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

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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 7th — 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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
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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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