We have a big Catholic family. We have 6 kids (so far), so there are 8 of us, and 2 in diapers. We are well-traveled domestically. We've made at least one US national parks trip plus pilgrimage every year for the last decade. I'm decently well-traveled, having made pilgrimages in Europe and a mission trip to Kenya. My wife is a little fresher to international travel.
So we're making a bit of a leap of faith! If this pilgrimage goes well, we hope to make a long European pilgrimage next year with a bit of Catholic world-schooling/homeschooling: Catholic world-homeschooling. Can somebody coin a better term, please?
The following will be a bit of a travelogue (to be updated as we go) and a bit of a travel tips guide. Please let me know (comment below) your own travel trips and/or thoughts/improvements on my choices! ... Stay tuned for updates :)
Big Catholic Family Pilgrimage - Table of Contents
Big Catholic Family Pilgrimage Travel Tips: How to Cut Down on Travel Costs
#1 Drive to a Major Airport, then Fly Out
#2 Accumulate Travel Miles when paying bills, major purchases, etc.
Big Catholic Family Pilgrimage Travel Tips: Getting 8 Passports
Big Catholic Family Pilgrimage Travel Tips: How to Store 8 Passports on My Body?
Catholic Pilgrimage Outerwear: Making Your Clothes Your Carry-On AND Carry-All
Meet the SCOTTeVEST Tropiformer 3D Jacket for Men. It has 22 Hidden Pockets! My goal is for this to be my carry-on AND carry-all for all 8 passports and everything else my big family will need on our excursions. Basically, I'm trying to be the dad Swiss-army knife.
This will be my most expensive travel purchase, apart from all the tickets, passports, etc. I'll let you know if it was worth it!
Post-Pilgrimage Assessment: STAY TUNED ...
Big Catholic Family Pilgrimage Travel Tips: Using Carry-On Bags Only
- 2 rolling duffle bags
- 2 duffle bags strapped onto the roller duffle bags (above)
- 1 backpack duffle
- Plus, 1 stroller checked in and out at the gate >> This doesn't count towards our tally. The airlines provide this as a service.
Here's our plan for who carries which bags:
- My wife and I: 4 bags, we'll each have a roller with a duffle strapped on
- Oldest girl: carries infant in arms
- Oldest boy: pushes stroller with toddler
- Older boy: backpack duffle (or hang on stroller)
With this arrangement, we still have two carry-on slots not being used! We're packing some of the extra Gonex duffle bags, just in case we need more room. We found some really inexpensive (gulp) duffle luggage on Amazon. We also decided on distinct colors to make sure we don't get out luggage confused with that of other folks.
We bought 6 bags for under $200. We bought 3 of each of the following (an extra of each):
dimensions: 20.8 x 13 x 9.8 inches (well within limits),
basically folds down to the size of a ketchup packet LOL
dimensions: 22 x 12.5 x 11 inches (well within limits)
Regarding the carry-on dimensions, I found this tip on Reddit from a guy who took the time to measure the sizing bins:
The limit is officially 22" x 14" x 9". The sizer is actually (roughly) 23" x 15" x 10" to avoid arguments. Any suitcase less than 23" x 15" x 10" will fit the sizer. Even an in inch or so beyond that is fine although technically oversized. The GA are really just looking for comically oversized bags or people with multiple suitcases.
Post-Pilgrimage Assessment: STAY TUNED ...
Big Catholic Family Pilgrimage Travel Tips: What to Wear?
My boys and I like to altar serve together, especially at pilgrimage sites. Here's my big hairy audacious goal (BHAG). My goal is to have one set of clothes that I can wear everyday (except for undies) that's comfortable and appropriate for all the following:
- Traveling
- Hiking up Tepeyac
- Urban walking trips
- Chasing after kids
- Playing sports with the ladies and sisters of Girlstown (this may be the most impossible of all the goals, LOL)
- AND altar-serving or attending Holy Mass
Catholic Pilgrimage Footwear
I'm going with Vans High Top Sneakers. This is not because I'm trying to be a cool dad. I'm going with these for a mixture of ankle support, being all black, relatively cheap, and good for all the above.
Post-Pilgrimage Assessment: STAY TUNED ...
I've also been loving these Merino wool socks I found on Amazon. These have been great for altar-serving, too.Post-Pilgrimage Assessment: STAY TUNED ...
Catholic Pilgrimage Pants
I wanted to get these pants, the Proof 72-Hour Merino pants from Huckberry, but decided to save money and use what I already have. Gear Junkies rated these really high, and I like a Merino option. That thousand-pocket jacket should cover my needs here.
Big Catholic Family Pilgrimage Travel Tips: Computers and Tech?
Do I Need a Power Adapter for Mexico?
Catholic Pilgrimage Computer
Post-Pilgrimage Assessment: STAY TUNED ...
Big Catholic Family Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Guadalupe: Pre-Trip Reading Guide
This is a translation of our oldest extant document about the apparitions of Our Lady to St. Juan Diego and Juan Bernadino. This is where we get the words we have from Our Lady of Guadalupe, herself, such as the following:
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