My name is David Robert Hogg and I started My Little Nomads to share my love of travel and a conviction that traveling the world is even more amazing with kids than without.
Ten years ago I left my job as an Assistant Vice President at a Fortune 500 company to travel the world, start a family, and be the primary caregiver for my 2 young boys.
We’ve traveled all over the world with our kids.
And now I’m here to convince you that you should too.
I never expected this site to be as wildly popular as it’s turned out to be. But now that it is, I admit, it’s pretty cool.
Who Am I?
Seattle is my current home but I’m a Canadian by birth. I married my American wife almost 10 years ago and we lived in several places before settling down in the Pacific Northwest of the USA. My 2 boys are ages 8 and 5 now and I’m certain they love traveling just as much as we do.
I started My Little Nomads in January of 2010 and it’s been an incredible experience in itself. Revisiting all the trips we’ve made with the kids in the form of posts and photo stories has been wonderful. Getting it down in writing before the memories fade anymore than they have.
Hearing from other travelers and parents that share my beliefs on traveling with kids has also been an incredible experience. I’ve received thousands of comments and emails from people with a wide range of travel experiences. Some just starting out. Some seasoned travelers whose kids’ passports are crammed full with foreign stamps. And the feeling for me is always the same. This is great. This is the world that I want to be a part of.
All You Need to Know is That it’s Possible!
“One of the under-reported stories of the internet is this: it constantly reports on what’s possible. Somewhere in the world, someone is doing something that you decided couldn’t be done. By calling your bluff and by pointing out the possibilities, this reporting of possibility changes everything.” – Seth Godin
All you have to know is that it’s possible. You can do this!
Travel FAQ
Here’s a brief overview of some common questions I get here at My Little Nomads.
Q. How do you find cheap hotels?
I’m a big believer in contacting hotels directly and seeing what kind of a deal they’ll give you. For most people this will mean sending an email (admittedly, lots of emails).
But you can also contact hotels in person – and that’s how I recommend doing it.
I tell this to everyone (you can probably find it in the comments of nearly every article on this site) but it works. If you want the best deal on a hotel, you look for hotels after you arrive at your destination.
The trick is to not look desperate. Leave your bags at a cafe, walk around to a couple different hotels, look at the rooms, ask about their best price, look like you’re not that interested. This is how you get the nicest hotel rooms at the best prices. And it has the added benefit of allowing you to see the room (and perhaps choose the room) that you’re about to book.
Some caveats: it works better in a little town or beach resort where you can easily visit 4 or 5 hotels in 30 minutes. Or a “backpacker’s district” of bigger cities (e.g. Khao San Road in Bangkok where there are over 30 or 40 hotels within 2 or 3 blocks).
And clearly it works better for places that you’re going to be spending a long time in. If you’re only staying in a town for 1 or 2 nights then it’s not that advantageous. But if you’ll be there for 2 weeks it’s a great way to get a good deal at a hotel you’re almost guaranteed to love.
Now, I totally understand that this isn’t go to work for some people. Many people – perhaps most people – will think I’m crazy to suggest arriving at a destination without a place to stay.
So for those people, I’ll recommend www.hotelscombined.com. It searches pretty much every hotel website looking for the best deal for any given hotel. It’s a pretty amazing site. It’s free, super easy to use, and will get you 30% to 60% off the official rate of nearly every hotel in any city.
Booking.com is pretty darn good too. They guarantee the lowest rate for any hotel and there are no booking fees.
For longer term stays look at VRBO and HomeAway.com.
Q. How do you find cheap airline tickets?
I’ve written about how I search for airline tickets. In a word: flexibility. For the best prices you need to be flexible on where you go, when you go, and the route and timing of how you get there.
I know, easier said than done right?
But once you adopt that attitude you might be surprised at how flexible you can be with your plans. If keeping costs down is important then search for tickets first (for multiple destinations) and then decide on the when and where.
Q. When should we buy tickets?
It’s going to vary, so there is no simple rule. Sometimes buying early will secure a great ticket deal and sometimes waiting until the last moment will make you look like a travel genius.
Use the Fare Predictor at Bing.com to see if history suggests that fares will go up or down.
