A Single Mom Traveling Around The World With Her Daughter – They Live Like Locals
But I’m going to tell you a story about someone who would not allow the grind of convention to decide her life. Meet Sarah Noack, a 27-year-old single mother from Frankfurt, Germany, who thought that the world was the best playground and classroom for her young daughter, Luana. Rather than slipping into a routine lifestyle as friends do after they have their babies, she packed her bags and hit the road—taking her baby with her.
Over the past three years, Sarah visited more than 20 countries with Luana, showing that motherhood doesn’t equal an abandoned need for adventure. Instead, she traded in her maternity leave for a passport for the world, crafting an upbringing for her daughter like no other, filled with cultural adventures, new friends and lifelong memories.
How It All Started
Sarah’s story is far from the norm. She worked as a flight attendant before having a child — at a time (like now) when her job already had her leaping from point A to B to C. But when she learned she was pregnant, she didn’t consider it a reason to stop traveling — she viewed it as a chance to take her love of exploring to the next level. Her airline offered a generous maternity package: She was entitled to two years of paid leave and another year of unpaid leave. A lot would have stayed home and gotten used to her new life as a mom. Sarah? She wanted to give her daughter a world view.
And the first time they traveled together, Luana was only two weeks old. While new moms everywhere were getting used to sleepless nights and feedings, Sarah was working her way through airports and fresh destinations. Barcelona was the first place they visited, and only the start. From there, the mother-and-daughter duo has traveled to Thailand, Nepal, Hong Kong, Australia and dozens of other countries, savoring the experience of travel while Sarah worked remotely as a freelance social media manager to support their lifestyle.
Traveling with a Toddler: The Reality
Most people think that traveling with a baby or toddler is a nightmare — sleepless nights, tantrums on flights, endless packing of diapers, snacks and toys. And yes, Sarah acknowledges that it isn’t always easy. But she feels the rewards outweigh the challenges.
The stability she got rarely lasted long, but one of her biggest priorities was ensuring Luana had some. Although their life consisted of new places to discover, Sarah made sure to leave her daughter time to develop routines and bond with other children. In Bali, Luana spent two months in daycare, providing Sarah with a bit of normalcy and a much-needed break. In Thailand, too, she did the same. This mix of adventure and structure served both mother and daughter well.
Sarah also got some creative with traveling with a toddler. Rather than stay in hotels, she booked longer-term rentals where they could create a temporary home. She traveled light, depending on staples she would be able to collect on the way. And she learned — most importantly — to take it slow. Travel with a baby was a slower pace — full-day sightseeing discoveries shifted to local pleasures of beach strolls, neighborhood playgrounds and spontaneous picnics.
Being a Single Mum in a Van: The Struggles
The first — although Sarah’s journey has had its fair share of incredible moments. It’s never easy to be a single mom, but doing so while constantly traveling adds an extra layer of complexity.
Control was always a major concern. Solo female travel, even with a child, required extra care and consideration in terms of where to stay, how to travel, etc. She leaned on traveler communities, researched destinations extensively, and always had a backup plan if things didn’t go as planned.
Then, of course, the emotions involved. As a single mother, parenting is never easy and with no permanent support system close to her, Sarah had to teach herself self-reliance. She leveraged other traveling families, leaned on fellow moms she met in countries around the world, and drew strength from the community of solo female travelers who lived the same lifestyle.
And there was the money thing, too. Though she received some maternity pay, she still needed to earn money to fund their travels. That’s where her remote job as a social media manager came in. She was able to work and be a mother by timing her workload with Luana’s naps and daycare hours.
Why More Women Are Traveling AloneMore
Sarah’s story is part of a much larger trend — women are traveling solo more than ever. Once upon a time, it was considered irresponsible or dangerous for a woman to hit the road alone. Women are discovering that they don’t need a partner or a travel pal to experience the world. They’re packing their bags, making flight reservations and savoring the freedom of solo travel.
And for single mothers? Solo travel with children is increasingly common. Women are increasingly refusing the notion that they have to stay put to have kids. As remote work grows more common and the planet grows more interconnected, many mothers are opting to bring their children up on the road, introducing them to a variety of cultures, languages and lifestyles.
Sarah and Luana’s Future
Sarah shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Actually, she’s planning something even larger — a group tour for other solo moms and their children. In April 2025, she’ll be leading a group trip to Bali, providing a safe space for other single mothers to experience the joy of travel with their children, while receiving the support of a community.
She hopes to encourage more women to make that leap — to show them that motherhood doesn’t equal abandoning adventure. If anything, it means accepting it in a brand new fashion.
Sarah doesn’t just travel to see new places. It’s about forging memories with her daughter, expanding her horizons and showing that motherhood and independence can coexist.
Lessons from Sarah’s Journey
There are some important lessons we can learn from Sarah’s story. First, motherhood doesn’t need to mean the end of passions. Second, with a positive attitude and willingness, you can do anything, including traveling the world with a child. Third, life is short to be waiting for the moment. At times you have to just go for it.
Not everyone can or wants to pack up their life and travel full-time, but Sarah’s journey is a reminder that life is to be lived, not just survived. Whether that’s going on weekend adventures with your kids, taking remote work or long-term travel in a different country for a few months, or just releasing the belief that you have to lead a normal life—there is always a way to integrate adventure into your life.
Final Thoughts
Sarah Noack and her daughter, Luana, are evidence that the world is one of possibilities. They’ve turned travel into a lifestyle, showing you don’t have to pick between being a great parent and living your dreams.
For single moms, for solo female travelers, for anyone who has ever yearned to see the world but felt that life kept holding them back — Sarah’s story is an invitation. A call to take the plunge, seek adventure, and live a life that you design.
Because at the end of the day, there is a whole world out there, waiting to be explored. And as we have seen with Sarah and Luana, sometimes all it takes is the chutzpah to say: “Why not?”