Family Travel Unpacked: Make the Most of Travel With Kids

Melissa Conn
  • 5.0 (8)
  • PLACES & TRAVEL

Family Travel Unpacked is a family travel podcast for parents who want to travel with kids more easily, confidently, and joyfully. Hosted by Melissa from The Family Voyage, each episode breaks down real-life family travel strategies, smart planning tips, and destination inspiration so travel with kids actually feels doable. From packing hacks and family vacation planning to hotel tips, points and award travel for families, and travel mistakes to avoid, you’ll laugh, learn, and walk away ready to plan your next stress-free family trip.

  1. 4D AGO

    Alaska With Kids - Cruise Edition (Part 2)

    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 right ship to managing excursion logistics to setting realistic expectations about wildlife and weather. In this episode: Cruise vs. land: what each format does better for familiesRoundtrip vs. one-way Alaska itineraries — and the Gulf of Alaska crossingGlacier Bay vs. other glacier experiences: is it worth planning around?Best Alaska cruise lines for kids programmingWhat a realistic Alaska cruise actually costs for a family Shore excursions: cruise line vs. independent booking, and one third-party resource Kim trustsSeattle vs. Vancouver embarkation - including the two Seattle piers most families don't know aboutHow to use companion passes to offset flight costsLightning round: Kim's favorite SEA lounge, best Alaska wildlife sighting,  what she always eats and more!Already explored Alaska by land? Melissa has too — listen to Episode 32 for the land trip breakdown, then come back to this one for the cruise deep dive. 00:00 Welcome and Meet Kim Tate 04:14 Alaska Cruise Planning Preliminaries 06:01 Cruise vs Land Experiences 07:03 Alaska Cruise Itineraries 11:36 What's the Best Alaska Cruise for Families and Kids? 15:24 Weather and Cancellations 18:55 Realistic Alaska Cruise Trip Costs 22:26 Choosing Your Ideal Alaska Cruise 30:37 Alaska Shore Excursions 37:14 Embarkation: Seattle vs Vancouver 39:54 Why Use a Travel Advisor 42:39 Lightning Round 48:17 Wrap Up How to work with Kim Connect via Stuffed Suitcase, Facebook or Instagram Alaska Cruises - The Ultimate Guide Plan your land-based Alaska trip All my Alaska resources Anchorage & Kenai Peninsula Itinerary eBook Entry-level binoculars Upgraded binoculars Don't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone. Blog The Family Voyage Get your free ebook The Busy Mom's Guide to Free Travel Check out my favorite travel gear and my Etsy shop! Chase Sapphire credit cards

    50 min

  2. MAR 27

    Surprise! When Flights Go Wrong (and How to Protect Yourself)

    Flight cancelled abroad? Here's what to do when travel disruptions hit. I'm sharing 3 mistakes I made on our Portugal spring break plus one backup flight trick every traveler needs to know. Two cancelled flights, two mechanical failures, a sprint through Dulles, and a late-night Lyft from DC to Baltimore - that's how our Portugal spring break ended. I'm sharing what went wrong, three planning mistakes I made, and one backup flight trick that saved us. 00:00 Welcome and Updates  01:11 Portugal Trip Plan  02:28 United Rebooking Chaos Begins  03:51 Stranded in Lisbon  05:05 Fighting for a Better Route  08:04 Backup Flight Trick   10:55 My Travel Mistakes 14:06 EU261 Claims and Wrap Up Resources Chase Sapphire Preferred Capital One Venture X Travel insurance comparison CardPointers+ Don't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone. Blog The Family Voyage Get your free ebook The Busy Mom's Guide to Free Travel Check out my favorite travel gear and my Etsy shop! Chase Sapphire credit cards

    16 min

  3. MAR 20

    Alaska With Kids - Road Trip Edition (Part 1)

    Planning a road trip to Alaska with kids this summer? Don't miss this episode for the highlights (and lowlights) of visiting The Last Frontier on a family trip. Find out why Alaska is worth the effort, who it’s best for, and how to book flights using points and miles. Host Melissa outlines top regions and stops along with highlights like dog sledding, a Kenai Fjords boat tour, Lake Clark bear viewing, Byron Glacier, Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, and the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage. 00:00 Welcome and Alaska Preview 01:16 Why Alaska for Families 02:32 Booking your Alaska family trip 05:56 Road Trip Tips 08:02 Anchorage Essentials 10:09 Girdwood 12:01 Kenai Peninsula Highlights 14:30 Anchorage Day Trips 18:24 Top Experiences to Prioritize 19:54 Final Planning and Packing Tips 21:59 Wrap Up and Next Episode Links 10-day Alaska itineraryAlaska with kidsAnchorage travel guideDay trips from AnchorageRenting a car in AlaskaAlaska travel tips Don't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone. Blog The Family Voyage Get your free ebook The Busy Mom's Guide to Free Travel Check out my favorite travel gear and my Etsy shop! Chase Sapphire credit cards