Check out last minute fares at Airfarewatchdog.com and Farecompare.com. If you’ve already booked your ticket then sign up at Yapta.com and they’ll email if the price drops enough on your route to get a refund from the airline. (Yapta is primarily for American fliers.)
I’ll say this however: anticipation is one the greatest joys of travel — of anything really — and by doing things last minute and on the spur of the moment you’re depriving yourself of the excitement of anticipation.
Q. How is traveling with kids different?
I honestly think it’s funner and more rewarding traveling with kids. I’ve written about children’s keen eye for seeing the new and why you should take advantage of the time you have to travel before it slips away — and it’s all true.
I was the kind of traveler who would grab the Herald Tribune and hang out at a cafe all morning reading and drinking coffee. So I’m pretty certain I do more now that I travel with kids. They keep me moving, and learning, and being active. I do a lot more touristy stuff with them — but good touristy stuff, and I think it’s ultimately made traveling even more interesting than it was prior to having kids.
Q. I’m new to all this — how do I go about planning a trip? Where should I start?
Read tips for planning a family trip or go to the getting started page.
Q. How do you deal with jet lag?
Stay up as late as you can on the first night after your arrival. Try your hardest not to nap on the first or second day and get out there walking, playing, and being active. Yes, it can be a little tough but the kiddos will probably be so excited by their new environment that they’ll keep going far past their breaking point at home.
Swimming is a great way to be active and get through that first day. What you want is tired kids when nighttime arrives. As tired as you can possibly (and happily) get them. If you do this you might be shocked how fast they adjust.
One word of caution however: eating and meal times seem to adjust much more slowly so be prepared for some huge breakfasts, tiny dinners, and ravenous midnight snacks (keep some munchies and fruit in your hotel room).
Q. Is traveling the world with kids safe?
It is.
Sort of.
Who knows.
Life involves risk and the only way to ensure complete safety is to stay at home and do nothing. (But I guess there are health risks with that approach as well.)
If you’re like us you will make some odd decisions with your children’s safety but hopefully you won’t end up taking your kids to the emergency room in a number of foreign countries.
(You could also read some expert advice about preventing malaria when you travel and recommended vaccinations for international travel.)
Q. We’re thinking about a RTW trip — any suggestions?
Purchase the first leg of your ticket and then leap-frog around the globe, buying tickets as you need them — that’s my first tip. There are so many budget airlines nowadays it’s relatively easy to find cheap flights between the major destinations. These lists of budget airlines in Europe, Asia and Australia, North America, and Central and South America should help.
But it’s not just about saving money. There are so many variables for planning and completing an Around The World trip that the more details you can put off until later the more freedom you’ll enjoy. And the more great experiences you’ll have.
You’ll meet people that are heading off to a jungle reserve and you’ll want to go with them. You’ll hear about a great town on the opposite side of the country that you just have to visit. You’ll have a can’t miss opportunity to stay with some locals on their houseboat. To put it succinctly: you’ll encounter opportunities that you never expected and the only way you’ll be able to take advantage of them is to have flexibility — and the best way to get that flexibility is to buy airplane tickets as you go and not commit to a set schedule or itinerary.
Climate and weather are obviously a big concern for many people — but if hitting the beaches are not at the top of your list of things to do you’ll gain a lot of flexibility and potentially save a lot of money. Southeast Asia offers great value and good weather — at least somewhere — almost every month of the year so timing doesn’t matter nearly as much there. Europe on the other hand has a huge swing in weather, prices, and crowds. Plan wisely and you can easily cut 30% off your travel costs by visiting in April or October rather than July or August.
As with travel planning in general try to leave some portions of your RTW trip as overland legs, so that you won’t have to backtrack. (e.g. Fly to Paris and overland through Europe to Greece; fly from Athens to Mumbai, overland across India; or fly Calcutta to Bangkok, overland south through Thailand and Malaysia, and fly onwards from Singapore.)
Q. What should I pack?
I’ve made a list of recommended gear for traveling with kids. I strongly suggest using backpacks (suitcases are a pain when traveling with young kids) and packing as light as you possibly can.
