- Hotels: 5 nights
- Housesitting: 8 nights
- Stayed with Family: 5 nights
- Airplanes: 3 nights
- Ferry: 1 night
- WWOOFing: 1 night, (March 7th— our six month anniversary of traveling full time!)
- Total: 183 nights
So how many moves have we made?
Twenty two! Twenty two times we’ve packed our belongings into suitcases and backpacks. Twenty two times we’ve said goodbye to a home and moved our family. Twenty two times we’ve felt the excitement of arriving in a new town, city, or country.
Organizing all of the logistics for traveling full time has taken a lot of work. We are always looking for the best companies offering the best prices. Take a peek at our Travel Resources page to see the companies we recommend.
Below image: Arriving early in Split Croatia after an 11 hours overnight ferry from Italy.
Favorite Things on Our Travels
Favorite Place
My favorite place so far has been Perth, Australia. Situated on the Swan River, Perth has an amazing park system, friendly people, beautiful trails, lovely weather, and it’s only a short drive to the beach. I felt settled in Perth in large part due to the lack of language barrier and our kids’ great experience at a local preschool!
Jay’s favorite place has been Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. He loved the mountain air, scenery, food, and people.
Chloe’s favorite place has also been Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. She says she liked it because, “it’s so beautiful with all the mountains, and it smells so good. My favorite thing there was going up to Zugspitze. I also liked Perth because I loved my school and it’s beautiful.”
We think Camden’s favorite place so far is Margaret River, Australia, because he loved spotting the beautiful exotic birds that live in the area and exploring our backyard.
Below Image: Sun Set in South Perth, looking over the Swan River.
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Favorite Accommodation
My favorite accommodation is a toss-up between our house in Margaret River, Australia, and our apartment in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Both places offered at least two bedrooms, a fully functioning kitchen, great family space and backyard, beautiful lots, and close proximity to the town and trails. And both of these locations had the freshest air of anywhere on our travels thus far.
Jay’s favorite accommodation has also been our house in Margaret River. He loved the space and being on a large, natural lot. His second favorite place is our apartment in Garmisch-Partenkirchen because of the mountain views and backyard for the kids to play.
Chloe’s favorite accommodation was our Garmisch-Partenkirchen apartment because she loved playing in the snow, and she liked having her own room.
Camden’s favorite accommodation so far is probably our housesit in Plauen, Germany. He liked watching and following our two pet cats, Gandhi and Mandela, all over the house. And there were lots of toys including a Christmas Lego set!
Related page: Visit our Favorite Accommodation page to see the accommodations that left a lasting impression.
Below Image: Enjoying Christi’s Birthday in Margaret River. We loved this home.
Favorite Beach
My favorite beach has been Busselton Beach, Australia. I loved the tall trees for shade, soft sand, crystal clear water, cafes nearby, and the picturesque jetty! (Though all of the Australian beaches we’ve visited have been lovely!)
Jay’s favorite beach has been Bacvice Beach in Split, Croatia, because he enjoyed happening upon a water soccer game there. He also has fond memories of his and Chloe’s daddy-daughter date to Bacvice Beach.
Chloe favorite beach has been “all of them!” We think Camden agrees, even though it took him a few visits to get used to the sand in his toes and the waves splashing he knees.
Below Image: Christi and Camden enjoying a beautiful sunset in Australia.
Favorite Food
The best food experiences I’ve had on this trip so far include the two food tours we took in Bologna, Italy, and Chiang Mai, Thailand. Both tours offered a wide array of local favorites, and I love trying a variety of dishes in one outing! Oh, and I also had killer chicken tikka tacos from a food truck, Tikka Tango, in Perth.
Jay’s favorite foods include the pork knuckles in Germany, specifically the pork knuckle at Zum Wildschutz in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. He also really enjoyed egg omelettes and spicy Thai sausage with sticky rice in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Chloe says she has loved watermelon and apples wherever we go, and she has particularly liked the plums in Australia. She also really enjoyed sausage sandwiches with her Daddy in Germany.
Camden also loves fruit no matter where we are: watermelon, blueberries, strawberries, and cherry tomatoes. He also ate lots of sauerkraut in Germany!
