40 Countries and Counting - Tips and Tricks for Better Global Travel

#43 Antigua

May 23, 2026

Antigua is hands down the most spontaneous vacation I have planned yet. I was in need of a long weekend to reset, relax and recharge and wanted to do it in a tropical location. Antigua fit the bill.

Beach view of the St. James Antigua

Why Antigua?

I needed to get away for a long weekend to a tropical location within two weeks of deciding to book this trip. An island without travel advisories or security issues was preferred since there was a 30% chance this would be a solo trip.

I last booked a vacation using Costco Travel back in 2016, and liked the experience of having my flight, resort transfers and accommodations all taken care of under one reservation. Plus there’s the benefit of getting some cash back with my annual Costco Executive membership benefit which is always a nice perk. Given the quick turnaround of this trip, and lack of time to do a ton of research and preparation, I wanted the ease of being able to trust the Costco brand to book a quick trip.

When I started to book this trip Antigua was listed as one of Costco’s Caribbean package locations, and I decided to narrow my search to Antigua and one other island.

Planning:

Since this had the potential to be a solo trip, booking through Costco Travel felt a bit safer so I could have my transportation and resort arrival all coordinated in advance through one reservation. I found the St. James Club listed as an all-inclusive option on the Costco Travel website, and the price was in the middle of the other Caribbean all-inclusive options I saw on the website available for my travel dates.

What I liked about the St. James when checking out their website was it looked like there were multiple beaches and water activities available in addition to multiple pools and a gym. It appeared to have several dining options, and bars so I would not need to leave the property.

Map of the St. James Beach Club Antigua

Experience:

While not as nice as Aruba, I had a great experience in Antigua. A friend ended up traveling with me, and it was easy for us to combine our transportation reservations for the forty minute drive from the airport to the St. James, and the property was able to place us in rooms next to one another to make our stay very easy.

Upon arrival at the St. James we learned that the resort was massive. There are a bunch of villas on the property, and some of the pools and other amenities are dispersed throughout the villa area. For people with mobility challenges we learned that there are golf carts available for transportation around the resort, and the staff are super friendly during the rides around the property.

I booked an ocean view room, and it was located near the reception area, and the main hotel pool. This made it very easy to get to breakfast or grab a quick drink at the coffee shop first thing in the morning.

While the St. James is a bit worn around the edges, I appreciated the fact that neither my travel companion nor I experienced stomach issues during our stay. We were able to drink the water provided on the property, and have ice in our drinks without issue. I will take that over a pristine resort any day of the week.

One of the best activities of the trip was the Friday night beach party at the St. James. Dinner was served at sunset on the beach, and then they had a dance party with people wearing traditional Antigua costumes as entertainment. There was a balloon arch, welcome cocktails, a huge variety of food, and it was so fun to be able to sit out on the beach and watch the sunset during dinner.

We also booked an excursion off property during our stay. We were able to book for the day after our arrival without issue. After reviewing a handful of options, we decided to swim with Sting Rays out in the ocean, and visit a turtle sanctuary for half a day, and that excursion did not disappoint. We had no issues with the taxi service the hotel arranged to the sting ray excursion site. After a brief excursion overview, we boarded a boat to Sting Ray Alley. It was so cool to be able to touch sting rays in the ocean, and have them swim around you too. There were more than a dozen of them that came to the feeding area, and we loved being able to feel how soft they were, and also get a chance to feed them squid. It was surprising that the guides seemed to know the myriad of different sting rays and their personalities. After our sting ray session, we took a boat to a turtle sanctuary where we got to feed large tortoises and then hold baby ones before taking a boat back to the excursion site. Our taxi back to the resort was also on time, and we had no transportation issues – which is always a relief.

Party on the beach!

Lessons Learned:

The sargassum smell is real in Antigua. On our first day the smell was especially bad, but it got better as the wind picked up during our trip. There was one part of the resort that was particularly smelly so we did not lounge on that beach during the trip. The side of the property that had water sports like paddle boarding and kayaking did not smell bad, so you can still have a very nice beach vacation.

Book travel insurance, and try to avoid checking a bag when traveling. There is not a direct flight to Antigua from DC, so I had a connection in Miami. Our trip down to Antigua did not have any issues, but on our way back there was a storm that prevented checked bags from coming out to the luggage carousel on time in Miami. My travel companion checked a bag, and as a result of having to wait for it, and then clear security again, they missed our flight home to DC. Fortunately they made a flight home only two hours later.

Swimming with sting ray

Travel Gear:

I brought my snorkel and was glad to have it for the Sting Ray excursion. That said, there was no snorkeling at the St. James, so it was not a must-have for this trip if I had only remained on the resort property.

My waterproof phone case was a must-have to get pictures during the sting ray excursion. I did not bring a waterproof camera on this trip, so this was the perfect pouch for my phone.

This collapsible beach bag came in handy for our excursion when I had a towel, and snorkel gear. It fit in the front pocket of my suitcase and did not take up a bunch of extra room. The resort also provides beach bags for your stay, but it was nice to have a larger bag for the Sting Ray excursion since I packed snacks from the coffee shop.

Final Thoughts:

Feeding turtles

I’d rate Antigua in the middle of the pack of my Caribbean island adventures. We didn’t have the same pristine bright blue ocean views like I had in Aruba or the Bahamas, but it was also nice to not have any of the GI issues we had with Jamaica.
#11 Hungary – Budapest

April 22, 2026

If you are planning a trip to Hungary, then I am happy to have an offline conversation about the beauties of the larger country and different regions. I studied abroad in Budapest for a semester, and had an opportunity to see many different parts of Hungary.

For this post I am going to focus on my family’s visit to Budapest in the Fall of 2022 when my kids were one and three. It was basically a playground tour of Budapest, but wow– the Budapest playgrounds were actually incredible! Since I think most people would be intimidated to take kids to Budapest, I want to share some of the things we did that made it one of the most kid friendly cities we have been– and my kids have been to eight countries as I write this post.

Why Budapest?

I love the architecture and geography of Budapest. Budapest is built up along the Danube river with Buda Castle on one side, and magnificent bridges to the Pest side that has unique buildings like Parliament, the Central Market, zoo, Opera House etc. that provide for some incredibly scenic walks around the city. One of the most beautiful hotels I have ever been in is the Four Seasons Budapest because of its views of the Buda side, and incredible lobby decor. One of my bucket list items is to stay in a room at the Budapest Four Seasons with a view of the river.

