Podcast appearances and mentions of karen beddow

Karen Beddow is an entrepreneur, traveller, parent, and author. Frustrated by the lack of great travel books for children she began her own series, Extraordinary Travellers, to helo kids uncover the magic of exploring another country.In this epsiode we talk putting up tents in the rain, the false dichotomy between fiction and nonfiction and the journey to publication.Karen is bringing the Extraordinary Travellers and their adventures to Wild Words Festival - book now with 10% off with the code NonFicPod. Order the books - and get travel inspiration - at minitravellers.co.uk Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author and travel blogger Karen Beddow, talks to Touch Stay about some of her amazing adventures in Africa - and how she coped taking her young children along for the ride. In this episode, the Andy and Tyann touch on the importance of expectation versus reality, plus the power of the Tour Operator - and how having someone to guide you in an unfamiliar place enhances experience. 

Even the most adventurous travelling families sometimes draw the line at holidays in Africa - but as this episode explores, it should definitely be on your family travel wishlist. The Kidventures family travel podcast hosts are joined by Karen Beddow, mum of three, who also writes the family travel blog called Mini Travellers, and who's racked up three separate family holidays to Africa.Visiting Rwanda, Malawi and Tanzania, Karen and her family - three girls, including twins - were faced with plenty of worried reactions but it's provided her kids with experiences they'll never forget, not least a close encounter with a lion. She gives her tips on how to plan the perfect family holiday in Africa, especially if you haven't visited yourself, advice to bear in mind and the extra essentials to pack. Her attitude? Visiting Africa with kids isn't just about the amazing travel memories. Helping kids to see how different and how similar life is in these three countries has taught some valuable lessons - and proved that if you can tackle Disneyland, you can do anything.Find out more at https://www.kidventures.co.uk or check out Karen's blog at https://minitravellers.co.ukCheck out the other podcast episodes or subscribe for more family travel inspiration, tips, destination advice and recommendations from some of the UK's top family travel experts, including hosts Cathy and Ting from family travel blogs MummyTravels.com and My-Travelmonkey.com.

Satisfy your wanderlust; yes, even with the kids. Karen Beddow, of Mini Travellers, shares her expert advice on how to travel far and wide with the entire family. Early on, we make the distinction between a holiday and an adventure- they’re definitely not the same. Learn how Karen was inspired to take her young family to Rwanda after a successful trip to Disney Florida - there is a link! Karen’s top tip doesn’t involve rolling your clothes or buying any expensive gadgets, and it ensures the whole gang are happy.  From saving money, the benefits of screen time to home swapping - Karen shares oodles of wisdom on FAMILY TRAVEL. Spoiler: I reveal why I’m an UN-happy camper! Read the full show notes over on our website School for Mothers Website ●  School For Mothers Private Facebook Group ● School for Mothers Instagram  

Trying new foods while traveling is difficult for some adults. It can be even more difficult for kids — especially if they're already picky eaters. Today's episode is all about tips for picky eaters, and the families who travel with them. Do you travel with picky eaters? How do you handle it? Read on, listen in, and add your insight in the comments. Trying New Foods While Traveling There are loads of tips for picky eaters on the web — both for adults and children. For me, food is an essential part of the joy and discovery of travel. For some people, however, trying new foods is an assault on normality. This can be especially challenging when traveling with children. Many kids are extremely picky eaters. That's why it can be a challenge to keep your kid fed, happy, and healthy while traveling. Especially if they're unwilling to try new foods. Today I talk with Emma Morrel, a mom of two who has had to deal with some picky eaters in her family. She decided to write about it on her blog after a trip to Italy with two other families. It was then that she discovered that they couldn't find a single meal that all six children with them would eat. "I knew I couldn't be the only parent with this problem," she explained, "so I asked my readers about it." The results are here. See All Food-Related Posts  (Japanese, Malaysian, Mexican, Vietnamese, Spanish & more!) IN THIS EPISODE 02:26 Intro 04:21 Life in Doha 07:45 Why write about trying new foods? 09:53 The really picky stage 12:03 Bali food games 20:04 Compromises 22:57 Carbs & breakfast 24:44 Packing food & snacks ABOUT Names: Emma Morrel Hold passports from: The UK Type of travel: Living abroad & short-term travel FIND THEM ON Wanderlust & Wetwipes | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Tips for Picky Eaters and their Families In this episode of Epic Education Radio, Emma and I discuss tips for picky eaters and different ways of keeping kids well fed while on the road. Emma and I come from different perspectives: she lives in Doha with two kids under seven. We presently live in Mexico (with kids raised in Japan, Malaysia, and Spain) who are now 15 and 12 at the time of writing. We both have our own ways of getting our kids to try new foods, but this discussion is just the tip of the iceberg. There are loads of ways to get picky eaters to try new foods. We only discuss some of them. What are yours? Games & Wordplay: Trying New Foods   Emma talks about the time they went to Bali with kids. For dinner was satay: skewers of chicken grilled over charcoal and dipped in a peanut sauce. Emma didn't tell the kids it was satay. She called them "chicken lollipops." And it worked. She also recalled a Charlie & Lola book where Charlie called mashed potatoes "fluffy clouds." Sometimes changing the name is all it takes to picky eaters to try new foods. I mentioned that when EER guest Karen Beddow was in Rwanda, everything her kids was served was "chicken curry." Why? Because the kids like chicken curry. Carbs, Choices, & Compromises: Tips for Picky Eaters Other tips for picky eaters that we discuss dealt with breakfast, autonomy, and dealmaking. For example, she and I both agreed that a carb-filled breakfast is often a bad choice — even if the child is trying new foods. Carbs tend to burn right through a child, and they're hungry again quickly. We also talked about giving picky eaters a choice at dinner — even if the choice is between two things they don't like. Giving a choice gives children a sense of autonomy that can be reassuring when they're in a new place. Compromises are also required when trying new foods. Not every meal on the road will be a balanced one. There will be places without vegetables on the menu, and there will times when all the food might be new and foreign to the child. When this happens, make a deal. Offer rewards of what they like at a later time. Pack Your Own: Tips for Picky Eaters Another great tip for traveling with picky eaters is to always carry some food of your own. Emma talks about cereal bars and other snacks to keep "hangry" kids satiated. I talk about carrying a collapsible insulated bag and all the treats we pack it with. Everyone should be trying new foods while traveling, but one of the best tips for picky eaters that I can suggest this: have a backup. Do You Have Tips for Picky Eaters? Do your kids like trying new foods while traveling? Do you? What are your tips for picky eaters and getting them to try new foods? Tell us in the comments!   Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means, at no extra cost to you,  we might receive a small commission if you make a purchase or book using those links. My opinions are my own and I only recommend places/services that I believe will genuinely help your travel. Full-on family travel fundamentals. Epic Education Radio is interviews, stories and advice for people who decide to make travel a priority in their family's life...and for those who want to. Tune in each week to hear stories and advice from new traveling families, and hear how they've handled various family travel-related issues like education, socialization, working, budgeting, accommodation, road-parenting, safety, technology and more. We talk gear, websites, apps and other resources for traveling & nomadic families, and answer questions from those who would like to do something similar.