Below Image: Jay enjoying his Pork Knuckle and a local brew in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Favorite Park
Both my and Jay’s favorite park has been King’s Park in Perth, Australia, because of its beauty, sheer size, playgrounds, cafes, city and river views, and water features.
Chloe says her favorite park is the one in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, because it has a zip-line.
Camden loves any park with a swing and a ladder, but one of the best is Lotterywest Family Area in Kings Park in Perth, Australia. It’s a sprawling playground with several play areas and lots of shade trees.
Below Image: Chloe and Camden enjoying time together on the swings in Perth, Australia.
Favorite Running Route
My favorite running route was the annual 12.2km Eibsee-Herbstlauf race that began in Grainau, Germany, and climbed 370 meters to finish along half the circumference of the beautiful Eibsee lake. It was a memorable experience to run and mingle with locals, and I felt very accomplished after that run!
Jay’s favorite running route was the long, uphill portico that led to The Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca in Bologna, Italy. The challenging route plus the city views were especially memorable.
Below Image: The uphill run through the stunning Porticos in Bologna.
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FAQs
How much stuff do we travel with?
Before we left San Antonio, Texas, in September 2019, it took months to find a middle ground between Jay essentially wanting to pack nothing more than toothbrushes and diapers and me wanting to pack for dozens of potential scenarios. Six months into our trip, although some of our belongings have been replaced or cycled out, we still travel with the same two large suitcases, three backpacks, and two carseats with which we left home.
As the kids grow, we purchase new clothing items and donate the old. If Jay or I purchase a new clothing item, (which is rare), we try to adhere to the “one-in-one-out” policy. So far on our trip, Jay has purchased seven clothing items, and I have acquired five. We only consider buying something if we absolutely love it!
With limited space in our suitcases and weight to consider when flying, we buy very few souvenirs. Our favorite item to collect on our travels is ornaments for our Christmas tree. Even when we’re traveling outside of the holiday season, we like hunting for a keychain or magnet bearing the name or iconic symbol of the place we’re visiting to one day hang on our family Christmas tree.
We have sent little souvenirs, a few clothing items, and important documents, (like birthday cards and a few of Chloe’s drawings), back to the U.S. with my Dad who has visited us twice on our travels: once in Germany and once in Hungary. It was wonderful to share parts of our trip with him! Besides that, we’ve only mailed one large shoebox-sized box of personal items home to Texas.
Below Image: What we packed for Camden. Neatly organized in his very own Packing Cubes.
How do we combat homesickness?
Luckily this wasn’t a frequent issue for us during our first six months of traveling full time. We like to call, text, or FaceTime family to feel connected and hear familiar voices.
But when Chloe does get a little homesick, we talk about the things she misses: our home, her bedroom, and her old school. We even have a short video tour of our home that we watch from time to time. We want Chloe to retain those memories! Then we talk about a fun outing planned for the week to give her something to look forward to.
Homesickness also crops up when one of us gets physically ill. When you’re sick, all you want is to be in your own bed!
Since the development of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have each felt new waves of sincere homesickness. Making the decision to stay in Australia was one of the most difficult decisions we’ve ever made. We have most definitely increased the frequency of our FaceTime calls with family to check on each other and feel connected.
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How do we research/choose kid friendly destinations?
First and foremost, we look for places that are relatively safe and politically stable. We also look for places that offer a variety of attractions for the entire family: outdoor activities, annual events, unique cultures. We like a mix of large cities and small towns. There are kids everywhere in the world, and part of the adventure is learning about how other families live!
Below Image: Petting the Kangaroos at the Caversham Wildlife Park in Western Australia.
How do we deal with the time differences and the kids’ bed times?
Sadly, there is no quick fix or secret trick for avoiding jet lag. For our best advice, see #9 in our blog post, “A Dozen Essential Tips for Traveling with Young Children”.
Which city has been the most challenging?
Due to the differences in food, culture, and infrastructure, our most challenging city thus far has been Chiang Mai, Thailand. But precisely because of these challenges, Chiang Mai has also been one of our most rewarding cities. It’s very empowering to figure out how to navigate a foreign city, try new foods, and challenge ourselves to adjust our lifestyle habits with two young kiddos in tow. We are glad we spent an entire month there, so we had enough time to adapt and learn how to enjoy the city.
