How to Create Your Own Escape Without Leaving Town!

If everyone seems to be traveling except you, here are some fun and productive things to do instead of just scrolling and sighing:

1. Plan Your Own Future Trip
- Start a Pinterest board or notes list for future destinations.
- Research cheap flights and set fare alerts. We like Hopper and Google Flights!
- Create a savings plan for your next getaway.
- Watch travel vlogs or read travel blogs for inspiration. This is a good one :)

2. Be a Tourist in Your Own City
- Visit a museum, park, or attraction you’ve never been to.
- Try a restaurant that serves international cuisine.
- Go on a self-guided walking tour.
- Book a night at a local hotel or Airbnb for a staycation.

3. Bring the Destination to You
- Cook a meal from a country you want to visit.
- Have a themed movie night.
- Try learning basic phrases in another language.

4. Refresh Your Travel Gear & Photos
- Organize your past travel photos into albums.
- Make a scrapbook or photo book from your last trip.
- Declutter and upgrade your travel essentials.

5. Find Adventure in Everyday Life
- Go on a hike or explore a nearby town.
- Take a day trip to somewhere new.
- Do something outside your routine (try a new hobby or take a fun class).

What else would you add? COMMENT below 👇

6 Tips for Choosing Airbnbs

What do we look for in choosing a vacation rental (Airbnb, Vrbo, etc.)? We’ll tell you… There is a LOT to consider and it can get overwhelming. We’re here to help!

Here are our SIX highest priority items for choosing a vacation rental, in no particular order. Let us know what you’d add to this list.

1. Location. When we are booking an Airbnb we usually do a lot of research on the various activities we plan to do in a destination and then we try to choose a vacation rental in close proximity. Especially when our kids were little, we made sure we were within walking of the main touristy areas (or close to public transportation). Alternatively. we also sometimes choose a location off the beaten path so we can immerse ourselves more in a local neighborhood. We like to make sure there are grocery stores or parks nearby where we are staying. Whatever you choose, have a goal and look closely at maps and distances before you choose an Airbnb because listings always exaggerate their proximity to landmarks and city centers.

2. Space. Usually when we are choosing a vacation rental it is because we want more space than we can find in a typical hotel room. We like to find Airbnbs with at least two bedrooms and two bathrooms. We also like to have a stocked kitchen and a sitting area. Sometimes we compromise space for location when we have to, because we don’t usually spend a lot of time in our Airbnbs. Look carefully at photos in Airbnb listings, people like to use camera angles to make spaces appear bigger than they are. Also, if there aren’t photos of bathrooms or all of the bedrooms, make sure you ask questions so that you don’t show up and get surprised. We study listing pictures carefully and usually try to look at photos on multiple sites (usually rentals are listed in a variety of places) to see if we missed any clues that a place isn’t what it represents itself to be.

3. Family-friendly amenities. If you have younger kids its a great idea to search for key words like: family-friendly, crib, high chair, pack n play, etc. when you are booking an Airbnb. Some Airbnbs clearly list their family-friendly items but others you may have to reach out and ask. Also, look at photos and make sure anywhere you book is baby/toddler proofed if you need that. We have made the mistake of booking non-toddler friendly Airbnbs and then spent the entire trip stressed our baby was going to get hurt. Of course it’s fun if an Airbnb has bikes, beach toys, a pool, or games, etc. that can make your trip more enjoyable.

4. Price. Of course price is important to us when booking a vacation rental and we usually set a budget before we begin researching so that we don’t get sucked in by a listing out of our price range. The other thing to look for when looking at prices is hidden fees. Booking directly through property management companies (if an Airbnb isn’t owned by an individual) is always a great way to save on fees. Airbnb and Vrbo charge rental agencies for their listings so if you go directly to the agencies you can save yourself sometimes 15%-20%. Look closely at cleaning fees and any extra fees that are added so that you aren’t surprised when you go to checkout. Also, if you are planning to stay for a while or if you are booking at the last minute it never hurts to ask the property manager for a discount.