EER140: Rwanda Gorillas, a Rwanda Safari & Travel in Rwanda Today When people talk about the country of Rwanda, they rarely think of Rwanda today. The horrors of Rwanda history are real and should be well-remembered. Yet we must also remember that 1994 was a long time ago — a lot can happen in 20 to 25 years. Rwanda today is one of the safest places on the African continent. Expect friendly people, a fascinating culture and one of the largest jungles in Africa. That includes the gorillas of Rwanda. Today we talk about Rwanda gorillas, a Rwanda safari, the Rwandan people and the joys of exploring Rwanda today. ::: Like what you’re hearing? Then please subscribe, rate & review Epic Education Radio. We would be extremely grateful! iTunes is a search engine as well, and so when you rate and review us, you help others find us. Thank you! ::: IN THIS EPISODE 02:33 Intro to Karen 04:14 Why Travel in Rwanda? 09:08 Getting to Rwanda with Kids 10:34 Safety & More in Rwanda Today 16:24 Internet in Rwanda 19:35 Food in Rwanda Today 22:23 A Rwanda Safari 29:03 Gorillas in Rwanda 36:49 Visiting Rwandan Schools 42:37 Going to Rwanda with fair skinned/haired children (expect attention) 47:17 Accommodation in Rwanda   ABOUT   Names: Karen Beddow, her husband and three girls (7 years & and 6y/o twins) Hold passports from: the UK Type of travel: Local UK travel and now longer-distance travel A few places they've been: Rwanda, Malawi, all over the UK & Europe   LINKS & RESOURCES Her main post on their Rwandan Adventure Friends of Rwandan Rugby Her Video with the Gorillas in Rwanda! World Fusion Rwanda Tours   FIND THEM ON Mini Travellers UK | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Travel in Rwanda Today Today's guest is Karen Beddow of Minitravellers. She recently had the chance to visit Rwanda and decided to make it into a family trip. When her husband turned 40, he decided to get involved in a charity. That charity became Friends of Rwandan Rugby. Why Friends of Rwandan Rugby? More on that in the podcast. With hubby planning to visit Rwanda for charity work, Karen decided to make it into a family trip. She had recently taken the kids from the UK to Orlando Florida for a visit to Disneyland. Once she realized that they could handle a flight that long she decided it was time to try something more adventurous. Yesterday: Disneyland. Rwanda today. Seems like a natural transition, right? Ha. "My friends said 'are you crazy?'" Karen says with a laugh. Karen wasn't sure how the kids would respond to travel in Rwanda. But you know what? They loved it. Our previous guest Jason Marshall also loved Rwanda during his family's round-the-world trip   Is Rwanda Safe? When Karen began planning her travel to Rwanda, there was one question she heard more than any other: "Is Rwanda safe?" The irony of this question was not lost on Karen, who lives in the UK. She explains that at the time people were asking her "Is Rwanda safe," a bomb had just exploded in Manchester and "the whole of the UK was on high alert." She told her friends that she was more afraid of flying out of Manchester airport at the time. Twenty-five years ago, Rwanda was a nightmare, and it should never be forgotten. But is Rwanda safe now? Yes. The Rwandan people "are incredibly proud of how they've changed it around," Karen explains. "They were given the chance to turn it around," she continues, "and they all want to talk about how good it is now." We talk about how safe it is in Rwanda today, and not just in Kigali, but in the villages as well. We also talk about some other forward-thinking policies in effect in Rwanda today. For example, Rwanda has put a ban on bringing plastic into the country. Internet in Rwanda Today With all the advancements in Rwanda, today have come improvements to their infrastructure. One part of that is the internet. You won't find high-speed broadband like in Chiang Mai or many places in the west. However, you will find internet where there was none before. Don't expect broadband wifi, Karen says. Instead what you'll find when you travel in Rwanda are 3G and 4G networks. You'll also find Whatsapp, the social media platform that much of the world uses to communicate. You buy a new SIM for your phone, then buy credit from shops along the road. There are places with wifi in the cities, but don't expect it to be reliable all the time in Rwanda today. Karen explains more in our conversation. Read more posts related to Africa  Things to Do in Rwanda with Kids Karen's family had some amazing experiences