Family Travel Unpacked: Make the Most of Travel With Kids

What apps and websites make planning a family trip with points and miles easier? In this episode, I walk through the exact tools I use for every trip, from finding award seats and nonstop routes to organizing the itinerary and getting through travel day with kids. It started with a mistake. This morning I discovered I'd booked a return flight a full month too late, and a tool I've had fo...

How many days do you actually need in the Azores with kids, and is São Miguel worth the trip? This is the full São Miguel guide — flights and points, renting a car, where to stay, the best hot springs and waterfalls, whale watching, and the honest story of how our four days actually went, weather included. We paired this trip with a stop in London (full recap in Season 2, Episode 2), and if you wa...

Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve still worth its $795 annual fee after the 2025 overhaul — and what does the Chase Sapphire Preferred's new 4:3 Hyatt transfer ratio mean for your points? This episode breaks down every change to both Sapphire cards this year, why Melissa upgraded back to the Reserve with no welcome bonus, and exactly how she used Chase's "The Edit" hotel program to...

Nine years ago this month, Melissa's family packed up the car and set off on what was supposed to be a one-year adventure — and turned into almost two. In this reflective episode, she looks back at what actually stuck: the deep family bond that full-time travel built, why "owning your happiness" became a lasting family value, and how those lessons still shape the way they travel. In...

Family travel to London with kids: what we loved, what surprised us, and what we'd do differently on our next trip We just spent five days in London with the kids, and rather than walk you through a stop-by-stop itinerary (that's what the blog article is for), this episode is the honest debrief: each of our four favorite things from the trip, where we ate, what caught us off guard about...

Episode Description My most popular article of the year — now an episode. A region-by-region fall break guide for families, plus four spots that didn't make the original article. East Coast Fall Break Escapes: New York City · Finger Lakes · Washington DC · Colonial Williamsburg · Philadelphia · Boston · Sarasota · Orlando · Iceland Midwest Fall Break Favorites: Chicago · Cleveland · Louisvill...

Our Trip Fell Apart (But Our Points Didn't) — Plus How to Travel for Free with Kids A Southwest delay killed our Charleston beach trip — but because it was booked on points, we walked away without losing a dime. Here's exactly how we unwound three different award bookings, plus a full breakdown of how to earn and use points to travel with kids for free. Melissa was supposed to be recappi...

Planning a weekend trip to Philadelphia? We spent 24 hours in the city using points for flights and a free hotel night, hitting Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and some of the best Israeli food in the country. We flew nonstop on American using Alaska Atmos points, stayed at the Hyatt Centric Rittenhouse Square on a free night certificate, and packed in a museum, three restaurants, and a same-...

Boston with kids doesn't have to mean one long trip — after two separate weekend visits in the same year, here's what's worth doing, where to stay on points, and the one expense that caught us off guard. In this episode 50 recap, I compare two Hyatt Regency stays booked on free night certificates, share the Alaska Atmos points trick that got us into first class for less than economy...

Wondering whether London or the Azores is the better pick for your next family trip? In this episode of Family Travel Unpacked, my 12 year old takes over as our tween travel expert and gives her honest, unfiltered review of both destinations, from Harrods and the West End in London to hiking, hot tubs, and Europe's only tea plantation in São Miguel, the Azores. We just got back from London an...

Kids Flying Alone? Everything Parents Need to Know About Unaccompanied Minor Travel Can kids fly alone — and how does it actually work? This episode covers everything parents need to know about domestic unaccompanied minor travel, from airline policies and fees to what really happens at the airport. Melissa shares firsthand experience from multiple solo flights her own kids have taken, breaks down...

Six low-effort habits for earning more travel points and miles as a family - no new credit cards required. In this episode, you'll learn six specific strategies to earn extra points and miles without opening a single new credit card. From shopping portals and smarter everyday spending to a gift card trick that can fund hundreds of thousands of points a year, this episode covers it all, includ...

