One of my top recommendations for families who want to get travelling sooner rather than later is to read all you can about long term travel and travelling with kids.
Just like you’ll learn more about babies by reading baby books and information based websites, you’ll also learn more about how you can travel the world on a budget by reading travel books. It’s not that it can’t be done – it’s just that you haven’t learnt how yet!
As always, simply take the advice and tips that you think will work for you and discard what wont. There is no one way to do anything, and we all have unique circumstances and situations to consider.
The list of books below are mostly those I read as soon as the idea of long term family travel came into my mind. I was so excited I wanted to learn everything right away! A couple of the books I have just started reading and am enjoying thoroughly. But all these have one thing in common — I know you’ll get a great deal of inspiration and loads of ideas as a result of reading the books. Best of all – you will see for yourself how possible (and surprisingly easy) family world travel can be.
If you find it difficult to sit down and read a book (I always seem to be able to make time when I am inspired enough!), something that has always worked for me is to buy the audio versions of the books. We all need to do things that take up idle time – for example, buy a caravan and listen on your road trips. I found I would get through so many more books by listening to them in my car, or downloading them on my phone and plugging in earphones.
So enjoy – and if you’ve read any of these books, be sure to let us know what you thought of them in the comments section below!
Travel Books #1: Escape 101: The Four Secrets to Taking a Sabbatical or Career Break Without Losing Your Money or Your Mind
Escape 101 was the second book I read about long term travel, but my recommendation to you is to make this the very first book you read – especially if you are struggling with the belief that long term travel is possible or if you have doubts in your mind. Escape 101 is heavily geared towards the earliest of stages of planning family travel: conquering fears and emotional roadblocks you may have, as well as tackling excuses people make that result in a loss of momentum, and therefore not travelling.
There is a section on travelling with children, and the author shares stories of traveling with family in the book, so there is lots of relevant information. The book is also littered with quotes from some of my favourite business people and leaders who I have followed and been inspired by. Great book!
Grab a copy from Amazon.
Travel Books #2: The Family Sabbatical Handbook: The Budget Guide To Living Abroad With Your Family
This helpful book details the journey of a family who decided to move to another country to live for eighteen months, where their children attended the local school. It’s a really thorough, practical book, ideal for those who are keen to find out what you may need to consider when planning such a big move with your family.
Although we’ll be moving from country to country when we travel, I still found it really helpful reading about their experiences and hearing their advice in general. The book includes quotes and information from other travelling families they came across throughout the eighteen months. I really enjoyed it!
Grab a copy from Amazon.
Travel Books #3: How to Travel the World on $50 a Day: Travel Cheaper, Longer, Smarter
Written by the highly popular travel blogger Matthew Kepnes of Nomadic Matt, this book is a collection of fantastic tips to save money while you travel. While Matt is a solo traveller, it doesn’t mean that you wont save money with his advice – he covers everything from flights to avoiding banking fees.
You can definitely incorporate the tips no matter how you’re travelling – you’ll certainly get a return on investment when you buy this book! I do know of families that have travelled the world on $50 to $100 a day and blogged about it – I will list all the blogs and websites I have read in another article.
With a new, updated version due out in early January in 2015, it’s another book worth getting your hands on, especially if you’re particularly budget concious.
Grab a copy from Amazon.
Travel Books #4: The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich
The 4-Hour Workweek was the first book I started reading about traveling. It not only talks about mindset but it goes more into the nuts and bolts of how you can make finances work for you while travelling. I haven’t even started travelling, yet it’s helped me to run my day and business much more efficiently in so many ways. If you run a business, you’ll want to read this book!
If you work in a job, it’ll give you some great ideas on how you can make your travels work too. Even if you don’t have a business or job outside the home, it will help you find out ways you can earn money while you’re away. Another must read!
Grab a copy from Amazon.
Travel Books #5: Plan Your Escape: Secrets Of Traveling The World For Less Than The Cost Of Living At Home
This is a book I have just begun reading but can’t wait to finish! Plan Your Escape is chock-a-block full of advice from the Dunlaps, who travelled the world for two years (51 countries!) on less than $100 per day!
You’ll find hundreds of cost-saving strategies, learn how to choose the right destination and work out how to plan your trip. Includes safety tips and how to avoid travel scams as well as step-by-step checklists and guides. For those who have a reluctant partner, you’ll get advice on that too! Everything is covered for those wanting to get away and save money at the same time.
Grab a copy from Amazon.
Travel Books #6: The Alchemist
A brilliant book by Paulo Coelho which has sold more than 2 million copies around the world! Even my daughter read this book – twice. It’s a fiction book, but if you want to get inspired about following your heart’s desires to travel, this is a must. It’s so easy to read and very hard to put down. Every person I have recommended this book to has not wanted to stop reading once they started – and the ending is epic.
Grab a copy from Amazon.
Other Books To Read
I haven’t read this list of books, but have heard positive things about them:
- One Year Off: Leaving It All Behind for a Round-the-World Journey with Our Children
- Take Your Kids to Europe: How To Travel Safely (And Sanely) In Europe With Your Children
- Frommer’s 500 Places to Take Your Kids Before They Grow Up
- Adventuring With Children: An Inspirational Guide to World Travel and the Outdoors
- WorldTrek: A Family Odyssey
Enjoy!
