2026 Guide to Family Summer Abroad on a Budget (With Kids Programming So Parents Can Work Remotely)

Where to go, what to pack, how to save money, and loads of other priceless tips

Working parents: I’ve got everything you need to know!

There are many parents who pay for full summers of US day camps so they can work. (I know because I used to be one of them.) But what if I told you that, for the same summer budget, you could live abroad for a month or more, keep your kids entertained with great programming, and still stay on top of work?

This is not a fantasy.

In the summer of 2025, my husband, three kids, and I decided to do this, and we spent an amazing five weeks in Costa Rica. I’ve now created a comprehensive 30-page guide to show others how they can make a similar trip work for their families. I personally use the tactics I share, and they have enabled me to reduce international trip costs by thousands of dollars.

This guide is for people who:

• Have jobs where they can take off or work remotely for at least a few weeks

• Are curious about planning a longer international experience, rather than just a week or two of high-cost, fast-paced “vacation.”

• Are interested in activities and drop-off programming for kids ages 4+

• Are on a budget and want money-saving ideas

• Want a list of important details they might not have thought of

• Interested in packing recommendations

This guide is NOT for people who:

• Want information on resorts, big hotels, and cruises

• Want travel advice for a specific destination

• Are looking for discount codes or trip planning services

When you buy the 2026 Guide to Family Summer Abroad on a Budget (With Kids Programming So Parents Can Work Remotely), you get:

• My personally curated list of programming/camps all over the world for kids in summer 2026, so kids stay entertained, parents can have a break, and work remotely.

• A worksheet that will help you pick a trip that will be the right fit for your family

• An easy-to-use, customizable budgeting Excel sheet (even if you aren’t a spreadsheet natural!)

• Why a more extended trip could save you money over a shorter trip on your overall summer costs.

• Ways to save BIG money on flights, house rentals, rental cars, luggage, and food that big travel companies don’t want you to know about.

• The HOLY GRAIL of travel savings

• Hidden costs to plan for and/or avoid.

• How to save money on summer camps and childcare for the part of the summer you’re at home.

• Recommended travel products for adults, kids, and remote work, plus universal packing list recommendations.

Why you should trust this guide:

I’m an award-winning journalist, and my work has appeared in the NYTimes, WashPost, Vox News, TIME, and more. I’ve spent years researching and writing about social and economic issues facing families, including extensive research on the problems with summer care in the US. Until last year, I felt like I had no choice but to keep camp spreadsheets, set calendar reminders to compete with my friends and neighbors for camp spots, fork over a lot of money, and spend hours filling out forms. It wasn’t until I figured out a different way to spend our summer budget that I realized I had a choice. This guide is the result of hundreds of hours of research and personal experience planning this type of trip. (And yes, I’m doing it again in summer 2026.) While I may earn a small commission on some affiliate links for travel products I’ve researched, used, and recommend, nothing on this list (including the programs I’ve sourced) is sponsored.

I’m not a digital nomad, travel agent, worldschooler, or wild adventure-seeker. I’m a mom who lives in North Carolina who sends her three kids to public school and drives a minivan. My kids had never left the time zone before we took this trip. If we can do it, so can you!

If you have feedback or positive testimonials on this guide after you’ve read it, I’d love to hear them. Email me at askthedoubleshift@gmail.com.