Budapest is also relatively inexpensive compared to many places in Europe. When traveling with kids you can find larger accommodations and better prices on restaurants and attractions than other European locations.

Night time ferris wheel ride

Planning:

Our original plan had been to spend the night before my birthday at the Intercontinental Budapest with a view of the Danube River. We were going to take a morning train from Vienna to Budapest, and then spend the better part of two days seeing Buda Castle, showing my kids where I went to school, Parliament, and the zoo if we had time. I also wanted to go for a run on Margaret Island for my birthday morning gift. We were going to eat in the Central Market Hall, celebrate with Dobos Torte cake, and have a nice quick trip.

Experience:

As I shared in my Vienna post, we had to pivot, and ended up unexpectedly spending over a week in Budapest. It was surprisingly awesome. When we learned we could not stay in Vienna for the duration of our almost two-week trip due to accommodation shortages, my gut was to go to Budapest because we had already planned to go there, and I knew my way around the city. I was concerned if we booked our stay in a smaller Austrian city we may not have enough to do, or would struggle if we had an emergency with the kids.

We booked a last minute Airbnb apartment on Vaci Utca in the main shopping area. While rain ended up flooding the apartment through the ceiling during the last morning of our stay, the rest of our stay in the apartment worked really well. We had a small kitchen, two bedrooms and sitting area which was great for the kids to play in. At the ages of one and three we needed more space than a traditional hotel room for such a long trip.

It was fun to be able to shop for groceries again in the Central Market. We were able to get meat and produce from the main floor of the market, and used the grocery store in the basement for frozen food, diapers etc. There’s an incredible cheese shop too so you can have quite the foodie experience even if you have to cook your own food. There is prepared food on the upper level which makes also it a perfect lunch spot.

As a college student I never gave any thought to the playgrounds in Budapest, but during our trip I think we went to all of the major ones– and some of them were truly incredible. Next to Buda Castle there is a castle themed playground that was such a fun way for the kids to relate to what we were seeing during our afternoon on the Buda side. We also took the funicular down Buda Hill which the kids loved!

There’s another playground near Gellert bath house that is built into the hill so kids can ride massive tube slides before or after a trip to the bath house. We were able to go to the Gellert bath house as a family despite the young ages of my kids which was very fun on a colder day of our trip.

The playground that really captured my kid’s imagination was Múzeum Kert Játszótér. It has a marble run, and my oldest child has since developed an affinity for marble runs because of the experience of playing with the marble run in one of the play structures.

The playground on Gellert Hill

The Budapest Zoo is both an architectural masterpiece, and a unique way to experience animals up close unlike zoos in the states. I took a class on Budapest architecture during study abroad, and we spent a class walking around the zoo learning about the history and design of all of the buildings. During my 2022 trip the kids did not care to hear about buildings – they were more focused on the butterfly house, being able to get up close and personal with the outdoor Wallaby exhibit, and being in an open room with bats. I highly recommend this zoo because it also has many play areas interspersed with the animals.

The Ferris Wheel was built after our trip to Budapest, and ended up also being a fun activity for the kids. We rode it at night to enjoy the views, and magic of the city. There is also a small playground in that park with in-ground trampolines that my kids loved to jump on. This playground was their introduction to Budapest and it set a high bar for our trip.

If you like to run, then you must run along the Pest side of the Danube River up to Margaret Island. There is a path that goes around the island that is roughly 5K. It’s such a beautiful way to see the city, and it gives you a chance to preview the park and other attractions available on the island too. We found a fountain with an interactive light and music display that captivated the kids one afternoon.

St. Steven’s Basilica

Gellert Bath House

Lessons Learned:

Budapest is a very kid friendly city. There are so many unique playgrounds and other family friendly activities like multiple bath houses, the zoo and museums that provide an engaging experience for everyone. We did not even journey out of the city to other places like Statue Park that can help bigger kids learn more about communism and the history of Eastern Europe.

Travel Gear:

We had many things from the younger kid part of my travel gear list on this trip.

At one and three my kids still slept in sleep sacks, and the Woolino sleep sack was perfect for the huge temperature fluctuations we experienced this trip. We had not planned for the slightly colder weather in Budapest, and the wool sleep sacks still kept our kids warm at night in our apartment with vaulted ceilings.

Final Thoughts:

Budapest may be off the beaten path for most American’s, but don’t let that stop you from planning a family trip to Budapest. There are so many things for families to do, as well as delicious food that I didn’t dedicate enough of this post to. If your young kids love carbs, then know they will not starve in Budapest given the pastries and delicious cakes available around this beautiful city.
#13 Austria – Vienna

April 22, 2026

My first trip to Vienna, Austria was for a snowy long weekend with some friends during study abroad. We stayed in a hostel, went to every major museum and famous coffee shop, and then got standing tickets to the opera.

A fall 2022 trip was planned as my family’s first major international trip after having kids. Thanks to COVID we did not get to take a Spring 2020 trip to Portugal with our oldest child, so our first big family trip was with two kids who were one and three at the time of travel. We were excited to be able to get out and travel again after a three year hiatus from international trips, and start to show the kids the joys of new adventures– or at least experience new playgrounds and coffee shops.

The Natural History Museum

Why Vienna?

There’s a nonstop flight from IAD to Vienna, so we thought it would be easy to fly into Vienna, and then take the train into the city center. We wanted to visit museums and coffee shops in between trips to the playground, and then spend time hiking in forests and visiting wineries on the outskirts of Vienna.

Planning:

We thought we found the perfect Airbnb for this two week trip. It was 800 meters from the Wien Hauptbahnhof so we thought we could take the S-Bahn into the city and then walk to our lodging. The pictures of the Airbnb we picked had bunk beds, a crib and even a tumbling mat for play so we thought it would be an ideal home away from home. We had planned our check-in to be the day before our early morning arrival so we could get into our lodging as soon as we arrived in the city center.

We also booked an overnight trip to Budapest, about a week into our travels with the goal of leaving our big suitcases and kid things, like a hiking backpack, at the Airbnb to then spend one night in a Budapest hotel for my birthday.

