Snacks and Suitcases: Family Travel Podcast

Think packing for a family holiday is stressful? Try doing it with three kids and carry-on luggage only.
Returning guest Bianca from Travel With My 3 Kids is back on Snacks and Suitcases. After sharing her Bali expertise in her first appearance, this time she's revealing the packing hacks, travel tips and mindset shifts that make family travel easier.
We chat about the reality of travelling with kids, why carry-on only can actually reduce stress, and the items Bianca never leaves home without.
Plus, we catch up on the latest from Bali, including the island's waste challenges and how travellers can make a positive difference.
In this episode:
• Why Bianca chooses carry-on only for a family of five
• The packing hacks that save time, money and sanity
• What she never packs anymore
• How to entertain toddlers and kids on flights
• Flying with babies, toddlers and neurodivergent children
• The travel gear she actually recommends
• The surprising item she always packs for hotel rooms
• Bali's waste crisis and what tourists need to know
• Airport transfer tips that make family travel easier
• Budget travel strategies for families
• Why low expectations can make travel more enjoyable
Follow Bianca at https://www.travelwithmy3kids.com/
https://www.instagram.com/travel.with.my.3.kids/
Chapters
00:00 Packing for Family Travel: The Challenge
02:59 Traveling with Kids: Real-Life Experiences
05:50 Bali's Waste Crisis: A Tourist's Responsibility
09:10 First Flights with Kids: The Reality
11:56 Surviving Long Flights: Tips and Tricks
15:02 The Art of Carry-On Only Packing
18:01 Non-Negotiables for Family Travel
20:56 Entertainment Strategies for Kids on Flights
24:08 Adapting to Travel with Young Children
31:30 Engaging Kids During Travel
36:39 Managing Expectations on Travel Days
37:26 Health and Safety Essentials for Kids
40:08 Packing Strategies for Family Travel
46:09 Handling Airport Challenges
51:21 Travel Hacks for Parents
57:33 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Connect
Thank you so much for listening.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions via
@snacksandsuitcasespodcast
@sallynanamis
Snacks and Suitcases Facebook Page
Email: snacksandsuitcasespodcast@gmail.com 
If you’re loving the show, make sure you’re following so you never miss an episode especially if you’ve got a family trip or road trip coming up.
AND... Don't forget the snacks.

What is it really like raising kids in India?
After sharing her flying-with-babies tips in a previous episode, listener favourite Rachel McCallum is back to give us a fascinating glimpse into her family's life as expats in Chennai, India.
Rachel, her British wife Gemma and their two boys have spent the past eight years living in one of the world's most colourful, chaotic and captivating countries. From navigating culture shocks and organised traffic chaos to raising children in a multilingual, multicultural community, Rachel shares the realities of everyday family life in India.
We chat about what surprised her most when she first arrived, why India often gets an unfair reputation, and how her boys are growing up surrounded by languages, cultures and friendships from all over the world.
Thinking of visiting India with kids? Rachel also shares some of her favourite family-friendly destinations, including the iconic Taj Mahal and Kerala's famous houseboats. Plus, we talk food, festivals, school life, expat perks and the unique experiences that make India unlike anywhere else on Earth.
In this episode we cover:
• What it's really like living as an expat family in Chennai
• Culture shocks and misconceptions about India
• Raising kids in a multilingual and multicultural community
• Family-friendly destinations in India
• Visiting the Taj Mahal with children
• Kerala houseboats and why everyone loves Kerala
• Indian food, festivals and local traditions
• International schools and expat life
• Why kids are so celebrated in Indian culture
• The realities of travelling India as a family
Whether you're considering an overseas teaching position, planning a family trip to India or simply curious about expat life abroad, this episode offers a fascinating insider perspective on one of the world's most unforgettable destinations.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Expat Life in India
01:59 Cultural Insights and Realities of Chennai
04:21 Family Life and Kid-Friendly Activities
06:32 Health and Safety Concerns
09:51 Navigating the Medical System
11:20 The Role of Domestic Help
15:12 Raising a Family as a Same-Sex Couple
16:12 Multilingual Kids and Cultural Exposure
18:37 Education System in India
20:08 Identity and Cultural Integration
25:00 Traveling in India with Kids
26:46 Exploring the Taj Mahal: A Family Experience
29:15 Traveling in India: Tips for Families
32:49 Must-Visit Destinations in India
34:40 Cultural Experiences: Markets and Street Food
38:28 Understanding India's Diverse Festivals
42:10 School Lunches and Dietary Considerations in India
48:23 Navigating Allergies and Food Options in India
Connect
Thank you so much for listening.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions via
@snacksandsuitcasespodcast
@sallynanamis
Snacks and Suitcases Facebook Page
Email: snacksandsuitcasespodcast@gmail.com 
If you’re loving the show, make sure you’re following so you never miss an episode especially if you’ve got a family trip or road trip coming up.
AND... Don't forget the snacks.

