Traveling in a campervan with children means traveling, living, eating, playing, and sleeping in a confined space. There’s a lot to consider, and it all starts with packing the camper. Verena and Jan are @venjatravel. Together with their two children, they are redefining family vacations and traveling with kids. In their self-converted Volkswagen T3 Syncro with a living cabin, the four of them are literally traveling the world. From their journey along the Panamericana, they share the best tips and hacks for traveling with children in a small space.
When we told our family about our travel plans, they couldn’t believe it. It was a mix of disbelief, concern, and admiration. We heard comments like “In that small car?” “And how do you sleep in there?” “Isn’t it too dangerous with the kids?” Of course, we could understand our family’s questions and concerns. The thought of four people living on a different continent in four square meters for a year was both crazy and unimaginable.
PANAMERICANA WITH CHILDREN
From the beginning, it was clear to us that we wanted to embark on this adventure with our two children. It just felt right to completely dissolve our home in Munich, load our restored Volkswagen T3 Syncro with its self-built living cabin into a container in Hamburg, and start the Panamericana adventure. We couldn’t imagine anything more beautiful than traveling for a year, just the four of us, living in our beloved car, and discovering a new continent! Even before we set off, there were some challenges to overcome, and even while traveling with children, we had to first learn our routines and processes. Here, we’d like to share our tips and tricks for long-term travel with children.
- A BOX
The first challenge arose even before departure: packing the car with all the important things we would need for a year on the road. If it had been up to the kids, they would have taken their entire playroom with them, but (fortunately!) there wasn’t enough space in our small car. So, each of them was given a small box from us, which they could fill with toys. These were eventually crammed full of toys but fit perfectly in the footwell, so they always had access to their toys during the trip.
- FUNCTIONAL CLOTHING AND CAMPING BLANKETS
Although spring had just begun in Germany and at our first stop in Canada too, we had to consider that we might encounter cooler temperatures, especially at higher altitudes. Good rain and fleece jackets, as well as sunscreen for everyone, were thus the most important items on our “take-with-us list.” Additionally, it was important for us to follow the layering principle with lots of layers. We also had to bring an extra T-shirt or two for the kids, as things can get messy, and we wouldn’t have the opportunity to wash clothes every day.
We also spent a long time thinking about which blankets we would use for sleeping. In the end, we chose the CloudTouch® blankets from VOITED because we had already had very good experiences with them before the trip. They are very light, cozy, and warm. The blankets are suitable for temperatures down to around 8 degrees Celsius, and they can be turned into a pillow during the day, which is very practical for us since no unnecessary blankets are lying around in our small living space.
- SHIPPING THE CAMPERVAN
To reach entirely new, far-off travel destinations, it might make sense to ship the campervan to the destination. Although this can sometimes be more expensive than renting or buying a car on-site, we opted for this option because Jan knows every screw in the car and, after a long period of restoration and cabin construction, we finally wanted to test it “in the wild.”
Once all our things were packed in the car, our T3 set off from Hamburg. After about three weeks in the container on its way to Halifax, Canada, our Panamericana adventure finally began. Together with our two children, we flew to Canada and received the T3 Syncro at the port of Halifax. The Panamericana adventure could finally start.
- SLOW TRAVEL
There are so many beautiful places between Canada and Panama that invite you to be discovered. At the beginning of our journey, we wanted to visit every highlight to see or experience it with our own eyes. But we quickly realized that it wasn’t about the number of places but about skipping some highlights to travel as relaxed as possible. What was particularly important to us on this trip was the quality time with our children. Discovering the world with them at a completely relaxed pace was enriching for us.
It was especially beautiful to spend time together and discover the new world around us through the eyes of our children. Every crab on the beach was thoroughly inspected, every plant examined, hours were spent collecting shells and turning over stones to see what was underneath. This way of traveling brought us closer together as a family, even though it wasn’t always easy, and there were often moments that were difficult. But in the end, it was important to us as parents to give our children something lasting. To respect and protect nature, to appreciate other cultures, and to treat each other with respect. We are very grateful that we were able to experience this up close during our trip.
- WELL-ESTABLISHED DAILY ROUTINES IN THE CAMPER
Our journey began in eastern Canada, and we quickly made our way westward. The first days on the road were, of course, very exciting and thrilling for all of us. Since the living cabin was only completed a few days before shipping, we couldn’t test it at home and get familiar with it. We then made up for that extensively in the first days and got to know the routines that occur on every camping trip in detail. How do you empty our composting toilet, how do you fill the water, where are the light switches, how do you convert the seating area into a bed, and so on. And these were just the general tasks that we as parents had to learn first.
But we also had to establish a fixed routine for our children right away so that the transition from normal life at home to traveling and living in the van wouldn’t be too difficult for them. Routines give our children security and also make everyday life easier for us. At the same time, we used the changed living conditions to introduce new routines. This included, for example, introducing a new sleeping arrangement or even that both children no longer received bottles because cleaning them was too time-consuming. This worked very well for us, especially due to the new situation and living conditions.