Below Image: Exploring the markets in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Has anyone gotten ill while traveling?
Before we left home, we made sure we had strong travel insurance in place. We have each had our share of illnesses on this trip, but twice we were compelled to seek medical attention. The first time was for me in Germany when I contracted an awful stomach virus. The second time was for Chloe in Thailand when she battled the flu.
Now that we are living through the COVID-19 pandemic, we are taking extra care to wash our hands frequently, abide by social distancing guidelines, and stay home, limiting our trips to grocery stores and pharmacies. This is an extreme test of how well we can work together to stop the spread and protect the most vulnerable members of our communities!
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How do we celebrate holidays and birthdays?
It’s fun and challenging to plan celebrations while traveling. Seeking local treats and learning about different cultures makes for some memorable special occasions.
We spent Halloween in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, and though we attempted trick-or-treating, we quickly learned that it’s not quite as popular as back home in the U.S. But we still carved pumpkins, (in fact, a little field mouse made her home in one of our jack-o-lanterns), and we planned a fun Halloween scavenger hunt at home.
We were honored to be invited to Chester, England, to share Thanksgiving with the University Degrees Abroad program for which Jay is a scout. We enjoyed turkey and all the trimmings, (including a few British favorites), alongside some of Jay’s former players from San Antonio, Texas!
For Christmas we knew we wanted to be somewhere cold and festive, and we found a housesitting job in Plauen, Germany, so we headed there! The town had a lovely Christmas market; we put up our own little Christmas tree; and Santa found us! On Christmas Day, Chloe’s new scooter essentially became a member of our family.
For Chloe’s 5th birthday in January in Thailand, we took her to the Chiang Mai Zoo with another family, out for pizza lunch, (her choice), and an ice cream treat after dinner. The next day we hosted a play date in a park with some other families we met in Chiang Mai. I think we made some unique and special birthday memories!
Below Image: Carving Pumpkins in Germany.
A few related posts you might enjoy:
– How to Prepare to Travel for a Year with Your Family
– 23 Tips on How to Save Money To Travel
– How to Save Money When Traveling with Kids
– Lessons Learned Traveling with Kids
Looking Ahead
The past six months have truly been amazing. I’m so proud of our little family. As we look ahead to the next six months, I know we will need to dig deep and strengthen our resiliency, find patience in new ways, continue to draw comfort in each other, and radiate positivity like never before.
We made the very difficult decision to remain in Australia until the COVID-19 crisis calms down both here and in the United States before we return home. The next six months will look very different to the last six months, but we’re determined to do our best with what we have, wherever we are.
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13 thoughts on “Traveling Full Time for Six Months – The Stats!”
I’m so sad you had to change it up because of COVID, but it looks like y’all are making the best of it. Beautiful family, the pictures say it all. Have fun and be safe.
Thanks, Jenny! Take care and stay safe!
Pingback: #08 | Jay and Christi of Puddles & Passports | Proving That the Digital Nomad Lifestyle is Possible with Children - Nomad On Fire
Cool post! I love the nights counted on planes and ferries 🙂 We live in Germany now and our kids were also a bit disappointed that Halloween isn’t such a big holiday here, but they’re enjoying some new candy-filled holidays like Carnival. Looking forward to hearing about your next 6 months!
Thanks, Amy! We loved our time in Germany!
I love the idea of counting the different types of places you’ve stayed. Sounds like you’ve had a great six months so far! I’m sure the next six will be just as interesting! Thanks for sharing and the inspiration!
Thanks for your comment, Erin! We enjoy your blog, too!
Those must have been six tiring but awesome months! Loved to read it Christi! 🙂
Thank you!
I am amazed at all you have accomplished in six months as you travel with your kids! I hope we can do something similar one day with our future kids, too.
Thanks, Karis! It’s not always easy, but it’s always an adventure. 🙂
wow this is so cool! I can’t wait till we can start traveling again and loved the FAQ at the end! you should definitely do a few more like that, the information was very helpful!
Thanks for your comment! Glad you enjoyed reading this post.
We just joined your Facebook group for bloggers! 🙂