Frequent Criers: Q&A with Olivia Thébaut

Name: Olivia Thébaut

Home Base: Eygalières in Provence, France

Day Job: Photographer and art director collaborating with fashion, beauty, home, travel and hospitality brands worldwide.

Paint a picture of your family: how many kids do you have and how old?

My family is made up of my husband, Julien, and our two children: Joseph, who is seven, and Colombe, who is five.

At what age did you start taking them on more challenging trips?

We started travelling a bit further (to Lanzarote) when Joseph was around 18 months old, while I was pregnant with Coco. As soon as children start walking, everything changes. They become more present and engaged, they explore differently, and they really take ownership of the places we visit. It also naturally allows us to travel a little lighter.

What are a couple of the most successful trips you’ve taken as a family and why?

One of our very first really successful trips as a family of four was to Mallorca in the Balearic Islands during the autumn holidays, when Joseph was four and Colombe had just turned two. The island felt incredibly calm at that time of year and the sea was still warm enough for daily swims. Life quickly found a simple rhythm. We rented small houses in Sóller and Es Llombards and spent our days exploring calanques such as Caló des Moro, Cala S’Almunia and Cala Deià, walking along the coast and visiting villages and inspiring places like the Fundació Pilar i Joan Miró in Palma.

Another very memorable trip was in the Souss-Massa region in southern Morocco. Travelling there with the children, we were struck by the contrast between the Atlantic coast, the dry landscapes and the small Berber villages in the mountains. What made this journey special was its rhythm. Days unfolded slowly between long drives, markets, craftsmanship and simple shared moments. Morocco feels very welcoming with children. There is an immediate warmth that makes everything feel easier. The road trip format also worked perfectly for us, with travel time becoming natural rest moments, almost like pauses within the day.

Both trips shared a sense of freedom, beauty and slowness, which makes travelling with children feel truly joyful.

Most disastrous one/the trip you’ll never repeat?

One of the most challenging trips we had was in Puglia in the middle of August, when both children caught chickenpox. Between the heat and the fatigue, everything felt more intense than expected.

Rather than cancelling the trip, we adapted completely. We avoided long beach days, explored shaded villages, took long lunches and slowed everything down. The trip became softer and quieter than planned. It reminded us that travelling with children always involves unpredictability, and that some of the most meaningful moments come when you let go and adjust your expectations.

Do you do anything special to prepare your kids before a trip or certain destination?

I like the trip to begin before we even leave. We look at images together, talk about landscapes, animals and plants, and sometimes listen to local music. It creates a gentle sense of familiarity and excitement.

What’s your packing strategy for the kids and do you have any organizing hacks? What suitcase(s) do you use?

We use large Eastpak suitcases that are very easy to organize, thanks to their compartments. The children share one, each with their own side, and we do the same. I roll clothes rather than fold them, which makes everything more visible and saves space.

Do you have a favorite travel uniform?

I usually travel in simple, comfortable pieces like my oversize Sessùn sweater and large denim. I always bring warm socks because planes are always cold, and a comfortable pair of sneakers. 

What are your essentials in your carry-on when traveling with kids?

Their mini Yoto player with headphones, colouring books, small toys and snacks. These are familiar objects that create a sense of comfort and continuity.

How do you keep them engaged/avoid meltdowns on a flight?

I try to create a gentle rhythm throughout the flight, with simple activities like stickers, books and small card games, introduced gradually. It is mostly about anticipating transitions and balancing calm moments with more active ones.

Any on-the-go snacking strategy?

We keep it very simple with fruit and crackers. It helps maintain energy levels and avoids small drops that can quickly become tricky.

How do you get your kids to sleep on the plane?

I don’t really do anything specific. I just try to recreate a sense of comfort so they can fall asleep naturally.

What “rules” go out the window when you’re on vacation?

Everything becomes more flexible. Schedules loosen and we follow the rhythm of the place rather than our usual routine. 

On long-haul flights, now that they’re seven and five, they get unlimited screen time. As we say in France, exceptional situations call for exceptional measures!

How do you deal with picky eating when you travel?

What matters most is keeping the children curious and open to local food. We prefer simple, authentic places rather than formal restaurants, as it suits them better. We have also noticed that they adapt very well, especially when the experience feels a little different from everyday life.

For example, in Morocco we were invited to eat couscous while sitting on the floor in a very traditional, relaxed setting. They found it both super fun and absolutely delicious. These slightly unusual moments often make them the most open and enthusiastic.

What’s your approach to bringing kids to museums and other cultural institutions?

I try to make these visits feel alive, almost like a game. I might ask them to choose a painting, describe it or invent a title. We keep it light and we don’t try to see too much. A few rooms are enough. What matters is that they leave with a positive memory. Sometimes I invite them to take photographs of what catches their attention, which helps sharpen their gaze. And if they lose interest, they simply go outside and play.

What’s your policy on travel souvenirs?

They each choose one souvenir, something simple that keeps a tangible link with the place. It can be a small animal figurine, a piece of traditional clothing, or handmade jewellery they pick themselves.

Do you have any travel rituals with your kids?

Before each trip, I give them a notebook so they can draw their days and impressions. They also each have a disposable camera.

Any favorite travel gear you can’t imagine traveling without?

The Yoto player is a real companion on long journeys. It is very reassuring for them and helps create quiet moments during full days.

What are your favorite family-friendly hotels and why?

We loved Koora Hotel  in Monteverde, Costa Rica. The cabins feel like small homes in the jungle, comfortable and playful at the same time. The children could observe nature very closely, and seeing coatis pass right in front of them felt almost magical.

In France, we also love Les Bains Gardians in the Camargue. It is very immersive, with traditional cabins, animals and wide open spaces. Children can move freely and explore, especially with the pool and ponies.

Kids club—yes or no? Any favorites?

We have never tried it but I am sure it can be a great experience. For us, it is more about finding the right balance. Relaxed parents usually make happy children.

Favorite cities with kids and why?

We tend to travel more into nature, so we are not the best reference. But Scandinavian cities like Stockholm or Copenhagen feel very pleasant with children, offering a nice balance between culture and open space.

Parents whose travel style you admire or sources of inspiration?

A close friend of mine travelled for several weeks in South Africa with a three-month-old baby. I found it very inspiring. It made me realise how often our limits are self-imposed. There are no real rules, only the ones we choose to follow.

How do you like to preserve a big family trip after the fact?

I take many photos, of course, but the ones taken by the children are often the most precious. And then there are the encounters that stay with us, coming back in conversations like a living trace of the journey.

For example, Adnan, our guide in Tiout in Morocco, or Rachid, who welcomed us into his home for tea, are still very present in our memories. In Costa Rica, we met Isabella, a little girl on the ferry between Puntarenas and Paquera, who spontaneously came over to my daughter to offer her a small bracelet. These small, unexpected moments naturally resurface at home and become part of the story we keep from each trip.

How have your kids changed you as a traveler?

We have become more organised. We anticipate more than before, but we have also learned to slow down, to observe differently and to adapt to their rhythm.

What are some of the enduring lessons/impressions?

Travel has become something deeply precious, a space of transmission and openness to the world where we share much more than places. These experiences leave a soft but lasting imprint that continues to live within us and quietly shapes who the children become.