Family Travel Unpacked: Make the Most of Travel With Kids

Melissa Conn
  • 4.7 (12)
  • 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. 6d ago

    The Magic Combo: Southwest Companion Pass + World of Hyatt Points

    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-adventure in Costa Rica, or an all-inclusive in Jamaica. In this episode I'm breaking down how these two programs work together, walking through some of my favorite properties across several trip types, and sharing honest real-world experience from stays I've actually done with my family. In this episode: How the Southwest Companion Pass works — and why having two in one household is a game-changerThe best tip for saving even more on Southwest fares after you bookHow Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to World of Hyatt at 1:1 — and why that mattersThree ways to earn a Category 1-4 free night certificate from the Chase World of Hyatt cardWhat Hyatt's new five-tier award chart means for families (and the silver lining for cert holders)Easy long weekend getaways: Florida, Texas, New Mexico, CaliforniaFamily adventure trips: Costa Rica, Joshua Tree, skiing, Hawaii and why Anchorage is suddenly on the tableAll-inclusives: the properties, AND the important caveats families need to know before bookingTimestamps 00:00 — Welcome  01:42 — Earning the Southwest Companion Pass and Saving More After You Book 05:20 — Chase, Hyatt Points and Free Night Certificates  07:36 — Understanding Hyatt's New Award Chart  09:12 — Easy Long Weekend Getaways 18:31 — Family Adventure Trips 28:19 — All-Inclusive Resorts 32:27 — Wrap-Up Resources Southwest Southwest credit cards How to earn the Southwest companion passEpisode 17 — Southwest Companion Pass deep diveChase / Hyatt Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card World of Hyatt award chartHotel Reviews on The Family Voyage Andaz Costa Rica at Peninsula PapagayoHyatt Regency Lost PinesHyatt Regency WaikikiHyatt Regency Coconut PointHyatt Regency Grand CypressDon'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

    34 min

  2. May 19

    Clash of the (Sort of) Ninety-Five Dollar Travel Credit Cards

    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 how the math worksThe Capital One travel portal price match trick that actually worksCurrent welcome bonusesHow the Chase Freedom Unlimited pairs with the Sapphire Preferred to maximize everyday earningTransfer partners: why Chase and Capital One complement each other rather than competeWhat's changing with World of Hyatt's award chart and what it means for your redemptionsCapital One Offers: the underrated feature that scored Melissa's family 10k bonus points on an Expedia booking and 5k on StubHub — plus a jaw-dropping theme park ticket offerLounge access: what the recent guest policy changes mean for familiesThe Chase 5/24 rule, Capital One's inquiry sensitivity, and the right order to open these cardsHow to freeze a credit bureau before applying to improve your Capital One approval oddsHow Ronnie and Melissa divide the cards in their household — and how she uses his Venture X at Target, the grocery store and all around townTimestamps 00:00 Welcome 02:18 Why Compare the Capital One Venture X vs Chase Sapphire Preferred? 03:37 Annual Fee Math Explained 07:01 Bonuses and Real Examples 08:22 Earning Rates and Strategy 11:45 Portals vs Transfer Partners 16:41 CapitalOne Offers Hack 18:34 Premium Perks 21:44 Application Tips 24:11 Final Recommendations Credit Cards Chase Sapphire Preferred  Chase Freedom Unlimited Chase Ink Business Preferred Capital One Venture X (Personal)  Capital One Venture X Business Award Search Tools PointsYeah AwardTool Articles Free travel resources Best Credit Cards for Family Travel Get your free ebook 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

    26 min

  3. May 12

    Europe with Kids: A Beginners Guide

    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: road trips, trains, ferries, budget flights, and everything in between. She shares which countries work best for first-timers and why, what to expect logistically, and how to use points and miles to bring the cost of a family trip to Europe within reach. In this episode: The single most important mindset shift for a first Europe trip with kidsWhat you need to know about passports and travel authorizations before you bookA destination-by-destination breakdown of the best countries for first-time Europe families - including Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Greece, France, and IcelandHow to get around Europe with kidsHow to use points and miles to significantly reduce your costsPractical on-the-ground tips: adapters, eSIMs, travel insurance, and more00:00 Welcome  02:11 Big picture planning 05:35 Best destinations for a first family trip to Europe  17:57 Getting around Europe with kids  22:30 Europe on a budget  24:27 Logistical tips for your family trip to Europe  26:08 Do you need travel insurance? 27:11 Final thoughts and where to go from here Articles Europe with Kids — Complete Destination Hub Should you bring your car seat to Europe? Ireland with Kids Travel Guide Where to Go in Italy with Kids Spring Portugal with Kids Itinerary, Recap and (Slight) Regrets Greece with Kids: Where Should You Go? Athens with Kids in One Day (or Two) Naxos with Kids Visiting Crete with Kids Paris with Kids Best Iceland Tours Travel Insurance & Gear Squaremouth (compare insurance plans) Universal travel power adapter Airalo eSIM (use code MELISS0517) 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

