Hey there! Sitting down to write this newsletter, I'm in the glow of what we dubbed our "tripaversary." It was the two-year mark of the day that we boarded a plane after walking away from our jobs to travel for a year. We talked it up a bit with the kids in the weeks prior, then celebrated by watching the 40-minute compilation video of the trip over a snack board and family cheers. (Limoncello for mom and dad, OJ for the kids.) Clink!

It might feel a bit controversial to say, but I'm a believer that you can extract more value from travel AFTER it occurs than during, or even in the anticipatory build up beforehand. It's those "memory dividends" that keep paying out over time! The experiences shared, memories made and lessons learned enrich my life today--and most days, really--and how it affects my view points, identity and our family values only grows with time.

Simply food for thought as you brainstorm your next adventure 😉 Now onto a money-saving tip that you may not be aware of, followed by some of our favorite traveling-with-kids buys…

How to save hundreds on your next Airbnb stay

You won't find any promo codes here, but by adding just a few minutes to your lodging research session, you may be able to shave hundreds of dollars off your next vacation rental booking.

But HOW?! We're covering the simple tips that allow you to leverage Airbnb and VRBO's easy-to-use platforms to find and vet your ideal vacation rentals, then bypass those pesky "service fees" by booking directly.

This is a tactic that we've used time and time again with great success.

Here's the process that works for us:

✴️ Start your search on the Airbnb or VRBO website or app. This is the best place to research your options, compare amenities and read the ever-important guest reviews.

💡 TIP: always look for stays that have at least 10 good reviews. If there are loads of reviews, I click the “Show all reviews” button and then search for words like “kids” or “family” to find even more granular detail provided by travelers most like me—with young kids!

✴️ Narrow down your search to a handful of options, then see if any use branded names for their property, like "North End Cottage" or "Orchard Hill Farm."

✴️ Search Google or Instagram using the branded property name and location to see if you can find a non-Airbnb or VRBO website for the property. The goal here is to find a website or Instagram account focused solely on the property you’re interested in, often managed by the property owner or a small property management company.

✴️ Once you’ve found a website or Instagram account, look for a link to Book Direct.

✴️ Go ahead and book directly! Most of the time, you’ll save yourself from all (or most) of those pesky Airbnb and VRBO “service fees.” This can add up to hundreds of dollars saved—especially if the property host has to inflate their Airbnb or VRBO prices to cover fees that THEY'RE charged on the back end of these platforms.

Concerned that Airbnb and VRBO offer customer protection that a direct booking site won’t? Read the fine print, take close note of cancellation policies, and also understand protection that your credit card may offer for travel.

Also, don’t skip those Airbnb or VRBO guest reviews! They typically provide a wealth of info on solid host experiences and can really ease your mind in booking direct. The reality I've experienced is that a good host is a good host, no matter whether you've booked their place through Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com or direct.

Need more ideas? The Kid-Friendly Stays travel directory is the perfect first stop in your next family vacation adventure, wherever you wanna go(!), offering a curated collection of hotels, resorts, Airbnbs and VRBOs for your perusal.

Plus, all of our favorite buys in one spot

ICYMI,

over on Instagram got a whole lot of attention—more than 1.5 MILLION views! Wowza doesn’t begin to explain my surprise. But the fact that the reel was simply a short snippet on giving our baby gel clings to play with on an airplane (and a flight attendant’s unexpected reaction) got me thinking I was due to update my Amazon Shop, which is focused on all the goods that we actually loved while traveling.

Of course, it’s focused on things that make traveling with babies and toddlers easier—tried, tested and approved! From travel gear to our on-the-go first-aid kit essentials. If you’ve got a must-have item that I haven’t considered, hit reply and let me know.

Have a great day, everyone… and happy Friday eve!

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