How to become a digital nomad family and travel the world

Imagine waking up in a new country every few months, where work and school blend with exploration and adventure. That’s been our reality for the past six years. After selling our house in Belgium in 2020, we decided to trade our traditional life for a world of discovery and become a digital nomad family. Our kids were getting homeschooled and we left Belgium for a very long trip…

Currently, we’re in Syros, where Yuna and Hanne are enjoying 3 months of school with Boundless Life and the Trailblazer program, while we continue our work in digital marketing.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how we became a digital nomad family and how you can too.

What is a digital nomad?

What is a digital nomad? “A digital nomad is someone who leverages technology to work remotely while traveling and living in various locations around the world”. For us, it meant balancing the demands of work, our daughters’ education, and the constant excitement of exploring new places. Unlike solo nomads, as a digital nomad family, you need to think about more than just yourself — but it’s also incredibly rewarding to experience the world together as a team.

More and more digital nomad families, like ours, are embracing this lifestyle. It allows us to connect deeply as a family, expose our children to new cultures, and still maintain professional careers. When we first started this journey six years ago, we were unsure how it would work with kids, but now we can’t imagine life any other way.

Assessing your family’s readiness

• Mindset: Before you take the leap, it’s important to assess if your family is ready. The key is flexibility. We’ve learned to see these challenges as part of the adventure. Our kids have become resilient and curious about the world around them. We noticed that they can adapt quickly to different situations.

• Financial situation: When we made the decision to sell our house in Belgium, we knew we needed financial security. We saved and created a budget to ensure we could sustain this lifestyle. We now earn a living through digital marketing and our travel blog, and having that stable income has given us the freedom to explore. Although the financial side causes us the most stress as we both are independent entrepreneurs.

• Health and safety considerations: One of our biggest priorities as parents has always been healthcare. We researched insurance plans and made sure we had coverage that worked internationally. Living as a nomadic family means you have to think ahead about safety and medical care, but with the right preparation, it’s very manageable. For example, we had to cancel our trip from Costa Rica to Florida in 2022, but thanks to our insurance we had everything refunded and could immediately fly back to Belgium.

• Education options for children: Education was a big question when we first started, but over time we’ve found solutions that work. Right now, Yuna and Hanne are enrolled in Boundless Life’s program in Bali, where they’re learning through hands-on experiences, cultural immersion, and structured schooling. It’s been amazing to see how they thrive in environments where learning goes beyond the classroom. In Belgium, it is mandatory to take lessons, not to go to school and they are also obliged to take exams regularly.

How to choose a remote-friendly career?

• Skills for a digital nomad career: Before we sold our house, we both had traditional jobs in Belgium. Transitioning to remote work was a big change. We moved into digital marketing, which allows us to work from anywhere as long as we have Wi-Fi. There are so many career paths that work well for families on the move, from freelancing to online business.

• Online business ideas: Over the years, we’ve diversified our income streams. Besides digital marketing, we run our travel blog and Instagram page, The Global Wizards. Through this, we’ve built a community, created content, and monetized our platforms. If you have a passion for writing, photography, or social media, turning it into an income source is a great way to support the nomad lifestyle.

• Finding remote jobs as a digital nomad: In the beginning, we scoured platforms like Upwork and LinkedIn. Whether you’re freelancing or looking for full-time remote roles, the demand for digital skills is constantly growing.

• Building skills for digital nomads: Over time, we’ve also invested in learning new skills that help us grow professionally. From improving our social media strategies to learning about SEO and email marketing, we’re always evolving to stay competitive in the digital world. We ensure that we are always up to date with the latest trends in travel and digital marketing.

Financial planning and budgeting

• Creating a financial safety net: When we first made the jump to full-time travel, we made sure to have a solid financial safety net. We saved enough to cover six months of living expenses, which gave us peace of mind as we adjusted to our new lifestyle.

• Cost of living considerations: We’ve lived in many different countries, and each has its own cost of living. Places like Southeast Asia have been much more affordable than Europe, allowing us to stretch our budget while still enjoying a high quality of life. We always research the cost of living before moving to a new place. We always try to stay somewhere longer, but due to our wanderlust, that is not always easy.

