Why we swapped flights for roadtrips

A few years ago, I would’ve laughed if you told me I’d voluntarily choose a 10-hour drive over a two-hour flight. But here we are — a family of four with half a dozen snack bags, and a growing collection of motorway service station memories and an overpacked car. We’ve swapped planes for cars, and honestly, its been great.

First of all, lets give a little context.

Carl and I moved from the French Riviera to the UK when Summer was 6 months. As a Kiwi, Carl had never lived in the UK and had barely travelled it. I had left the UK 10 years prior so we were both keen to rediscover - or discover in Carl’s case - the UK.

On our rare days off from being yachties, we would take to the road and get as far away from the port as possible - heading inland to The Var, over the border to Italy or to the south to Provence. We loved exploring and we brought that passion to the UK.

We also had a small budget at the time so we could stretch it further by staying in England and saving flight money. After we had Finley in 2021, we hadn’t flown for some time because of Covid so essentially we were out of the habit and we were still enjoying just being in England.

The Airport Meltdown Era

In 2023, we decided to take the kids to Spain to my Mums holiday home. With the lure of Grandparents being at the end of the journey, we took the plunge and took Finley on his first flight! Travelling with two young children by plane quickly became less of a treat and more of a test of patience, endurance, and sheer willpower. It was honestly the WORST flight of my life and it was less than 3 hours. Then there was the 2 hour drive from Alicante with two stressed parents and two over tired parents, I mean kids!

I wont go further into detail but needless to say, it scared us for a while so road trips it was!

The Joy of the Open Road

Driving gave us a sense of freedom we hadn’t felt on a plane. There was no rushing, lines, no queues, no worrying about whether the buggy would come out intact. If we wanted to stay an extra night somewhere because we’d fallen in love with a small village or a seaside town, we could. And we often did.

It was… peaceful. Not in the quiet sense (there were still moaning and the occasional “Finley’s touching me!” from Summer), but in the way that no one was stressed. We could stop when we needed to, detour to see a castle or a weird roadside attraction, and enjoy the journey — not just the destination.

Rediscovering Home

Stumbling upon Pontcysyllte Aqueduct on our Welsh roadtrip

Over the past few years, we’ve made a conscious effort to rediscover the UK — and it’s been eye-opening. Rather than saving up for one big summer holiday abroad, we now take shorter, more frequent trips throughout the year. A weekend in Kent, a few days in the Wales, a spontaneous drive to the Suffolk — they’ve all added up to a much richer tapestry of family memories. We’ve found joy in the little things: the quiet beauty of local woodlands or fish and chips by a windy beach. There’s something grounding about appreciating what’s on your doorstep, and it’s given Summer and Finley a strong connection to their own country, too.

Seeing More, Spending Less

We love how much more we see by car. Places we’d never heard of — little towns, unexpected gems just off the motorway. Summer is developing an eye for scenic views while Finley mostly cares about spotting cows and playgrounds.

It’s also far kinder on our budget. Four plane tickets, airport parking, transfers — it all adds up quickly. With the car, we pay for fuel and the accommodation, that’s it. We bring our own food for part of the trip, and if we need to pull into a supermarket on the way, we can. We’ve learned to travel well without spending a fortune.

new traditions

Rhosneigr Beach, Anglesey

What started as a practical shift has become part of our family culture. Summer and Finley now associate road trips with fun and freedom. We plan our stops with the kids in mind, always stopping for toilet breaks, lunch which is usually in a town we can wander or a beach to stretch our legs.

More than anything, I love that we’re showing them how travel doesn’t have to be about ticking off airports or rushing to all-inclusive resorts. It can be slow, spontaneous, and full of discovery.

Read about two road trips we took in 2024 to France here

Le Havre, France. One of our stop off’s on our trip to Brittany