5. Washer/dryer. We love the flexibility of having a washer/dryer when traveling with kids — we don’t have to pack as much stuff and we can relax about keeping our clothes pristine. Also, when rainstorms or illnesses hit when traveling it’s always nice to have somewhere to wash clothes. If you are traveling outside the USA make sure to read the Airbnb listings to see if you have both a washer/dryer or just a washer. You can always hang clothes to dry. but in more humid climates you are going to want a dryer. Once you arrive at your Airbnb if the washer/dryer directions are in another language you can use Google translate to help you with the directions or Google a manual for the washer/dryer in English — it works everytime!

6. Positive reviews. Probably one of the most important things you need to do when booking an Airbnb is study the reviews. Look closely at the reviews to see how recent they are, how many negative reviews there are and how the property manager handled the situation, and what problems people mention in the reviews. You have to remember that everyone has a different perspective in terms of what is acceptable in an Airbnb but we look closely at cleanliness problems, problems with AC or water heaters, exaggeration in terms of location, and any mention of the rental being different than what was described. We also look for positive/negative notes about how hard the rental is to find and get into and how responsive the property management is. There are always a few bad reviews, but what you want to look for are patterns in the reviews and have the problems been addressed. Also, if there are NO reviews that is usually not a good sign and you should tred carefully. Before booking anything without reviews make sure you have a phone call or email exchange with the property owner and try to feel out if they feel scammy. If they are just a new property they will usually say that and often add discounts to draw people in — still try to make contact and ask for extra pictures and ask detailed questions.

Of course there is a ton more to say about Airbnbs, but hopefully these tips will help you as you get started on your research. If you have any suggestions of other things to include, let us know!

Family-Friendly Hotel: Pueblo Bonito Los Cabos

Disclosure: We were offered a discount from Pueblo Bonito Los Cabos to come stay on property and share about our experience. All opinions are our own.

We recently visited Cabo San Lucas as a family and leading up to our trip researched A LOT of hotels in the area. We wanted an all-inclusive hotel, because our kids hadn’t really stayed at one before, and we wanted to be on Medano Beach in Cabo San Lucas in an area that was safer to swim. We also wanted to find a hotel that was an easy walk into Cabo San Lucas so we could explore a bit at night. In our research, we found a lot of great reviews about Pueblo Bonito Los Cabos so we reached out to them to see if they would give us a discount during our trip. They were excited to collaborate with us and gave us a media rate (usually 20% off) for our stay in exchange for some photos and some Instagram content. Because we loved our visit so much, we decided we should share a little bit more about the hotel here on the blog so that anyone looking for a Cabo hotel recommendations could find it.

Our rooms. We booked a family-friendly room (the Cabo San Lucas suites) and our suite had two rooms. The best part about the room was our view of the ocean! The first room had two double beds and a bathroom. The second room had a table and sitting area (the couch had a sofa bed) with a TV and another bathroom. Both rooms had porches that overlooked the ocean. The room was the perfect size for our family of 6. We especially always like having two bathrooms.

The food. One of the highlights for the girls was that the hotel was all-inclusive. That meant a lot of endless plates of nachos and drinks and late night room service. We ate all of our meals at LaFrida Restaurant (Breakfast) and Mare Nostrum (Dinner at the Rose hotel next door) and then we usually ate by the pool at at the poolside restaurant (Cilantros). As part of staying at Pueblo Bonito hotels you can go to the other PB brand hotel next door and eat at their restaurants too. Sometimes I’ve been disappointed by all-inclusive food, but at Pueblo Bonito the variety for kids and adults was great. The had a whole area that just was kid-friendly options like mac&cheese, fries, pizza, etc. We were even traveling with friends who had a child with a medical condition/strict diet and they were able to help prepare his food and made accommodations for him.

The activities. We pretty much played in the ocean, ordered nachos and fancy drinks, and relaxed in the pool. We loved the low-key vibe at the hotel and you could also use the pools and amenities at the PB hotel next door. The kids joined in for some staff run activities when they got bored. We didn’t use the kid’s club because we were traveling with friends, but it looked fun! The hotel also helped us arrange a boat ride out to El Archo de Cabo San Lucas. We took a tour of the arc and then relaxed on the beach there for a bit until it was time to head back. (If you do this activity bring some money for tips and snacks). The kids also went parasailing one day and jet- skiing. You can find people to arrange activities for you right along the beach or use the hotel concierge.

