Customer Reviews

Tales from a Travelling Mum: Navigating Europe with a Babe-in-Arms

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when I heard about Alice Griffin's book Tales from a Travelling Mum, I was instantly intrigued, and wanted to read it. Oh, and if you think I can't spell....Alice is from the U.K..

In the book, Alice recounts the tales of her family unit which include her husband Scott and daughter Isabella and Milla (their dog), and how they traversed across Europe, in a 14' x 7' camper... with a baby... and a dog.

In between her stories, she provides exceptional traveling tips for people who would like to travel with their young children, but aren't sure where to start, what to bring, or how to react!

If you have small children, and would like to travel (and it doesn't need to be to a foreign country), but really think it would be too much trouble, work, or cost, I urge you to read Tales from a Travelling Mum - when you're done it won't seem nearly as scary as you think!

I absolutely loved this book. Perhaps it was because I myself once traveled through Spain, or because my husband and I once traveled and lived in a van with kittens, or maybe it was because I wholeheartedly believe in instilling a sense of travel and adventure in my son. Whatever the reason, Alice's writing is warm and engaging and difficult to put down. Tales from a Traveling Mum inspires you to engage with the world whether you are going across the ocean or just to the corner store. As she says, travel "is not about escaping from life, but about indulging in life..." As I read her words I was encouraged to dream about our next family adventure and to actually start planning it.

If you are a new mother and looking for someone who will encourage you to keep adventuring with your child, then this is the book for you. It is a practical resource as well as an inspirational one. Alice's helpful tips range from how to get a passport picture of your child to turn out to what essentials to bring when traveling with a young child. The final chapter of the book is written by four other traveling mothers and gives four other wonderful perspectives on how to travel with multiple children and how to travel on a budget.

I was left wanting more and glad to know that Alice will be writing about more travels in her next book and on her blog.

I had decided to read the book 1 chapter a day - to allow "a break for the growth time of Isabella". It would make it more real-time to me. That plan did not last long - I got hooked at 8 months!!!
The funniest thing is that I have been an avid follower of the blog trail, but I found that the book held so much more "emotion and enchantment" than the blog ever could!!
I found myself laughing WITH the family, crying when they left a long-stay village, and upset when I realised I was on the last page.
I instantly recalled the feelings I have when watching "fiction-films" about the Titanic - History told me it sank, but I still forget that bit when I am drawn into the unfolding story.
I am truly hoping the "second chapter" will be written and published.

It's true that this book is full of helpful tips and advice on traveling with babies and young children, but it is also, and maybe foremost, a story about following your passion and intuition--about staying awake for life no matter what stage you find yourself in. Sometimes that can be a scary thing to do and Alice Griffin doesn't shy away from describing the times when she wondered what she was thinking, taking off in a caravan with her husband, young child and family dog for an open-ended trip across Europe. As her story unfolds, however, the humor, excitement, beauty, and fun she finds while traveling becomes a universal story that many people can read and enjoy and find inspirational--even if they aren't planning on traveling with youngsters anytime soon.

What's great about this book is that it speaks to the reader on two different levels--the emotional and the practical--and the two styles blend seamlessly. Griffin's voice is that of a good friend, sharing not only helpful advice, but parts of her deepest self, too. The story of her adventures is punctuated by pull-out boxes with a summary of the travel-with-children-lesson learned in the scene. I found myself skipping the boxes and gobbling up the story first. After I "found out what happened," I went back and read through the tips again. They are also listed at the back of the book in a helpful summary. You'll enjoy the story, and then store the book in your backpack for reference along the way.

Griffin is never, ever preachy, which is a breath of fresh air in the realm of parenthood advice. There are also brief stories by other women who refused to give up traveling when their children came along in the back of the book. These are welcome additions as they provide several different perspectives on the subject. It proves you don't have to be wealthy, or have a certain "type" of family to do the things you most want to do, and that travel with children includes trips to local attractions as well as more exotic places. The whole package creates a sense of empowerment and encouragement to follow your heart. Through reading all the stories, you begin to realize that the people who benefit the most might well be the children.

For me, the mark of a good book is whether the images stay with me after I close the cover. That happened with this one. I saw the author's black boots striding along a street in Copenhagen; I felt her relief when a friendly French mechanic showed up out of nowhere on a rainy night outside St. Etienne and fixed their caravan; I felt her peace and heard the rustle of wind in the leaves of the olive trees when she and her family volunteered at an olive harvest.

This is a useful guide for anyone looking for advice on traveling with young children and an enchanting story about following your dreams for everyone.

Alice Griffin ([...]) is a delightful writer! I've had the pleasure of following Alice & her family in their travels through her blog Fanciful Alice ([...]). This book is a great addition to her blog!

I love how Alice found love with a man who shares her independent spirit for travel and that they both took forth to travel as a family; they didn't let the hodge podge of daily life keep them down.

When she notes that children do let you see the world with fresh eyes - it's so true - I can relate as a mother. But, I can also relate to the qualms of being a mother - changing a diaper in an inconvenient spot, the high pitched screams in the face of company, and the need to keep little ones busy. It was a great laugh to revisit these issues in Alice's book. So no matter whether you are in your home country or out and about traveling you will face the same situations as a mother of a young child. It's just a matter of choice where you will be doing them. And all these issues lead to some great tips about travelling with baby through out the book.

What I love most about this book - Alice has a beautiful way with words - very descriptive: landscapes, wine, olives, purest blue skies, bliss, front of her apron cradling eggs. It is so descriptive that you almost feel like you are living within its pages. Especially when the family visits Almendra - oh how I want to visit this magical place. Well, without giving too much away...

This is a wonderful book! Especially if you want to be wisked away to beautiful places. A definite must read!

I grew up traveling with my family - heading out on a road trip to explore a new part of the country. I still cherish all the memories of my youth from those trips. My husband and I also have a love for travel and we explore many places with our kids now. I think some of the most endearing memories from childhood (and in adulthood) are from the travels we take, the places we explore, the different cultures we experience...the views...the smells...the sounds...the tastes...the feel of each new place you visit.

Alice Griffin does a fantastic job conveying these things in this book. I could smell the olive trees in my grandparents front yard as she described the olive grove in her book. I could imagine the views she saw on her trip almost as if I was in the passenger seat of a car watching everything pass by my window. I enjoyed curling up to this book and getting lost in their family adventure exploring Europe. She also has many helpful tips for new parents taking a young child with them as they travel - items to bring and things they learned along the way. A fantastic read which will leave you itching to plan a trip of your own!