• Managing taxes as a nomad family: Taxes can be a tricky subject when you’re moving from country to country. This is different for each country and you should check this carefully in advance. In our Digital Nomad Family Community, we had an interesting talk with Marchela Georgieva about this.

How to prepare for the transition

• Downsizing and decluttering: Selling our house in Belgium was a huge decision, but it was also freeing. We rented a storage facility to store our most beautiful things. We had quite a lot of kitchen utensils that we wanted to keep. We also kept all the souvenirs from traveling, bicycles, and beach toys. We were able to store our furniture at friends’ houses because they were abroad for a longer period of time. Our travels are richer because we’re not tied down by ‘stuff.’

• Deciding on a base or traveling full-time: We’ve done both — traveling full-time and staying in one place for longer periods. Right now, we’re in Bali for a few months, which gives our kids stability and a chance to dive deep into the local culture. But we also love the excitement of hopping from place to place when the time is right. Although it is cheaper if you stay somewhere longer because transport costs can add up very quickly.

• Legal considerations: When you travel as a family, visas are a big part of the planning process. We’ve had to navigate different visa systems, but our Belgian passport is very strong it’s quite easy to travel in Europe (Schengen zone) and other parts of the world. Sometimes it can be easy to use extern companies for longer digital nomad visas.

• Packing for long-term travel: We’ve learned to pack light. Each of us has a suitcase with the essentials, and we’ve prioritized things that make working and schooling on the road easier, like our laptops, portable chargers, and noise-canceling headphones. We also want to avoid lugging around heavy backpacks all the time. Traveling with only hand luggage is possible and can save you a lot of money when booking plane tickets.

What about education for your children?

This is probably the first question you’ll ask yourself. How are we going to teach the children or send them to a local school? Or do we just do it without school for a few months or a year?

Nowadays you have a lot of options. After COVID-19, many online initiatives also emerged, making it easier to combine with online/physical lessons for the children.

• Homeschooling & world-schooling: Over the years, we’ve tried a mix of approaches to education. World schooling has been a huge part of our journey, where our kids learn by immersing themselves in the world around them. But we also use structured homeschooling tools when needed. The younger the children are, the more attention they need. When they are a little older, it is easier for them to learn independently. In our Digital Nomad Family World Community we had an interesting webinar about this with Lauren from the Wanderpreneurs.

• Enrolling in local or international schools: Right now, Yuna and Hanne are attending school with Boundless Life in Bali, which offers a unique combination of academic learning and cultural experiences. We’ve found that this balance of education works perfectly for our family. Both of them are in the Trailblazer program which means they have 3 months of school in Bali, Syros (Greece), and Kotor (Montenegro), with the same group of students. Isn’t that cool? You can choose to enroll them in a local school or an international school.

• Online learning platforms: In Belgium, there are some online platforms where children can take lessons. There they see the learning material in different chapters. Boundless Life collaborates with ASU from the United States. Also, there is a lot of other information on YouTube or at the Khan Academy (similar as ASU).

• Balancing education with travel: We’ve found that balancing education with travel is all about routine. In Bali, the girls have school the whole day, and we explore on the weekends. But when we’re homeschooling we try to do school in the morning and then an activity in the afternoon, depending on the weather. That structure helps them stay focused while still enjoying the adventure.

Try to build a support network

• Connecting with other nomadic families: Over the years, we’ve built a strong network of other digital nomad families. Whether through online communities or in-person meetups, connecting with like-minded people has been invaluable. It’s comforting to know that we’re not alone on this journey. Some of our best friends we met through traveling.

• Attending family-friendly nomad retreats: Sometimes they are retreats where you can meet other families who understand the ups and downs of this lifestyle. These events are great ways for your kids to make friends and for us to share experiences with others. This is something that we sometimes do too little. It also takes some planning to be in the right place at the right time.

• Become a member of our wonderful Digital Nomad Family Community

Choose a family-friendly destination

• Criteria for digital nomad family destinations: When choosing a new destination, we prioritize safety, healthcare, internet access, and affordability. Bali has been a fantastic place to stay, offering a family-friendly environment with a great expat community and plenty of activities for the kids. In general Southeast Asia is one of our favorite destinations for travel as a digital nomad family.