We did not book activities in advance because we had no idea how a one and three year old would acclimate to the time change.

Experience:

My husband and I got onto the train from the Vienna airport with both kids to the city center thinking we were in great shape. The flight was super easy, and the kids were in relatively good spirits. Little did we know we were about to walk into a horrific Airbnb scam.

We walked the 800 meters from the train station to the Hotspot Museum 5, Airbnb with two little kids and luggage for a two week trip. We packed things like sleep sacks, sippy cups and kid bowls and utensils thinking we would only have to haul everything the days of our arrival and departure.

We made it to the Airbnb and the door code my husband entered did not work. He then texted the Airbnb host Erich who asked if we had arrived the day before. Of course we had previously communicated our arrival plan, and Erich then let my husband know the unit could have bed bugs, but we were welcome to meet him at a park that afternoon where he could then transport us in a van to new lodgings. Despite not sleeping on the overnight flight, we still had enough sense to realize this was an Airbnb scam, and we declined that offer. At this point our luck with the kids ended, everyone started to melt down, and we needed a place to rest, and FAST. We then walked the 800 meters back to the train station area, and found a Hilton. I’d previously run multiple marathons, and that 800 meter walk was one of the hardest of my life.

Y’all, Hilton SAVED us after that painful walk. My husband walked up to the registration counter, explained the situation, and the staff at the Hilton Vienna Park could not have been more helpful and kind. They immediately set us up in two adjoining rooms, and sent up a crib within minutes of us getting into the room. A basic level room was not available, so they even gave us an upgraded room at the standard rate. That level of service has made us Hilton customers for life.

After getting settled into the amazing Hilton, we had to completely re-plan our trip. There were no Airbnb’s in Vienna with ten plus consecutive nights available for the duration of our stay, and Airbnb did nothing to help us find family friendly accommodations. Not knowing what to do, we decided to pivot and book an Airbnb in Budapest for the majority of our trip. You can read more about that Airbnb experience here, but after this trip I will never stay in an Airbnb again.

We did spend three nights at the Hilton Vienna Park before departing for Budapest, and then returned for two additional nights before flying home. While our Vienna trip did not go as planned, we did manage to make the most of our time there once we got our lodgings sorted out.

The Museum of Natural History was a highlight for our young kids. The dinosaur bones were the big draw for them, and they were able to enjoy other parts of the museum on a rainy morning in Vienna. We have some great pictures of them with dinosaur bones and fake cave people. There are also a lot of beautiful gardens in this part of town that we enjoyed. Since it’s been a few years since our trip, many of those park details are a bit blurry since they were overshadowed by our stress in finding new accommodations.

I do remember we also spent a lot of time at Stadtpark. There are multiple playgrounds within the park, so we started each day at the playground before trying to see a museum or other sight.

The night before we flew home we also ventured out to Mayer winery. It was an awesome way to end our travels to Vienna and Budapest. Adventures to the forests and wineries on the outskirts of Vienna were what we had envisioned for the majority of our trip, so we were grateful we got to experience an Austrian winery once before flying home. We were able to take public transportation and walk the remainder of the way to Mayer winery on a beautiful fall evening. We were then pleasantly surprised to find both an outdoor climbing structure and indoor play room for the kids. This made our visit extra enjoyable, because my husband and I were able to take turns enjoying the delicious wine flights we ordered and watching the kids play. Both kids ended up napping for a bit which made for a peaceful wine tasting in a beautiful outdoor courtyard. We also made a pit stop at yet another playground between the winery and train stop to make the journey back to the hotel more enjoyable for the kids.

Mayer Winery

Lessons Learned:

As previously stated our biggest lesson was to never book with Airbnb again. We had previously enjoyed stays in Paris, the Faroe Islands and Switzerland, but we learned with two young kids you need better lodging guarantees.

Travel Gear:

Our Osprey Poco Child Carrier Backpack was a star of this trip. We were able to carry one child on our back for longer distances while the other child sat in the stroller. This helped while we were out exploring.

Final Thoughts:

Despite our bad lodging experience, I really do love Vienna. It would be nice to go back when the kids can appreciate the museums, opera and coffee shops that made my first trip to the city so memorable.
#4 England

April 19, 2026

It’s been almost three years since our trip to London, but I still wanted to share some of our trip details that could help others plan a trip with younger kids. I had already been to England a few times before our Summer 2023 trip with kids who were one and three at the time. After our trip to Vienna and Budapest the summer before, we wanted to plan something slightly less intense for our second trip overseas as a family of four.

The Peppa Pig Bus Tour

Why London?

At the ages of one and three our kids were into all things Peppa Pig. This fascination combined with the fact that there are so many family friendly things to do in London, made London an easy vacation choice for our family.

Planning:

This was our first big trip after Hilton saved us in Vienna, so we decided to stay at the Hilton London Metropole. We knew we could easily access the Heathrow Express to get into the city from the airport, and the Two Bedroom Family Suite would allow us to relax while the kids napped every day, and eat some meals in the room. By booking with the American Express Centurion Card we were guaranteed breakfast every day plus happy hour at the hotel which makes for an even better hotel stay. Since we took this trip when both kids needed to go back to the hotel most days for an afternoon nap, being able to take turns working out in the Hilton gym was also a nice perk. I was able to log a few Peloton rides while the kids slumbered.

We were lucky to find the Peppa Goes to London book in the free library by our house before our trip. The kids read this book several times before we left to learn more about London and what to expect during our trip.

I found out about the Brigit’s Bakery Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea London Sightseeing Bus Tour before we left, and booked tickets for our last day in London. I wanted to end the trip on a memorable note, and hoped this would achieve that goal.

Experience:

The Hilton London Metropole exceeded our expectations for our stay. The family suite had a separate kitchen area, and a massive bathroom with a soaking tub which was perfect for bath time with little kids. Also, the hotel was across the street from Marks and Spencer, so we were able to get groceries there for lunch and dinner when needed. When traveling with such young kids some days we just needed to relax at the hotel after a day of exploring.

