40 Countries and Counting - Page 3 of 4 - Tips and Tricks for Better Global Travel

#13 Austria- Navigating Vienna: Our Family’s Unique Travel Adventure

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 travel to 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 for Vienna:

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. We also enjoyed the beer garden in the park one afternoon. The kids were able to play outside and enjoy beautiful fall weather.

Other activities we did included a trip to Schloss Belvedere where we tried to efficiently make our way through the palace between playground time and nap time. We also got Sacher torte to go since we did not want to bring young kids into the coffee shop. This was my second time having the torte, and I will never miss a chance to buy it whenever I am in Vienna because it is so delicious!!

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.

Check out my international travel check list for more tips.

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.

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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.

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#4 England – London Travel Tips: Successful Exploration with Little Ones

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 in London:

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.

Check out my international travel check list for more tips.

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.

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Final Thoughts on London:

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.

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#15 The Netherlands: Family-Friendly Amsterdam: Our Spring Break Adventure

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 seven day 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. We also broke up the trip by spending a few days in Belgium as a chance to see more of the region.

Why Amsterdam with a young family?

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 for Amsterdam:

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 in Amsterdam:

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 in Amsterdam:

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.

Check out my international travel check list for more tips.

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.

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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.

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#23 Belgium: Successful Exploring with Kids: Tips and Highlights

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 for Belgium:

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 in Belgium:

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.

Check out my international travel check list for more tips.

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.

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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.

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#40 Aruba: A Lovely and Romantic Couples’ Retreat

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 for Aruba:

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.

Check out my international travel check list for more tips.

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.

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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.

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#38 Denmark: Happily Explore Copenhagen: Tips for Young Families

March 29, 2026

We first went to Denmark and 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 for Copenhagen:

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 in Copenhagen:

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.

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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.

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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.

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#2 Mexico: Easily Change Your Disney Cruise Reservations

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! Instead I wanted to focus on the process of changing your Disney Cruise Reservations since it’s a topic some friends have asked about.

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 to Mexico?

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. It was nice to not have an fees added onto the change experience which made it an even more positive experience.

Check out my international travel check list for more travel tips.

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.

It’s also worth knowing you can transfer your placeholder reservation if you decide to book a different cruise. With the two year time limit on those passes, a lot can change for families. Disney makes it so easy to change plans based on life or world events. Having gone through the transfer experience once, I feel more confident buying another placeholder reservation on my 2027 cruise.

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Planning a Successful Family Ski Trip to 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 Ski 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 for Park City:

My husband gets all of the credit for planning this trip. (He took ski trip planning while I owned the Disney Cruise planning). 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.

Check out my international travel check list for more travel tips.

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.

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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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#30 The Bahamas – Fun-loving Disney Fantasy Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral

March 21, 2026
Why Do a Second Disney Cruise to the Bahamas?

We had such an incredible time on our first Disney Cruise on the Disney Dream that my kids pretty much demanded we do a second Disney cruise as we left the Dream. My husband fortunately agreed to another cruise, so I booked a very similar trip as our first sailing except we sailed on the Fantasy instead of the Dream, and we left from Port Canaveral instead of Fort Lauderdale. I want to share what we did differently on this cruise that made it even better than our first sailing!

Sailing away with a drink in my hand!

Planning:

