Alice Griffin is a freelance writer, owner of perpetually itchy feet and author of Tales from a Travelling Mum (and we have a SIGNED COPY TO GIVE AWAY – leave a comment for your chance to win), a travelogue based around trips she embarked on during the first two years of her daughter’s life. Alice lives in England aboard a boat with husband Scott, daughter Isabella and their dog, Milla and is busy working on her second book, Travellers’ Tales. She explores the world whenever she gets the opportunity! Visit her website here and pick up plenty of tips on travelling with children.

What gave you the idea for the book?
I’ve always been an avid traveller, and when I fell pregnant with my daughter, Isabella, I decided that once she was born, as much as possible I wanted to continue the more independent style of travel I had always enjoyed. However it wasn’t until we sold up and opted out of our city life to go travelling around Europe in a campervan that writing specifically about travels with a baby crossed my mind.

I had decided to blog about this life-changing travel experience and as I began to connect with readers, I found that many were specifically interested in approaching such a trip with a then one-year-old. Due to this surprising interest I decided to contact some baby magazines with a view to writing about our experiences and from this came several articles.

When I began talks with my publisher about a possible travelogue, she suggested I consider a ‘how to’ guide on travelling with a baby. I was unsure as to whether I could write a whole book in this guidebook format and decided that if I simply shared our experiences as a family on the road, practical advice on how to approach different situations would naturally come from that. The result is a travelogue about the trips we embarked on during the first two years of Isabella’s life, peppered throughout with tips and advice. My hope is that this will give readers a more laid-back approach to travelling with children, rather than a formulated guide.

Life in the slow lane, by mule in Portugal

How old is Isabella now, and is there anywhere you wouldn’t take her?

Isabella recently turned three. I try to never wonder about why we should do a trip without Isabella, instead I always think about how we can do it with her. It is my belief that children should become part of their parent’s life and that most things really don’t have to be out of our grasp just because we now have children. Having said that, of course I am realistic and would never knowingly put my daughter in danger, or have her take part in a pastime that is inappropriate – bungee jumping in New Zealand is probably out at this stage – and I consider carefully what I feel she can deal with before planning a trip. This is partly the reason why in her first three years we have stayed within Europe, but in December 2010 we will be heading to Thailand for three weeks back-packing, because I believe that at three-and-a-half she will be ready for this destination and will gain a great deal from it.

Have you always had itchy feet? What was your first experience of being abroad?
My first holiday was to Madeira when I was five. At the time, my dad worked for an airport, and we were able to bag a cheap deal. I can still remember the unbelievable excitement of going on a plane, seeing faces and places that looked different; hearing new voices and sounds. After that trip I would often stare longingly at the atlas pondering all the places to go in the word.

As I grew older this desire to see more of the world became stronger, but it wasn’t until my early twenties, when I had the opportunity to spend six months in Japan, that I became preoccupied with how I could make travel a permanent fixture in my life.

I have to say that my feet are as itchy now as they were at five and I still stare longingly at the Atlas – or Google maps – but these days I try to manage and be more realistic about my desire to travel, especially now I’m a mum and wife with commitments to others and not just myself.

What is the most important thing that you think travel gives children?
For me, there are so many good reasons to travel with children, but if you were to ask me the most important then I think I would have to say how it connects them with the human race. All over the world there are many cultures, people and ways of life and I believe that by exposing our children to the diversity of this world we teach them about understanding, compassion, acceptance and wonder. I want nothing more than for my daughter to be happy, and I believe that the path to happiness lies in realising that life is a gift, and this earth is a gift, so we should enjoy it if we can, and learn from those with whom we share it.

It’s interesting that your book started as notebook diaries, then moved onto a blog. Do you think a blog is a good launchpad for anyone wanting to write a book?
The journey towards my first book is quite strange. I have written in notebooks my entire life about what I see around me and what I experience. It’s really something that I can’t control: I see something, I learn something, I experience something, and I immediately feel compelled to write it down. However, I was always quite skeptical of blogs as I saw them as public outlets for writing about the inane private happenings of our lives, and I couldn’t understand why anybody would be interested. However, when we headed off on our road trip across Europe I decided that it might be a good (and easy) way to keep my friends and family up-to-date with our journey, so I bit the bullet and started blogging.

What I found, quite unexpectedly, was access to an incredible community of people across the world and a whole host of inspiring individuals to share ideas and experiences with. This excited me greatly, and continues to do so. So the one thing that I would highlight is: blog because you enjoy it, blog to connect with readers, blog to simply force yourself to write on a regular basis, and if it brings other writing opportunities then brilliant, but don’t just blog with that in mind as you may be in danger of becoming too formulaic and impersonal.

The Griffin family in Andalucia

The main message in your book is, ‘parents, keep travelling!’ Though there must have been times when it hasn’t been plain sailing? What’s the trickiest scenario you’ve dealt with?

There are always tricky situations: exploding nappies on the plane, having to face fellow guests in the breakfast room after Isabella has kept the entire b&b awake all night screaming, and certainly waiting to check-in with a huge backpack, toy bag, nappy bag, raisin bag and a grumpy two-year-old who insists on wrapping herself around the nearest barrier pole with the reins I carefully picked out to ‘aid’ our travel experience – are all none too pleasant. But they are all funny stories to tell at the end of the day and nothing can take away from the warmth I feel at showing my daughter new places and sharing these experiences with her.

If you were only allowed to pack five things (apart from a toothbrush each and lots of pants!) what would you take?

Favourite comforter toy

A good book each (pop-up, sticker or activity book for Isabella)

One spare outfit

Sleeping bag

Tent

NB: I would layer all of us in as many useful clothes as possible for the flight/crossing ie: cagool, warm jumper, long trousers, thermals, hats, gloves, gillet!

With all of the above I can guarantee a fabulous family holiday. Everything not on the list you can buy on the road!

Where next (and can we come too)?!
We are off on a mini camping-and-city-break road trip through France, Belgium, Holland and Germany in May, then we fly to Norway in July for a short stay in Bergen before heading North to stay in a log cabin, row boats on stunning lakes, explore rugged mountains and take a train across this magnificent landscape. We are also busy planning Isabella’s first back-packing trip to Thailand in December.

Of course you can come… but only as my SIXTH item and you’ll have to bring your own pants!

 Tales from a Travelling Mum is available on Amazon, and we have a FREE COPY to give away.  Alice has kindly agreed to sign it for the recipient. For your chance to win, simply comment below (not forgetting to leave your email address when prompted – it won’t appear in public, or be used for anything other than to get in touch, should you be the winner).