Round-the-world trip with the family – 25 flights, 15 countries – and yet always at home

In 2024, my world revolved around my family's world trip. I'll explain why I'm writing in the title that I was actually at home the whole time further down. My year in review for 2024 might also show you that traveling the world with children is as easy as pie.

Spontaneity and freedom are always my top priorities. Making quick decisions and then letting things unfold. Things that an all-inclusive vacation or a cruise can't offer me. Adventure, uncertainty, excitement, curiosity, and many great experiences, for me, but also for my family.

I flew a total of 25 times in 2024. That sounds like a lot, but it's all put into perspective with many of the flights being round trips. What was more interesting and exciting for me was the fact that I got to travel to 15 different countries. There were also some new, exotic countries among them, like Belgium, for example. 😉 In the past 44 years, I haven't managed to get to Belgium even once.

According to Google, I've traveled 69,120 km by plane, ferry, and even 1,000 km by train, which is unusual for me. I also drove a bit, mostly rental cars. By the way, 70,000 km is equivalent to 1.75 circumnavigations of the globe.

It felt like we were on a world trip with the family the whole year, but it was actually only 117 days.

An extremely eventful, exciting, and super beautiful year is over. I'm very excited for 2025 and wish every reader here lots of success and a super year.

Freedom and what it truly means to me

Sure, when you go on a world trip with your family, you initially feel totally free. But I'd rather talk about a different kind of freedom. A freedom that I've only ever known from islands. Just last year, several people independently asked me why we „hang out“ on such a small island like Gozo.

That's a valid question. Such a laid-back life isn't for everyone. I was often confronted with the idea that such an island would be boring. That's true. If you like huge shopping malls, need crowds of people, and enjoy being stuck in traffic every day, then such an island is truly boring. Also, if your kids are only used to large indoor playgrounds and amusement parks, they will likely get bored on an island.

For me, freedom is often a synonym for security. When I'm at home, I want to feel free. I want to be able to leave my front door unlocked without fearing that someone will enrich themselves with our belongings. My car is always open, often with my phone in the phone holder. There is trust in humanity there. At least where I spend most of my time.

Since 2020, I've been living in places where I can move around freely. I can reserve a table with my wallet and order at the counter 50 meters away while I wait. Even my MacBook is safe when it's waiting alone in the restaurant, bistro, café, or beach bar for me to return. Not everyone cares about that, of course, but I do.

Our kids, too, are growing up in an environment where they can trust people. However, we pay very close attention to ensuring they learn respect and caution towards other people. They wouldn't blindly go along with strangers, for instance.

Through our family world trip, I've experienced many places where it's not common for children to be able to run around freely. We also visited places where you practically have to hide your valuables. Generally, I feel free when I'm in places where I can concentrate on what I want to. Places where I don't have to be afraid that someone will hurt me or take something from me. Safety first.

That, at times, is a fact that I've come to appreciate more and more in recent years. That's why I love small islands, and Malta in particular. With the international airport, we can get anywhere in Europe very quickly. Because it's more of a provincial airport, everything is fast, and Europe is easier for us to reach than from Zurich, London, or Frankfurt.

By the way, the topic of freedom reminds me of one of the 36 books I read last year. A book that I wasn't fundamentally very interested in, but that received so many good reviews that I had to read it. Angela Merkel, Freedom!

And what can I say, it's a really successful book, about freedom. Actually, a good behind-the-scenes book that shows the life of the Chancellor. It was very entertaining and is written excitingly and humorously in many places.

But now we come to my tours last year, which were of course „almost“ all part of our world trip with family. May my 2024 year in review now begin...

15 Countries in 12 Months - 2024 Year in Review

What a cool year 2024 that was! The weather at home was reliably great all year round. It only rained abroad, so to speak, with very few exceptions. Overall, I had four vacation days in 2024. That was absolutely enough. The only day I didn't work at all was a Friday in August when I traveled to the North Korean border. Exemplary!

Malta / Gozo

Countries: Malta / Gozo

As every year, I start in Gozo and Malta. This year we moved into a new house. It's great and we feel comfortable. We only moved within our town, so we just had to get used to the house itself. Winter 2024 was amazing. There wasn't a single rainy day, so I was able to start every day by the sea.

That's where I most enjoy walking along the Salt Pans in Gozo. It clears my head for the meetings afterwards and for the day in general. I can only recommend to everyone, if there's a sea nearby, start your day there.

