We all know one of those families that always seem to be jetting off somewhere exotic. Maybe they're a part of your own family. Maybe they're you!
Travel broadens the mind, and it's especially beneficial for kids, opening their eyes to new places, cultures and ways of life. Another thing travel is really great for is bonding between siblings, or parents and kids.
We've put together a list of gift ideas for families that travel that will either be fun, or useful to them, but will always let them know that people are thinking about them while they're gone. Here's how you can help to inform, inspire and entertain on the road.
Travelling to different places has fantastic educational value no matter what age you are. When we're young we're all entranced by the ancient Pyramids of Egypt, the rainforest and its animals, the idea of going on a safari.
A gift experience is a perfect thought for someone having a birthday while they're away, because it can help them to get a deeper insight into a destination; or just to do something they've always wanted to do!
And although most experiences are usually just for one or two people, there's nothing to prevent the rest of the family paying the regular price and joining in.
Many travelling families find a Kindle or similar reading device indispensable when they're away. When you can carry 100s of books around with you, you'll never be bored.
So a Kindle voucher is a great idea, and like a gift experience, you can also personalise the greeting.
( Hint: buy through Amazon Smile, and they'll donate 0.5% of the net price to a charity of your choice at no extra cost to you).
What an amazingly simple, but simply amazing idea the packing cube is. Letting you arrange clothing neatly and efficiently in bags, and also squish things down to maximise your space, they're a brilliant invention and so useful for families which are inevitably carrying lots of clothes, cables, sanitary items, and other things.
When you're going to spend a lot of time on the road, bringing along a healthy stack of travel games is essential. Not all parents are happy to let their kids spend the whole time on a flight or train in front of a screen.
Games such as UNO, Scrabble, and Dobble are compact, encourage socialisation and provide many hours of fun in hotels, or on the beach.
A torch is a very functional thing, but for kids, it's an endless source of amusement. Find a crowd of seven-year-olds, hand out just a couple of torches, and watch as the arguments begin!
A set of head torches (with a stack of batteries) for each member of the family are sure to come in handy all the time while they're travelling, and will ensure there are no fights between siblings over whose turn it is to read under the blankets every night.
Another practical idea that can also be fun is a travel neck pillow for kids. They're really good for when the family is taking a long journey to make children comfortable and encourage them to sleep. Many of them also have machine washable covers - peace of mind for any unfortunate bouts of travel sickness.
We hope you have gotten some great ideas of what you can buy as a gift for travelling families. Have more ideas? We would love to hear about them in the comments below.
Originally from South Africa, now living in Australia, Jolene is a wife and a mother to three beautiful daughters. Together with her family, she is embarking on a journey towards changing her current stress-filled life to one focusing on her dreams and her passion for travel. She wants to share her stories in the hope to inspire you to chase your own dreams!