• Top destinations for digital nomad families: We’ve traveled to amazing places like Bali, Mexico, and Greece. Each destination has its own unique charm, and we’ve chosen places that not only work for our budget but also offer enriching experiences for Yuna and Hanne. Nomadmum has a nice list of the 15 best Digital Nomad Family destinations in 2024.

What are the biggest challenges on the road?

• Dealing with homesickness and loneliness: Even after six years on the road, homesickness can still creep in, especially for the kids. Yuna and Hanne miss their friends and family from time to time. To cope, we schedule regular video calls with loved ones and make an effort to stay connected. Building friendships with other nomad families and participating in local communities also helps. Creating our own traditions, no matter where we are, makes each new place feel like home. We are usually not away from Belgium for more than three months.

• Maintaining stability in a nomadic life: Living without a permanent base can sometimes feel destabilizing, especially for the kids. We make it a point to maintain certain routines — like having family dinners or keeping a consistent morning schedule — no matter where we are.

• Managing work-life balance on the road: Balancing work, travel, and family time has been one of our biggest challenges. As digital marketers, we’ve had to learn to be strict with our schedules. We try to carve out dedicated work hours and then fully unplug during family adventures. It’s a juggling act, but finding that balance is key to making this lifestyle sustainable.

• Handling the logistics of travel with kids: Traveling full-time with kids means planning ahead — a lot. From figuring out visa requirements to making sure Yuna and Hanne’s schooling aligns with our travel plans, logistics can be complicated. We use apps and online tools to keep everything organized, which has made managing these challenges easier over time. They currently also have a brace, which means we have to have regular check-ups in Belgium, but that’s just part of the deal.

What are your first steps?

• Create a digital nomad family plan: Before we left Belgium, we sat down and mapped out our entire plan: how we’d earn money, where we wanted to travel, and what our goals were as a family. This plan gave us the confidence to take that first big step. Creating a clear vision for your nomad journey is a critical first step. Before selling our house and going all in, we did a one-year trip. That was an eye-opener for us.

• Be flexible and adaptable: Plans will change — they always do. We’ve had to adjust our destinations, work schedules, and schooling plans numerous times. But we’ve found that adaptability is a nomad family’s greatest asset. Rolling with the punches has allowed us to keep going, no matter what comes our way. We even managed to do some traveling during COVID-19.

Our digital nomad family course

Becoming a digital nomad family has been an incredible journey for us — one filled with adventure, challenges, and unforgettable memories. We’ve grown together as a family and as individuals, discovering more about the world and ourselves with each new destination.

If you’re dreaming of this lifestyle, know that it’s possible with the right planning, mindset, and a touch of courage. We’d love to hear from you and help you get started — that’s why we created together with Austin from the Winginit Mom an incredible Digital Nomad Family Community and Course.

What’s inside the course?

MODULE 1: WELCOME

Getting to know each other, explaining how to use our platform and app, and giving more context to a digital nomad family, including its pros and cons.

MODULE 2: WHAT TO DO BEFORE YOU GO

Going over all the steps you need to take to become a digital nomad family, from handling your mindset, house, job, kid’s education, health insurance, taxes, budget, and savings, to starting to plan and research your journey and understanding travel hacking.

MODULE 3: GET READY TO LEAVE

Explaining all the essential and practical stuff that needs to be arranged before you leave, such as medical stuff, your house, necessary documents, IT, and packing.

MODULE 4: BEING ABROAD

Going over everything you need to know once you are traveling as a family. How do you find the right destinations, flights and transport, housing, education, activities, community, food, coworking spaces, medical treatment, etc. But also how to stay sane on the road, make sure you are safe, and stay within your budget.

MODULE 5: HOW TO MAKE MONEY WHILE TRAVELING

Giving you an overview of the best and most common ways to make an income remotely, either as an employee or with your own business, including actionable steps on how to start an online business in content creation, selling digital products, UGC, investing, renting out properties, blogging, vlogging, selling physical products while being location independent and so much more!

The course is offered on an interactive platform, accessible on a computer or using the app on a phone or tablet. The course is almost entirely text-based, giving you the option to easily go through all the sections and even the ability to search for a subject throughout the entire course, making it very easy to find something.

BECOME A DIGITAL NOMAD FAMILY AND LIVE THE LIFE OF YOUR DREAMS!