Our first cruise was a huge success despite us planning nothing more than getting on the ship and buying wine plus collapsible sand toys in advance. This time we had the experiences of our first cruise to learn from plus a year to plan/dream so we were a lot more prepared which made this trip even better than the first. Here are some things I did in advance of our sailing to prepare for the second cruise:
- Midship Detective Agency Game: I booked the Fantasy for our second cruise because of the Midship Detective Agency game. One of my children thinks it is the best part of the Disney Cruise, so I knew we needed to sail on a ship with the game. This limited our options to the Fantasy or sailing again on the Dream.
- Frozen: I also picked the Fantasy ship because one of the evening shows is the Frozen musical. Frozen is still one of my children’s favorite Disney movies so I wanted to make sure our second cruise had a Frozen element. It was adorable to watch my child enthusiastically sing along to their favorite songs while watching the show onboard.
- Disney Magic Bands: We did not buy Magic bands for our first cruise because we did not know if we would book a second Disney Cruise. The only issue we had as a result was when we got the kid’s identical magic bands issued by the kids club mixed up after my husband and I had split up with the kids, and then we had to coordinate stopping our activities and swapping the bands we each had for the kids. While this is very much a first world problem, we decided to buy the bands since we anticipated sailing on additional cruises.
- Bath Bombs: I bought Disney character bath bombs in advance of our sailing to plan for intentional down time for the kids. I wanted them to have a reason to pause in the middle of the day to bathe and not be over stimulated, and bath bombs were a way to both plan for and incentivize that pause.
- Character Magnets: For our first cruise we brought magnets from the local Tae Kwon Do studio and toy library; two local small businesses we support. This year we “invested” in character magnets from Etsy. I picked magnets without our names on them for security reasons which is a very different mentality than most people on the ship who have elaborate magnets with their family’s names on them.
- Adult Activities: We did not book activities on our first cruise because we did not know how the kids would do with the kids club. This time we had a year to prepare the kids, and discuss that part of our second cruise would include mandatory kids club time. We had some good news to celebrate around when our activity window opened up so I booked my husband a massage when he got on board, a dinner for two at Remy- the adult only restaurant, a date at the mixology class, and then a couples massage to end our final day at sea.
Welcome Drinks at the Fantasy Mixology Class

Experience on the Disney Fantasy:

I didn’t think it was possible for our family to have a better vacation than we did on the Dream, but we did manage to have an even better time on the Fantasy. Here are some of the things that made it even better:
- White Noise Machines: On our first sailing we packed them in a suitcase, and that suitcase did not not arrive in our stateroom until after dinner. This time we carried the white noise machines onto the ship without issue, and received our luggage by 1:30 when we got to our stateroom.
- Stateroom 5156: I booked this stateroom that is adjacent to the kids club so we could minimize the walk there, and it ended up being the perfect stateroom for our family. While some people complain about the lower height of Deck 5, both my husband and I are under 6 feet tall, so the shower height was not an issue for us. Instead, we enjoyed a balcony that was double the size of the other balconies, and had four chairs on it which meant everyone could enjoy coffee and pastries on the balcony in the morning, and star gazing at night. If we sailed on the Fantasy or Dream again I would bring a travel yoga mat so I could do sun salutations on the balcony before the kids got out of bed.
- Kids Club Check in: My husband checked the kids into the kids club as soon as we got on board and finished lunch. On our first cruise we did it during the sail away party because we didn’t know any better. This year I used that time to unpack in our stateroom while my kids explored. Dividing and conquering on that activity meant we were ready to go for the mandatory muster drill.
- Sailing away party: We did not go last year, but this year my husband questioned my sanity when I told him and the kids to run for the elevators as soon as we were dismissed from the muster drill. Little did he know we would get to deck 11 in time to have a second row seat (plus drinks!) for the sail away party. He did duck out for that massage I mentioned, but the kids and I stayed for the entire sail away show, and loved dancing until the conclusion of the party.
- We stayed on the ship in Nassau: Last year we went to the pirate museum. This year we stayed on board to enjoy less crowds in the pool and around the ship. This made for a more relaxing first full day on the ship and let us experience more of the activities onboard.
- Dinner at Remy: We were celebrating some good news with dinner at Remy, and it did not disappoint. The food was delicious, and the service was even better. The staff went above and beyond with a celebration egg dessert, and the wine pairing with the food was memorable. It was also incredibly romantic sailing away from Nassau at sunset watching the island fade into the distance while we ate delicious food. We did feed our kids in advance of the meal, and learned that the staff will do everything they can to keep the kids happy in the kids club when you are dining at Remy which was good to know. On our first cruise we got a few SOS messages from the kids club requesting pick-up, so we were a bit nervous booking such an extravagant dinner. Fortunately we were able to relax and enjoy our dinner at Remy knowing the kids were taken care of. I also bribed the kids by letting them pick their cruise souvenirs in advance, and told them they could have them as soon as dinner was complete.That may have helped too!
- Mixology Class: I know it seems excessive, but we did have some big news to celebrate – so we also booked the Mixology class. This was not a hands-on class except for the last drink. Instead it was more of a cocktail education class. We learned how to pour layered shots for the last beverage, but after having three other cocktails it was hard to have a steady pour. (or at least it was for me). Some members of the class had previously taken the class on other ships, and said the content and participation levels vary both by ship and instructor.
- Royal Gathering: I did get up at 11:50 the night before my kids were out of school for a blizzard just to book the Royal Gathering. It felt a bit crazy doing this knowing I would have to both work and parent on less sleep. I would 100% do it again next year with a bit more coffee on hand so the kids have a chance to meet even more of the princesses. This year they met Mulan, Belle, Snow White and Jasmine, and it was a magical experience. We did pack some princess dresses for this experience, and I got some elastic crowns so the brittle plastic crowns that came with the dresses would not break during our travels.
- Pirate Party: On our first cruise we went up too late for the kid party due to a meltdown. This year we were prepared, and secured a spot on deck 12. It was fun to have the magic bands light up during the show, and my kids had just as much fun dancing at this party as they did the sail away party. We had also made sure to watch Peter Pan the week prior to our departure so they would better understand what was going on with Pirate night. This helped the kids understand more of the context of some of the events of the show. We did not make the midnight fireworks, but of course can make that a goal for our next cruise.
- Couples Massage: The massage rooms look over the forward of the ship with awesome views. The massage itself was better than many I have had closer to home at a lower cost. My husband did have an issue with the hard sell of products during his first day massage, but we did not experience that during our final day couples massage. The spa also has several different kinds of showers, a sauna, and other features which means you could spend half a day or more relaxing there.
Welcome Drinks at Remy

