Family Gap Year
Round The World Trip
China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Bali, New Zealand, Australia, Chile & Brazil
If you're considering taking your family on a round the world trip or family gap year, read our interview and tips from Pierre Godefroy & Dani Bioum, based in France.
We're happy to help you choose family-friendly destinations and tours for your trip - find out more on our Family Gap Year page!
The family: Pierre Godefroy and Dani Bioum and their two children Eva (5) and William (3), from France
The trip: LONDON – BEIJING – surface – HONG KONG – BANGKOK – BALI – AUCKLAND – surface – CHRISTCHURCH - SYDNEY – ALICE SPRINGS – surface – AYERS ROCK – CAIRNS – SYDNEY - SANTIAGO – surface – RIO DE JANEIRO - LONDON
 What made you decide that the time was right to go travelling as a family?
To make a round the world trip, you need a least two major things: Time and some money. Time for a family means the two parents can cope with a long break from their jobs which most of the time has to be planned quite a long time in advance. For the children, in France, school is only obligatory from the age of six. In our case, as our two children are 3 & 5, it was easy. We decided that it was the right moment as after this point we would need to make school ourselves to our children which is not so easy.
How did you decide which destinations were suitable for young children?
Security and hygiene are more important for small children. So we avoided some destinations like the Middle East or India. They are also interested in swimming, animals more than landscape or shopping! So we try to do a mix between our desire, their needs, and possible cities.
How did you work out your budget?
We took different information from the web, looking on families’ blogs feedback. That has given us a daily cost per person for each country. We have considered that two small kids will represent the cost of one adult. By experience it is not so realistic and I would say it’s more like 1.5 adults.
Have you found the experience of travelling with young children stressful?
Not really. Most of the time people we meet are more friendly and open with us as we have some children. It is very easy to gain contact with other family. In china, we almost have to stop every 100 metres for a picture with the kids and local people. You have to adapt your activities for children: it means no horses, rafting, long treks and so on.
We had a very difficult experience in Thailand on a bamboo rafting in an elephant farm as my wife has been close to death being trapped under the water, where the raft hit a tree in the middle of the river and we were ejected into the water. In this case, we did not realise the danger as there were some many other people doing it. So my recommendation is to be more suspicious in those countries with water activities even if they claim no danger.
What are the positive experiences that you feel you, as a family have gained from travelling the world together?
It was a bit of stress for my wife to spend 24 hours a day with them in the same room… but from our experience, it is not an issue as everyone find his place. We know this is a special moment in our lives.
Which destinations/activities have William & Eva most enjoyed?
They most enjoyed destinations where we met others kids, or the seaside (Thailand, Bali). They enjoyed anywhere with animals like the zoo (Chang Mai night zoo is excellent for that or Beijing zoo) . They also delighted the travels by train in china or Thailand.
Which destinations have you found most child-friendly/easiest to travel around with young children?
New Zealand, Australia, Thailand
Have any hotels or airlines been particularly good/bad for travelling with young children?
All hotels with a swimming pool make life easy for them and for the parents. In terms of airlines, for long flights, it is better if there are individuals TV screen but there is generally not a big difference from one airline to another. I think it is more important that the airline is on time and that you do not spend hours waiting because of late arrivals or things like that. Also early flights are difficult with them, when for example you have to wake up at 3.30 am to get your flight.
Don't forget: We're happy to help you choose family-friendly destinations and tours for your trip - find out more on our Family Gap Year page!
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