What is it really like to pack up your life, pull the kids out of school and spend a year caravanning around Australia?
This week on Snacks and Suitcases, Sally Stanton welcomes back Big Lapper and now author Simone Skinner-Smith to chat about her brand new book, Passenger Princess: Underprepared and Overcaffeinated for the Big Lap.
Last time Simone joined the podcast, her family were still on the road travelling Australia in a caravan with two young boys. Now she’s back home in Sydney, reflecting on the adventure that changed her family forever.
In this funny, heartfelt and honest conversation, Sally and Simone chat about:
the reality of van life and caravanning around Australia with kids
coming home after a year on the road
family travel challenges and unexpected moments
the emotional side of the Big Lap
unforgettable characters they met around Australia
parenting, resilience and raising adventurous kids
caravan park life, road trip hacks and travel tips
self-publishing a book
why social media only shows half the story
Simone also shares:
her favourite destinations around Australia
the truth about living in a caravan full-time
funny travel disasters
Big Lap packing mistakes
caravan park hacks
family travel advice for parents dreaming of doing a lap around Australia
Plus, Simone’s son Louis joins the conversation to answer the Kid’s Corner questions!

This episode also includes a short discussion relating to mental health and the Blue Tree Project in Australia. Please take care while listening with young children.  (at approx 23.26 mark) and open your heart and mind to those needing an old fashioned chat 💙

LINKS
Follow Simone: @biglappers or @simoneskinnersmith
Book: Passenger Princess: Underprepared and Overcaffeinated for the Big Lap available on Amazon and Kindle.
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/1923680129
Big Lap: Family Road Trip Around Australia (first episode full of tips)
 https://pod.link/1819621151/episode/c2FsbHlzdGFudG9uLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tLzE4ZjdiZDkzLTg4NWEtM2I3NS1iZTIyLWU1MTIzZjFmYTg3ZA

Connect
Thank you so much for listening.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions via
@snacksandsuitcasespodcast
@sallynanamis
Snacks and Suitcases Facebook Page
Email: snacksandsuitcasespodcast@gmail.com 
 
If you’re loving the show, make sure you’re following so you never miss an episode especially if you’ve got a family trip or road trip coming up.
And if this episode made you smile, share it with another parent who may need that gentle nudge to set off on a big lap. Because if not now, then when?
AND... Don't forget the snacks. 
Hosted by Sally Stanton.

This week on Snacks and Suitcases, Sally is popping into your feed with a quick little update while the podcast takes a short mid-season breather. But no worries as she’ll be back next week with a brand new episode!
In the meantime, now’s the perfect chance to catch up on any episodes you may have missed…. like road trips around New Zealand, All Inclusive Travel, Cruising with Kids plus loads more family travel ideas and tips.
Thanks so much for all your support of Snacks and Suitcases.
Follow @snacksandsuitcasespodcast for more family travel inspiration, travel hacks and destination ideas for parents travelling with kids.
Hosted by Sally Stanton.
Click for more episodes

Snacks and Suitcases will be back very soon with more family travel tips, travelling with kids advice and celebrity travel stories.

In this quick update episode, Sally Stanton shares some of the best episodes to binge while the podcast is on pause, including chats with Hamish Blake, Ada Nicodemou, Emma Watkins (Emma Memma), Sophie Falkiner and Luke Jacobz.

Planning a family holiday? Catch up on popular episodes covering Japan with kids, Bali with kids, snow holidays in Australia, Japan ski resorts, Livigno in Italy, eco-friendly tiny cabin escapes and more.

Plus, Sally teases an upcoming episode with Simone Skinner-Smith, returning to the podcast to chat about her new travel memoir Passenger Princess: Underprepared and Over Caffeinated for the big lap, inspired by her family’s caravan trip around Australia.

Whether you’re dreaming of a big lap around Australia, a white Christmas ski holiday or your next family getaway, there’s plenty to inspire your next adventure.

Follow Snacks and Suitcases for more family travel inspiration, travel hacks and destination ideas for parents travelling with kids.