We also spent a lot of time in Malta, whether in the National Park or in the cities. At least once a month we had visitors, so we also planned a few sightseeing days here and there. Consequently, I was at the airport quite often. Not only because we flew a lot, but also because I often picked up visitors there. I love the drive there. Most of the time, I drive back in such a way that I see a fantastic sunset on my left on the way home.

I also went to Comino a few times this year. There were some nice hikes with friends and family, and also a scavenger hunt from Friends of the Earth Malta we participated. It took place on Comino.

The 13 most beautiful beaches on Gozo and their Advantages and disadvantages
7 Bitter Truths About the Island of Comino You Should Know

Benelux Tour 2024 – Round-the-World Trip with Family

Countries: Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany

Over Easter, we finally went to a country that was exotic and unknown to me. Belgium! During our Benelux tour, we traveled from Malta to Luxembourg, through Belgium to the Netherlands, and then also made a detour to Germany.

Our tour started at Luxembourg Airport, in the middle of nowhere. From there, we met friends and saw the beautiful Vianden. The next day we went to Durbuy in Belgium. Belgium's St. Moritz completely captivated me. It was so beautiful there, charming and cozy. We also saw Spa, Ghent, and Bruges. We stayed in the latter for a whole week and made repeated excursions to Holland.

After Koblenz and Andernach, we drove into the Saarland. We saw the world's largest cold-water geyser in Andernach. That was a highlight for the kids because they were super nervous, as we were basically driving back and forth between volcanoes.

We were on the road for a total of three weeks, and even the Easter Bunny found us in Belgium. A wonderful trip, with many great experiences.

Family Trip to Benelux 2024

France

Countries: France

We took a multi-day trip to beautiful France and visited, among other places, Academie Galan and the pilgrimage site of Lourdes. Academie Galan is located in a beautiful green setting and is a paradise for artists or art enthusiasts. I truly enjoyed staying in the idyllic surroundings and walking through a rain-drenched bamboo forest to the breakfast room in the mornings.

As I already mentioned in my travelogue Lourdes, I found Lourdes rather disappointing. Nevertheless, it was an interesting trip there and I wouldn't want to have missed it.

Even more surprising was the city of Tarbes, located in the southwest of France. There, you'll find a huge airplane graveyard, which was my personal highlight of this tour. All in all, we had a few lovely days in France and got to know some great places.

Academie Galan 2024 – The Art of Creative Recreation

Switzerland – A Visit to the Homeland

Countries: Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria

Last year we visited Switzerland twice. It's always a great feeling to land in Zurich and then drive to Graubünden. The mountains immediately give me a feeling of home, and it just feels good to look at the green pastures and meadows and drive past crystal-clear mountain lakes.

I've also gone on the occasional hike, especially in Liechtenstein, which is personally my favorite country for hiking. Above Schaan, leading to Vaduz, is the Fürstenweg (Prince's Trail), which goes through dense forests and along a fantastic panoramic path. I love it.

Friends were visited in Austria, and a visit to the dentist couldn't be avoided. A new crown was fitted last year. Yay! But afterward, there was delicious Kaiserschmarrn, and everything was good again.

Every time we are in Switzerland, we also enjoy the culinary offerings there. Raclette is a must at least once, even in the summer. The cheese is just too good for that, and anywhere else in the world, you only ever get a copy. It's just not the same. We spent a total of about two weeks in beautiful Switzerland, which is why I don't want to omit this trip from my 2024 year-in-review.

60 Days Through Asia with Family – World Trip with Family

Countries: United Arab Emirates, China, South Korea, Japan

This trip was my highlight of 2024. We traveled for a total of 60 days during the summer holidays, getting to know new cultures, new countries, and unknown traditions. We started in Dubai, which we already know well. Accordingly, we felt right at home here. Since the outdoor temperature was 42 degrees Celsius, we only took part in indoor activities. Dubai is ideal and prepared for this, though. From skiing to ice skating to a tropical house and countless indoor playgrounds, everything is possible here.

Afterwards, we went to Chongqing, the largest city in the world. It is one of China's megacities. It was a unique and, above all, indescribable experience for all of us. From initial problems with the internet to the language barrier, everything was included here. No one spoke a single word of English. Even a simple „Hello“ was not understood here. But we fought our way through successfully and had a wonderful time in China.

