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Family Gap Year
 Most parents would agree that sometimes just getting the kids up, dressed and out of the house is a mission. So the idea of taking your family on a round the world trip is surely mission impossible? Well, it doesn’t have to be.
It’s not so long ago that the suggestion of taking a gap year conjured up images of fresh-faced adolescents heading off into the big wide world for a great adventure before university. Well, the days are long gone when taking time out to travel was the preserve of a lucky few. More and more families are making the decision to switch off their TV, pack away the Play Station and embark on the adventure of a lifetime. Of course everyone’s circumstances are different, but if you have even a few weeks to spare - travelling the world together is still an achievable ambition.
With careful planning and some expert advice (which is where we come in), taking time out with your family to travel the world can be an exciting and fulfilling reality. Having kids needn’t mean shelving all opportunities for adventure until they have flown the nest. Travelling together is an incredibly enriching experience for the whole family which leaves you with memories and shared experiences that will stay with you forever.
Call us now on 01273 320580 for some friendly advice and help with booking your family gap year - or use our quote form to send us the details of your proposed trip.
What we do
Many of us here at Travel Nation are lucky enough to be parents with first-hand experience of travelling around the world with kids. When paired with our industry experience, we're perfectly positioned to plan and book your travel:
 We’re experts in arranging round the world and multi-stop flights (with family-friendly flight times wherever possible)- Our specialists will make recommendations and book any ground arrangements as necessary for you, including family-friendly accommodation (with pools as needed), campervans, car hire and insurance
- We offer an exciting range of family adventure tours, if you really want to get off the beaten track but are a little daunted about how to make the most of each destination. These are an excellent way to make the most of your family's trip. You’ll have plenty of free time and opportunity to travel with an expert guide and like-minded families. A highly recommended option especially in countries where the language can be a barrier.
Our family-friendly adventure tours
Here are the family-friendly tours we can recommend. Prices are per person (excluding flights). There is usually a discount for children so please contact us for an accurate price - 01273 320580.
Why take a family gap (year)?
There will always be countless reasons why now isn’t the right time for your family to take the plunge, but here are just a few compelling reasons that might persuade you that now is the best time::
- Educational value – what better way for your kids to learn about other cultures, languages, wildlife and natural phenomena than by experiencing these for themselves? If your children are of school age, many schools are very understanding and can appreciate the educational benefits of experiencing new places and different ways of life
- Timing - Travelling when kids are young is a unique opportunity to take some time out together before the pressures of exams and coursework become a reality. Not only will it will be an amazing experience for the kids but this kind of trip also adds another dimension to your experience; you’ll see some incredible sights through your child’s eyes
- Cost - It’s actually cheaper to travel with kids when they’re young as you’ll get discounts on their travel. As a guide to round the world tickets, if your child is under two they’ll get up to a 90% discount on the adult price, although bear in mind that they won’t get a seat at that price. If they are aged 2-11 they’ll normally get a discount of around 25% on the adult fare.
- Quality time and shared experiences – travelling can be an unbeatable way to bond as a family. It certainly won’t come without inevitable stress like airport delays, long car journeys and sibling squabbles; but there’s no better way to really get to know your family and see your kids develop and grow. Breaking away from the day to day routine of home life can help you relax and enjoy each other’s company, and you’ll share some experiences you’ll happily reminisce about for the rest of your lives
- Time to take stock – especially at a time when the economic situation can seem bleak, taking time out to reflect on your career and your lifestyle away from home can in itself be invaluable.
Keeping a family blog?
If your family is planning to keep up a blog or online photo diary of your trip whilst you're away, or when you're back, we'd love to hear about your travels and any hints and tips we can share. If you're happy for us to read your posts or to re-blog them for the benefit of other families - email your consultant alink to your blog. Read some of our family trip reviews below:
Family Adventure Reviews
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» Cambodia, Bangkok, China, Australia, Peru & Ecuador
"Was it itchy-feet, a desire to "see the world", a wish for
our children to get a bigger picture of this place we inhabit and realising
they had reached the perfect age... well, something made us decide to
go on a "round-the world" adventure... more |
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» Thailand, India, Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific, Chile, Brazil
"We excluded all the countries where the malaria is dangerous, and then we also excluded all the countries we had already visited. And finally we didn't want to visit Africa this time. We prefer to visit it later, when Valentine will be old enough to enjoy it, like safaris, and because it is not so far away... more |
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» China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Bali, New Zealand, Australia, Chile & Brazil
"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... more |
Why book your family gap year with Travel Nation?
 Our experience in multi stop itineraries
No route will faze us - no matter how complex! We’re specialists in complex Round the World itineraries and all our consultants have several years industry experience.Being well travelled means we’re likely to have been where you’re going, drawing from personal experience to offer essential advice and recommendations. We each have direct email, phone numbers and 24 hour voicemail, making it simple for you to get through to the right person. We believe we’ve created the perfect environment to plan and book your once in a lifetime trip.
Our reputation and customer reviews
We pride ourselves on our reputation and excellent customer service in creating these amazing itineraries for you. Check out our recent customer testimonials. You said it!
Our free date change service
We understand the importance of having flexibility as you travel, so we charge no agency fees when you need to make date changes once you’ve departed. Saving you valuable time and money! Check out our free date change service here.
Our fares
We offer the widest range of fares and air passes and we’re constantly finding new ways to save you money. We’re confident our fares are the best available.
No hidden loyalties to airlines
Because we’re not tied to any particular airline or alliance, our itineraries are based on unbiased advice. We’ll plan your trip using whichever combination of carriers represents the greatest value and is best-suited to your needs.
We can also book your ground arrangements
In addition to flights, we have great rates and vast experience in putting together ground arrangements including hotels, tours, bus passes and vehicle hire, meaning we can tailor-make every aspect of your multi stop trip from end to end.
You’re financially protected
For your complete peace of mind, we’re covered by ABTA , ATOL and IATA membership and we include Scheduled Airline Failure Insurance on every booking. This means that if the airline you are travelling with gets into financial difficulty, you will be fully protected. |