Hawaii is one of those destinations people assume is only realistic for luxury travelers or once-in-a-lifetime splurges. Between flights, resort hotels, and the reality of booking during school breaks, the price tag adds up fast for families. We’ve now been to Hawaii multiple times as a family — twice to Maui, plus trips to Kauai […]

When I book flights with points, I almost always still owe a small amount in taxes and fees. And on the rare occasion I pay cash for a flight, I’m intentional about which card I use to pay for it. I put those charges on my Chase Sapphire Preferred — not because of the points, […]

There’s one thing I do regularly that feels almost too good to be true — but it’s completely allowed and one of my favorite ways to earn extra points. I didn’t open a new card.I didn’t get a hard inquiry.And I didn’t add another account to manage. Instead, I logged in to pay my bill […]

If American Airlines is the airline your family flies most, you’re not alone. For many families — especially in the Midwest — American Airlines is often the most convenient option. It may be the airline with the most nonstop routes from your home airport, the best schedules for school breaks, or simply the airline you’ve […]

Where you stay near Universal can completely change your trip — especially when you’re traveling with tweens and teens. Hotel choice affects:• how early you can get into the parks• how much walking you do• whether you need Express Pass• how exhausted everyone feels at the end of the day For families with older kids […]

Planning a Universal Studios trip with kids sounds exciting — until you start looking at flights. Between school schedules, limited flexibility, and Orlando airfare jumping up and down during peak travel times, flights are often the most stressful (and expensive) part of planning a Universal vacation for families. For us, getting to Orlando is usually […]

Planning a Universal trip with kids — especially tweens and teens — can feel overwhelming fast. Between flights, hotels, ticket options, Express Pass decisions, and now Epic Universe, it’s hard to know where to even start. This guide brings everything together in one place. Below you’ll find my complete Universal planning series, written specifically for […]

Planning a trip to Africa can feel overwhelming — especially when you’re doing it as a family. Between long-haul flights, safaris, multiple countries, visas, safety questions, and cost, most people assume a trip like this is out of reach. We thought the same thing at first. But with intentional planning and points and miles, we […]

Let’s be honest — Universal is expensive. When families start pricing out flights, hotels, and park tickets, it’s easy to feel like a Universal trip is completely out of reach. That’s exactly why I wanted to write this post. Because when you see the numbers side by side — what we actually paid vs what […]

Epic Universe is amazing — and if you have tweens or teens, this park is going to change how you plan a Universal trip. While Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure are already favorites for older kids, Epic Universe is being designed with immersive lands, thrill rides, and interactive experiences that speak directly to that […]