'Why I quit my job to backpack around Asia with my daughter'
Watch: 'I'm backpacking round Asia with my 5-year-old daughter'
A mum who quit her job to backpack around Asia with her five-year-old hopes to inspire other single parents wanting to travel with their children.
Alicia Tunnicliffe, 23, from Torquay, Devon has always loved travelling and would take her daughter, Milani, five, away with her at every opportunity.
Usually her parents would also come too, but last year the single mum took Milani on a week-long trip to Tunisia, Africa and realised it wasn't as scary as she thought being away just the two of them.
Following the holiday, Tunnicliffe decided it would be nice to go away for a longer period of time and decided to quit her job and travel around Asia - with her little girl in tow.
The duo moved in with Alicia's parents to save up for the trip and flew out to Bangkok, Thailand, on June 4, 2024.
Despite some people describing the move as "crazy", Tunnicliffe says she has found "freedom" travelling with her daughter and says they are having the "best time".
Tunnicliffe says she felt nervous ahead of her solo trip with Milani for the first time in 2023.
"Only a year ago I was terrified," she explains.
"But we went to Tunisia for a week and it was absolutely fine."
Following the success of the trip Tunnicliffe had the idea to do a longer trip just the two of them and decided to quit her job as an estate agent.
"While the week-long holidays are nice I thought it would be nice if we do something a bit longer.
"I want to be a teacher and I'm starting college in September.
"So I thought I should probably do it now."
In order to prepare for the trip and save the money to go the mum-of-one and her daughter moved in with her family late last year.
"We saved every single penny that we could," she says.
As well as quitting her job, Tunnicliffe also took Milani out of reception for the remainder of her year but says her daughter's school have been really supportive and have said she wouldn't be fined.
In early June the mother and daughter duo flew to Bangkok and have also explored Chiang Mai, Phuket and Koh Samui so far and are are hoping to explore Vietnam and Malaysia next.
Tunnicliffe says she has been surprised at how easy it has been travelling with her daughter.
"Milani has adjusted better than I have," she explains.
"She hasn't been moaning about the heat as much as I have.
"I threw her in the deep end and she's just swam."
The pair have also manage to navigate a couple of blips along the way.
"We were leaving Bangkok and we showed the lady our passes and she said we were at the wrong airport," Tunnicliffe explains.
"Milani gasped, but we managed to get another flight."
Tunnicliffe says Milani has described her favourite moments so far as visiting the pig island and going to the cat café in Bangkok.
"She loves animals," her mum explains.
"My favourite has been the night markets."
Despite being from different generations Tunnicliffe says both her and her daughter have been able to experience what they have wanted to do.
"Some people have thought it was a good idea to travel with your child, but said I wouldn't have any freedom.
"I completely disagree.
"We went to a Love Island beach club the other night.
"We do something Milani wants to do one day and something I want to do the next."
Tunnicliffe feels Milani is learning more from her travels than she would be in the classroom.
"There is so much that she is learning," she explains.
"She's so cautious of traffic.
"She's aware not everyone has the luxuries we do and not everyone can pick up the bags and travel the world."
Not only does she hope to inspire other single parents to look into travelling with their children, she hopes their adventures will ensure Milani continues to travel when she grows up.
"You get them to see something different from home," she adds.
Additional reporting SWNS.
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