Introduction
Traveling has been a core part of our lives for over thirty years.
At first we traveled as a couple, later with our children, and on several trips, with the grandparents as well.
For a long time, there were five of us organizing every single trip—an experience that taught us how to plan better, optimize budgets, and make practical decisions to enjoy every destination to the fullest.
Over the years, we learned something fundamental: there is no single "right" way to travel.
Sometimes we organize everything independently, while other times we choose guided tours or organized experiences when we feel they truly add value.
On this page, we share some key decisions and strategies we learned over decades of travel—small adjustments that made our journeys more comfortable, efficient, and often more budget-friendly. We hope you find them helpful!
1. Choosing Hotels Wisely
When traveling, we pay close attention to choosing our accommodations. We use Booking.com to evaluate options. We review the most recent guest feedback and prefer places with a rating above 8.0 and a high volume of reviews, as this usually reflects the authentic, current experience of fellow travelers.
We also carefully verify what is included in the rate:
- Breakfast
- Parking
- Free cancellation
- Luggage storage
Small details often make a huge difference in comfort. Fortunately, on Booking.com, you can filter for apartments with washing machines—which is essential on long journeys, when traveling with kids, or if you prefer to travel light with carry-ons only.
We have used laundromats before, but to be honest, waiting for clothes to wash and dry takes away valuable sightseeing time (though chatting with locals there is always fun!).
2. Valuing Small Hotel Perks
On various trips, we've stayed at hotels that offer thoughtful touches beyond breakfast. For example: afternoon coffee or snacks, flavored water, or special amenities for guests returning from long excursions.
In Argentina, we even found mountain hotels that provided old towels specifically to clean hiking boots after a trail day—a simple detail that proved incredibly helpful.
3. Using All-Inclusive Resorts as a Trip Break
When traveling with kids or teens, we like to mix different accommodation styles. We often spend most of the itinerary exploring multiple destinations while staying at traditional hotels or rental apartments, but we reserve a few nights at an all-inclusive resort right in the middle of the trip.
That window serves as a relaxing family reset. For a few days, we stop worrying about schedules, navigation, or finding restaurants and simply enjoy the resort: beach time, snorkeling, water sports, or boat trips. It’s the perfect way to recharge before continuing the rest of our journey.
4. Taking Advantage of Airline Deals
We frequently book flights when airline promotional newsletters hit our inbox. This strategy has repeatedly allowed us to fly on full-service airlines for the price of low-cost carriers.
On other occasions, we've booked through travel agencies because they offered competitive pricing along with extra support and peace of mind.
5. Flying from Nearby Airports When Beneficial
We've discovered that departing from neighboring cities can yield significant savings. For instance, we often took a ferry to Buenos Aires to catch flights out of Aeroparque Jorge Newbery, which is also much closer to the city center than Ezeiza International Airport.
During layovers in Buenos Aires, we found a great solution to avoid hauling luggage around: using luggage storage services. Leaving our bags for a few hours gave us total freedom to explore the city stress-free, grab a bite, or simply enjoy the sight-seeing.
We are also testing departures from Porto Alegre for some trips to Brazil. However, for long-haul flights to Europe, we've learned that the extra travel exhaustion doesn't always justify the savings.
During layovers, resting in VIP Lounges is a game-changer—we highly recommend it.
That said, during a layover in Panama, we decided to step out of the airport to visit a nearby shopping mall using an airport shuttle service. We made sure to head back early knowing traffic could build up, and while there were a few nervous moments, we arrived with plenty of time. That day reminded us that stepping off the script often creates the best travel stories.
6. Always Packing an Essentials Kit in Carry-On
On one of our earliest flights, one of our checked bags went missing upon arrival. To make matters worse, most of our baby's essentials were in that single suitcase. It was a major wake-up call.
Ever since, we always pack the following in our hand luggage:
- One or two changes of clothes
- Necessary medications
- Basic toiletries for 1-2 days
- Printed documents and reservation confirmations
And please, don't forget cash and credit cards! Believe it or not, it happened to us once ☹️. Fortunately, family came to our rescue!
7. Renting a Car when Traveling as a Family
When traveling as a group of five, renting a car was almost always the most practical way to get around. It gave us total freedom to explore at our own pace. However, we also learned to stay flexible: once, due to a flight schedule change, we hired a private transfer to make a scheduled excursion on time. It was the best decision at that moment. Similarly, when traveling with grandparents, organized day trips were the smoothest route. Travel is all about adapting.
You can read more about our car rental tips and experience on this link.
If you'd like to compare rates across top rental brands, try the price comparison tool below. We use it regularly and consistently find better rates and vehicle options compared to other platforms.
We frequently book our rentals through this platform.
Using our links to DiscoverCars.com gives you access to exclusive discounts compared to navigating directly to their homepage ;).
8. Using Mobile Data Throughout the Trip
Having continuous mobile data access while traveling is essential today. It allows us to use apps like Google Maps to:
- Avoid getting lost on road trips
- Find highly rated nearby restaurants
- Check operating hours for tourist sights
- Locate essential roadside services like gas stations and supermarkets
- Message our host or hotel with our exact arrival time
To stay seamlessly connected, we recommend using BNeSim eSIMs. It's super convenient because you don't need to swap out your physical SIM card.
Get a 30% discount on your first top-up using our code:
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9. Choosing Where to Eat Smartly
When searching for places to eat on Google Maps, we focus on three factors: a large volume of reviews, high overall ratings, and recent feedback. On a road trip to Florianópolis, for example, we decided to drive a few extra miles to reach a restaurant popular with locals. Upon arrival, we saw why: a fantastic regional buffet, grilled meats, scenic countryside views, and top-tier service. There was even a queue to enter, but it was well worth the wait.
10. Balancing Activities for Parents and Kids
When traveling with children or teenagers, alternating activities works wonders. One day focuses on sights parents enjoy, and the next day prioritizes activities the kids are excited about. During a trip to Córdoba, we swapped a long excursion for child-friendly attractions, and it became one of the highlights of the trip. Now that they are grown, they look back on those days with fond memories. Whenever they join us nowadays, zip-lining, skiing, rafting, snorkeling, kayaking, theme parks, and go-karts are always on the menu!
Conclusion
After decades on the road, we've realized something simple:
There are no rigid rules for travel.
Every destination and stage of life calls for different decisions. But when you approach those choices with curiosity, good information, and a bit of flexibility, every trip turns into an amazing story.