Hampton Court Palace was such a treat for the kids. Our older child enjoyed turning meat on a spit in the palace hearth, and then both kids had so much fun playing in the massive play area adjacent to the palace. The castle playground was a great way for the kids to burn off energy and have fun after having to behave in the palace. The tickets to the play area were timed entry, and we stayed for the duration of our allotted time.

Turning Meat at Hampton Court Palace

I’m glad we booked tickets to the London Eye in advance because the line was somewhat long. Once on the ride, the kids got a lot of joy from seeing Big Ben and other buildings from the air which made for a really great experience and some great pictures for our annual holiday card. After the London Eye, we went to The Children’s Play Area Jubilee Gardens Playground so the kids could play more before we went to dinner at Giraffe. Giraffe was a very kid-friendly restaurant and we were able to eat outside which made it more relaxing for everyone in our family.

We skipped the crown jewels during our half day visit to the Tower of London because it had super long lines that we did not think the kids could tolerate. BUT, we also found the coolest souvenir for the kids in the Tower of London gift shop. We found a set of London themed wooden cut out toys like a double decker bus, a moving London Eye, a Beefeater etc. that the kids still play with three years later. During our trip they made for a fun quiet toy to play with in the hotel at night, and since our return they have also worked well for show and tell items at school.

A nice perk of the Transportation Museum tickets is that they are valid for a year after your visit. If you plan on going to this museum located near Covent Garden, you should go early on your trip. We ended up going to the Transportation museum multiple times so the kids could play on the indoor bus and other items in between our sight seeing trips around the city. It was also nice to be able to duck into the museum to use the museum’s restrooms while out and about.

Since it’s been a few years since our trip, I have forgotten every playground that we went to; but Hyde Park, Regents Park, and St. James Park all had playgrounds I remember being very impressed with. We spent a lot of time at playgrounds on this trip, and they did not disappoint.

Jubilee Gardens Playground

Lessons Learned:

As I mentioned at the start of this post, I booked the Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea London Sightseeing Bus Tour for our last day in London. My youngest was just under two years old at the time of travel, and I booked them a ticket despite the fact that the booking page said the minimum age was two. I was a bit nervous getting on the double decker bus that the bakery would ask for some kind of age verification, and they did not, which was amazing since my kids had so much fun during the bus tour. The tea was adorable for the kids, and a great way to see the city a final time before we flew home. Next time, I will book our Brigit’s Bakery tickets even further in advance so we can sit on the upper level of the bus to get better views of the city. The bakery has several other themed bus tours, so I would happily take the kids on another tour like Paddington Bear when they are older.

Afternoon Tea by Bus

Travel Gear:

We were loaded down with all of the young child travel gear for this trip. What came most in handy though was the Ergobaby Carrier. Not all of the underground stations have elevators which sometimes made it challenging to navigate public transportation with young kids.

Our OXO Tor 2-in-1 Go potty was also a must have on this trip. We carried in while out during the day to help with public restrooms, and also used it in the hotel at night. It was such a huge help with two young kids who were learning to use the potty while on the go.

Final Thoughts:

We really enjoyed our playground tour of London, and I can’t wait to take the kids back when they are a bit older so we can take advantage of more of the cultural offerings of the city. Maybe we can book a long layover in London before exploring a new part of Europe.
#15 The Netherlands

April 14, 2026

My first trip to Amsterdam was during study abroad for a long weekend with family. Some stakeholders were less than amused when I demonstrated at the first bar we went to in Amsterdam that part of the experience I had had during my semester in Eastern Europe was learning the proper way to drink Absinthe – whoops! We spent the rest of the weekend going to museums, seeing the canals and taking a day trip to Edam for cheese.

Keukenhof gardens

This post is focused on my spring break 2024 trip with my husband and kids who were two and four at the time. Sadly, no absinthe was consumed during this trip, but we did eat our weight in stroopwafels.

Why Amsterdam?

Our nanny at the time requested to use PTO over spring break so we decided that that week would be our big annual trip. When looking at flights for the dates we had available, we saw that Paris and Amsterdam were some of the cheapest nonstop flights from IAD to European cities that also had public transit from the airport to the city center. From there we asked our oldest if they had a preference, and they selected Amsterdam.

Stroopwafels

Planning:

Our trip to Amsterdam was less than two years after our family’s trip to Vienna, and our allegiance to Hilton was still going strong. We booked our stay at the Hilton Amsterdam using the Amex Centurion card to ensure free breakfast and potential room upgrades during the trip. One of the people we traveled with during the tail end of our trip had also previously really enjoyed their stay at the Hilton Amsterdam, so it was the top choice for them too.

The most impactful planning we did for this trip was reading books to the kids about the Netherlands before our trip. I purchased Theodore’s Netherlands Adventure, and KeeKee’s Big Adventures in Amsterdam, Netherlands to teach the kids about what we would see prior to our travels. It helped get them excited for the tulip fields, wooden shoes and windmills. Also, the kids got their Easter baskets prior to this trip, and they were filled with travel toys that have become staples on our adventures.

Experience:

We ended up using the KeeKee book as a guide for our stay in Amsterdam. We would read the book at night to see if the things we had done that day were also mentioned in the book. We then tracked what else we could do during our trip that looked like fun in the book.

Standout activities included going to the Nemo museum for a rainy day where the kids had a blast running around the exhibits learning about sounds and gravity. This was followed by lunch at the floating Sea Palace restaurant where the kids were mesmerized by the robot servers, and the adults enjoyed quality Dim Sum brunch.

When not exploring Amsterdam, we spent a lot of time playing, running and eating in Vondel Park. We especially liked sitting outside at Brouwerij ’t IJ – ’t Blauwe Theehuis to eat and relax while the kids played in the surrounding grass or eating at Groot Melkhuis because it also had an outdoor kids play area attached to the restaurant. I also went running in the park a few times and felt very safe.

I am not sure how many stroopwafels we consumed during the trip, but it was a lot. They were all delicious, but some were way messier than others depending on how fresh and melty the caramel was. We kept a pack of wet wipes in the stroller on this trip, and they came in handy for sugar covered covered hands. We also stopped at Lourens Bakery because they were selling the trendy and scrumptious croissant cookies.

