How We Stayed At A Luxury 5-Star Hotel on the Amalfi Coast for Free
Looking for a luxury Amalfi Coast getaway without the luxury price tag? In this post, I share exactly how we stayed for free at the stunning Furore Grand Hotel, a 5-star cliffside resort near Positano and Ravello — thanks to the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. As military members, we benefit from waived annual fees and premium perks like Diamond status, complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, and a free night at any Hilton property each year. From a breathtaking suite and indulgent spa treatments to unforgettable coastal views and incredible dining, this stay was pure magic. Whether you're traveling as a couple or planning a one-night splurge on the Amalfi Coast, this post shows how to make the most of Hilton credit card travel benefits, SLH hotels, and military credit card perks for a dream-worthy Italian escape.
Portugal: The Algarve
Looking for a family-friendly summer escape in Portugal? We spent the 4th of July weekend exploring the Algarve and loved every minute—from unforgettable seafood in Quarteira to coastal boat adventures and water park fun for the kids. Highlights include a beach BBQ with AlgarExperiences, a big game fishing trip, and travel tips for flying into Faro. While our Airbnb wasn’t perfect, staying close to family made it all worthwhile. Get the full scoop on where to eat, what to do, and how to make the most of a quick trip to Portugal’s southern coast.
Family Photos on the Amalfi Coast: Positano
We spent a dreamy early summer evening in Positano, an iconic town along the Amalfi Coast, to capture this year’s family photos with Andreina Noguera Photography.
Sicily: Trapani + Aegadian Islands
After nearly three years of living in Southern Italy, we finally made it to Sicily—and I’m already planning our return. We spent a long weekend exploring Western Sicily, basing ourselves near Trapani with highlights including a dreamy boat trip to the Aegadian Islands (Favignana and Levanzo), a beach day in San Vito Lo Capo, and wandering the hilltop medieval village of Erice. From where to stay, what to eat (including Trapani’s best arancine and gelato), and tips for planning your Sicily itinerary with kids, I’m sharing our favorite moments, local recommendations (grazie di cuore Tony!), and everything you need to know to plan a memorable family trip to this stunning corner of Italy.
Summer in Scandinavia
Looking for a kid-friendly summer escape in Scandinavia? We spent 11 days road-tripping through Denmark, Sweden, and Norway — chasing fjords, exploring colorful cities, and discovering some of the best family-friendly activities in the Nordics. From Copenhagen and Oslo to Bergen, Billund, and beyond, this guide shares budget-friendly accommodations, top sights, and kid-approved adventures like Liseberg Park and LEGO House.
Albania: Himarë
Looking for an easy summer escape from Naples? We booked affordable, direct flights to Tirana, Albania for Memorial Day Weekend and explored the stunning Albanian Riviera. With pre-season pricing on a dreamy coastal apartment in Himarë and delicious food with sunset views, it was a quick getaway packed with beauty. That said, with long drives and only two full days, it felt a bit rushed. If you’re planning a weekend trip from Naples to Albania, this post covers travel tips, what to expect, where to eat, and why we’re already planning to come back—this time, for longer.
Mother’s Day Weekend on Ischia
The island of Ischia, one of the three islands in the Gulf of Naples, is only an hour away from us by ferry. We decided to spend Mother’s Day weekend there and absolutely lucked out with beautiful, warm weather. The island, which is much larger than its neighbouring island, Procida, is known as L’Isola Verde, or the green island. It only takes one visit to understand why. Check out this post for a three day itinerary in this little corner of paradise.
Le Marche + San Marino
As we look towards our final months in Italy, we are trying to pack in as much as possible. We spent a 3-day weekend exploring Le Marche, a region in central Italy, and The Republic of San Marino, a microstate completely surrounded by Italy. We relaxed at a wine resort, had one of the best meals of our lives, and added on a stop at a famous World War II Battle site, the Abbey of Monte Cassino, on our drive home.
Reflection // Projection 2024 - 2025
I make an ode to myself that I intend to pick myself up when I stumble, because I will, and approach myself and those I hold close to my heart with tenderness and without judgment as we navigate the new year because I owe it to myself and those I love to show up as the best version of myself as often as I can.
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Thank you to Justine Duran from In The Grey for providing me with these reflection questions as part of our work together and for allowing me to share them here.
