Think packing for a family holiday is stressful? Try doing it with three kids and carry-on luggage only.

Returning guest Bianca from Travel With My 3 Kids is back on Snacks and Suitcases. After sharing her Bali expertise in her first appearance, this time she's revealing the packing hacks, travel tips and mindset shifts that make family travel easier.

We chat about the reality of travelling with kids, why carry-on only can actually reduce stress, and the items Bianca never leaves home without.

Plus, we catch up on the latest from Bali, including the island's waste challenges and how travellers can make a positive difference.

In this episode:

• Why Bianca chooses carry-on only for a family of five
• The packing hacks that save time, money and sanity
• What she never packs anymore
• How to entertain toddlers and kids on flights
• Flying with babies, toddlers and neurodivergent children
• The travel gear she actually recommends
• The surprising item she always packs for hotel rooms
• Bali's waste crisis and what tourists need to know
• Airport transfer tips that make family travel easier
• Budget travel strategies for families
• Why low expectations can make travel more enjoyable

Follow Bianca at https://www.travelwithmy3kids.com/

https://www.instagram.com/travel.with.my.3.kids/

Chapters

00:00 Packing for Family Travel: The Challenge

02:59 Traveling with Kids: Real-Life Experiences

05:50 Bali's Waste Crisis: A Tourist's Responsibility

09:10 First Flights with Kids: The Reality

11:56 Surviving Long Flights: Tips and Tricks

15:02 The Art of Carry-On Only Packing

18:01 Non-Negotiables for Family Travel

20:56 Entertainment Strategies for Kids on Flights

24:08 Adapting to Travel with Young Children

31:30 Engaging Kids During Travel

36:39 Managing Expectations on Travel Days

37:26 Health and Safety Essentials for Kids

40:08 Packing Strategies for Family Travel

46:09 Handling Airport Challenges

51:21 Travel Hacks for Parents

57:33 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Connect

Thank you so much for listening.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions via

• @snacksandsuitcasespodcast
• @sallynanamis
• Snacks and Suitcases Facebook Page
• Email: snacksandsuitcasespodcast@gmail.com

If you’re loving the show, make sure you’re following so you never miss an episode especially if you’ve got a family trip or road trip coming up.

AND... Don't forget the snacks.

What is it really like raising kids in India?

After sharing her flying-with-babies tips in a previous episode, listener favourite Rachel McCallum is back to give us a fascinating glimpse into her family's life as expats in Chennai, India.

Rachel, her British wife Gemma and their two boys have spent the past eight years living in one of the world's most colourful, chaotic and captivating countries. From navigating culture shocks and organised traffic chaos to raising children in a multilingual, multicultural community, Rachel shares the realities of everyday family life in India.

We chat about what surprised her most when she first arrived, why India often gets an unfair reputation, and how her boys are growing up surrounded by languages, cultures and friendships from all over the world.

Thinking of visiting India with kids? Rachel also shares some of her favourite family-friendly destinations, including the iconic Taj Mahal and Kerala's famous houseboats. Plus, we talk food, festivals, school life, expat perks and the unique experiences that make India unlike anywhere else on Earth.

In this episode we cover:

• What it's really like living as an expat family in Chennai
• Culture shocks and misconceptions about India
• Raising kids in a multilingual and multicultural community
• Family-friendly destinations in India
• Visiting the Taj Mahal with children
• Kerala houseboats and why everyone loves Kerala
• Indian food, festivals and local traditions
• International schools and expat life
• Why kids are so celebrated in Indian culture
• The realities of travelling India as a family

Whether you're considering an overseas teaching position, planning a family trip to India or simply curious about expat life abroad, this episode offers a fascinating insider perspective on one of the world's most unforgettable destinations.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Expat Life in India

01:59 Cultural Insights and Realities of Chennai

04:21 Family Life and Kid-Friendly Activities

06:32 Health and Safety Concerns

09:51 Navigating the Medical System

11:20 The Role of Domestic Help

15:12 Raising a Family as a Same-Sex Couple

16:12 Multilingual Kids and Cultural Exposure

18:37 Education System in India

20:08 Identity and Cultural Integration

25:00 Traveling in India with Kids

26:46 Exploring the Taj Mahal: A Family Experience

29:15 Traveling in India: Tips for Families

32:49 Must-Visit Destinations in India

34:40 Cultural Experiences: Markets and Street Food

38:28 Understanding India's Diverse Festivals

42:10 School Lunches and Dietary Considerations in India

48:23 Navigating Allergies and Food Options in India

Connect

Thank you so much for listening.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions via

• @snacksandsuitcasespodcast
• @sallynanamis
• Snacks and Suitcases Facebook Page
• Email: snacksandsuitcasespodcast@gmail.com

If you’re loving the show, make sure you’re following so you never miss an episode especially if you’ve got a family trip or road trip coming up.

AND... Don't forget the snacks.

What is it really like to pack up your life, pull the kids out of school and spend a year caravanning around Australia?

This week on Snacks and Suitcases, Sally Stanton welcomes back Big Lapper and now author Simone Skinner-Smith to chat about her brand new book, Passenger Princess: Underprepared and Overcaffeinated for the Big Lap.

Last time Simone joined the podcast, her family were still on the road travelling Australia in a caravan with two young boys. Now she’s back home in Sydney, reflecting on the adventure that changed her family forever.

In this funny, heartfelt and honest conversation, Sally and Simone chat about:

• the reality of van life and caravanning around Australia with kids
• coming home after a year on the road
• family travel challenges and unexpected moments
• the emotional side of the Big Lap
• unforgettable characters they met around Australia
• parenting, resilience and raising adventurous kids
• caravan park life, road trip hacks and travel tips
• self-publishing a book
• why social media only shows half the story

Simone also shares:

• her favourite destinations around Australia
• the truth about living in a caravan full-time
• funny travel disasters
• Big Lap packing mistakes
• caravan park hacks
• family travel advice for parents dreaming of doing a lap around Australia

Plus, Simone’s son Louis joins the conversation to answer the Kid’s Corner questions!

This episode also includes a short discussion relating to mental health and the Blue Tree Project in Australia. Please take care while listening with young children. (at approx 23.26 mark) and open your heart and mind to those needing an old fashioned chat 💙

LINKS

Follow Simone: @biglappers or @simoneskinnersmith
Book: Passenger Princess: Underprepared and Overcaffeinated for the Big Lap available on Amazon and Kindle.

https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/1923680129

Big Lap: Family Road Trip Around Australia (first episode full of tips)

https://pod.link/1819621151/episode/c2FsbHlzdGFudG9uLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tLzE4ZjdiZDkzLTg4NWEtM2I3NS1iZTIyLWU1MTIzZjFmYTg3ZA

Connect

Thank you so much for listening.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions via

• @snacksandsuitcasespodcast
• @sallynanamis
• Snacks and Suitcases Facebook Page
• Email: snacksandsuitcasespodcast@gmail.com

If you’re loving the show, make sure you’re following so you never miss an episode especially if you’ve got a family trip or road trip coming up.

And if this episode made you smile, share it with another parent who may need that gentle nudge to set off on a big lap. Because if not now, then when?

AND... Don't forget the snacks.

Hosted by Sally Stanton.