- CREATING VARIETY: MOVEMENT AND LONG CAR RIDES
In our new life in the T3, we were woken up by the sun every morning—without an alarm clock, of course—had breakfast together, tidied up the living cabin, and slowly packed up, so we were always ready to leave by late morning. For us, this was the best time to drive, as our little one, who was 1 1/2 years old, could take her nap in the car. Verena often sat in the back during the drive and played with the older one, read books, sang together, or handed out snacks. After we found a suitable parking spot, the kids usually needed to burn off some energy first, so we all explored the new area together.
In Canada, it was wonderful to roam through the forests and hiking trails, always equipped with bear spray and bear bells that the kids had on their shoes so that even the last bear knew we were on our way and shouldn’t come to us. In the USA, Oregon also convinced us with its hot springs, which can be used for free everywhere. So after each driving stage, there was a warm bath for the children. It was a nice change and a great way to end the day. After dinner, the children went to bed fairly quickly, as the days were very eventful and exhausting for them. We were glad that we all quickly got used to the new daily life in the van, and the children quickly accepted and came to love their new life in the car.
- FAMILY AND COUPLE TIME
Living and traveling together on four square meters is an absolute blessing for us as a family. After we had crossed the western United States together, we were completely overwhelmed by all the impressions. Not only are the national parks in America a must-see, but the surrounding landscapes are also stunning. The Yellowstone National Park, in particular, was a highlight for all of us. Everything bubbles, smokes, and steams, and in the midst of it all, bison graze, undisturbed by the passing tourists. We couldn't stop marveling..
With all the shared experiences and exciting days, we often felt like falling asleep with the kids in the evening. But that was our time as a couple, where we could reflect on the day and make further plans.
Especially in Yellowstone National Park, the temperatures in July were already quite cool since the park is over 2000 meters above sea level. We were very grateful to have our CloudTouch® blankets from VOITED with us, which allowed us to cozy up by the campfire in the evening and enjoy the outdoors despite the cool temperatures, while the kids slept warmly wrapped in their own Mini Traveler VOITED blankets in the cabin. The Mini Traveler blankets are slightly smaller than the regular ones, making them ideal for the kids. This way, we could fully enjoy our family time and occasionally have lovely campfire evenings together as a couple.
- THE RIGHT TRAVEL DESTINATION FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
Where you go on a long trip with kids in a camper van depends, of course, on your preferences and what you're comfortable with given external circumstances. Choosing the right destination or destinations for a family trip is, therefore, an important point.
For us, the real adventure began when we crossed the border into Mexico. Suddenly, everything smells different, you hear music everywhere, people speak a new language, there are delicious tacos to eat everywhere, and the whole atmosphere is different from what we had seen before. Our first campsite was right by the sea under palm trees, and it was just the first of many more on our way to Panama.
The journey southward became more and more exciting for the kids. We saw countless monkeys in their natural habitat, climbing over our car and sometimes even on it, listened to howler monkeys, watched huge iguanas on the beach, and saw dolphins jumping in the sea. We marveled at smoking volcanoes and parked our car right in the sand by the sea.
Costa Rica, with its high biodiversity, was an incredible enrichment for the kids. Every day felt like being in a zoo. In Costa Rica, we witnessed baby turtles being released into the sea, and by chance, we were lucky enough to observe a turtle laying eggs. The kids could spend hours watching sloths climb or build caves out of driftwood using our beloved VOITED Ripstop blankets. These are also perfect for a picnic on the beach, as you can easily shake them out, wipe them down with a damp cloth, and pack them up again.
We are often asked which country we liked the most during our year-long journey from Canada to Panama. But we can only answer this question with a puzzled look and a shrug. Each country has something special, something worth seeing, and is simply beautiful in its own way. However, we can say that we traveled through many countries that we knew very little about. There, we met people who were strangers to us and encountered environments that were different from what we knew at home.
But one thing all the countries had in common was an incredible warmth and hospitality. Everyone wanted to help us when we needed it. We were always greeted with a smile, and people waved at us from the roadside as we drove by in our car. We were asked where we came from, and our children were repeatedly given toys, even though the people didn't know us. This appreciation and unconditional kindness from people towards us as travelers stood out to us, and we took a lot from it as a family.
It was definitely an adventure, one that perhaps required a bit of courage, but we can't confirm the worries our family members had. For the children, it was a very formative time, and we grew as a family. We can only encourage everyone to step out of their comfort zone and just go, because the journey is is such a reward.
About @Venjatravel
Verena and Jan love traveling with their two children and often embark on short or longer journeys around the world in their Volkswagen T3 Syncro. Jan is passionate about building and fixing things, and by now, he is very experienced in working on the T3 before, during, and after their travels. He built the cabin entirely by himself. Verena loves traveling in the Syncro just as much and enjoys a good yoga session on the beach or, alternatively, in the middle of the jungle, aside from spending time with the family. We invite you to follow @Venjatravel on Instagram – where many exciting stories are shared daily from each trip!
