Let’s talk birthday trips! I’m not a party mom, like at all. When the kids do have birthday parties, it’s a pizza, cake, and go entertain yourselves in the back yard kind of party. I decided to play to my strengths and give the kids the *option* for a trip instead of a party and gifts every other year. I love the opportunity to spend one-on-one time with the kids- not something we get often as a family of 6. I only ask that the kids choose their destination well in advance so I can figure out a way to do it on points and miles or to find good deals. (SO much easier to plan trips for 2 people instead of 6). So far, all of the kids have chosen theme parks for their birthday trips, but we have only done one round of birthday trips. The 2 oldest went the first year, the 2 youngest went the second year. This year will be our 2nd round of birthday trips and we have some exciting things planned! If birthday trips aren’t in the cards, experiences close to home could be a good alternative! Sporting events, a day at a waterpark, bowling, etc. Or choose one special birthday (maybe age 10 or age 16) that they get to choose a trip for! So many fun ways to prioritize connection and experiences over things. And don’t worry- the grandparents still give them a gift on their birthday trip year, so they are not deprived 😂 Would you try something like this for your kids’ birthdays? #travelwithkids #traveltiktok #momof4 #momsontiktok

How to find hotel rooms for big families - especially outside the USA 1. Start with an aggregate site like Booking.com to see what your options are using the filters in your search. 2. Check the hotel’s website to see if it’s possible to book the room or rooms you found on the aggregate site. Sometimes there’s no option on the website to book connecting rooms. 3. If you can’t figure out a way to book the room or rooms you want, email the hotel and ask what the best setup for your family is. They will let you know your options, and if you like the options they have, they can even take care of booking it for you! 4. If they are not responding to email, see if they have a WhatsApp number on their website. We recently ran into this issue, and finally got ahold of them over WhatsApp. (And this is for a luxury hotel in another country). 5. Within the US and North America there are a lot more chain hotels that have great options for big families. Hyatt Place is one of my favorites with a standard room that has 2 queen beds and a pullout couch that sleeps 6. And FYI - sometimes the website will say no rooms available if you try to search for a room with 6 people. Email the hotel and ask! (We ran into this on our recent trip to Puerto Rico) 6. I recently found out that Hilton offers the option of choosing connecting rooms when you book online. I LOVE this as a mom of 4. Remember, it’s not always available, but if it is, you can select that option and not have to email or call. 7. Try searching for family rooms, family suites, and villas in the destination you’re visiting. 8. And yes, we still OFTEN book Airbnb, VRBO, and apartments on Booking.com because that’s usually the most economical option with the most space, plus a kitchen! But there are situations where a hotel is preferrable, so these are tips for finding options that work for you! If you’re a big family (5, 6, 7 or more people) that loves to travel, sound off in the comments below! It’s nice to share resources, destinations, hotels, and more that work for a big family.

Worst and best trips for 5 and 6 year olds according to my son: 7. Las Vegas / Death Valley / Valley of Fire: it was fun, but too much hiking. (He was almost 5 on this trip, and didn’t care as much about the great views and hiking. 6. Puerto Rico - he said the weather was too hot for him. He likes weather in the “50s and 60s” apparently. This is hilarious because he was born in Florida, but I guess he has acclimated to the Wisconsin temperatures. Maybe I’ll buy a neck fan for future trips to tropical climates… 5. Florida Keys - this one didn’t stand out to him. When we looked back on pictures he said, “Oh yeah, that was kind of a fun trip.” 4. “Ancient” Greece - not sure why he keeps referring to it as Ancient Greece. Maybe they’re learning about that at school. I do remember he had his toy car with him during our entire tour of the Acropolis, so maybe that helped. 3. Italy - not a fan of all the walking we did, BUT the gelato and Fanta won him over. 2. LEGOLAND - this was his birthday trip last year. He had one of the best days of his life. We stayed at the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel and it was so much fun. 1. Costa Rica. I think seeing the sloths won him over. And seeing the volcano. I feel like age 5 and 6 are tough for little travelers because they’re transitioning from little kid to big kid. They are not carried or in a stroller. They’re not yet *that* interested in history. That’s why Costa Rica was such a hit! Minimal walking, no museums, just a lot of outdoor time and seeing cool animals in the wild. #traveltiktok #momof4 #travelwithkids #familyvacation

El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rainforest in the US Park System, so it's a great place to visit with kids while you're in Puerto Rico! You do need to rent a car to get there unless you sign up for a guided tour. We preferred to explore on our own with younger kids, so we chose to rent a car. It's the perfect day trip from San Juan! The drive to El Yunque Rainforest from San Juan takes around 45 minutes and is mostly freeway driving. It's no different than driving in the mainland USA.  The park is free to enter, but if you choose to go to the El Portal Visitor Center it's $8 per adult, though kids are free. We picked up a map at the visitor center since we learned that reception can be spotty inside the forest. The kids also picked up their Junior Ranger booklets so they could earn a badge. You no longer need reservations to enter El Yunque, but it is first come first serve, so it's best to arrive early in the morning. We arrived at the visitor center around 9 a.m. and they informed us that we were not yet in the park. They advised us to save the trails by the visitor center, like the Angelito trail, until after we go through the National Forest so that we would ensure we make it into the park. Once you enter the park it's easy to navigate. There is only one road to follow, and you look for signs along the side of the road for the trailheads, lookout towers, and waterfalls you choose to visit. You can access a map online, but it helps to have a physical map in case you lose your internet connection. #elyunque #puertorico #momof4 #traveltiktok #travelbucketlist #travelwithkids

Ok this ended up being one of our family’s all-time favorite destinations. It was a lot of extra work, transportation, time, and money to get here, but we made his dream a reality! This is the island of Paros, Greece in the Aegean Sea. It gave us whitewashed villages, sandy beaches, and sparkling water without the overwhelming crowds. We spent 3 nights here after a whirlwind tour of Italy, and it was just what we needed for a slower pace with plenty of time to explore, swim, and relax. Hopefully someday we’ll make our way back to the Greek islands to explore more! #travelwithkids #greekislands #momof4 #traveltiktok #greecewithkids #travelvlog