Packing for Alaska? There are a few items that most people overlook — and after three trips, Melissa knows exactly what they are. In this bonus episode, she shares the five things she never travels to Alaska without, including one she loves so much she packed a spare pair for a friend. In this episode: Why rain pants belong on every Alaska packing list (even if it doesn't rain) The collapsibl...

Thinking about visiting Alaska with teens? My 14-year-old son joins me for a mother-son Alaska recap — and spoiler: he caught a king salmon just 12 hours after landing and hasn't stopped talking about it since. We cover four days of adventures based entirely out of Anchorage, and I break down how we pulled off the whole trip on points without paying for flights or hotels out of pocket and hig...

Get the quick highs and lows in this Grand Hyatt Scottsdale review + recap episode, all in less time that it takes to drink your morning coffee! Find out if this could be the right resort for your trip to Scottsdale with kids - and what might be the biggest drawback for many families. Check prices at Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Amex Platinum Card for The Hotel Collection bookings: $300 statement credit...

My carry-on has evolved over years of family travel - and at this point, it's pretty dialed in. This episode breaks down exactly what's in my bag, from the backpack I choose to the credit cards I pack and why. A few of these might surprise you! In this episode: How I choose the right backpack for every trip The power adapter I use every single day — at home and abroad Why I think careful...

This summer our family is heading to London and the Azores — and before we go, I'm walking you through exactly how we're paying for it with points and miles. From 32,500 AA miles per person to a $1 flight (yes, really), this episode breaks down every flight and every hotel booking and shows you what this trip would have cost in cash versus what we're actually paying out of pocket. I...

Southwest Companion Pass + World of Hyatt points = endless family travel possibilities. Here's how to make them work together. What happens when you combine the Southwest Companion Pass with World of Hyatt points? You get one of the most versatile family travel strategies out there — whether you're looking for an easy long weekend at a Texas resort, a ski trip in Colorado, an eco-adventu...

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Capital One Venture X — which travel credit card is right for your family? Melissa breaks down annual fees, earning rates, transfer partners, lounge access, and real-world redemptions to help you decide. Spoiler: you'll probably want both. In this episode: Why the Venture X's $395 annual fee is effectively comparable to the Sapphire Preferred's $95 — and...

Planning a family trip to Europe but not sure where to start? In this episode Melissa breaks down everything you need to know to plan your first family trip to Europe — from choosing the right destination for your family to getting around once you're there without losing your mind. With nine trips to Europe across more than a decade of family travel, Melissa has done it every way imaginable:...

With summer airfare through the roof, road trips are having a major moment — and honestly, they deserve it. In this episode, Melissa shares her best family road trip tips from two cross-country drives and multiple thousand-mile trips with her kids: how to plan your route, pack the car smart, keep everyone happy on long driving days, and use points, miles, and credit card perks to save big on hotel...

Family travel to Portugal with kids: honest recap of our spring break family trip to Portugal covering Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais and Porto. We just got back from nine nights in Portugal with our kids and this episode covers everything — what worked, what surprised us, and what you need to know before you go. We share our full itinerary across Lisbon and Porto, a night in Cascais after a Sintra day t...

Airfare is up, Hyatt's award chart is changing, TSA lines are about to get longer, and your passport might expire sooner than you think. Here are five things savvy travelers are doing right now — and why each one matters for your family. These travel tips cover a mix of time-sensitive moves and things you've probably been meaning to do. Some apply to everyone; at least one is pretty nich...

Travel with kids changes as you go - from gear and sleep schedules to school calendars and hotel choices. Listen up to find out what 15 years has taught us. From baby's first lap infant flight to a teen texting friends from Portuguese hilltops, family travel looks completely different at every stage. Melissa gets personal in this one, sharing real stories from nearly 15 years on the road with...

Alaska cruise planning for families: what it costs, which cruise line to pick, best ports, shore excursions, and more with expert Kim Tate. Expert guest Kim Tate of Stuffed Suitcase has been on roughly 10 Alaska cruises and just published a book on the subject. She joins host Melissa Conn to break down everything families need to know about planning an Alaska cruise with kids — from choosing the r...