The spa and fitness center. The staff a Pueblo Bonito offered me a free massage and we took them up on it! I loved having a “mom break” during a family trip. The spa was very quiet and cool and relaxing. I used the fitness center every morning and the hotel and it was VERY small and limited in equipment. I was glad they had one, but would’ve loved it to be a bit bigger and updated.

Location. We loved that the hotel was close to the main pedestrian area of Cabo San Lucas. We could go to Walmart or shop for souvenirs easily. We walked — but you could’ve also taken a taxi. We especially liked going to find local churros and paletas. The beach was calm where we were and there was a roped off area the kids could swim. We were also close to a lot of activities we wanted to do.

Would we stay again? The family’s resounding answer is YES.

Have you stayed at Pueblo Bonito Los Cabos? What would you add?

Paris with Kids: A Family-Friendly Guide

Paris is one of those places we have visited at every age and every stage with our three kids. The first time we visited Paris with kids they were ages 2, 5, and 7. On our most recent visit our kids were ages 8, 11, and 13. A lot of what we like to do is just wander neighborhoods and explore and eat food that looks good! But, here are a few specific tips and ideas for touristy things and tours you might want to check out on your next visit!

Also, we always recommend checking out the Paris resources provided by our friend Zoe, a tour guide in Paris, who also has a great self-guided tour on her website and some blog posts and she also helps families plan their full itineraries.  You can find her on Instagram at @the.petit.guide.

Transportation:

• We love G7 taxis with kids. Find more info here. 

• Paris Metro: Super easy to navigate and family-friendly; we mostly use this or walk

• Batobus - hop-on-hop-off boat along the Seine. Great way to get around and see the city when kids get tired.  

Don’t miss the Space Invaders!

Here’s a tip we learned from Zoe! Download the free "Flash Invaders" app for your kids while you wander around Paris. There are pixelated character mosaics all over the buildings/walls around Paris -- done by a French street artist. You get points for the ones you find on the walls of Paris. Not all of the ones you see are real invaders. Looking for space invaders helps motivate kids to walk when they get tired. You can find more info here. 

Activities (grouped by areas)

1st Arrondissement

• The Louvre: A must-see BUT we sometimes just pick a few pieces of art to try and see and never try to do the whole museum at once -- it's a lot for kids. A great way to see the Louvre is with a private guide. Check out these family tours. 

• The Tuileries - We love just wandering through this after the Louvre and there is a fun in-ground trampoline playground in the park to get out energy as well as several playgrounds. Our kids loved the trampoline park. There is also a Christmas Market here until January. You can also ride the Ferris Wheel nearby at the Place de Concorde. 

• Musee de l’Orangerie - This is our favorite museum with kids who have short attention spans. It is small but has Monet's amazing Water Lilies paintings (our kids got in trouble for playing tag in the round rooms (oops) but otherwise it's a pretty chill museum). A lot of other great impressionist paintings and some changing exhibits. We often only do this museum on a Paris trip. 

• Sainte-Chapelle: Amazing medieval church with breathtaking stained glass windows. We like to go here since Notre Dame is closed -- it is nearby. 

6th Arrondissement

• Luxembourg Gardens: Iconic park in Paris. They have sailboats kids can float in the pond (seasonal) and an amazing playground with ziplines, climbing structures, etc. There are also pony and donkey rides and one of the traditional merry go rounds where you try to catch metal hoops with a stick while you ride. 

7th Arrondissement

• Musee de Orsay - Popular museum for kids because a lot of the paintings are recognizable -full of Van Gogh, Matisse, Degas, and Seurat. We've heard great things about this tour of the museum: https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/655236

• Eiffel Tower. One of my friends recommends this tour, so you avoid the lines. Otherwise make sure to purchase tickets well ahead of time. We usually go all the way to the top. But it can get really crowded and cold so we usually don't stay too long. Make sure to bundle up for the top. Our kids also love the two playgrounds at the bottom -- one at Avenue Anatole France, is in the middle of the park and has an old-fashioned carousel and little play area with a sandbox. In the southwest section, allee Pierre Loti, there is a larger playground.  

8th Arrondissement

• Champs Elysees - We mostly just like window shopping here and looking at the cool cars. There is also a good McDonalds with a bathroom, if you need one on your way to the Arc de Triomphe. 

