Summer Travel Ideas and Tips!

As summer approaches, it’s time to start planning your family adventures! Traveling with kids can be an enriching experience, and I’m here to share some fantastic destination ideas to inspire your next trip. From exploring the wonders of the Dominican Republic to relaxing on the pristine beaches of Turks and Caicos, there is a world of adventure waiting for you and your family. Join me as we embark on unforgettable journeys that will create lasting memories for you and your
little ones.

 

The Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic is such a great intro to The Caribbean for the kids! This was their first international flight and they did great. Around 3 hours from Atlanta, the flight was a breeze. There is also a VIP arrival and departure service that you can sign up for at The Punta Cana airport prior to travel and they will whisk you away to your ground transportation so you don’t have to wait in any lines. There are some fabulous hotels to choose from in the DR. We chose to stay at one of my fav properties in Cap Cana. Eden Roc Cap Cana is a Relais & Chateaux property that boasts 65 stunning accommodations ranging from lavish boutique villas with their own private pools to elegant beachfront suites. It is a unique and secluded property with a private beach, delicious food and fun activities. We rode bikes, enjoyed golf cart rides to and from the beach club, enjoyed the spa and yoga classes. Our villa had a private pool as well so it was just as amazing to stay at the villa and relax all day. There are some local adventures that you can incorporate into your trip including horseback riding on the beach, a private boat charter, zip lining, snorkeling or scuba diving.

 

Turks & Caicos

The clear water is something out of this world and such a family friendly destination. A lot of the hotels are located on Grace Bay within walking distance from one another so it was really fun to be able to pop by the hotels and check out the pool scene or grab a little dish. There are some other hotels located a bit further away from Grace Bay, but offer their own slice of heaven for guests to enjoy. There are also some private island hotel experiences where getting there is an amazing adventure all on its own. We were lucky enough to stay at 2 different hotels in Turks & Caicos. Grace Bay, located in Providenciales and COMO Parrot Cay, located on the 1,000 acre private island of Parrot Cay. 2 incredible properties with fabulous food, unbelievable locations, breathtaking views and welcoming hosts at each location.

Grace Bay is incredible. We stayed in the Villas Grace Bay One Bedroom Suite. This was the perfect set up for us. We had a King in the main bedroom and the living area had a sleeper sofa. It also had a full kitchen, 1.5 baths, dining table, and a balcony with lounge chairs and dining table as well. Amazing!  Family friendly, adults only, honeymooners, group trips, corporate retreats, multi generational trips – the hotel is truly set up for anything! The food is unbelievable. I am still craving the sushi rolls, breakfasts and lobster!! Delish!! Dining at Infinity restaurant was so beautiful under the stars and the food is just delectable. The kids loved their food options too. The spa was incredible. The beach is so serene and the water is so clear – we stayed in for hours snorkeling, playing and just relaxing. We had so much fun with the staff at Grace bay and felt so welcomed and cared for.

COMO Parrot Cay was the second stop on our Turks & Caicos tour and this place….wow…. this place is a treasure. We arrived at the COMO reception lounge at the marina and checked in. We boarded the COMO boat for the 25 ish minute boat ride to the hotel located on the private island. Upon arrival we were greeted by the staff and our own personal butler, Sha!! We were taken to our Beach Front Family Villa and it took our breath away. 2 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, just under 2000 sq ft and sits directly on the beach. Unassuming luxury and welcoming all at the same time. We walked into the Villa and were immediately welcomed with views of our own private infinity pool and private beach steps from the ocean. Gorgeous dining and living area all dressed in white and the bedrooms sit at either side of the living area. A room with platform twin beds for the kids along with a full bath sits on one side of the villa and a suite with a King Bed draped with a mosquito net, private tub and outdoor shower sits on the other side of the villa. Heaven. One of the nicest places I have been and will remember this hotel for years to come. The grounds are gorgeous, the pools, restaurants and spa have an eastern feel to it and you feel like you are on the  other side of the world. It is quiet, relaxing and time does stand still – 4 days felt like an amazing  week. There are many accommodation options ranging from Rooms, Suites, Beach Houses, Villas and Residences. Set up for solo travel, wellness travel, family, honeymoons, multi generational trips, group trips, buyouts – COMO offers an experience for all. We left feeling rejuvenated, grateful and so sad that we had to leave!!