Q. Pack light. That’s easier said then done — isn’t it?
Picture yourself losing any item on the first day of your trip. Would you have to replace it immediately — if not, it’s a good candidate to leave behind.
Q. Should I take a stroller?
Simple answer: If the child is under 2 years old then yes. Over 3 then no. Gray area in between. More info here: Pros and cons of traveling with a baby stroller.
Q. Should I take a car seat?
If you’re going to be doing a lot of driving then you might as well take your own rather than have to worry about getting one from the rental car company. If you’re not planning on doing a road trip you might be surprised by how little you use it. In the main European cites, for example, you’ll be getting most places by bus and subway so your car seat will be sitting back at the hotel. If your child is very young, even a few rides in a taxi is probably too much of a risk so keep this in mind as your planning.
Q. Should I take a baby carrier?
Yes you should. They’re great and can be a lifesaver while traveling — especially in cities. A hands-free way to check in at the airport, get your bags on the subway, and walk around the city. The BABY BJÖRN is my favorite and works well for babies up to about 15 pounds. The Ergo carrier is great for older babies.
Q. Should I take a travel crib?
If you’re staying at a nicer hotel they probably will have one you can use. But if you’re going to be traveling a bit, changing accommodations frequently, or traveling through non-touristy destinations, then these can be great for kids younger than 18 months. My favorites are the BABYBJÖRN Travel Crib and the Graco Pack ‘N Play Bassinet.
Q. This will be our first trip with our kids — what’s a good first destination?
Islands make great destinations for everyone, but for first timers they’re especially good. Caribbean islands such as: Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Aruba or Tobago. Bali and Ko Samui in Southeast Asia. Crete, Naxos and Sicily in Europe. Even Iceland or Ireland (my first destination as a parent) in Northern Europe.
They all have similar characteristics: easy to get around, a distinct feel from the “mainland”, with typically kid-friendly, warm people. Islands give your trip a good focus. They place natural limits on your inclination to always keep moving.
Q. We have 2 weeks in Europe. Where should we go?
I love Greece and think it’s a great destination for kids and families — especially if you’re looking for some beach and island time.
If you wanted more of a cultural and historical tour of Europe then I’d suggest starting in London, Paris, or Amsterdam and making your way south to either Barcelona or Rome, visiting 2 or 3 places in between.
Q. We have 2 weeks in Greece. Where should we go?
These are my top 5 Greek Islands for a family vacation. But in many ways you really can’t go wrong in Greece. All the islands are great — though some certainly have nicer beaches than others — and most are a close ferry ride to their neighbor so it’s easy to visit 2 or 3, even on a short trip.
I’ll say this, I’ve never regretted going to any island I’ve visited in Greece. The one drawback with Greece — for some people, anyways — is that it doesn’t work very well with visiting other countries in Europe. Even neighboring or nearby countries like Turkey, Italy, and Croatia are not as easily accessible as, say, France is to Germany. If you’re pressed for time and want to see more than 1 country then you’re better to stick with the well connected countries of Western Europe.
Q. We have 2 weeks in Thailand. Where should we go?
I’d try to get to Chiang Mai, then visit Koh Samui on the east coast, Railay on the west coast, and save a day or 2 at then end of your trip for touring Bangkok — one of my favorite cities in the world. Take a look at the 5 best places in Thailand for kids. Where to go will also depend on what time of year you’ll be visiting. In particular the different monsoons hit the 2 coasts at different times of the year so you can get markedly different weather on the east and west coasts depending on the month of your visit. Sawadee.com is a great site for climate info, destination descriptions, reviews, and some pretty decent discounts on hotels.
Q. We have 2 weeks in India. Where should we go?
You shouldn’t go to India with only 2 weeks. It’s too long a flight from most Western countries to make a 2 week trip worthwhile. It’s big and takes a bit of getting used to. 3 weeks is doable but even then you’ll really be on the move. That said, with 3 weeks I would spend a week in Kerala, a week in Goa, and a week in the north around Delhi — probably Jaipur, Agra, and Shimla (if you’re really pushing it).
Q. Are there other family travel blogs?
Of course. Here’s a semi-complete list of my favorite family travel blogs.