Campi Flegrei: My Favorite Things
We have lived just west of Naples, Italy for almost three years. Our area specifically is called Campi Flegrei—or the Phlegraean Fields—and is a sprawling volcanic area rich in history, natural beauty, and geothermal waters. At our finger tips, we have ancient Roman ruins, hot springs (which means incredible thermal spas), incredible coastal views, easy access to the lesser known islands in the Gulf of Naples (Ischia and Procida), and of course, the amazing Southern Italian food. We have absolutely fallen in love with this area and exploring as much of it as we can. Below. I’m sharing some of my favorite spots and experiences. Check back often as I will keep this list up to date as we explore more places!
Packing for Europe: 4 Day Weekends
After nearly three years of travel across 24 countries, we've perfected our packing and travel routine. We prefer checked luggage for convenience, especially with a toddler, and rely on packing cubes, a toiletry bag, and essential travel items to stay organized. We also have a few go-to toddler travel hacks, like using a lightweight carseat and stroller. Simple airport tips and strategies, such as color-coded passports and PriorityPass for lounges, also help make our trips run smoothly.
Europe Travel Essentials
After nearly three years in Italy and traveling across 24 countries and countless cities, I’ve learned a few travel essentials. First, don’t forget the right plug adapters—an all-in-one adapter with USB ports is a lifesaver. If you're bringing motorized devices, like a blow dryer, get a transformer. For renting cars, many countries require an International Driving Permit (IDP). Keep an eye on visa updates for the UK and EU, and consider using e-sims for affordable data while abroad. These simple tips will make your travels smoother!
The Netherlands
We have been wanting to do a longer trip to The Netherlands ever since we moved abroad. We visited the small town where my partner’s grandparents are from on a day trip from Cologne, Germany but hadn’t spent a significant amount of time exploring the country.
We ended up with a four day weekend over Easter and found decently priced flights into Eindhoven, the airport in the south. I will say: this was not the best time of year to plan a last minute trip. Not only was it a holiday weekend, but it was peak tulip season. The prices of things like AirBnB’s and hotels…made me want to cry. But we made it work!
Malta
We had an impromptu 3-day weekend in Malta, flying in from Naples for some much-needed relaxation. We stayed at the Hilton in St. Julian’s, which had amazing views, a fantastic pool, and great service. We spent Friday by the pool, then wandered around Valetta before heading to Mdina the next day. The highlight was definitely our private boat tour around Comino and Gozo—swimming in the Blue Lagoon, exploring sea caves, and just soaking in the beauty of the islands. Malta was such a surprise, and we can't wait to go back!
Hungary: Budapest
With its rich history, stunning architecture, and abundance of kid-friendly activities, Budapest proved to be the perfect destination for a long weekend. From soaking in the Széchenyi Thermal Baths to exploring interactive museums and breathtaking city views, we found something for every member of the family. Check out this post for travel tips, hidden gems, and lessons learned (including the realities of traveling with a toddler!).
Austria: Vienna // Slovakia: Bratislava
Vienna completely took me by surprise with how quickly and easily I fell in love with it. We were only there for a four-day weekend (as per usual), but I’d go back in a heartbeat to keep exploring. After a quick flight from Naples and an easy train ride into the city, we checked in, grabbed a bite to eat, and started getting ready for the main event—the Officers’ Ball at the Hofburg Palace. It’s been on my Europe bucket list since moving here, and thanks to my mom flying in to babysit, we got to experience every magical moment.
Greece: Delphi, Meteora & Athens
We spent an incredible 4 day weekend in Greece to celebrate our 6 year wedding anniversary and as our “Labor Day” weekend trip. The way things work for my partner’s command, he has a four day weekend for almost every US federal holiday. We are able to travel within Europe without taking leave, or PTO, over those weekends. On this trip, we managed to squeeze in Delphi, Meteora, and Athens.
Two Years in Italy
This is officially the longest we have lived in one place. Actually, when we hit 1.5 years, that was the longest I have lived in one place since I went to college. As an active duty military spouse, I have gotten used to moving around a lot, but even this is a little unusual for the military. Typically, we would be on 2-3 year orders in one location. Our family has just taken a bit of a different path because of my partner’s career, and that is okay. At the end of the day, it brought us to Naples and I can honestly say that this has been one of the best places for our family - for me and my individual growth, for my relationship with my partner, and for my son.
Andorra: My 20th Country
We spent Thanksgiving in Andorra and it took us by surprise how much we loved it! We were definitely there in the shoulder season because there was no snow and the ski season hasn’t started so it was quiet, but the scenery is unreal. Andorra is a tiny principality (non-EU) tucked away between France and Spain in the Pyrenees mountains. It was about a 2.5 hour drive from Barcelona.