    23 min

  4. MAR 13

    Hawaii vs Costa Rica: Showdown in Paradise

    Hawaii vs Costa Rica for families: a real comparison of cost, activities, logistics and accessibility — plus which one we chose for our winter break. If you've been going back and forth between Hawaii and Costa Rica for your family's next trip, this episode is for you. I've taken my family to both destinations.  After an embarrassing amount of research comparing both destinations for our upcoming winter break, I'm sharing everything so you don't have to do it yourself. We cover flights and time zones, a detailed cost breakdown, activities for families, logistics and itinerary planning, the best time to visit each destination, accessibility considerations, and which destination we chose for this winter. In This Episode: Why where you live completely changes the flights and time change mathAccommodations: why Costa Rica wins on cash but Hawaii wins on pointsHow to search for award flights (and what the tools miss)Activities: where Hawaii wins and where Costa Rica pulls aheadWhy itinerary planning in Costa Rica is a completely different challenge than HawaiiSeasonality: what "dry season" actually means and where to go whenAccessibility: what traveling with a grandparent taught me about these two destinationsOur final decision for winter break — and whyWhether you're planning for next spring break or still dreaming, this comparison will help you figure out which destination is right for your family. Find the full blog post and more planning resources at thefamilyvoyage.com. Links Credit Cards Chase Sapphire PreferredCapital One Venture XAmex PlatinumAward Search Tools PointsYeahAwardToolArticles Why I Love the Southwest Companion Pass (and How to Get One)Best Credit Cards for Family TravelAll free travel resourcesHawaii vs. Costa Rica for FamiliesAll Hawaii resourcesAll Costa Rica resourcesDon't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone. Blog The Family Voyage Get your free ebook The Busy Mom's Guide to Free Travel Check out my favorite travel gear and my Etsy shop! Chase Sapphire credit cards

    21 min

  5. MAR 7

    Portugal on Points: A Case Study

    Award travel case study: how our family is booking Portugal flights and hotels for 4 people using points — and spending under $1,000 out of pocket. Ever wonder what it actually looks like to build a trip from scratch using points and miles? In this episode, I walk you through exactly how I planned our family's upcoming spring break trip to Portugal — flights, hotels, layovers, and all the creative problem-solving in between. This one was inspired by coffee with a local friend who had done a great job earning points but couldn't figure out how to actually use them. Sound familiar? We're covering Lisbon, Cascais, and Porto, with four nights in each of the first and last stops. I'll tell you which programs I used, how many points each piece cost, where I got creative (Southwest to DC, anyone?), and what I would do differently next time. If you've been sitting on a stash of points and wondering how to turn them into a real trip, this episode will show you how. In This Episode: Why Portugal in March — and how a band concert blew up my original planTwo different strategies to fly between the US and Portugal on pointsThree different tricks for booking accommodations for freeHow traveling as a couple is different than traveling as a familyThe four lessons I'll carry into every future award bookingNew to points and miles? Start with Episode 7 (fundamentals) and Episode 8 (credit card benefit hunting) before this one. Credit Cards Chase Sapphire PreferredCapital One Venture XAmex PlatinumCiti Strata EliteUnited Explorer Articles How United Is Changing the Game (But Still Letting You Win)Why I Love the Southwest Companion Pass (and How to Get One)Best Credit Cards for Family TravelAll free travel resources Award Travel Tools PointsYeahAwardToolDon't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone. Blog The Family Voyage Get your free ebook The Busy Mom's Guide to Free Travel Check out my favorite travel gear and my Etsy shop! Chase Sapphire credit cards

    19 min

  6. FEB 27

    LA with Kids: A Mom's Insider Guide

    If you're planning a trip to Los Angeles with kids, this episode is your insider playbook. Melissa lived in LA for 20 years, raised her kids there, and still visits multiple times a year — including just last week, when she visited two attractions for the very first time. From navigating LAX to booking hotels on points to finding the best things to do in LA with kids across the Westside, Downtown, and beyond, this is the honest, practical guide you've been looking for. In This Episode: Why LA trips need to be planned by zone — and how to avoid the traffic trapThe LAX curbside pickup hack that will save your sanityWhen to rent a car (and when the Metro actually wins)Where to stay in LA with kids — from budget-friendly to points redemptionsThe Getty Center, Warner Brothers Studio Tour, Grand Central Market, Academy Museum, and moreA complete 4-day LA itinerary you can actually pull offHow to pair LA with Disneyland like a proWhether you're planning a standalone LA trip or combining it with Disneyland or San Diego, this episode will help you make the most of one of the world's great family destinations. Find detailed guides and hotel reviews at thefamilyvoyage.com and losangelestraveler.com. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to LA01:22 The lay of the land05:12 Getting Around LA08:08 Where to Stay in LA with Kids13:27 Best Things to Do in LA with Kids28:03 Sample 4-Day Itinerary30:01 More Resources and WrapChase Sapphire credit cards Chase Freedom credit cards (no fee) Top resources to plan your trip to LA with kids: 16 of the Best Hotels in Los Angeles for FamiliesFun Things To Do In Los Angeles With Kids7 Awesome Things to do in LA With TeensVisiting The Getty Center: Tips For A Great VisitWarner Brothers Studio Tour + Tips15 Universal Studios Hollywood Tips You NEED To ReadShould I Rent A Car In Los Angeles? Honest Pros and ConsMUST-READ Tips for Renting a Car in Los AngelesLos Angeles Airports: Which Is The Best?Don't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone. Blog The Family Voyage Get your free ebook The Busy Mom's Guide to Free Travel Check out my favorite travel gear and my Etsy shop! Chase Sapphire credit cards

