How to Explain Long-Term Family Travel to Sceptical Friends and Family

(Even If They Think You’re Crazy for Wanting to Live Differently)

If you’re a parent with a deep love for adventure and a growing desire to explore the world with your children, you’re not alone. More and more families are stepping away from traditional routines and choosing something richer: long-term travel, worldschooling, and meaningful time together.

But what happens when your friends, your in-laws, your child’s teacher, or even your own inner critic, start raising eyebrows?

If you dream of freedom, connection, and living more intentionally with your family—but feel resistance from people who just don’t “get it”, this blog is for you.

We Will Cover:

1. Our Story
2. Why We Are Doing It Again
3. How You Can Feel More Confident Explaining Your Plans
4. Dealing With Tough Conversations
5. Pros and Cons
6. You Don’t Need Everyone’s Permission

And if you’ve ever asked:

“How do I explain long-term travel to sceptical friends and family?”

We’re sharing the mindset shift that helped us move from guilt and awkwardness to clarity and confidence. As well as our ALMO Escape Planner to help you do things your way.
It’s the shift that helped us follow our dreams, take our small children around the world, and live a life that aligns with our values, not just one that looks “normal” on the outside.

Our Story: From “Are You Mad?” to the Best Year of Our Lives

When we first told people we were taking our 5-year-old and 3-year-old out of school and preschool to travel full-time… we expected excitement. Maybe a few questions. But mostly support.

What we got instead?

“You’re doing what?”
“Is that even legal?”
“What about their education?”
“Aren’t you being irresponsible?”

And the one that still stings a little:

“Poor children.”

At first, those comments shook us. We weren’t just changing our lifestyle—we were stepping off a path that most people around us still deeply believed in. It made us second-guess ourselves. Were we being selfish? Naive?

But then something clicked.

We realised that the people questioning us weren’t being cruel. They were scared. Curious. Or just totally unfamiliar with a different way of living and learning.

So we got clearer.
Not louder. Not defensive. Just clearer.

We began sharing why this mattered to us. We talked about how travel could bring us closer together as a family, give our children a deeper, real-world education, and help us live more aligned with our values of connection, freedom, and wonder.

We showed them we had a plan. That we’d done the research, that this wasn’t about “escaping”—it was about choosing something more meaningful.

And once we had that clarity, the conversations got easier.
Not everyone agreed. But they respected our decision. Some were even inspired by it.

Why We’re Doing It Again—This Time With 3 Kids

That first year of travel—with a 5-year-old and a 3-year-old—was one of the most incredible experiences of our lives.

We explored, learned, laughed, cried, and connected in ways that just don’t happen in the chaos of “normal life.” It wasn’t always easy, but it was so worth it.

And now, we’re about to do it all again—this time with our 8-year-old, 6-year-old, and our new baby.

We’re more confident. More excited. And more certain than ever that this path, while unconventional, is one of the best gifts we can give our children—and ourselves.

Want to Feel More Confident Explaining Your Plans?

That’s exactly why we created the ALMO ESCAPE PLANNER
It’s a free guide to help you gain clarity on your long-term travel goals and communicate your vision to others, especially sceptical friends or family members.

Inside, you’ll find:
✅ A 5-step framework to define your dream lifestyle
✅ Prompts to shape your own “why” and story
✅ Planning pages to map out the practical side
✅ Conversation tips to explain your decision with calm confidence

Start feeling less defensive and more empowered to tell your story—your way.

How the Escape Planner Can Help With Tough Conversations

Here’s how to use it when you feel uncertain or judged:

✅ Step 1: Clarify Your Why
Use the reflection prompts to reconnect with what really matters to you. This helps you speak from conviction, not just logic.

✅ Step 2: Get Specific
Rough out a simple plan. Even if it’s just ideas for now, showing you’ve thought it through makes a huge difference.

✅ Step 3: Reframe the Narrative
This isn’t about “running away” from life. It’s about choosing growth, connection, and a hands-on education—together.

✅ Step 4: Invite Curiosity (Not Conflict)
You’re not looking for approval. You’re creating understanding. And often, the most sceptical people become quiet supporters once they feel included rather than dismissed.

Pros and Cons

Final Thoughts: You Don’t Need Everyone’s Permission to Begin

If you’ve been holding back on pursuing your dream of long-term travel because you are worried about how others react, then know this:

• You don’t need to fight.
• You don’t need to hide.
• You need to own your story.

The best place to start is with clarity, knowing what you want, why it matters, and how it aligns with the life you want to create.

When you speak from that place, the world starts to respond differently.

It’s simple, it’s practical, and it might just be the spark that gives you the confidence to follow your oath on your terms.

Good luck and happy adventures, wherever you choose to explore.