Lessons Learned:

While it will be hard to top this experience on our next cruise, here are some things we are thinking about or planning for next year:
- Bring less wine: This year we brought three bottles of wine onto the ship instead of four in anticipation of the mixology class and dinner at Remy. Next year we want to be able to enjoy grabbing drinks at more of the bars on the ship or on the pool deck while we enjoy the various activities the ship has to offer.
- Book a cruise that goes to Lookout Cay and Castaway Cay: Next time we want to skip Nassau and enjoy two Disney Island beach days. We escaped Virginia the day after yet another snow storm this trip, so it was incredible being in the sand and sun at Lookout Cay. Friends we have spoken with who have also done Disney Cruises say Castaway Cay is even better than Lookout Cay so I want to see for myself!
- Bring a Food container: Next year my “me time” is going to be a run on Castaway Cay to complete the 5K they have. Bonus points if I can do it on Lookout Cay too! The plan is for me to get off the ship early and go for a run while my husband takes the kids to the buffet for breakfast. Since there is no breakfast or snack food available on the island, he will bring a take away container with eggs benedict and fruit to the island for me and we will reunite at beach chairs. Let’s see if we can pull that off next year.
- Bring Fidget Toys to the Muster Drill: This year there seemed to be a lot of people who did not understand the definition of “mandatory” on our ship. The kids understandably got antsy waiting on entitled adults to follow directions. Next year I will bring some fidget spinners or water basketball toys for them to play with while we wait.
- Book our pre-cruise hotel and transportation through Disney: After two mediocre or worse experiences with budget hotels near the cruise port, we are going to book a Disney hotel and DCL transportation for our next cruise. This will also ensure we get an earlier boarding time on our arrival day which means more time for exploring the ship before it gets crowded.
- Pack less “real” clothing: With our plans to spend an extra day at the beach next year we need to pack even less “real” clothing. We will pack dinner clothes, and fewer daytime outfits. This will make it even easier for us to keep carrying our luggage onto our flights and avoid potentially lost luggage before the cruise.
- Check out my international travel check list for more travel tips.
Waiting to get in the pool

Travel Gear:

I didn’t own any character clothing prior to this trip, so I went ahead and got Disney socks and some Minnie earrings to try to fit in more.

