The internet is full of amazing stories about happy digital nomad families (and yes, I contribute to that too, sorry!). But if you’ve been following me for a while, you know I’m not a fan of sugarcoating. I want to be as honest as possible with you because only then can you be properly prepared, and it will truly help you.
The truth is: Being a digital nomad with family can sometimes really suck. Here’s why.
What is a Digital Nomad with Family?
First things first: What exactly is a digital nomad family? It’s quite simple. It’s a family that has left their home, works remotely, and travels the world with their kids. Some people start as a digital nomad couple and then become digital nomad parents, while others begin their nomadic lifestyle directly as a family.
For example, we started in 2019 with one daughter and had another one on the road. We essentially grew our digital nomad family while traveling.
Read here about how to become a digital nomad family and here about how to make money on the road.
The Annoying Things About Being a Digital Nomad with Family
Criticism from Everyone, Whether We Want It or Not
Oh my god, did we have to justify ourselves when we decided to become a digital nomad family. I felt like the whole world was against us. Concerns from family and close friends were understandable (they care about us, want the best for us, and are genuinely worried). But honestly, you wouldn’t believe how many strangers felt the need to interfere! From kindergarten teachers to government employees to neighbors.
We were accused of doing something bad for our daughter because she was so young (sorry, but what does that even mean?!). We were laughed at with comments like, “Let’s see when you come back from your little adventure!”. We were also criticized for choosing Thailand as our first country because it’s “so far away”. Yes, maybe that was one of the reasons we chose Thailand?!
Pro: You’re Together 24/7; Con: You’re Together 24/7
I don’t know what your lifestyle looks like, but back in Germany, we didn’t really spend much family time. My husband and I had demanding full-time jobs, and our daughter was in daycare for eight hours a day. Often my husband was still asleep when I took our little one to daycare in the morning, and she was already in bed when he came home at night.
So, the adjustment was huge when suddenly we spent every day, all day, together. Any family that spent COVID-19 lockdowns with their kids at home will agree: It’s a big challenge.
And honestly, I’m still not completely used to it. I really enjoy it when we find daycares and schools so we can have time without the kids. After a week of vacation, I crave time alone or with my husband. And as a digital nomad with family, that’s much harder to organize because we don’t have grandparents nearby or a consistent childcare routine.
Your Travel Costs Are Much Higher
I admit it: I prefer my kids to be as far away as possible when I’m sleeping. Ideally in another room with a door that locks. We are one of those families where co-sleeping never worked, and everyone sleeps better in their own rooms.
So far, so good, but this need for multiple rooms comes with something: significantly higher costs! For long-term rentals, it’s manageable. You just rent a house or an apartment with two rooms instead of one. But with hotels, it’s a real struggle. You either pay for two full rooms (which must be connected) or for a two-room family suite, which is ridiculously expensive. And if you have a penchant for nice hotels, like us, it quickly adds up.
I’m looking forward to the time when both kids are old enough to stay in a bungalow next to ours on the beach. But that will probably take a few more years.
Social Activities Are Limited
A big part of the digital nomad lifestyle is community. And since most digital nomads are singles, community events are mainly about parties, bar hopping, sporty adventures, or hikes. All things we can’t (or don’t want to) do with two small kids.
In the beginning, this was so hard for us. It led to either my husband or I going to these events alone for networking. We suddenly had different friend circles and didn’t do much together anymore. Honestly, this made us both unhappy quickly, and we started hiring nannies as often as possible.
But no matter how much help you get, you will never be as flexible as solo or couple digital nomads. That sucks. Especially when you arrive at a new place and don’t know anyone yet.
Now, we see it more relaxed. We try to seek family connections because their activities match ours much better. Plus, we’re out of the age where you go bar hopping and to bad parties just to avoid being alone.
Moving Around is a Pain in the Ass
One of the top activities of a digital nomad is traveling, obviously. And that’s much more exhausting with kids. I’ll never forget our 10-hour flight from Thailand to Germany with a four-month-old Ruby. She cried more than she slept, and we took turns carrying her every hour. No joke, I thank every fellow passenger who showed empathy instead of rolling their eyes in annoyance.
But these exhausting travels didn’t end there. The worst is waiting in long lines with toddlers, like at airport immigration. Or being stuck on a small speedboat with a broken engine under the scorching sun. Or having a seven-hour airport layover in the middle of the day and not knowing how to entertain the little ones.
Yes, we’ve experienced all of this, and it’s no picnic. Sometimes, when childless friends complain about how tiring their trip was, we tell them to imagine having two small children with them. Do they still think it was exhausting?!
Travel Destinations Depend on Schools and Daycares
I know, I know, we could homeschool and be completely independent of traditional schools. But for now, we’ve decided that our daughters will attend traditional international schools and kindergartens. Unfortunately, this means that every new destination must have a good school and daycare nearby.
When we spent three months in Bali at the beginning of 2022, we couldn’t just stay in a nice beach villa on the Gili Islands but had to move to busy Ubud because of the excellent schools there. Koh Tao, Thailand, was great for our kids for a while since they could attend a daycare together. But now our eldest is too old for it, and there are no alternative education options. So, Koh Tao is off our list for now.
And just because you find a place with good schools and daycares doesn’t mean there are spots available. It needs careful planning. You have to decide early and get on waitlists. Phew, what an effort!
Safety, Convenience, and Infrastructure – You Can’t Travel as Freely
As a young backpacker couple, we didn’t care much about anything (as long as it was cheap!). But that’s far from the case now. Our priorities as a digital nomad family are safety, convenience, and infrastructure.
Our family needs a safe place where we don’t have to worry about our kids being caught in a shooting or kidnapped. The place must be convenient and easily accessible (not a 14-hour overnight train ride). And the infrastructure needs to be good enough. This means we need a decent supply of two-bedroom houses, educational opportunities, safe transportation, and family activities.
Honestly, this takes a lot of the adventure out of full-time travel. Bye spontaneity, bye remote places!
Constantly Questioning If You’re Doing the Right Thing
When you’re traveling as a single person or as a couple, you only have to take care of yourselves. I know, that can be hard enough. But now imagine you’re a digital nomad family and responsible for two little souls.
I know this path and lifestyle is absolutely right for my family and me. But still, doubts creep in sometimes about whether I’m doing the right thing for my kids. Nothing is worse than seeing how sad the kids are to leave their new friends and start in a new school or daycare again. It breaks my heart every time to see my parents video chatting with their grandkids, knowing both sides wish for a closer bond.
Yeah, that sucks, and it will probably get much worse when the girls become teenagers.
Final Thoughts on Being a Digital Nomad with a Family
So, there you have it—the raw, unfiltered truth about being a digital nomad with family. It’s not all Instagrammable sunsets and exotic adventures. Sometimes, it’s sleepless nights, sky-high travel costs, and never-ending logistical nightmares. Criticism comes from all sides, and being together 24/7 is both a blessing and a curse.
Finding destinations with good schools and daycares adds another layer of complexity. Safety and convenience now top our priorities.
Despite all this, I wouldn’t trade our lifestyle for anything. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned as a parent, it’s that children show you just how much you’re truly capable of—far more than you ever imagined possible!
Do you have any questions on being a digital nomad with family? What was the worst thing that happened to you on the road?
Please let me know in the comments! Thank you for reading and for making me part of your day! Yours, Lulu
