With one hand holding your toddler and the other clutching the map, how many bags do you really want to be lugging around with you as you explore the world? The answer is, as few as possible!

​Having spent the past 15 years travelling with our two children and experimenting with different packing methods I’ve settled on a strictly minimalist approach. I now focus on only the essentials. And I’ve said goodbye to suitcases (regardless of how fashionable they are or how easily they glide across the floor) – backpacks may not look so glam and don’t do 3 point turns, but they do leave your precious hands free for more important matters.

​If your child is particularly fond of an item, like a cuddly toy or blanket, I strongly suggest it stays at home. We learnt this the hard way when our 3yr old daughter, accidently lost her ‘blanky’ out the window of a Vietnamese train… bed times were fraught for some time afterwards! After that, we started introducing a ‘special travel item’ to our kids a month or so before the trip to provide the necessary comfort without quite the same level of emotional attachment so that, if lost on the journey, it wasn’t the end of the world.
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The bottom line is, as long as you have your passports you really don’t need much else. Pack light, buy local and keep your hands free to hold onto your toddler and share the magic of travel with them.

I well remember the months of being pregnant and constantly being told that I couldn’t eat this, drink that, lift those heavy objects or generally do what I wanted to do. And even things I was technically allowed to do were often too difficult due to time or physical body restrictions. So, it was with great relief when the baby was born and I finally felt free to do some of the things I had been hankering for – not least, get out my passport and my backpack and travel overseas again.

As a rather naïve first time mother (I had even forgotten to pack clothes for my new born son so we could leave the hospital after the birth…) I was perhaps not the most well equipped person to be taking precious cargo into the unknown. But, as it turned out, the lack of worry and planning worked in my favour as it meant I got to travel to areas that, if I had thought about too much, I probably would have been too nervous to go.
Now, fifteen years on, I have got the preparation and planning thing down to a fine art – it’s just that now, rather than having to think about bottles for the baby, I have to discuss with my teenagers why their devices are staying at home.
Here are a few things I have learned over the years…
 

​1. Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka remains one of our favourite destinations to travel as a family. The country features landscapes, nature, beaches, history and culture all within a relatively small area, eliminating the necessity for any long journeys which makes it suitable for even the youngest of families.

2. Cambodia
Cambodia is renowned for its ancient history, as on display at the amazing Angkor Wat, and notorious for its more recent past under the regime of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. It is also gaining recognition for its superb beaches on the south coast. Once again, it is a relatively small country with an excellent public transport system so internal travel is quick, cheap and simple.

3. Borneo
Malaysian Borneo - home to amazing wildlife, stunning scenery, indigenous tribes and tranquil islands surrounded by clear seas teeming with life - this is a slice of paradise on earth that really has it all! Although much bigger than either Sri Lanka or Cambodia, internal flights are inexpensive and easy, making it a great destination for those people who want to get a little bit more off the beaten track.

​​I have found that travelling with children not only changes people’s perspective about us as travellers, but also changes the way we see the place we are visiting. Babies, especially, bridge both language and socio-economic divides and bring a sense of understanding, innocence and acceptance.
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So shake off those fears, look forward to having your freedom back and start planning for that overseas adventure when your baby arrives.

Anyone who has travelled to developing nations has had to make that decision – to give or not to give to all those poor, desperate people asking for money. I mean…a dollar to us isn’t very much in the grand scheme of things and it somehow seems wrong to be swanning around on a vacation that cost in the 4+ figures and not give a little away. Even if we think we are holidaying on a budget, by virtue of even having the luxury of freely travelling in a different nation, we are rich beyond compare to a lot of the people we will come into contact with on our journey.

But how do you choose who to give to? Is one beggar more in need that the next? Do you say to yourself, “I will give to the first 5 and then no more for the rest of the day”?

As hard as it is to say no to those desperate pleas, I do think there are better ways to distribute some of your wealth to those in need when on your holiday.

Most developing countries have a variety of fair-trade outlets in the bigger centres that sell handicrafts and clothing made by local artisans. They are, more often than not, backed by not-for-profit organisations that help establish small start-up businesses in local communities, enabling these products to be produced. This process creates a revenue stream for those who would not normally have one as well as ensuring the artisans are fairly compensated for their work
It’s easy to search up on the web where these outlets are before you even visit the country – just type in search words such as ‘Fair trade outlet (then name of region you are visiting)’ or ask the locals themselves when you arrive. Travel guides such as Lonely Planet and Rough Guide also normally list them in their publications.

One great example of a successful fair-trade outlet is Healing the Wounded Heart Shop in Hue, Vietnam. This boutique store run by disabled youth artisans sells goods made from recycled materials, with all proceeds from the sales going towards helping fund heart surgeries for people born with congenital heart disease in Central Vietnam. In addition, the disabled artisans themselves are guaranteed fair salaries and full medical insurance.

The AHA Fair Trade Village in Siem Reap, Cambodia, is another excellent example of fair-trade in action. This open marketplace is fully owned, managed and supplied by local Cambodian people operating as a non-for-profit organization. Shopping for authentic handicrafts within the AHA Fair Trade Village directly impacts and supports the rural communities of Siem Reap as all profits made go straight back to the artisans and the local community. 

However, if shopping is not your thing, there are still many other ways of making sure your money gets distributed evenly throughout the region. 

Stay in local guest houses rather than hotel chains. As well as gaining a more authentic experience, you will be contributing directly to that family’s income.

If using guides to help you travel, try to get different guides for each section of your itinerary rather than one guide for the whole lot – even if booking through a travel agent you can request that this is the case. And make sure that the agent is part of a reputable sustainable tourism program so that you know that what you are booking is going to have a positive impact on the region.

Eat out! Don’t be afraid to eat from the street vendors. Not only will you sample delicious dishes that have been freshly prepared in front of you, you will also be helping those vendors with their income stream.

If buying local produce, head to the market place or purchase from a street vendor rather than a supermarket. It is often the growers themselves who are doing the selling, so your cash will definitely end up in the right pocket.

And lastly, distributing out pens, books and other gifts to kids you meet doesn’t always have the desired effect. As well as encouraging the begging ethos, many times these useful commodities end up sitting in pride of place in the home, never getting used. You are far better off taking time to visit a local school or orphanage and asking the staff what they need there. If you don’t have the items with you (lugging 20 text books around in your backpack might not be your thing!) you can then purchase the items at the local store and deliver them in person, knowing that the items are going to make a real positive difference to that community.
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By following these basic tips you will still be able to give to those in need, but in a positive, sustainable way.