Packing tips ~ Travel Ideas ~ Inspiration
Hi there! We are Agnes and Warren and we have been exploring together since we met. We’re now married and have two young daughters, but strive to do as much exploring as possible, sparking in our girls a love of adventure.
We aren’t digital nomads. We haven’t quit our jobs and sold our belongings. We are lucky enough to have fairly flexible jobs which allow us the freedom to escape the daily grind and explore, pretty regularly. We try to visit exciting places all over the world and now that our girls can carry their own bags, they do too.
Our goal is to help inspire you to do the same, as often as possible. Maybe you’re new to travel. Maybe you’re just new to doing it with a little entourage. Either way, we think there’s something here for you.
If you have questions about what to pack, how to make travelling easier, safer, or more cost effective, we have answers. Check out the articles, read our tips and tricks and if you still have questions, drop us an email!
We’d love to hear from you!
Maybe you want to get away from the predictability of an all-inclusive resort, create your own itinerary and seek more authentic experiences.
Skip the organized excursion and do it on your own. It’s easier than you might think! Included in each itinerary are recommendations on how to get there, how long to stay, where to eat, and what to bring with you. Turn your vacation into an adventure and travel better!
With three distinct areas to explore within the site, the option to rent a bicycle for a few hours makes the entire site accessible for kids who otherwise might not make a full day of hiking.
Want to experience the excitement of diving without actually scuba diving? Try a submarine excursion! Great for children who are too young to scuba dive.
A cenote is a unique experience that you won’t find anywhere else in the world. There are hundreds throughout the Yucatan Peninsula, and whichever you decide to visit, they make an amazing day trip.
Swimming with sea turtles is an incredible experience that you and your family will never forget. Get on your swimsuit, grab your mask and snorkel and see these giants up close and personal.
Guatemala is Mexico’s next door neighbour in the central American chain. It is a luscious, exciting destination that boasts volcanos, lava-heated hot springs, volcanic lakes, coffee plantations, and so much more.
On top of this intoxicating range of activities, Guatemala is one of the most popular locations for learning Spanish. We decided to enrol in some classes and learn with the locals.
Back in 2007, before kids, we visited Guatemala for the first time. Part of our time there was spent learning Spanish in Antigua, a beautiful colonial town in the south of the country. We lived with a homestay family where we practiced our language skills while we shared food and some laughs. We have always thought about returning.
In 2023, we decided to give our girls a chance to learn a new language in the same way, and maybe brush up our own skills.
We packed the girls up and headed to Guatemala for 4 weeks of adventure. In addition to Spanish lessons we were looking for a mix of cities offering things to do balanced with down time and some scheduled laziness. Guatemala checked all the boxes.
Our trip was fantastic. A wonderful cocktail of volcanoes, colonial architecture, markets, beaches, restaurants, and well, some cocktails.
Want to know more? Thinking about visiting Guatemala and maybe learning Spanish with your family? Keep reading >>
Family friendly activities your kids will love!
Antigua is surrounded by volcanos and a hike to the top is more accessible than you might think.
THE FLOOR IS LAVA!
Paddle around Lake Atitlan, a serene volcanic lake surrounded by lush hills, dotted with charming indigenous Mayan villages.
Make your own chocolate using locally grown cacao beans following artesian methods and recipes.
Learn Spanish in Guatemala. There are a number of reputable schools around Guatemala each with homestay families ready to host you and your family.
Preparing for a trip can be a daunting task. Changing money. Packing clothes. Organizing cables. Selecting and charging devices. There are so many task that need to be thought through and organized. In addition, the pandemic has added a whole new set of considerations including medical documentation, questions about what medicine to bring and what different countries require upon entry. Read our articles, check our lists and sign up for our newsletter to make sure you’re travel-ready!
The world is slowly getting back to normal so if you’re ready to get back out there, here are our suggestions for traveling with kids, in a post-pandemic world.
Sifting through hundreds of reviews is time-intensive and not always very informative. Learn how to get the most information from Trip Advisor reviews and filter out the noise.
There’s a lot to consider when it comes to electronics and travelling. Cameras. Headphones. Tablets. E-readers. Batteries. Cables. Here are our tips for packing electronics for travel.
There's no way to make the flight shorter, but here are tips and tricks to help you travel with kids better
What medicine should you take on your trip? Should you bring copies of your prescriptions? What should you do if you need medicine while travelling? How to pack medication for your trip.
With so many listings available how do you effectively sift through the available lodging options and find a great rental property?
Whether you’re headed to an all-inclusive resort, or off an an epic, 10-country tour, you want to pack in as much travel goodness as you can. Follow these tips to help make your trip a little smoother each step of the way.
You’re arriving at the resort lobby without your luggage because it’s been delayed somewhere along the way. So you’re sitting in the lobby wearing the same clothes you wore on the plane, probably steaming.
The last thing anyone wants to do is waste a single minute of vacation time sitting around waiting.
We learned to stick a bathing suit in each carry-on before leaving home.
Lost luggage? Let us know when it arrives. We’ll be under one of those palapas.
Luggage space comes at a premium, especially these days. With every item in your baggage edging you closer to your weight limit, saving space is important.
Optimize your medication bag or first aid kit.
Take a photo of over-the-counter pills or medicine and the dosage info from the side of the box.
Only bring enough of each medication to cover the full duration of the trip and leave bulky boxes and pill bottles at home.
It’s 8pm and your kids need to get to bed. But you’re at an all-inclusive resort and you want to squeeze a little more fun from your day?
Here’s a trick we used when our kids were too young to stay up.
Request a room close to one of the lounge bars. Set up the video monitor at the table closest to the room so you can maintain the video feed.
Deal the cards, order a drink and toast to the small wins.
Being well-prepared, both with the right gear and the right information, can make the difference between a memorable adventure and a trip you’d rather forget.
Over 20+ years of traveling we have picked up a number of pretty useful products; things that just make everything that little bit easier. From eReaders to clothes lines. Check out our list of product recommendations and see what’s right for you. *Every product here is something we purchased with our own money, of our own volition. Nothing has been provided by manufacturers.
These kid-safe, volume limited headphones are durable, foldable and have a secondary aux jack so that additional headphones can be daisy-chained without the need for an aux splitter...or fights about who's turn it is.
Drawing pads are a great analog activity for kids while on the move. They're a cheap, versatile toy that can be used in a variety of creative ways.
Foam kid-proof tablet cases keep your kids screen in one piece, and make it easy to stuff in a backpack for easy, safe storage.
While we're traveling we usually get where we're going using some version of a ride-sharing app. Uber, Lyft, Grab or a taxi. This lightweight, low profile travel seat makes safety while moving from place to place a non-issue.
Is it a scooter or is it a carry-on bag? It’s both. But is it any good? Here's our review of the zFlyte travel scooter
Tired of the same vacation you (and everyone you know) did last year? Looking for something unique, but still accessible? Here are our recommendations for 2 unique vacation ideas. (More coming soon!)
Try learning Spanish in Guatemala. There are a number of reputable schools around Guatemala, each with homestay families ready to host you and your family.
In Xochimilco, the last remaining remnants of an Aztec-built canal system, you can ride colourful Mexican gondolas while a Mariachi band belts out traditional Mexican music, all while drinking bottles of Corona beer on a floating picnic bench.
Tips, tricks and ideas to help your family travel better