    31 min

  7. FEB 22

    9 Common Family Travel Planning Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

    Avoid these 9 common family travel mistakes! From booking too late to overpacking, learn how to plan better trips with kids and save money with points & miles along the way. Planning family travel doesn't have to be overwhelming. In this episode of Family Travel Unpacked, Melissa shares the 9 biggest mistakes families make when planning trips with kids—and exactly how to avoid them. Drawing from nearly 15 years of family travel experience, including a two-year backpacking gap year with kids, Melissa covers everything from booking timelines to packing strategies to creative flight routing. Whether you're new to travel with kids or a seasoned family traveler, these practical tips will help you plan smoother, more affordable trips that everyone actually enjoys. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome 00:44 Mistake #1: Waiting Too Long to Book 02:46 Mistake #2: Planning Without Everyone’s Needs in Mind 04:14 Mistake #3: Overpacking Your Itinerary 06:40 Mistake #4: Being Too Rigid With Flights & Routing 10:16 Mistake #5: Under-Researching Weather & Microclimates 12:04 Mistake #6: Overpacking Your Suitcase 14:56 Mistake #7: Not Preparing for Travel Day 16:37 Mistake #8: Not Using Points & Miles Strategically 18:31 Mistake #9: Thinking Short-Term 19:55 Wrap-Up Our favorite packing cubes Don't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone. Blog The Family Voyage Get your free ebook The Busy Mom's Guide to Free Travel Check out my favorite travel gear and my Etsy shop! Chase Sapphire credit cards

    21 min

  8. FEB 17

    Cool Summer Family Vacations: Alaska, Iceland, Michigan & Beyond | Travel With Kids

    Family summer vacations don't have to mean sweltering heat. Discover 5 cool-weather destinations perfect for travel with kids this summer. In this episode of Family Travel Unpacked, host Melissa shares real experiences from epic family road trips and international adventures where summer temps stay comfortable. From Alaska's midnight sun and bear viewing to Iceland's glaciers, plus drivable trips through Michigan's Upper Peninsula and a NY-Canada loop through Quebec City and Niagara Falls—these destinations deliver adventure without the August misery. Episode Highlights: Alaska: Dog sledding, Lake Clark bear viewing, Kenai Fjords cruise (10+ days)Iceland: Private glacier hiking, whale watching in Húsavík (10-11 days)NY & Canada: Finger Lakes to Quebec City to Toronto road trip (2 weeks)Michigan: Mackinac Island, Pictured Rocks, Tahquamenon Falls (10 days)Australia: Great Barrier Reef & Daintree Rainforest in their winter (3-4 weeks)Plus honest budgeting tips, points & miles strategies, and age recommendations for each destination. Full itineraries and resources at thefamilyvoyage.com. 00:00 Welcome + Why Cool-Weather Summer Trips Are the Move 01:20 Destination #1: Alaska — Epic Wildlife, Long Days & Road Trip Planning 07:02 Destination #2: Iceland — Road Trip Basics, Weather & Who It’s Best For 12:28 Destination #3: New York State + Canada Road Trip Overview 16:42 Destination #4: Michigan Road Trip — Mackinac Island to the U.P. 21:05 Destination #5: Australia — A Winter-in-July Family Adventure Plan 26:30 Wrap-Up: The 5 Cool-Weather Summer Family Vacation Picks Alaska: Things to do in Alaska with kids 10 Day Alaska Itinerary AK Husky Adventures Kenai Fjords cruise Iceland Best Iceland Tours & Activities Glacier Encounter - 10% off with code THEFAMILYVOYAGE10 Whale watching in Husavik New York & Canada Road Trip New York & Canada Road Trip Itinerary Michigan Michigan Road Trip Itinerary Things to do in Munising Things to do in Houghton Australia 1-4 Week Australia Itineraries How to get to Australia on miles Don't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone. Blog The Family Voyage Get your free ebook The Busy Mom's Guide to Free Travel Check out my favorite travel gear and my Etsy shop! Chase Sapphire credit cards

    27 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Family Travel Unpacked is a family travel podcast for parents who want to travel with kids more easily, confidently, and joyfully. Hosted by Melissa from The Family Voyage, each episode breaks down real-life family travel strategies, smart planning tips, and destination inspiration so travel with kids actually feels doable. From packing hacks and family vacation planning to hotel tips, points and award travel for families, and travel mistakes to avoid, you’ll laugh, learn, and walk away ready to plan your next stress-free family trip.

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