Recommendations

Best Hyatt hotels to use a Free Night Certificate in 2025

by

If you have a Category 1–4 Hyatt free night certificate and are wondering where to use it, this guide has you covered. We’ve rounded up the best Hyatt hotels to use your free night certificate in 2025, including family-friendly resorts, boutique city stays, and hidden gems, each falling within Hyatt’s Category 1–4 limit.

Whether you’re eyeing Lisbon, Hawaii, Mexico City, or a storybook castle in Scotland, these hotels deliver exceptional value and unforgettable experiences. From personal picks like Hyatt Regency Tamaya to European favorites like Hyatt Regency Lisbon and Schloss Roxburghe, these are the stays that make your certificate feel like a true reward.

Read more

How to get to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico: The Ultimate Guide

by

San Miguel de Allende, a vibrant colonial town in central Mexico, is a must-visit destination known for its stunning architecture, artistic community, and charming cobblestone streets. However, since San Miguel de Allende does not have its own airport, getting there requires a bit of planning.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the best ways to reach San Miguel de Allende, whether you’re flying from the U.S. or traveling from within Mexico.

Read more

Top 10 kid-friendly things to do in Park City, Utah in winter

by

We spent a few days in the little town of Park City, Utah, located in the Wasatch Mountain Range, and fell in love with this winter wonderland. Founded in 1869, Park City has a population of only about 8,500 people. Yet, this little town attracts thousands of tourists. Ironically, the number of tourists visiting yearly is actually bigger than the town’s population 😃.

Interestingly, only 20 years ago, Park City looked different and completely changed after the 2002 Winter Olympics Games, adding new properties to the valley. Park City’s ski resorts were the locations for skiing and snowboarding in the Winter Olympics Games!

Besides, each January, Park City hosts the Sundance Film Festival – one of the largest independent film festivals in the world. So you can imagine how busy it gets during that time.

If you are wondering if it is worth visiting a ski resort town when you are not skiing (or have little ones that aren’t ready yet to hit the slopes), the answer is yes, absolutely it is! You would be surprised at how many winter activities there are for the whole family. So let’s dive into family-friendly things to do in Park City in winter.

Read more

Best things to do in New Orleans, Louisiana, with kids

by

This December, we spent a few days in New Orleans, Louisiana. When planning our trip back in July, we pictured ourselves having café au lait in a historic courtyard of the French Quarter, the girls enjoying sunny southern days, and checking off a list of fun things to do in New Orleans with kids, from steamboat rides to beignets in Jackson Square.

Can you imagine December of 2022 being one of the coldest winters in New Orleans’ history? On some days, the temperature dropped to 20°F (-4°C), and it got quite chilly with wind gusts. That said, we layered up and did what we could to explore this beautiful, resilient city.

Although the weather forced us to skip a few outdoor activities, the girls (and we!) still managed to pack in plenty of adventures, and we can’t wait to share some of the best family-friendly experiences with you.

Read more

Best kid-friendly things to do in Kauai, Hawaii

by

Kauai is known for its beautiful beaches, lush forests, and stunning natural beauty, making it one of the best kid-friendly destinations in Hawaii. When planning a family vacation, finding the best kid-friendly things to do in Kauai ensures an unforgettable experience for everyone.

As the northernmost and oldest island in the Hawaiian chain, Kauai’s volcanic activity ended 3.8 million years ago. This rich geological history has created a unique blend of natural wonders, from dramatic cliffs to hidden waterfalls. Its remote location and rich biodiversity create the perfect backdrop for families to explore and create lasting memories.

On our recent trip, our eight- and two-year-olds had an amazing time discovering all the island has to offer. Let’s dive into the top family-friendly activities and attractions that make Kauai a must-visit with kids!

Read more

A perfect 3-day itinerary in Istanbul, Türkiye

by

We spent two unforgettable weeks exploring beautiful Türkiye this summer, and our journey began in one of the world’s most iconic cities: Istanbul. This 3-day Istanbul itinerary captures the vibrant culture, rich history, and nonstop energy that made it the perfect place to kick off our adventure.

Founded by Greek settlers in the 7th century B.C., Istanbul served as the imperial capital of the Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires for nearly 1,600 years. Today, it’s a dynamic blend of ancient and modern, drawing millions of visitors every year. If you’re planning a short visit, this guide highlights the must-see sights, best bites, and unforgettable experiences you won’t want to miss.

Read more

3-day itinerary in Washington D.C. with kids

by
The United States Capitol Building

Our spring break in Washington, D.C., was a success. The Nation’s capital is beautiful this time of the year; although we wished it would have been a little warmer, we still enjoyed our stay very much.

We were actually surprised that this city offers a lot of kid-friendly activities. When we told Sophia we were going to Washington, D.C., the first thing she asked was if we were going to see the White House. For 7-8-year-olds, it’s an adventure to visit the places they talked about in school and see the historical monuments themselves.

Read more

Favorite things from our travel checklist with kids

by

Traveling as a family, especially with the little ones, is always challenging; you want it to be as comfortable as possible, and you want to be ready for any imaginable scenario.

You constantly adapt and develop your own traveling habits. Like this one — pack in your carry-on 1 set of underwear/socks/T-shirts for each person. You never know if your luggage will arrive on time, and you obviously don’t want to end up with no change of clothes for the next day or two.

Here we wanted to share with you the list of our favorite things we take with us on our trips.

Read more

A summer trip to Houston, Texas, June 2021

by

Last summer we took a short trip to Houston, Texas to take care of some family business.

We booked this trip with Southwest Airlines and paid with cash which of course went towards the minimum spend requirement for a credit card signup bonus (at that time we were working on the Hilton Honors Aspire card, to learn how we spent the signup bonus, read about our Hawaiian vacation here). We had the A-List status with Southwest Airlines so we got our seats in the front of the plane.

Read more

Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, the Hotel Review

by

For our recent trip to Oahu, we chose to stay at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, and this Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort review shares our firsthand experience at one of Waikiki’s largest and most family-friendly beachfront resorts.

In April 2021, feeling the weight of pandemic fatigue, we planned a relaxing Thanksgiving break in Hawaii, avoiding international travel. Although it was our first time in Honolulu and Oahu, we had previously visited Maui and Kauai on other trips.

Instead of packing our days with hikes and sightseeing, we focused on relaxing beach time and delicious food. This review covers what it’s like to stay at the Hilton Hawaiian Village with kids and helps families decide if this is the right place to stay in Honolulu.

Read more