A few thoughts on things we’d do differently when travelling next time.

We’ve learned a few things on our trip, so maybe these tips will help you should you consider going to any of the places we’ve visited.

Firstly, download Maps Me, a free app of world maps, download by each country / region as you visit and you can use it offline and without 3G, it’s excellent quality and it has never got us lost, in fact it’s been more accurate than our satnav.

I also think we’ve over catered on the ‘things to keep the kids occupied’ we’ve a dedicated carry on bag full of games, colouring books, balls, puzzles, quizzes, cards and toys – most barely touched. I supposed it’s a testament to our ability to have fun without ‘stuff’. An absolute must have is a good quality Kindle, we’ve lost count how many books they’ve read. In the UK you can register with your local library and borrow books for 3 weeks to be sent straight to your Kindle.

Take some basic food stuff to Sri Lanka, we were really looking forward to Sri Lankan food but after 3 weeks of curry for breakfast dinner and tea, it takes it toll, I completely craved porridge, just some plain old oats – it’s not too much to ask is it….I paid £6 for a bag of porridge in the supermarket, my need was that great.

Take more cash to Thailand, it’s pretty much a cash society, yes the bigger venues, stores and hotels take cards but everywhere else is just cash and you don’t go to Thailand to buy your stuff from the big corporates… and the banks charge a ridiculous fee for taking cash out of their machines, £5 per transaction.

Singapore – stay longer than 3 days! Oh and pre register the kids on the metro underground as they get cheaper tickets, it’s not that expensive anyway but you know how I like to save my money when I can.

Australia, not sure I have any advice about Aus, it’s so easy to get around, signs everywhere, they drive on the left (actually, so do Sri Lanka, Thailand and Singapore), they eat the same food, they speak the same language and it’s ‘done proper’

I’ll update this blog as we go along, I’m sure they’ll be a lot more ‘we shoulda dones’.