Lourens Bakery

We also spent a rainy day at Keukenhof where we were overcome by the beauty of the tulips and other flowers, and the kids had the chance to go into their first windmill. The beauty of the gardens was next-level, and I was blown away by the sheer quantity and variety of tulips the park had. We booked tickets with a bus transfer to Keukenhof in advance to make the visit easy. One thing to know is there was a line for the buses when we arrived, so you need to plan to book a very early ticket to avoid the lines, or bring activities to keep the kids entertained while you wait to board the bus.

Another Netherlands highlight was a bus trip to Zaanse Schans to see more windmills, and a klompen factory. The KeeKee book talks about klompen being made for stompin, so the kids had fun trying on wooden shoes after seeing how they were made. They also had fun running around in the open air museum while the adults admired the unique architecture.

We spent several hours one day at the Rijksmuseum. We did our usual scavenger hunt for the museum– which is letting each kid pick out two post cards from the museum gift shop, and then looking for that art in the museum. But, the coolest part of the visit was the Play Mobile toys we got there. They are special edition, limited-release toys that focus on Dutch Master painters. We are two years out from our trip, and the kids still love getting the sets out to play with the painters. It’s also becoming more relevant as they learn about Dutch painters at school and are able to recall the figures they have at home.

A final must-do activity is the canal cruise. We were able to book same-day canal cruise tickets for a group of ten, and it was so fun to be able to see the city by water. The kids had a blast listening to the presentation, and the parents were able to catch-up while we saw the sights of Amsterdam. We also looked at the pancake canal cruise, but the available times did not align with the needs of the group. It looked like another great way to engage kids while sightseeing in Amsterdam.

Limited Edition Dutch Masters Playmobil

Lessons Learned:

Our biggest lesson learned was to book tickets to the Van Gogh museum in advance. We did not, and the tickets sold out for regular admission for several days prior to the end of our trip. We even had the idea of calling the Amex Centurion line for help, and were advised to use Get Your Guide to book a tour. We did book the tour which seemed a bit excessive with very young kids, but yet again the post card scavenger hunt kept the kids engaged for a significant portion of the guided tour while the adults followed along. The tour did talk about suicide, so I would plan in advance if you do not want to have hard conversations about that topic with kids during vacation.

The Hilton Amsterdam is incredibly kid friendly. From the moment we arrived at the property, the kids were welcomed with activity packets and even a special themed check-in step at the registration counter. The Hilton took such good care of the kids while we were there, and went above and beyond with bunny chocolates on Easter morning. While the location is a bit of a walk from some of the main sights, the quality of service we had justified the extra steps.

Travel Gear:

Kid rain boots were essential for this trip. My kids love to jump in puddles, and boots kept them dry during the rain and hail we experienced on the trip. I buy these boots in gender neutral colors so both kids can wear them. They are super durable, and have come on many trips.

Travel silverware was also a must. Several times we picked-up lunch or dinner to go and it did not include utensils. We have learned to always travel with it knowing Europeans have moved away from distributing single use utensils.

Final Thoughts:

Amsterdam is such an incredible city to visit, even if you are going with young kids. Despite its reputation, we were able to have such a lovely time experiencing Dutch culture, and the kids really loved being able to explore both Amsterdam and the surrounding area.
#23 Belgium

April 11, 2026

My first trip to Belgium was actually senior year of college. I convinced some girlfriends to take advantage of cheap flights to Germany and Poland for Spring break. During our final few days in Cologne I talked everyone into taking the train to Liége, Belgium for the evening to get authentic Belgium waffles and beer before we flew home.

View from a canal tour of Bruges

Why Belgium?

This post will focus on our family trip to Belgium for Spring Break 2024 when my kids were two and four. We decided to break up a trip to the Netherlands with a stop in Belgium. We picked Brussels as our home base because it was an easy train ride from Amsterdam, and would enable us to take a day trip to Bruges too.

Planning:

When planning our trip to the Netherlands and Belgium we knew we wanted an accommodation with a kitchen for a few days of the trip so we were not asking the kids to eat dinner at a restaurant every night for over a week away from home. We found the Hilton Garden Inn Brussels City Centre had a family suite with kitchen and offered free breakfast too.

We did not plan activities in advance for this trip because of the kid’s ages. We did not want to book anything in advance and then be unable to do it because of a meltdown or spontaneous stroller nap. We had an idea of things we wanted to do like eat a ton of waffles, drink some Belgium beer, and see the Grand-Place, but did not book anything prior to our departure.

The Speeltuin Poort van Halle-Vanderschrick playground

Experience:

A morning train from Amsterdam to Brussels started our Belgium adventure. We were able to drop our bags at the Hilton, and begin exploring the city. Our first stop was the Speeltuin Poort van Halle-Vanderschrick playground two blocks from the hotel. This playground was really incredible with a castle theme, lots of places to run around, a slide and some climbing areas too. We then enjoyed an outdoor lunch at Gusto Petit which was across the street from the playground. After everyone filled their bellies we were able to continue to explore the city. We really loved the waffles at Maison Dandoy for our first taste of Belgium waffles as a family.

A day exploring mini-Europe and the Atomium on the outskirts of Brussels ended up being a highlight of the trip for the kids. They enjoyed standing on a rumbling board seeing a fake volcano eruption, and then using their Digital Camera’s to take pictures of all of the mini European buildings. It was a fun way for the kids to burn off energy at some place that was also entertaining for adults. The knight climbing up the side of a castle was a highlight for everyone to see.

The Atomium part of the day was quite the experience with colored lights and a 1950’s futuristic vibe to the interior of the exhibit. There were lots of different levels to the structure, which kept the kids excited to see what was next. After an action-packed day we were grateful to be able to relax and eat dinner in the hotel so the kids could decompress and we did not have to worry about them being exhausted while eating dinner at a restaurant.

We also took the train to Bruges from Brussels for a day trip. It was such a picturesque city that I wish we had spent more time there during our trip. The kids really enjoyed taking a canal cruise to see the city, and there were also some playgrounds like Koningin Astridpark with incredible views of churches and other architecture behind the play area.

Hands down though the best part of Bruges was the beer and Easter chocolate. We stopped in several chocolate shops to get easter eggs to fuel the kids during our exploration of the city. Leonidas ended up being our favorite brand, and we have even ordered it back at home for a treat.