• Arc de Triomphe: You can take the tunnel under the road to walk over and the climb to the top of the Arc de Triumphe. We thought the views were definitely worth going to the top. It was really pretty at night. 

14th Arrondissement

• The Catacombs: Maze of tunnels, stretching over 200 miles and dating back to the 13th century. It's a little bit eerie and creepy but kids seem to love it. French kings began to empty the cemeteries when they got too crowded and moved the remains of over 6 million people to the catacombs. Their bones line the walls, creating a somewhat spooky spectacle.

18th Arrondissement

• Sacre Coeur/Montmartre - We love taking the funicular and riding to the top, exploring the souvenir stores, and getting crepes at the top. You can also get great views of Paris from the top of the cathedral. The area has amazing patisseries and boulangeries. The authentic boulangeries are labeled: Boulanger de France. The Moulin Rouge is also in this area. 

• Clignancourt/Saint-Ouen Flea Market - described as the largest antique market in the world; fun to wander; vintage clothing and jewelry; Here are a few articles about the market: 1, 2, 3.

Food Tours/Activities:

• This is a very popular tour my friend told me was awesome: https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/203141 and has great reviews. 

• French Cooking Classes: Our French friend loves these classes. They are on our list to try next time! They have several family classes! https://cooknwithclass.com/all-our-paris-classes/

 Day Trips: 

• Versailles. 50 min train ride on the RER from Central Paris. We love renting bikes at Versailles and exploring the gardens. You can also rent golf carts. Our kids love the Petit Palace and Hameau de la Reine the best. There is also an Angelina hot chocolate spot at the palace. The LDS temple is also nearby. 

• Disneyland Paris. If you like Disney -- it is there! I've been, but we haven't taken kids yet. 

• You can also take the train or rent a car and in two hours get out to Normandy, the Loire Valley, or Strasbourg if you want more of a countryside feel. 

Other rainy/cold day activities:

• Paris Department Stores: Fun to explore, have cafes and restaurants, good place to take a break from the weather: Le Bon Marche, Printemps, Galleries Lafayette

• Natural History Museum - if you need somewhere to go with younger kids and the weather is bad. 

• Shakespeare & Company Bookshop - fun to wander and look at old and new books

• Palais de la Decouverte - epic science and technology museum; very interactive

• Passages des Princes - series of covered walkways between buildings with small shops inside selling toys, models, used books, antiques and all sorts of interesting gems! It’s worth a pass through. You can find them near the Palais Garnier opera house and also at 97 Rue de Richelieu.

Other Favorite Neighborhoods/Areas:

• We love to wander the unique and trendy shops in the Marais (around the Pompidou) and grab falafels at L’As du Fallafel along Rue des Rosiers and grab some Jewish challah bread. 

• The streets around Saint-Michel/Notre Dame are one of our favorite places to grab crepes and kebabs or just sit inside a cafe along the river for a quick lunch or hot chocolate or french onion soup. 

• Rue St Honore is one of our favorites for window shopping. Also there are so many pastry and chocolate shops hidden there. The Paris Walks chocolate tours and fashion tours in this area are fun for older kids.

• Sentier - under the radar neighborhood with boutiques and foodie hot spots: Read about it here and here.

What are your favorite Paris with kids activities?

What would you add to what we’ve included here? Anything we’ve missed?

If you haven’t been to Paris yet with kids, is it on your list?

Kid's Travel Backpack Checklist

When our kids were little we usually packed their backpacks for them or carried supplies for them in our own backpacks. Now that they are older our kids love to pack their own travel backpacks.

We usually start having them help with their backpacks around age 6, or once they have started kindergarten. They can carry a small backpack before then, but usually it doesn’t have anything important or necessary for the plane just in case it gets lost (queue the time in the Copenhagen airport when our five year old left her backpack with her Kindle in it somewhere and we never found it before the flight took off!).

Even when our kids pack their own backpacks we always make sure that they include these basic few things (see the FREE download provided below). Here are the top 10 items we ALWAYS pack in our kid’s travel backpacks.

FREE DOWNLOAD HERE

There is a lot you can add, but we never forget these things.

What else would you add?