Hi, we have been reading this forum for a while but have only just joined. We are a family of 4 (2 girls age 6 &8) and we are leaving on our first RTW adventure in a few weeks time.

We have read some great advice on here - thanks.

We've just set up a blog

www.firthfamilyadventure.wordpress.com

We'd love to hear from other families, especially those who may be out there at the same time as us. Our route is on the blog.

Also does anyone have any tips or wisdom to share? We have never travelled before. What is the one thing you wish you had taken? Anything you took that was a waste of time?

We look forward to getting to know some of you!

Hello! This is my first post here as well! Congrats on the coming adventure. I don't have any tips or wisdom to share! I have never done the RTW trip but someday would LOVE to!!

I checked your blog, but don't see the route! May be I overlooked! Will check again. Looking forward to reading about your long trip!

Thanks! There is a tab at the top of the page which says 'route' and the information is in there. You should definitely do it. We are very excited. Just finishing buying the bits we'll need and firming up some first accomodation etc.

We are leaving in a year's time, so I don't think we'll overlap. I'm really looking forward to reading your blog. We had a 'trial run' this summer to Switzerland and my most useful things were:
- travel washing line which got used every day (could have been to do with potty training!)
- head lamps for reading when children were asleep
- ipod for entertaining eldest child when younger two were asleep
- baby wash which I used for washing our hair, bodies and clothes so cutting down on other bottles
- camelbak water bottles with straw and flip top lid which are really easy for the children, don't spill and good on bumpy journeys
- wikki stix which are like wax coated pipe cleaners and entertained the children for hours making models on trains, in restaurants etc
Can't think of anything else and you've probably got all this anyway!

Congrats! You will have a ball! We are into our 4th year of an open ended family world tour and still deeply appreciate this precious gift & opportunity!

It doesn't look like our paths will cross, but here is a list of our 10 top things for family RTW travel:
[url]
http://www.soultravelers3.com/2008/05/t ... ily-t.html[/url]

It is truly the best education in the world
[url]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn9rDTZj-m4[/url]

http://www.soultravelers3.com/2009/04/how-to-travel-the-world-as-a-digital-nomad-family.html#more


& I highly recommend gearing the kids books to your travels before, during & after to add even more value. There is a great thread here on recommended books on travel for kids.

e-libraries are terrific resource too for kids doing extended travel!

Good luck!

We've been looking at your website, it looks similar to our trip. We plan to leave September 2010 with our 2 girls (who will be 6 & 3).
We'll be undoubtedly following your blog.