Fellow travellers: For the Stricklands, journey is a household affair

Alex and Lara, 57, and their daughter Imogen, 17, have gone on common Intrepid household journeys, in addition to holidays of their very own, over the past decade. I caught up with them at house in the UK to seek out out why journey is such an essential a part of their lives and get the lowdown on a few of their favorite reminiscences collectively. 

In Imogen’s phrases

After I was eight, we went to Egypt. I used to be frightened of mummies, however I keep in mind strolling into our lodge room and searching by way of the window and simply seeing previous all these buildings, previous the street and the constructing websites, simply the very prime of the pyramid, and simply pondering, ‘wow.’ 

With Intrepid, we’ve performed seven or eight journeys, and it’s principally been group household holidays. I’ve two half-sisters on my dad’s facet, and so they’re 12 years older than me. They’ve by no means actually lived at house, so that they don’t go on these journeys – successfully, I’m the one little one at house, which was why my mother and father went into household group journey within the first place, to offer me another folks my age to attach with.  

Seeing all of the completely different cultures – and seeing how our variations are our strengths – has formed my perspective. Seeing the pyramids and the Taj Mahal was superb, and Cuba bypassed all of my expectations – it was simply so completely different from the rest I’d ever skilled. We went into South Africa and Swaziland and camped on a sport reserve. We checked out these superb stars, the Southern Cross and Scorpio, and we went to sleep with the sounds of lions. 

South America is correct on the prime of my record – I wish to see the Uyuni Salt Flat in Bolivia and Machu Picchu. After that, I really feel like you might simply say wherever and I’d be up for it. 

My buddies do chuckle at me – they’re like, ‘The place are you jet-setting off to subsequent?’ After I come again, they ask me a lot of questions, and I usually say it was good, however I don’t actually increase an excessive amount of, as a result of I don’t wish to brag, and it’s quite a lot of inside jokes that solely the folks on the journey would ever actually perceive.  

Regular life strikes so quick that journey, regardless that it may be hectic and it may be loopy, really provides you extra time to have these actually significant conversations. I feel it has introduced us nearer after we journey collectively. 

Travelling with your loved ones, but in addition in a small group, is about tales. You retain these tales perpetually, even when it’s just a bit factor. I feel that’s extra essential than your flash automobile or your flash cellphone – these tales of getting lived. I feel that’s actually particular. 

Within the phrases of her mother and father 

Alex: I by no means travelled – I didn’t have a yr out or something like that. Earlier than Imogen, we didn’t have large means to do journeys so it might be a seaside someplace not too distant, however no huge travelling – extra only a restful vacation. 

Lara: Imogen was about eight years previous, and he or she was finding out Egypt at college. I had realized about Egypt myself at college, and it was a dream of mine to go there. I assumed to really carry what Imogen is studying within the college books alive can be completely great.  

We acquired quite a lot of loyalty factors with Tesco, and we discovered Intrepid by searching for holidays by way of the loyalty scheme. We had a 3rd of the Egyptian vacation lined by way of factors – we most likely wouldn’t have performed Egypt with out that little nudge. We’re nonetheless Intrepid prospects 10 years later. 

Alex: The format of the household journey labored very well – Imogen had children to work together with, which was a part of why we selected it. However what we found was that the opposite folks there are all actually attention-grabbing. 

We went to a few locations in India, then we travelled to Vietnam. We have been meant to go to Cuba, however the pandemic occurred, so we went again two years later. That was a very, actually attention-grabbing journey. Imogen was attending to the age the place she’d be very a lot the oldest, so we did that as an extraordinary journey. This yr at Easter, we went to Morocco, which was not a household journey, however there have been a few youthful lads of their early twenties, and that labored very well. So yeah, we caught the bug.  

Lara: We’re very a lot encouraging Imogen to form the journeys herself and select what she needs to do and the place to go. There may be nonetheless rather a lot that Imogen needs to see that if we are able to, we’d prefer to see along with her – she’s very eager to go to South America, beginning with Peru and Bolivia. Subsequent yr, we’re doing Canada. 

Whereas Imogen is finding out at college, I feel Alex and I would go do some gallivanting ourselves on our personal. When Imogen’s acquired go away from college, I hope she’ll do some travelling along with her buddies, as a result of I feel that’s essential for independence. However I additionally hope if Mum and Dad pay, she’ll come and do some extra journeys with us. 

Learn extra of Imogen’s reflections on her travels with Intrepid, and discover a household journey of your personal.