We are a RTW-traveling family from Vancouver, Canada:

With a collective country count of 155 out of 193 countries, and still counting. 🙂

In 2005 we started our 4-year backpacking journey with Mom, Ammon, Breanna and Savannah aka “The Original Four”. During our travels my dad and brother, Skylar, joined in on the adventures. Collectively we have visited 150+ countries.

26 year old travelling to every country in the world (111 so far) to become the youngest female to visit them all. Founder #TRLT, bestselling travel AUTHOR.

Maggie-the-Mom and mediator, instigated the hare-brained idea of traveling the world “for a year”. She is following her dreams and currently living in Holland.

Ammon, (rhymes with salmon) my brother 11 years my senior, was the coordinator, budget police, (thus making the trip last four years instead of one), navigator behind the whole operation and actually made it happen. Best known as the leader, always ready with map and compass in hand. After seven years of travelling, he returned home and is now an ATC with Nav Canada and living in Prince, George BC. He continues to travel as often as possible and has been to 137 countries.

Breanna, my sister, three years my senior is one big basket of random entertainment. She has always been my best friend and worst enemy. Bree continues to enjoy life, travel and live in the moment. She is currently a very successful stunt-women in the film industry in Vancouver, BC.

Brandon, the dad, is the one who unintentionally got the ball rolling. He joined the trip a year and a half in but better late than never.

Skylar, my brother, nine years my senior, joined us for five months in West Africa after completing five years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Kees (pronounced case, as in nut case) and I met in 2008 in Ghana while both circumnavigating Africa. We’re an adventurous couple who have travelled through 40+ countries together. Kees is an adventure traveller of 85+ countries, including backpacking, luxury travel and overland to India from Holland and circumnavigating Africa, both in his own self-built MAN truck. Semi professional film maker + editor and image wizard.

That in a nut shell is my Family.

Comments:

• Met them at Mario’s place on Gozo and then “stole” them from him and took them with me to Gokhan and Seyda on Malta. What an amazing family! I was fascinated immediately – I had never met a family like them that traveled the world for such a long time. Never even heard of one. Apart from their great stories and outgoing and friendly personalities, it was a pleasure to sit back and observe the way they communicate among themselves, which is probably the real wonder or secret of their amazing journey. So if they contact you: don’t worry about hosting the 5 or 6 of them at the same time, if need be, they all fit into a closet or a small room. You’ll be rewarded by getting to know a group of travelers like no other…one that I certainly will not forget and which I’ll probably talk on and on about to other people. Simply amazing. Good luck in Africa and if you change your mind and come back to Europe – you’re always welcome in Germany! – Veit Kuehne (founder of Hospitality Club) http://www.hospitalityclub.org
• We met via Couch Surfing, and I hosted five of them for several wonderful days! I love this family, and I hope to meet them again anywhere in this world–or the next. I would trust any member of Watkins Travel with my life, my home, my car, my money–you name it. These folks live their values, and their values are the finest. I hope to know them forever and a day! Watkinstravel are the BEST guests, so host them–even if you live in a bed-sit. They have perfected the art of travel, and they have more integrity, honesty, respect, generosity, and humor than any folks you will ever meet. North America could not have better goodwill ambassadors, for they embody all that’s good about it and none of the bad. I really cannot find enough fine things to say about this truly amazing family. And they have so much love and respect for one another and themselves that it’s contagious. A day with these folks will change your life for the better, and you will learn more about our planet from them that reading a library of books, and you will understand what the term “family values” really means. And please, if you are lucky enough to host them, please treat them with kindness and respect. I can’t wait for the book, film, and television series of their lives and adventures! As for the passport check, Ammon’s passport tells a tale that will blow you away! I’ve seen tons of passports, but his is unique and deserving of a novel. You really have to see it to believe it! Be well, my friends! And come back to Ireland anytime, for you will always have a place in my home. – Cathleen Ruane (Ireland) member of http://www.Couchsurfing.org
• Before meeting Savannah, I met her family first. Parents Brandon and Maggie, and brother Ammon visited Vigan, February of 2010. Their epic story of a family traveling together still wows me up to now. It was only in 2011, on my one-month backpacking in Europe did I come face to face with this bubbly lady. Having seen most of the world already, she amazes me when she still gets exhilarated showing me around Holland like she is a “tourist” herself.As of this writing, she is cooking up a memoir of her early years traveling with her family, being transformed from a bratty Canadian teenage girl into a full-blown woman. Do keep an eye out for the release of Sihpromatum, the first series entitled “I Grew my Boobs in China”! -Shawi Cortez (Philippines), http://www.cheaptravelforwomen.blogspot.com