Abroad

Abroad | Europe | Family | Featured | Italy

7 Best Things to Do in Positano With Kids
ByMari August 14, 2025August 20, 2025

Positano might just be the most postcard-perfect town in Italy, but is it doable with kids? I visited a few years ago (pre-kids!) and have dreamed of going back ever since. Now, with a family in tow, I’m planning a return trip and researching everything to make Positano doable, fun, and family-friendly.

If you’re wondering how to make the most of this iconic destination with your family, here’s everything you need to know. From easy beach days and gelato breaks to boat rides and nearby towns, these are the top things to do in Positano with kids, parent-friendly tips, and a little firsthand perspective.

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Abroad | Advice | Canada | Caribbean | Europe | Family | Featured | Florida | How to | North America | United States | USA

First-Time Family Cruise Tips: How to Book the Perfect Trip
ByMari June 30, 2025July 14, 2025

There’s a moment—usually when hearing the ship’s horn echo across the harbor—when it hits you: you’re officially on your family cruise vacation, and everything is taken care of. That “all-in-one” magic is exactly why more parents like us decided to swap another road-trip for a first family cruise. Meals appear without grocery shopping, stateroom stewards transform towel squares into elephants, and the kids’ club team somehow makes your 6 year-old’s day. In this guide, I’m sharing the cruise tips you need to plan your family’s stress-free high-seas vacation.

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Africa | Abroad | Morocco

My Solo Adventure in Tangier Guide and How to Plan It with a Family
ByMari March 5, 2025May 30, 2025

Several years ago, while studying abroad in Spain, I took a spontaneous three-day trip to Tangier with a few friends. It was an amazing journey filled with new cultural experiences and my first time in Africa. At the time, I was single, without kids, and fully immersed in the adventure of exploring new places. Now,…

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Advice | Europe | Family | Featured | How to | Hyatt | North America | Rewards Travel | United States | USA

Why Hyatt Hotels Is the Best Brand for Family Rewards Travel
ByMari January 17, 2025September 22, 2025

When it comes to finding the perfect hotel for our family vacation, Hyatt consistently stands out. With an amazing rewards program, family-friendly accommodations, and unbeatable perks, Hyatt hotels makes it easier to travel with our family for way fewer points than other hotel brands (sorry, Marriott and Hilton!). When it comes to rewards travel, brand loyalty always pays off. Here’s why Hyatt has consistently been the best hotel brand choice for our family, for redeeming points at the best value, earn rewards, and stretching our travel budget.

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Best Moments | Featured | Fiji | Greece | Italy | Maldives | New Zealand | Portugal | Thailand | United States

Best Moments: Beaches
ByMari January 23, 2020January 28, 2025

In the doldrums of winter, sometimes you just need a little pick-me-up. To combat the dull, gray world you’re currently seeing outside your window, here are some of the best beaches in the world that we’ve visited. So many places have beautiful coastal vistas, but to be a best beach, it had to meet a…

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Fiji | Oceania

Island Hopping in Fiji
ByMari February 27, 2018January 28, 2025

You know when you see those photos of that glorious island oasis with white sand, clusters of palm trees, and pristine blue water? That’s Fiji. Fiji is exactly as amazingly beautiful as the image you have in your mind. On land or by sea, there’s a treasure trove of wildlife and natural beauty whenever you…

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New Zealand | Oceania

Villa Maria Winery in Auckland: A Wine Lover’s Playground
ByMari February 12, 2018October 20, 2025

Villa Maria‘s sauvignon blanc is one of my favorites in the States, so I was thrilled to find out that they have a winery and vineyard right in Auckland. Villa Maria Winery makes it easy to visit within the city. One of my favorite things to do in any new country is visit their wine…

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Europe | Italy

Road Trip through Tuscany, Italy
ByMari July 20, 2017January 28, 2025

I said it before, and I’ll say it again: every time I plan a vacation, I always wonder why I’m not going back to Italy. Italy was my first big international trip, and my family is half Italian. Thus, Italy always feels like the most amazing place in the world. When I set out to…

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Asia | Maldives

Vilamendhoo, Maldives
ByMari July 9, 2017January 28, 2025

The Maldives is exactly the paradise you see in photos. It lives up to the hype and exceeds all expectations as one of Mother Nature’s masterpieces. It’s the kind of place where you need to make sure you have all of your phone/camera memory available because you will take 1,000 pictures daily of the same…

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North America | Panama

Panama City, Panama
ByMari May 11, 2017January 28, 2025

Panama City, Panama is full of pleasant surprises. Full disclosure, I never really thought about visiting Panama. Then, I started perusing websites looking for a deal on a flight/hotel in the Caribbean, and Panama kept coming up. In an effort to find a warm weather locale for a trip for my winter birthday, I bet on…

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