during their Rwanda travels. They visited schools in Rwanda and played with the kids there. They took a Rwanda safari, as well, which was an incredible experience for all. On their Rwanda safari, they saw rhino, zebras, giraffes and countless hippos. Yet, they didn't see lions, and one reason they didn't is that in Rwanda the animals run free. Rangers don't constantly track them for tourists. The Rwanda Safari Approach There are different approaches to running a safari park, Karen explains. In places like South Africa, guides and rangers constantly monitor animal location. Here you are guaranteed to see the entire spectrum of wildlife there. That may be good for the spectators and shutterbugs. Yet there are downsides to animals being constantly surrounded by Range Rovers full of clicking cameras. Rwanda tourism and the Rwandan government have chosen a different approach. Like in Kenya, the animals are left to roam. For example, guide and trackers will try to locate them, but there are no guarantees. From a family travel perspective, this can be problematic: what if no animals cross your path? Then again, there's something to be said about the approach with respect to the animals' well-being. Gorillas in Rwanda This Rwanda Safari approach goes several steps further when it comes to the Rwanda gorillas. Visiting the gorillas of Rwanda is one of the most amazing things Karen has ever done, she says. But it's not for everyone. The Rwanda tourism and the government of Rwanda have placed a lot of restrictions on visits, and for good reason. Few mountain gorillas remain. That's why the new Rwandan government wants to support them and the community where they live. Want to see the gorillas in Rwanda? You have to be over 15 years old. The gorillas are so big, and while not really dangerous, the gorilla guides need to make sure that everyone stays calm in the jungle. "In reality," says Karen, " nobody wants to shoot a mountain gorilla." Indeed. Group Size (Visiting the Rwandan Gorillas) The Rwandan government limits the size of groups visiting the mountain gorillas as well: 10 people max, and you visit one family of gorillas only. You get one hour, and then you're out. Each family of Rwanda gorillas sees only one group per day. With that knowledge, consider that there are only 10-12 families of gorillas, so that means 100-120 people per day. That's it. Visiting the gorillas of Rwanda is not cheap either. The price for this was once USD $750, but recently the Rwandan government doubled that. Paying USD $1,500 for one hour with wild mountain gorillas in Rwanda sounds exorbitant — and it may be. Seeing mountain gorillas in the wild may now be out of reach for most normal people and solely for the rich. That said, consider that the money spent to see Rwanda gorillas goes back into the community. For example, many of the men who were once poachers now have a salary to serve as guides and rangers. When given the choice, they would much prefer to be guides and rangers. Karen and her husband had an incredible experience, which she talks about in the podcast, and as you can see right here. More Info on Tourism in Rwanda Today This is only a portion of our talk on tourism in Rwanda today. Listen in to hear more about things to do in Rwanda, visiting Rwandan schools, the charity they worked for and what it's like when Rwandan children see their first fair-haired, fair-skinned child singing in their schools. Have you traveled in Rwanda or elsewhere in the African continent? Get in touch and tell us about it! Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means, at no extra cost to you,  we might receive a small commission if you make a purchase or book using those links. My opinions are my own and I only recommend places/services that I believe will genuinely help your travel. If you're interested in Rwanda gorillas, Rwandan safaris & travel in Rwanda today, we hope this helps you plan your trip!   Full-on family travel fundamentals. Epic Education Radio is interviews, stories and advice for people who decide to make travel a priority in their family's life...and for those who want to. Tune in each week to hear stories and advice from new traveling families, and hear how they've handled various family travel-related issues like education, socialization, working, budgeting, accommodation, road-parenting, safety, technology and more. We talk gear, websites, apps and other resources for traveling & nomadic families, and answer questions from those who would like to do something similar.