The pop-it toys I keep attached to our carry-on bags ended up being helpful while waiting in line at the cruise terminal and while we waited for our ride to the airport on the final day. The kids had something easily accessible to play with while waiting in joyous anticipation of getting on the cruise ship.

We needed fewer travel toys this trip because the kids were happier watching Disney shows this year. To be fair, we had spent the last year incorporating Disney shows into the kids’ limited screen time to prepare for the cruise and make it more magical.

The character bath bombs were also super helpful for getting the kids to relax in the tub after an exciting day on the ship. One day on the cruise I did have the very gross experience of watching another kid try to exit the pool to potty, the parents being completely oblivious to the universal potty sign, and then seeing a bright pool of yellow engulf my child who was happily watching a movie in the pool. That Minnie bath bomb and wet bag I packed for my child’s now soiled swim suit came in handy real fast.

Like last year, the collapsible sand toys and snorkels we brought made the beach experience incredible, and meant we did not spend money on snorkel rentals.

We also packed our pirate gear from the first cruise to enjoy the pirate party. Both kids wore their pirate costumes (boy and girl), and I re-used my skeleton earrings. The shoulder parrots we bought last year were an easy way for my husband to look like a pirate too in a black t-shit! I did also buy two sets of Minnie pirate ears when they were on sale to complete our pirate costume collection.

We also brought the magnet hooks, clothes pins, laundry bag, and even a second hanging closet organizer that helped even more for keeping everyone’s belongings organized on the cruise.

I also packed a fancier dress from my Rent the Runway subscription for our dinner at Remy. It was fun to get extra dressed up for dinner, and I would have felt under dressed had I worn a basic sun dress given the level of celebration we had.

We did not participate in the Fish Extenders, Duck Hunts or “Pixie dusting” during this cruise to limit the amount of luggage we needed to bring on the flight to and from the ship. I do not anticipate this changing in the future, but it seems like those who did participate had a mixed experience from what I saw on the cruise Facebook group I joined in advance of our sailing.

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The beach at Lookout Cay

Final Thoughts:

I can’t wait for our next Disney Cruise. Disney makes it so easy for the whole family to have an enjoyable and restful vacation. I cannot say enough good things about the magic of being on a Disney cruise.

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Maximize Your Stay at Great Wolf Lodge

March 12, 2026
While not a foreign destination, I know many kid’s happy place is a weekend at Great Wolf Lodge. Our family has been to Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg twice now during their Halloween season, and here are some of our tricks and lessons learned. We first went with a group of families for two nights, and next went as just a family of four for one night. The one night option worked better for our family from a sleep and healthy eating perspective, and we cannot wait to return with another family for one night later this year! If you are new to Great Wolf Lodge, then you can use this code for points during your next stay!

Why Great Wolf Lodge?

The kids love having two days at a water park riding all of the slides and enjoying the additional holiday activities Great Wolf Lodge has to offer families. Also, if you book during holiday sales, then the cost of a single night stay at Great Wolf Lodge is comparable to enrolling two kids in day camps on one of the many days the local public schools are closed.

The smaller slides at Great Wolf Lodge

Planning for Great Wolf Lodge:

I will start looking for deals on rooms, and tracking prices of school holiday dates leading up to the annual Thanksgiving sale so I know what is considered a decent price for the room. One time a family invited us to go to Great Wolf Lodge last minute over MLK weekend, and the $500+ nightly rate was not palatable to me knowing you can get a room in the low $200’s or better if you book in advance on certain Sunday nights.

We learned that the themed rooms with a bunk bed and single bed are slightly nicer than the single bunk bed option in Williamsburg for only a few dollars more so we booked that room type for our second stay. We also planned to drive down early on the day of check-in, and then planned to leave in the afternoon of the second day when the kids had their fill of the water park.

Experience at Great Wolf Lodge:

For our second visit to Great Wolf Lodge we packed breakfast and lunch for the family to-go, and made sure everyone ate healthy and filling food before we entered the park around 11AM. Our room was not available until late afternoon so we locked the car key, wallets and phones to a chair using our travel safe, and then enjoyed the water park for a few hours.

