Returning to Australia with children in tow

The coronavirus has sent shockwaves through the world, causing us all to re-evaluate all kinds of things in our lives. This has especially been the case for expats. I was surprised to learn that around 336,000 expats had to drop everything and return to Australia because of the virus. Many families did so within days because if they did not they would have run the risk of being stranded in a foreign country, without work. To get home and resettled they had to overcome the following challenges.

Finding transport to get home

For many, even finding transport to get them back was a struggle. Most governments told their citizens to return quickly but did not provide many, if any, repatriation flights. So, if you do live abroad you need enough funds in the bank to get everyone back to Australia. When disaster strikes prices soar, so it is wise to put aside at least triple what you think you need. If that is not possible, get yourself a credit card that you only use in case of this kind of dire emergency.

Financing your return

In fact, having a financial plan in place for your return to your home country is a good idea regardless. Knowing how to send money from UK to Australia, or between other countries, at the best rates can potentially save you a lot of money. 

It means that as soon as disaster strikes you can immediately move cash back to Australia, before the Australian dollar crashes and starts to lose its value. Some expats that did not quickly transfer funds lost 5 to 15% as a result of currency fluctuations.

Helping your children to adjust

Being suddenly ripped from their home is going to be a traumatic experience for your child. They are leaving everything that is familiar to them. Including their friends and school. It is a huge change and one that you may not have had time to prepare them for. Use the information you can find in this excellent article to make it easier for them to cope with the situation.

Try not to worry

Of course, you are also going to find having to suddenly move countries to be traumatic. It is a worrying time. There is a huge amount to sort out and the decisions you will be making, often under time pressure, are going to affect your lives over the long-term. That is going to be stressful. So, be careful to look after yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. If you do not, you can easily fall ill, which would make a bad situation much worse.

Hopefully, none of you will ever have the experience of suddenly having to move countries unexpectedly. But if you do, I hope this article will prove to be helpful.

Italy With Kids: 5 Fun Family Activities

rome

Typically, when people think of going to Italy, it’s as a romantic couple’s trip or as a journey to take with a few friends. And while it is a very romantic place to go and there is a lot of architecture, food (and wine) and fashion that can keep adults entertained for days on end, did you know that there actually are several fun things that kids can do too?

If you’re planning an international family vacation and Italy wasn’t initially a country that was on your list, we’re hoping that by the end of this article, it will be a place that you’ll at least consider because we’re pretty confident that they have many sites you and your children will be able to enjoy—together.

Pinocchio Park of Collodi. Just hearing the name of that park already sounds like it would be a lot of fun for children, right? The awesome thing about this particular site is that it has windy paths that lead to all kinds of statues from the Pinocchio story. Inside of the park, there is also a small amusement park, a puppet show theatre and a museum as well. (Pinocchio.it)

Lake Garda. No matter where you may be in the world, if there’s one thing that most kids are going to enjoy hanging out, it would have to be by some water. Well, if you take them to Lake Garda, they are certainly going to get plenty of that being that it is the home of the largest lake in Italy. And as a bonus, tucked inside of that area is Gardaland, the largest amusement park in Italy. (GardaLake.com)
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5 Tips for Traveling Internationally With Children

Traveling anywhere with kids can be a trial, even if you’re only making your weekly trip to the grocery store. But when you have to keep children calm and collected throughout the duration of an international flight, you’ll no doubt find that your difficulties increase exponentially. At least when you’ve got them strapped in the car for a road trip, you’re the only one who has to live with their discomfort and the tantrums it can produce. When you’re stuck on an airplane, everyone has to deal with the repercussions associated with fussy kids. And the situation can get pretty ugly if you’re unable to rein in your tots. Luckily, there are steps to ensure that your trip goes a little more smoothly, despite the fact that your kids are unused to sitting still for several hours at a stretch. Here are some tips to keep your kids calm and to carry on when you take an international trip.

international travel with kids

  1. Identification. For the safety of your kids and for your own peace of mind, it’s important that you tag all family members with appropriate identification. This could mean strapping an I.D. bracelet on each child’s wrist or equipping them with a lanyard that features a plastic pocket to store a printout of pertinent data (including their name, any allergies, and of course, a means of contacting you if your child is found). You might also want to carry a current (and clear) photo of each child on you (school pictures are a good option) just in case one of them wanders off or gets snatched in the busy and crowded airport or while you are abroad. Hey, kids are prone to wandering [Read more…]