Before taking the train back to Brussels we made sure to stock up on beer at the Bottle Shop in Burges because it had such an incredible selection of beer. It was a bit of a heavy walk from the main part of the city to the train station at the end of the day. One child fell asleep in the Minu Stroller, and the other slept on my back in the Ergobaby Carrier as we transported the kids, some beer and chocolate back to the train station for our ride to Brussels.

Mini-Europe

Lessons Learned:

While Brussels was an easy train ride from Amsterdam, we may have had a more beautiful trip staying in Bruges and doing a day trip to Brussels rather than what we planned. While we enjoyed our time in Brussels, it was so hard to say goodbye to Bruges after only a day.

The Atomium

Travel Gear:

At ages two and four, Window Stickers were a huge source of enjoyment for the kids. They covered the mirror in our suite with the stickers after a long day of exploring and were able to stay entertained while we got dinner prepared.

We also packed some sippy cups, and kid silverware which was helpful for our dinners in the hotel.

Also, our Ergobaby Carrier was essential for this trip. We decided to forgo naps at the hotel, and frequently had one or both kids napping in the stroller or in the carrier while we explored.

Final Thoughts:

Belgium has such a fun mix of food and culture. Mini-Europe was an unexpected hit with the kids, and everyone enjoyed eating as many waffles as our stomachs could handle. I can’t wait to go back and see more of Belgium.
#40 Aruba

April 9, 2026

My husband and I went to Aruba in the Summer of 2024 for an early 10th anniversary celebration without the kids.

Why Aruba?

We picked Aruba because it is a tropical location with a nonstop flight from IAD. We wanted to be able to celebrate our anniversary over a long weekend, so we needed to be efficient with our travel time to make the most of our vacation.

Planning:

View of the beach from the Ritz

I checked the Fodor’s Aruba book out from the library when we started to narrow in on Aruba for our trip. We learned that one of the perks of Aruba is they have a state of the art water desalination plant, since they have no natural drinking water source on the island, which decreases your chance of having stomach issues while on vacation. This was a huge perk in our book because it increased the chance of having an enjoyable trip.

While we looked at a few different hotel options, including some with over-water bungalows, we decided to stay at the Ritz-Carlton Aruba. We booked the reservation using the Amex Centurion Card which provided extra perks when we were on the property.

We decided to rent a car for our stay to give us the flexibility to explore the island and the beaches without having to worry about reserving a taxi or hiring a driver during our stay.

Experience:

After a long weekend in Aruba, I completely understand why some families make it their annual vacation location. The island is incredibly beautiful, and we had next-level service at the Ritz-Carlton.

One of the nice perks of the Ritz-Carlton’s beach set-up is the sunscreen and amenities table they have available for guests. As somebody who easily succumbs to sunburn, it was awesome to have extra sunscreen options available upon arrival while we relaxed on the beach with beautiful cocktails.

The cocktail bar VW van

The Ritz has a bright yellow VW van set-up outside the lobby- on your way to the beach where staff make beautiful cocktails in pineapples, or with other tropical fruit to get you into the island spirit. It is a fun way to welcome you to the property, and start your vacation in paradise.

We did venture off of the property several times during our weekend in Aruba. On our first night we drove up to the light house for dinner at Faro Blanco. We made reservations prior to our arrival on the island, and I am glad we did since the restaurant got very busy. While the food was good, the best thing about this restaurant was the views of the ocean at sunset. It was a very romantic restaurant, and an excellent way to start an anniversary weekend!

While we wanted to focus on rest and relaxation for our short trip, we did want to spend some time exploring the island too. We booked a half day Natural Pool and Indian Cave Jeep Safari tour with ABC Tours to see parts of the island we would not be able to explore with our rental car. I’m glad we brought our snorkels on this excursion because we were able to see tropical fish swimming in the natural pool we swam in. It was a surreal experience snorkeling in the pool as the ocean crashed up against the rocks that surrounded the pool. The cave portion of the tour was also interesting, but it was not as cool as other caves like ATM in Belize we have visited on previous vacations.

The most surprising part of our trip was being able to snorkel with turtles! We learned from hotel staff that Malmok and Trea Trapi beach have turtle habitats at them, and we were delighted to be able to snorkel with wild turtles without having to go on a snorkeling boat excursion. We were able to park the rental car near both beaches, and enjoy some high-quality snorkeling right at the beach that also included seeing massive schools of fish that you felt surrounded by at some points. It was beautiful being engulfed in a sea of shimmering fish. It’s worth noting I felt safe snorkeling for longer periods of time knowing we had locked our car keys and wallet up using our portable safe. This reduced the risk of theft and enabled us to focus on fun.

Trea Trapi beach around sunrise

We concluded our trip with a romantic dinner on the beach at the Ritz-Carlton. The staff at the Ritz made dinner feel very special and intimate while we were on the beach, and the foot traffic at the hotel was pretty light so we did not feel like we were surrounded by onlookers. The dinner started before sunset, and it was a very romantic way to celebrate ten years of marriage.

Lessons Learned:

We learned that portable safes provide a peace of mind when exploring new environments. We were able to focus on having fun in the ocean without having to worry about car rental theft. Even though Aruba is a tiny island, I did not want to deal with that kind of headache on our trip.

We also learned that the seaweed issue some people have mentioned in the Caribbean was not an issue in Aruba. We were able to enjoy our trip without feeling like we were being engulfed by plants.

I felt really safe running on the sidewalk around the Ritz. There was a paved sidewalk adjacent to the beach that went all of the way from the Ritz to the light house at the end of the island, and I was comfortable going out for morning runs alone. It was yet another way to explore the beauty of the island, and I would recommend it for solo female travelers too.

Travel Gear:

My foldable sun hat kept me safe during our walks on the beach. As somebody who works full time in their basement, the extra sun exposure on vacation always puts me at risk for sunburn. I loved that my hat was able to fold into my suitcase for the flight, and then helped during our time in the water and during our island adventures.

I used my my Rent the Runway subscription to pack for this trip without the kids. It was fun to pick vibrant sun dresses and bold accessories that do not fit into my normal working tech mom who lives in the DC area wardrobe.

