The Discoverer Travel Mom: An In Depth Interview
Looking for a little travel inspiration? Look no further! Danae from Danae Explore is constantly adding new travel destinations to my family travel bucketlist!
Travel Mom Danae By The Numbers
Brazilian mom Danae juggles working full time as an attorney with raising her two daughters ages 11 and 12. As a family they’ve been to 27 countries, 20 Brazilian states, and 11 US States.
Have You Always Loved Traveling?
I have always loved traveling. While growing up in the 80s-90s in Brazil, traveling abroad was hard since we didn’t have much money. However, my mother, as an art history teacher, was a travel enthusiast and worked magic with our limited budget so we could sometimes afford to travel. When we couldn’t all travel together, she would go alone or only with my father. Her passion and teachings inspired me the most.
How Do You Find Time For Travel?
Now that the kids are in middle school, we try our best not to skip classes. All our travel is done on school holidays – Dec-Jan and July, which is not what I prefer due to high prices, crowded places, extreme weather (too hot or too cold). We try to squeeze in short trips on long weekends during the year (mostly domestic trips), but these also mean crowded places and high prices. My work allows me 30 days of vacation per year, and I do extra work whenever possible to get a few more extra days each year, which I manage to use as smartly as I can. My husband’s work is mostly online, so he can travel and work from anywhere in the world.
What Advice Can You Give To Families Who Are Nervous to Start Traveling?
Try. Start small, but start. You’ll gain experience and feel more confident to, at your own pace, make bigger steps. The best time to travel with your kids is now.
If you want to travel abroad, start with countries where you know the language or where people, in general, can speak English, and choose places that have direct flights from your home hub.
How You Decide where to travel Next?
I have a long list of places I want to visit. Each season (usually 12 to 18 months ahead), I take into account kids age and interests, my/husband’s interests, and make a short list of possible destinations. Then I start researching for costs & climate and ask other friends/relatives if they would be interested in joining us – and then I decide the destination. Yes, in the end it’s me who decide the destination.
What’s one travel mistake you’ve made?
If there is a direct flight, go for it. Even if the price is higher. We got a flight to Europe with 2 connections (it was US$100 cheaper), but the stress we had with all the takeoffs and landings, running through airports, and stopping for toilets and changing diapers on the run… you can imagine the stress!
Favorite Travel Destination and Why?
South Africa. What an amazing place to visit with kids of all ages (especially 4 and up), good climate year-round, affordable, English-speaking, good food, lots of activities for all ages, safe. We loved our time in South Africa – kids were 8 and 9 when we went there.
Norway is amazingly beautiful and full of activities for bigger kids (8+).
Brazil is also excellent – great weather, amazing beaches and plenty of natural beauty, good prices, and that “adventure” feeling. Although Brazilians, in general, don’t speak English, they are really friendly and eager to help.
Danae is such a travel inspiration! If you are looking for more savvy travel trips from a Brazilian travel mom, check out my interview with Adventure Travel Mom Priscila. And make sure to check Danae out on Instagram!
