It’s Actually Leaving Home
Leaving for long-term family travel is often far harder than the journey itself.
Before the flights, before the photos, before the freedom, there’s the quiet, emotional work of packing up your home, shutting down normal life, and saying goodbye to people and places you love. Over the last couple of weeks, this stage has been heavier for our family than we expected. Not because we doubted our decision, but because actually leaving asks more of you than dreaming ever does.
The house starts to echo.
Drawers sit empty.
And in the background is the steady question: Have we really thought this through?
If you’ve spent time reading Reddit threads about travelling long term with children, you’ll recognise the tone immediately:
- “We’ve booked the flights, and now I’m panicking”
- “What did you forget before leaving?”
- “How do you actually shut down normal life?”
This post isn’t about inspiration.
It’s about the real, emotional and practical reality of leaving home to travel long-term as a family.
Contents
- Packing Up a Life Before Long-Term Family Travel
- Family Travel Admin: You Must Do Before Leaving
- Passport Rules for Long-Term Family Travel
- Managing Money While Travelling as a Family
- Booking Your First Accommodation for Long-Term Travel
- Saying Goodbye Before Travelling Long
Packing Up a Life Before Long-Term Family Travel
One of the most common questions in long-term family travel forums is:
“How do you decide what to keep when you’re leaving for months or years?”
The honest answer is that you don’t get it perfect. You get it manageable.
This part has been emotionally draining for us. Every item seems to be loaded with memory, effort, or identity. Packing isn’t just about space; it’s about deciding what version of your life you’re taking forward.
What helped us:
- Three piles only: take, store, let go
- Photograph sentimental items, especially children’s artwork
- One ‘anchor box’ of familiar things for when you return
This stage is closely connected to the mindset shift we discuss in our writing on letting go of “normal life” and learning to separate one’s identity from possessions.
Letting go isn’t about minimalism.
It’s about not carrying the emotional weight of everything you’ve ever owned.
Family Travel Admin: Things You Must Do Before Leaving
Search for advice on planning long-term family travel, and you’ll see the same warning repeated:
“We didn’t think about admin, and it nearly ruined everything.”
This stage has taken far more energy than we expected and is one of the reasons the last few weeks have felt so intense. Admin isn’t difficult; it’s relentless.
Addresses and post
- Set up mail redirection early
- Use a trusted family address
- Switch everything possible to paperless
Bills and subscriptions
- Cancel ruthlessly
- Keep one simple list of what stays active and why
If something needs explaining while you’re abroad, it’s already too complicated.
Passport Rules for Long-Term Family Travel
This question appears constantly online:
“Can we travel if our passport has less than six months left?”
The frustrating answer is that it depends. On the country, the airline, and sometimes the person checking you in.
Our rule for long-term family travel:
- At least 12 months validity
- Renew early, even if it feels unnecessary
When you’re already tired and stretched, this is not the stress you want lingering in the background.
Managing Money While Travelling as a Family
Another common mistake people make when planning long-term family travel is overcomplicating money.
“What’s the best financial setup for travelling long term?”
The families who struggle most usually have too many accounts, cards, and systems.
What has worked best for us:
- Revolut for day-to-day spending
- One main account everything flows through
- Xero or simple tracking for online income
The aim isn’t optimisation. It’s clarity.
You want to be able to check your phone and instantly know:
- What you’ve spent
- What’s coming in
- Whether today is a “yes” day or a “not today” day
Booking Your First Accommodation for Long-Term Travel
One regret that comes up repeatedly in long-term travel discussions is this:
“We moved too fast at the start and burned out.”
Your first accommodation matters more than you think. It sets the emotional tone for everything that follows.
What we recommend:
- Book longer than you think, ideally 2–4 weeks
- Prioritise:
- walkable food options
- reliable WiFi
- somewhere to sit that isn’t a bed
- Accept that the first place isn’t about adventure
You’re not on holiday.
You’re building a new rhythm of life.
Saying Goodbye Before Travelling Long Term
This is the part no one really prepares you for.
You expect excitement.
You don’t expect grief.
Over the last couple of weeks, saying goodbye has come in waves. Some moments felt rushed. Some unfinished. Some were far heavier than we anticipated. Leaving isn’t just about distance; it’s about temporarily stepping away from the rhythm of everyday relationships.
What has helped us reframe this stage is remembering that goodbye doesn’t have to mean absence.
We’re not leaving people behind. We’re hoping to invite friends and family into our lives in a different way. Making memories together in new countries. Sharing ordinary days in unfamiliar places. Letting the people we love see our world, rather than trying to squeeze connection into short, rushed visits at home.
And the greatest gift of freedom is choice.
We can come back when we want to.
When we need to.
For milestones, for hard moments, or simply because we miss everyone.
What helped us emotionally:
- Saying goodbye gradually rather than all at once
- Letting our children lead how goodbyes look
- Remembering that flexibility means connection can evolve, not disappear
Leaving doesn’t mean you love people less. It means you’re choosing a different shape for your relationships.
Missing Home While Travelling With Your Family
One of the most honest comments I’ve ever read online said:
“I miss the way my kettle sounds.”
It sounds ridiculous until it’s you.
You might miss:
- The way your home felt
- Your familiar local walk
- Being able to just pop in on a friend
Let yourself notice it. Missing home doesn’t mean you’ve made the wrong decision. It means you had something worth missing.
The Real Truth About Actually Leaving Home
Long-term family travel doesn’t start at the airport.
It starts when:
- Your house echoes
- Your calendar empties
- and normal life quietly switches off
If you’re reading this, you’re probably closer than you think.
And if you’re scared, overwhelmed, or emotional?
That isn’t a red flag. That’s what it feels like to do something that matters.
If you want help turning the idea of long-term family travel into a clear, practical plan, we share everything we’ve learned through our blog, emails, and The Escape Plan.
Not just how to dream about leaving, but how to actually do it.