Final Thoughts:

Aruba is incredibly beautiful, and when my kids tire of Disney cruises, I can’t wait to bring them here to explore – and hopefully snorkel or scuba dive. We made the mistake of initially forgetting we could scuba dive on this trip because we did not have the kids with us, and by the time we realized this omission we had already booked the jeep tour and a cabana at the hotel which prevented us from being able to plan a last minute dive more than 24 hours in advance of our flight home. It will be fun to return to Aruba in the future to again appreciate the beautiful beaches and surrounding marine life.
#38 Denmark – Copenhagen

March 29, 2026

We first went to Copenhagen as a couple when I was pregnant with our first child, and during that trip we talked about how much fun it would be to bring young kids to Tivoli and see the Mermaid statue in Copenhagen. For our Summer of 2025 trip we planned our travels to Scandinavia around a nonstop flight from IAD to Copenhagen, with stops in Bergen, Flåm, Oslo and Billund, and a final day and a half in Copenhagen before our flight home.

Why Copenhagen?

There are so many things to love about Copenhagen. The food, architecture and family-friendly culture were top of mind when planning this trip. We also experienced some incredible play grounds and coffee shops that made our visit extra fun.

Tivoli

Planning:

We loved our stay at the Copenhagen Marriott Hotel back in 2019. We had the most incredible view of the water in our corner room. We also loved breakfast at the lounge.

For our 2025 trip, the thought of walking with both kids and luggage from the train station to the Marriott was too much effort, so we booked at the Copenhagen Four Points Flex hotel. This hotel is very close to the train station which can take you to the airport or other parts of Denmark. We did not bring travel car seats on this trip, so being close to trains, Tivoli and public transportation was important for us during the trip planning process. We had to book two rooms, and we were not able to get adjoining rooms which made it challenging for a family of four. If we go back to Copenhagen, I would spend time researching other more family-friendly options.

Experience:

We got into Copenhagen around dinner time, after a bus and train ride from Billund. We enjoyed an easy dinner at the bar at Jah Izakaya that had delicious food for the adults, and gyoza for the kids.

Our only full day in Copenhagen was the day after our Billund experience, so everyone was a bit tired. We found some excellent pastries at Hart Bageri and coffee from Prolog Coffee, and then went to Legepladsen i Skydebanehaven playground to start the day.

Legolassen playground

After our caffeine fix we meandered up to Nyhavn and the Mermaid statue to see both iconic sights, and then headed to Torvehallerne for lunch. It was so much fun to wander the food hall seeing open faced sandwiches and other gorgeous food before picking out lunch for everyone, and then grabbing a few Mikkeller beers to wash it down. Our next stop was the Playground in Ørstedsparken at Ahlefeldtsgade across the street from the food hall to let the kids run around.

Our playground tour of Copenhagen continued when we took the bus to the Tower Playground to explore before having a snack and some play at the Pavillion beer garden.

We loved the Italian restaurant BÆST so much on our first visit that we returned for dinner in 2025 with the kids. The wood-fired pizza and homemade charcuterie were a culinary highlight during our first trip. Our second visit was just as good as the first, and we were able to sit outside and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine knowing we would be spending the following day flying home.

Our final day in Copenhagen started with the same pastry, coffee, and playground routine before we went to Tivoli Gardens for a few hours. We did not get the Copenhagen card this visit, and opted to get the ride pass to make the most of our time at the park. Tivoli was very manageable with our kids who were four and five at the time, and they both found rides that suited their thrill level before we departed the park. The double decker carrousel was incredibly beautiful, and the entire park is like walking through a fairy tale amusement park. The gardens are immaculate, and the whole park just has a magical feel that I strongly recommend visiting with younger kids who are better able to bask in magic and cuteness.

Lessons Learned:

We learned to always pack more children’s medicine than you think you may need for an international trip. By the time we got to Copenhagen, both kids had been sick, and we ran out of Tylenol. My husband picked up children’s acetaminophen that was banana flavored, and the child who consumed it promptly threw it and their lunch up all over the airplane as we got ready to depart Copenhagen.

Tower playground

Travel Gear:

Our Minu Stroller and Toddler Carrier were the stars of this part of the trip. Both kids were pretty worn out by the end of our Scandinavian adventure and stroller and carrier combo plus some city bus tickets helped us make the most of our time in Copenhagen.

We also already owned Rick Steve’s Copenhagen & the Best of Denmark, and Rick Steves Scandinavia, so we were able to consult those when planning our trip and picking things to do.

Final Thoughts:

Tivoli is magical with kids. We spent a little more than half a day there, and I regret not spending our full day at the park. It was very accessible for our young kids, and the gardens and architecture are just next-level beautiful.

We spent our first trip to Copenhagen taking advantage of the activities included with the Copenhagen Card; including a day trip to Kronborg Castle. This trip was more focused on making it enjoyable for the kids before a long flight home. Next time, when they are old enough to enjoy more history and culture we will do more of the museums and other cultural activities.
#2 Mexico

March 26, 2026

If you were hoping my page would have awesome recommendations for restaurants in Mexico City, or incredible beach resorts, then I am sorry to disappoint you. The amount of time I have spent in Mexico is about as long as the length of this blog post!

My one trip to Mexico was shortly after I moved to Texas. My parents decided we would drive down to Corpus Christi for a long weekend, and take a day trip to Matamoros, Mexico. This was back before you needed a passport to enter Mexico, so it was a very quick and uneventful trip. A certain family member’s behavior was more memorable than any of the activities we did while in Mexico.

What I DO want to share when it comes to Mexico is our experience changing a Disney Cruise Line reservation.

Sailing away party on the Disney Fantasy

Why book the Very Merrytime Western Caribbean Cruise From Galveston?

I started 2026 with a deposit placed for the Very Merrytime Western Caribbean Cruise From Galveston. Both of my children still believe in Santa, so I thought it would be a magical way to start the 2026 Christmas season. The tree lighting ceremony, story time with Santa as well as the other Christmas activities sounded perfect for my child who cherishes holidays.

I had even planned to book a room the night before our cruise at Moody Gardens with the hope that the property would also be decorated for Christmas.

Planning:

I used my placeholder reservation purchased on our Disney Dream cruise trip to secure the Very Merrytime Western Caribbean Cruise From Galveston reservation at a discount. It was easy to use the code and work with a Disney Cruise Line Agent to book our travel.