    28 min

  4. May 5

    Road Trip with Kids: How to Plan, Pack & Actually Enjoy the Drive

    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 hotels and gas. Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro & why road trips make sense this summer 01:41 – Route planning: apps, mindset & building in buffer 06:04 – Packing the car: comfort, gear & staying organized 13:55 – Food & entertainment on the road 19:53 – Saving money: gas, tolls, hotels & park passes Credit cards mentioned: Chase Sapphire PreferredCapital One Venture XUnited Explorer CardGear mentioned in this episode: Cigarette lighter USB power stripInflatable footrestMini cutting board & knifePortable jump starter & battery packYoto MiniTonieboxUSB mini vacuumApps & tools: RoadtrippersWanderlogGasBuddyCardPointersRoad trip guides on The Family Voyage: Michigan Road Trip ItineraryNew York & Canada Road TripRoad Trip Tips with KidsHave a question or a topic you'd like covered? Reach out at melissa@thefamilyvoyage.com or find me on Facebook/Instagram at @thefamilyvoyage. If this episode was helpful, share it with a family who's figuring out their summer plans — and don't forget to leave a five-star review wherever you listen. It helps other families find the show! 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

    28 min

  5. Apr 28

    Portugal with Kids: Itinerary, Tips and My Honest Take

    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 trip, our honest take on navigating Celiac disease in Portugal, why our whole family liked Porto better than Lisbon, a private Douro Valley day trip, and a few things we'd do differently. Links to all tours, hotels, and resources mentioned are below. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Introduction  4:00 Lisbon with kids  17:30 Sintra and Cascais  21:00 Jewish history tour and Day 5 in Lisbon  23:30 Porto with kids 27:00 Douro Valley day trip 28:30 Wrapping up LINKS Tours & Experiences 2-hour Lisbon tuk tuk tour Lisbon food tour Quake Lisbon Oceanário de Lisboa Private Sintra day trip Pena Palace Park and/or Interior Moorish Castle in Sintra Jewish Lisbon tour Daytrip – Douro Valley private day trip Tile painting workshop in Porto Livraria Lello in Porto Where to Stay Hyatt Regency Lisbon  Hotel Baia, Cascais Líbere Porto Laranjais Resources Portugal With Kids Itinerary Best Things to Do in Lisbon With Kids Where to Stay in Lisbon With Kids Where to Stay in Porto With Kids Books The Girl with the Secret Name Rick Steves Portugal 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

    28 min

  6. Apr 21

    Five Travel Tips for Savvy Travelers in 2026

    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 niche (I'll tell you upfront if it's probably not for you). But if even two or three of these strike a chord, this episode is worth your time. In this episode: Why World of Hyatt members should book award stays before May 20th — and what the award chart changes actually meanHow to book flights right now without locking yourself into a bad dealWhat credit card protections, travel insurance, and EU261 can do for you when things go wrong — and what happened when I had none of the above (episode 33)Why summer 2026 airport lines are going to be brutal — and how TSA Precheck, Global Entry, and CLEAR can get you through fasterHow to audit your family's passports and set smart calendar reminders so you're never caught off guardTimestamps: 00:00 Welcome 00:49 #1 Lock in Hyatt Stays 06:04 #2 Book Flexible Flights 08:36 #3 Protect Yourself 13:11 #4 Beat Summer Security Lines 20:19 #5 Audit Your Passports 23:00 Quick Recap & Farewell Family-friendly Hyatt stays to book now Andaz Papagayo Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Booking flexible flights Four Reasons I LOVE Award Travel (Other Than Free Stuff) United Explorer card Alaska Atmos Ascent card Travel insurance Compare options here Skipping security lines Discounted CLEAR+ membership IHG Premier card (cheapest TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit) Amex Platinum card (CLEAR+ credit) 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

    24 min

  7. Apr 14

    From Tot to Teen: How Travel With Kids Changes Through the Stages

    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 her two kids, why she hates beach trips with babies, a two-year full-time travel adventure, the trip that turned into a COVID quarantine nightmare, and what it's actually like to travel with tweens and teens today. Whether you're just getting started with a baby or trying to hold onto the family travel years before your kid heads to high school, this episode will meet you where you are. In this episode: Why condo resorts and vacation rentals are perfect for babies and toddlers (and when to switch to hotels)The stroller and gear setup that worked for traveling with two young kidsHow the full-time travel years shaped the way the family travels todayWhy you should use your school schedule flexibility window while you have itHow to build trips around your tween's actual interests — food tours, local sports, craft workshopsWhat shifts when you're traveling with a teenagerTimestamps: 00:00 Welcome 01:31 Travel with a baby 06:58 Travel with a toddler 08:21 Travel with school age kids 14:01 Travel with tweens 17:45 Travel with teens 20:33 Wrapping up How to travel with car seats Expert tips for flying with a baby Useful travel gifts for families 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

  8. Apr 7

    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 Alaska trip All my Alaska resources Anchorage & Kenai Peninsula Itinerary eBook Shore Excursions Group 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
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4.7
out of 5
12 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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