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 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 […]

Universal Studios is not cheap — and when you’re traveling with tweens and teens, wandering around without a plan can completely ruin your day. Long lines.Missed rides.Kids melting down because you “walked past that ride already.” If you only have one day at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, having a clear plan matters more […]

Zanzibar was the final stop on our Africa trip, and I had mixed feelings going into it. After the intensity and magic of safari in the Masai Mara, I wanted calm. Quiet beaches. Clear water. A place to exhale. What I quickly learned is that Zanzibar can be many things — but you have to […]

An African safari sounds magical. It also sounds intimidating — especially with kids. Early mornings. Long travel days. Animals you normally only see in documentaries. Remote locations. The constant parent question of what if something goes wrong? Before our trip, I wondered all of it. Was this too much? Was it irresponsible? Would our kids […]

This was one of those bookings that felt big even as I was clicking “confirm.” Our family’s first trip to Africa.Christmas to New Year’s.A safari we may only do once at this level. I wanted this experience to be pristine, calm, safe, and special — especially because it was our kids’ first time on the […]

Flights were the hardest part of planning our Africa trip — and the part that scares most families away before they even start. Africa isn’t one easy nonstop away. Award space can be limited, routes are long, and when you’re traveling as a family, you need multiple seats on the same flights. Add holiday travel […]