Experience:

After our experience on the Disney Fantasy, our family decided that we wanted our next Disney Cruise to include stops at both Lookout Cay and Castaway Cay because we really enjoyed the Disney Island part of our vacation. This knowledge combined with the current challenges in Mexico resulted in me calling Disney Cruise Line the day after our return home from the Fantasy to change our reservation.

I want to share how incredibly easy and effortless it was to transfer our placeholder reservation from one Disney Cruise to another. The agent was super helpful and positive during the exchange, and was informative when providing guidance on stateroom theme selection on the new ship I selected. I was already a huge fan of Disney Cruise Line, but this seamless execution of a reservation change made me an even bigger promoter of the brand.

Lessons Learned:

It is super easy to change a Disney Cruise Line reservation from one ship to another, and the brand executes a flawless customer experience.

Final Thoughts:

If you are on the fence about booking a Disney Cruise, or are having trouble deciding between two cruise locations, know that you can have peace of mind that Disney Cruise Line makes it very easy to transfer reservations. This allows you to just focus on having a fabulous cruise experience.
Park City

March 24, 2026

My husband wanted our kids (ages 4 and 6) to learn how to ski, so we decided to fly west for the kid’s first time on the slopes in January 2026. We did not want the kids to have a bad first-time experience learning on the frequently icy or grassy slopes closer to home. The joke was clearly on us when Park City had one of its worst seasons in our lifetime, but our family still managed to have a very enjoyable and successful trip!

Canyons Village Park City

Why Park City?

Park City is a 45 minute drive from Salt Lake City, which makes it one of the most convenient large ski resort options for people in the DC area. There are multiple nonstop flights from both IAD and DCA allowing for budget air travel several days a week. In addition to skiing, there is so much Park City has to offer with other winter activities, Olympic sites, cute towns and shopping.

Planning:

My husband gets all of the credit for planning this trip. He started making reservations over six months in advance so we could get the best deals on the hotel, lift tickets, lessons and rental gear. He bundled most of the reservations by booking directly through Epic.

He booked the Silverado Lodge in Canyon Village because of its close proximity to the children’s ski school. While the lodge had a shuttle, it ended up being more convenient to walk to the base of the ski area every morning. We booked a two bedroom with kitchen room to be able to relax in the condo not knowing how the kids would do after a full day of ski school.

Everyone got booked into ski school, and rentals were secured in advance too with the adults being able to pick up their skis at the Silverado Lodge, while the kids pick-up was by the ski school. We learned while planning the trip that four year olds get free Epic passes, and that the pass included a 20% discount on lessons. Epic will apply the discount after booking too if you didn’t know this fact when booking.

We also preordered groceries from the local Walmart for pick-up on our way to the lodge. Everything was ready on time, and enabled us to pick-up breakfast and snacks for our trip without having to make an extended shopping trip after a long flight.

Finally, to get the kids excited about both Utah and skiing we checked out several books from the local library. Utah by Josh Gregory was a hit to learn more about the state, and Teach Your Giraffe to Ski by Viviane Elbee was also a funny way to learn about skiing.

Saturday Night Fireworks

Experience:

Despite the lack of snow, we managed to have an awesome time!

The Silverado Lodge had so much space that we were able to comfortably entertain another family of four for dinner. The two bathroom condo had three full bathrooms which was especially helpful when having guests over so they did not have to see our mess. The condo had a fully stocked kitchen (including a crockpot!) which made it easier to travel with kids. The gym was a bit dated, but I think I was the only one out of the seven adults we were traveling with that used it during the trip. What everyone did use was the outdoor pool and hot tub. The kids called the pool the “hot pool” and enjoyed being able to go in it after skiing. It was also cool to see what looked like Cliff Swallow nests from the pool if you looked up at the side of the lodge. The nests are made of mud, and gave us a reason to learn more about the birds of Utah.

We reserved the adult skis for pick-up at the lodge on the first day, and then carried them to the base of the Canyon Village ski area on our first full day. We were able to valet the skis at no cost because we were enrolled in ski lessons which made things much easier at the end of the day when we were going back to the lodge. We were also able to return the skis at the base of the resort at the conclusion of our trip – rather than having to take them back on the shuttle after our final day. The skiing was a bit rough for the adults exploring the mountain during our trip, but for kids they were fine learning the basics in the man-made show.

One night the group wanted to take the free public transit from Canyon Village to Park City. I would not do it again after a full day of skiing with young kids. While it is technically doable, it is cold and very dark. The shuttle from the hotel to the connecting bus to Park City are not coordinated so you have a long, cold dark wait. You are better off using travel car seats and taking another form of transportation if you want to get downtown Park City. We did enjoy some of the restaurants in Canyon Village, and learned that even during a slow week you need to make reservations in advance!

Before our flight home we spent several hours at Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum in Salt Lake City. The kids loved being able to dig for dino bones, see the train exhibit and relax in the arts and crafts room. We were also able to connect our learning from the Utah book about the beehive state with the beehive themed climbing area at the entrance to the museum. The museum was a highlight for the kids, and a way for them to enjoy some play time after several days of learning how to ski. We hit up the Red Iguana for a lunch on our way to the airport, and it was hands down the best meal of our trip!

Dino dig at the museum

Lessons Learned:

Our biggest lesson learned was actually about the importance of keeping battery powered jumper cables in our vehicle if you park at the airport. The extreme cold our car experienced during our trip meant we came home at midnight to a dead battery. My husband was able to start the car, and drive us home rather than us having to find a late night Uber and deal with a tow truck the next morning.

We also learned how much our kids loved skiing. They keep asking to go back, and loved the experience of trying something new with a new friend.

Travel Gear:

We bought goggles for the kids, but I wish I had bought these helmets with attached goggles for them instead. It would have made it easier to not have to remember to remove the goggles from the helmet at night, and deal with longer hair getting caught in the goggle elastic.

Also, our Toddler Carrier saved the day when we arrived back at IAD after midnight and had to carry an exhausted four year old to the car with all of our luggage.

Final Thoughts:

We can’t wait to go skiing again. We would happily return to Canyon Village because it is a convenient walkable location for families, but we are also talking about exploring other resorts based on the season Park City just experienced.

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