The next stop on our world trip with family was South Korea. We particularly enjoyed the capital city, Seoul, and especially the Gangnam district, which has achieved worldwide fame. We took great trips and loved the food in Korea. It's not quite as spicy as in China, but just as diverse. My highlight was the excursion to the North Korean border. Whew, that was pure thrill. The border is one of the most dangerous in the world. You could feel that everywhere there.

After that, we went to Japan for a few weeks. We started in Osaka and then traveled through Kyoto and Nagoya to Tokyo. We stayed a few days at each stop and visited the most popular sights. Tokyo was pretty crazy and super exciting. My favorite stop, however, was Okinawa. The island is very beautiful and also laid-back compared to the main island. We spent a wonderful week in this tropical paradise.

The last stop on our trip was Ras Al Khaimah. The northernmost emirate, just 100 km from Dubai city, totally surprised me. Here you still get to see a lot of the original life in the Emirates. It's not all built up like in Dubai. My highlight here was visiting a pearl farm in the north of the emirate. Afterwards, we also took a tour through the mountains. That was special, as it was a cool and pleasant 32 degrees at the summit. More than 10 degrees cooler than in the valley. 🥵

This trip was the main part of our family's world trip in 2024. Even months later, the kids are still talking about the adventures we had in Asia. They also met their cousin in Japan, which was of course a very emotional and beautiful experience.

7 Exciting Indoor Family Activities in Dubai – Beat the Heat!
Chongqing Travel Report 2024 – China's Mega City is Twice the Size of Switzerland
5 Great Activities in Seoul with Family – Unforgettable Experiences for the Whole Family
North Korea DMZ South Korea 2024 – Excursion to one of the world's most dangerous borders
Osaka Travel Report August 2024
Kyoto with Kids – The 7 Best Excursions for Your Family Vacation in Japan's Cultural Capital
Exciting Family Adventures in Japan 2024 | Nagoya – Japan's Underrated Playground
7 Unique Tokyo Travel Tips and Attractions for Families
Okinawa Travel Report 2024 – A Magical Week in Japan's Paradise
Ras Al Khaimah Trip 2024 – The magnificent emirate you don't know yet

Asia Trip with Children – 60 Days, 5 Countries, Priceless Memories

Italy and the Vatican

Countries: Italy, Vatican

My last stop on my 2024 family world trip was Rome. A great and, of course, very historic city. I enjoyed the trip. Basically, I had a much less clear idea of Rome than of Seoul and Tokyo. The city surprised me very positively. Not only the ancient and worthwhile buildings and relics from the Roman Empire, but also the city itself is great. The many shopping streets, restaurants, and cafes. Everything is decorated with great charm, and the people are incredibly friendly.

The Vatican wasn't necessarily more papal than the Pope. But the Pope's St. Peter's Basilica was one of the highlights with the biggest wow factor. It's impressive how the artists of that time worked and beautifully painted St. Peter's Basilica. Michelangelo seemed to be right at the forefront of it.

New Year's Eve was also well worth it in the city. We were able to watch some great fireworks and had a wonderful New Year's Eve in Italy. The icing on the cake of my 2024 year in review.

New Year's Eve in Rome with Kids – 7 Great Experiences for Families

Happy New Year 2025 🍀

This year is my Year in Review 2024 Finished a few weeks late, at the end of January. In 2024, about half a million people visited my blog, Wandernotizen. I am very happy about this every time and want to thank every single reader.

I still owe you the answer as to why I was essentially home all year or why it felt that way. For me, home is where my family is. It's not tied to one place, and because of that, I feel at home somewhere very quickly. My family provides me with that support and that feeling. That naturally makes traveling easier in the end too.

This year, I've started giving specific tips for day trips and also for overnight stays. I've been getting a lot of questions about this, and it looks like you all really like it.

Just write to me if you found a tip particularly good or if you've even planned a trip or a stop because you were inspired by a post here. It will continue here next year as well. I have some beautiful tours planned and will be able to report from some beautiful countries.

Now I wish you and your loved ones a successful 2025, plenty of health and energy, so that the year 2025 will be as grand as 2024. 🐖

My 2024 Highlights in Pictures

At the end of my 2024 year-in-review, here are a few snapshots from the past year, as always. Of course, this is just an excerpt from the approximately 30,000 pictures I took in 2024 on our family world trip. Let yourself be inspired for your next travels or simply enjoy the great landscapes, sights, and impressions.