If you have kids who need an adult to ride slides with them due to height restrictions, be prepared to do a lot of steps during your trip. We counted the steps to the big family slide at the Williamsburg location both of my children loved, and it’s over 100 steps to the top. Water shoes with a sturdy base came in handy, and made riding the slides on repeat a lot more comfortable. The themed Great Wolf Lodge holiday beverages also made the slides even more enjoyable for us parents.

After check-in, the kids wanted to experience Great Wolf Lodge trick-or-treating so we took a break from the water park so the kids could change into their Halloween costumes and get some candy. This was actually a great way for them to practice walking around in their costumes in a new location, and they were able to make changes to their costumes before having to wear them to school on Halloween.

The kids partook in the other free Halloween activities at the lodge like coloring and story time before we ate dinner in the main buffet restaurant. The quality of the food leaves a lot to be desired, but it is only one night, and it meant we were not eating pizza from the restaurant closer to the pool for two meals in a row. After dinner this year my kids did not want to go back to the park so instead we enjoyed some of the other Halloween themed activities the resort offers like a dance party before the kids went to bed.

The next morning we ate breakfast that we brought from home since the line for Dunkin Donuts can get quite long. If you plan to eat there during your stay I would suggest placing your order the night before so you beat the rush.

We packed up our car prior to the opening of the water park so we could get to it around opening time. After a few more hours at the park, including a break for pizza lunch from the basement restaurant, we packed up and headed home. The kids were already asking to go back during our car ride home.

Lessons Learned:
- Pack healthy snacks and lunch since the food options are very limited. This year the adults ate salads during the drive or in the parking lot before we went into the lodge so we were fueled up for the day ahead.
- Unplug the alarm clock next to the adult bed. Ours went off at 6am on our second visit, and forced everyone awake for the day. From now on I will always unplug the black alarm clocks with a dial on top since I have twice been woken up by alarms I have not set with that style of alarm.
- Bring soap, shampoo and shower shoes if you want to rinse off in the pool area prior to departure. During our last visit the dispensers were out of soap.
- Have a plan and potential budget for the arcade and additional activities Great Wolf Lodge has to offer. (or in our case prepare to say No to a lot of requests) Great Wolf Lodge has so many add-on activities in addition to the water park. So far we have had a great time just enjoying the water park and free Holiday activities, but plan to pick one new activity for our third visit.
- Pack breakfast or plan to place your order in advance through the app to avoid long wait times. If your kids wake up hangry then you need to plan ahead!
- If you are interested in booking a cabana, pay attention to the booking description to differentiate between indoor and outdoor options. The outdoor pool may be too cold to use for the season, but the outdoor cabanas will still be available for booking.
- There is no gym at the Williamsburg location, and I have always chosen to work out before our morning departure. I would love to hear from somebody who has found a safe 3+ mile running route near the lodge.
Travel Gear:
- Our travel safe has more than paid for itself during the four days (and counting) we have spent at Great Wolf Lodge. It’s big enough for a phone, small wallet and car key.
- Water shoes help adults with all of the steps, and kids get a slight height advantage for the height restricted slides.
- White noise machines: the halls can be loud so having one for both the kid and adult sleeping areas is a must.
- Portable night lights help in the kid sleeping area.
- I brought our standard travel toy bag, and it gave the kids some quiet play time between the noise of the parks, and the sounds of their tablets during our car rides.
- Check out my Amazon Storefront for a full list of my product recommendations. Please know I can make a commission from products that help offset the cost of maintaining this blog.
Final Thoughts:

We already have our third and fourth visits to Great Wolf Lodge booked because the kids have so much fun at the water park. The holiday themed events provide an extra festive experience at a place that is already incredibly kid friendly. I would love to see the addition of a gym or higher quality food options so we could plan longer stays at Great Wolf Lodge during snowy weather. While it’s not the same break as a Disney Cruise, a fall or winter trip to Great Wolf Lodge does let kids have fun when outdoor play is more limited.

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