Crossing the Pond with Twins: Why Direct Flights and "Positioning" are Life-Savers
Flying to Rome with Twins: A JFK-ITA Airways Review Navigating a first transatlantic flight with young twins requires strategy, especially when traveling from Nashville. By swapping an expensive connecting flight for a budget-friendly direct from New York, we saved money and reduced travel stress. From utilizing the VIP ONE Lounge at JFK to bypass long security lines to managing motion sickness and red-eye sleep schedules on ITA Airways, this post breaks down our best tips for surviving an 8-hour flight with little ones. Discover why we recommend "breaking up" your journey and why extra sickness bags are a must-have for your carry-on!
How We’ve Never Checked a Car Seat: Our Secret to Light Travel with Twins
We prioritize traveling without checked bags, even with twins, by avoiding bringing car seats. Instead, we utilize rental car add-ons, specialized car services with seats included, travel harnesses, or inflatable boosters. These strategies simplify logistics while ensuring the kids stay safe and mobile during our trips.
Kids Clubs and Suites: Our Secret to a Relaxing All-Inclusive Family Vacation
We took our five-year-old twins to Villa del Palmar Cancun, booking a spacious two-bedroom suite for a stress-free all-inclusive stay. The resort excelled with its shallow pools, a vibrant kids club featuring mocktail classes and top-tier a la carte dining. It’s the perfect, high-value getaway for families seeking convenience and quality in Mexico.
Skip the 2-Hour Lines: A Parent’s Guide to Montego Bay’s Best Kept Secret
We consider Club MoBay essential "arrival insurance" for any trip to Jamaica. By paying for this fast-track airport service, we skip the notorious 90-minute immigration lines, moving from the jet bridge to the arrivals lounge in just minutes. It is a stress-free lifesaver, especially when traveling with twins.
Passports and Global Entry for Kids: A Step-by-Step Survival Guide
We ecured passports and Global Entry for our twins to simplify international travel. While child passports require both parents' consent and in-person appointments, Global Entry is now free for minors and provides essential TSA PreCheck access. These investments have saved us hours in immigration lines and made tight flight connections possible. Even if you travel internationally once in a five year period, get this for your kids!
Better, Faster, Cheaper: Why Trains Beat Flying During Our Family Trip to Italy
We highly recommend high-speed rail for traveling between European cities whenever possible. On our Italy trip, we used TrenItalia to travel between Rome and Florence for just 20 euros per person. With spacious seating, onboard cafes and city-center terminals, it’s a faster, more affordable, and less stressful alternative to flying when you have little ones.
Luggage: As kids get older, your options expand and their independence grows
As kids grow, their travel independence grows too. Moving beyond diaper bags, the switch to kid-specific carry-on roller boards makes "no-check" travel possible even for families. These specialized bags feature angled pull cords and footrests, allowing children to manage their own gear with ease. Combined with a standard backpack, these luggage options teach responsibility and independence, turning young travelers into capable explorers while making the airport experience smoother for parents.
Why AA Premium Lounges with British Airways at JFK Are American’s Best Lounges in the Portfolio
Repositioning to JFK can offer significant savings on European travel, with roundtrip flights to London found for under $350. By leveraging American Airlines status on Oneworld carriers, travelers can access the premium AA/BA joint lounges, like the Soho lounge. These elevated spaces offer superior food, complimentary cocktails, and a European feel that surpasses standard Admirals Clubs, making JFK the strategic choice for both cost-conscious and status-holding travelers heading across the Atlantic.