 

Antigua & Barbuda 

I can’t say enough about Antigua & Barbuda!!! What a great adventure. We started off our trip at Carlisle Bay. A sophisticated and contemporary classic hotel located on Horseshoe Bay, it is overlooking turquoise waters and surrounded by lush rainforests. We enjoyed the food, the beautiful beach and gorgeous property. Our second stop was an adventure to Barbuda. We boarded a small propeller plane for the 15 minute flight to Barbuda where our hosts were waiting for us. We stayed at the super cool Barbuda Belle – A hidden gem that combines luxury, tranquility and personalized hospitality at the 8 room boutique hotel.We enjoyed spa in an open rustic structure right on the beach, chilling on the beach steps from our cabin and snorkeled the day away.  Our last stop back in Antigua was at Blue Waters – Timeless luxury with a Caribbean soul, this lovely and modern luxury hotel is nestled away in a private bay of Antigua’s Northwestern coast. The food is delicious, the property is beautiful and it was the perfect ending to an amazing trip.

 

As much as we love exploring new destinations with our children, traveling with kids can often present its own set of challenges. From packing meltdowns to navigating airport chaos, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. However, over the years, I’ve learned some invaluable tips and tricks that have helped our family vacations into smooth and enjoyable experiences. Wehtehre it’s keeping them entertained during long flights or finding kid – friendly activities at our destination,I’m excited to share some of my favorites hacks for traveling with kids.

 

Enroll in a Trusted Traveler Program

Such a time saver! You can enroll in TSA PreCheck and kids under the age of 12 can travel along with you and save time in the TSA PreCheck lane. You won’t need to remove laptops, liquids, shoes, or light jackets. Global Entry is also another great option. You can skip lines and use kiosks when available. Children will have to enroll in Global Entry with you and Global Entry will cover TSA PreCheck as well.

Get Going Early

Early flights are the best for kids. They are excited enough to be curious and ready to go, but there is still a sense of sleepiness on those early morning flights. So with that sense of chill morning vibes they may not be quite wild enough yet to drive you and the entire plane mad. Yay!

 

Pack light and with Intention

I am a super minimalist and that spills over into my packing as well. I love to carry on every time we travel – it helps for a seamless exit to our destination. Hahah I say seamless – well ya know, more seamless than if we had to wait around for luggage. I pack both kids’ items  into one rolling carry on suitcase and I have 1 carry on with treats and snacks that doubles as my pocket book. The rolling suitcase can even double as a stroller! They love to ride on it as we glide through the airport as they simultaneously scream at one another about who saw the restroom sign first.

 

Have a Plan

It is always a good idea to have a plan. Sounds simple, but I always feel more organized when I have a day to day schedule and plan to go by,  just like we do at home. I try to keep meal times, nap times, activity times and bed times as similar to the home routine as possible. Of course while on vacation there may be some later nights and longer activity times, but in general be mindful about loosely trying to match your daily schedule to your home schedule as much as possible. The overall moods seem to be a bit better throughout the trip if everyone stays on a schedule – ish.

 

Prebook Reservations

When I travel alone I am not always pre booking every little activity or dining reservation. However, when the babes are with me I want to prebook everything I can. It sets us up for a more organized and less stressful trip. Activities and dinner plans are already booked and it is one less thing to worry about. Also, if you are traveling during a busy time, earlier dining options may not be available, so it’s best to get those secured before you arrive.

 

Be Chill

Travel is full of surprises. Delayed flights, missed connections, can’t find your transfer, room check in taking longer than it should and the list goes on. Kids will pick up on your emotions (as you know) and the more calmly you handle the situation the happier everyone will be. Make sure to have snacks and little surprises for the babes along the way so you can pass along a fun little something to keep them busy while you are trying to find your transportation company at the airport. Just be chill.

 

Purchase a Medjet Assist / Medjet Horizon Plan

Buy a Medjet Assist plan. Talk about peace of mind. “MedjetAssist® is the premier air medical transport membership program for travelers. If you are hospitalized 150 miles or more from home, Medjet will arrange air medical transport all the way back to your hospital of choice in your home country — regardless of medical necessity. Most travel insurances and platinum card benefits programs will get you to the “nearest acceptable facility”, Medjet gets you all the way home. MedjetHorizon members have all the air medical transport benefits of MedjetAssist, plus added travel security and crisis responseservices benefits powered by corporate security experts FocusPoint International.”

 

Have Fun

Have fun. Have so much fun. To see these amazing places and experiences through these kids eyes is such a dream. I hope to be able to share these experiences with them until they have kids of their own and beyond. This world is such an amazing place. I am ever so grateful to be able to discover it with them and to be able to help clients do the same thing with their family.  Be adventurous, be kind, be curios and HAVE SOME FUN!