family travel
7 Best Medical Supplies for Family Travel
Getting sick on vacation stinks; there is nothing good about it. There are lots of ways to best prepared for family travel, however, one of most important steps is to pack the right medical items. What do you pack? Preparing for Family Travel As a Smart Mama, make smart decisions on what to pack to […]
7 Smart Ways to Make Family Travel Affordable
As Smart Mamas, you are looking for ways to make family travel affordable. You want to provide your children the opportunities to explore the world, see different cultures, and have fun. I get it. However, your bank account doesn’t. Using clever ways, family travel can be more affordable. Some ways work better than others. 7 […]
Family Weekend Getaway at the Hilton Orlando
The Hilton Orlando Resort provides guests with the luxuries of a well-known hotel chain with personalized attention one sees in a smaller property. My family was provided with a two-night stay and resort credit at the Hilton Orlando, just in time to kick off their summer activity program, Orlando Splash. Our goal was to experience […]
How to Choose Kids Luggage
How to Choose Kids Luggage When they are babies, you share luggage. If you have a separate suitcase for them, it is typically full of diapers. Soon enough they want it ALL BY MYSELF. We first purchased our oldest her own suitcase when she was 3. She loved it. She would fill it with her “stuff,” […]
Do This, Not That, on the Carnival Vista
Ready to book your family Carnival Vista sailing? Check out the Incredible Cruise Deals at CruiseDirect! Sailing the Carnival Vista You want to have the best family vacation ever. You KNOW that a family cruise is always fun for EVERYONE! How about sailing on the beautiful Carnival Vista? Based on our experience, taking a family cruise on […]
Surprising the Kids with a Carnival Vista 5-Night Sailing with the Family
Want to surprise the family with a cruise on the Carnival Vista or other ship? Check latest cruise prices & reviews for the Carnival Vista on Expedia!. Their Carnival Vista Dreams My oldest said she was, “paralyzed in happiness,” when we surprised the kids that we were going on the Carnival Vista! They didn’t have a clue. Ever since […]
Waldorf Astoria Orlando for Family Travel
Heading to Disney and want to stay at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando? Check latest hotel prices & reviews for the Waldorf Orlando on TripAdvisor. Our Visit to Waldorf Astoria Orlando Staying at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando is a Smart Mama choice for families visiting the Disney theme parks or wanting to just escape to a beautiful resort in Central […]
A VRBO Home in Ponte Vedra Beach FL
I truly knew nothing about Ponte Vedra Beach. I took out a map, then followed I95 South from Savannah, Georgia to find beach towns where we could stay for the third and final leg of our road trip. Just south of Jacksonville was the little town of Ponte Verde Beach that was as the name insinuates, […]
See Eat and Do Savannah GA with Families
Savannah Georgia for a Family Vacation Click to see the best deals available for a Savannah, Georgia vacation on Expedia. We departed Asheville, North Carolina just after lunch and headed to Savannah, Georgia. It was a 5 1/2 hour drive. We would be doing Savannah in one day with kids – actually 2 nights and 1 day. […]
7 Road Trip Budget Busters to Avoid This Summer
Having a road trip budget is crucial for Smart Mamas! This summer we set off on #SmartyPantsTravels Road Trip! We will drive from Miami to Asheville, NC and then visit cities such as Savannah and Ponte Vedra, Florida. We will need to be careful before we run out of gas money! We love weekend road trips. […]
Carnival Vista Dining Options
I’ve always adored the specialty dining options aboard cruise ships, and particularly that of Carnival Sunshine and Breeze. Carnival Vista dining options includes restaurants and bars that are some of my favorites, like JiJi Asian Kitchen which we dined at on the Sunshine and BlueIguana Cantina that is always a perfect option of Sea Day […]
A Typical Cuban Breakfast
“When in Rome” is a saying I try to adhere to in our travels. If you are traveling to South Florida, particularly Miami, you must enjoy traditional Cuban cuisine. From una medianoche sandwich to una tostada to ropa vieja to una frita, visitors must enjoy the savory flavors of the island that are now replicated, quite […]
Wyndham Lake Buena Vista a Disney Springs Resort for Famillies
We were invited to spend two nights at the recently renovated Wyndham Lake Buena Vista in the Disney Springs area of Walt Disney World. We truly enjoyed our experience and highly recommend the resort for families wishing to stay close to Disney Springs. During our visit, we stayed in a Disney-view Tower room with two queen beds. […]
ICE at Gaylord Palms Twas the Night Before Christmas
ICE at Gaylord Palms Twas the Night Before Christmas Now through January 3, 2016 Visiting Orlando around the holidays? Be sure to bring the family to Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee for ICE! ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas! Our family of 4 spent around an hour walking around the attraction. The girls were amazed with the ice. […]
Norwegian Escape for Family Cruising
There are several things to consider when selecting a cruise for the family vacation. Itinerary is understandably important, as is price and specifically what you get for the price. Beyond that, my experience has shown me that it is very important to consider the following three things within the actual cruise ship you may travel upon. […]
Travel Guide: Key West with Kids
Is Key West with kids a good idea? YES! Key West with kids can be fun, educational and enjoyable for an entire family. We enjoyed 7 days/7 nights in Key West, Florida on a family vacation. Daddy was there on a business trip, so we crashed his hotel room at Find the best deal, compare prices, […]
Flash Sale for Waldorf Orlando & Hilton Bonnet Creek
Rates drop to as low as $99 for the Hilton Bonnet Creek and $159 for the Waldorf Orlando! Huge savings! For a super limited time you need to book at the Waldorf Orlando or the Hilton Bonnet Creek to take part of their FLASH sale! See details below! Do you remember how last month we spent an incredible weekend […]
Ready, Set, Go! Road Trip Games for Fun
Who is heading on a road trip this summer? I get exhausted with the “Are We There Yet?” pleas/whines. With so many digital devices available and built-in DVD entertainment system in so many family cars, one would think that kids could patiently sit for hours. LOL! We all know the truth! (Let’s not even get […]
Cruising the Carnival Breeze
We’ve done it twice. We have cruised with the kids on the Carnival Breeze in 2012 and again in 2015. Both experiences were excellent and provided fun family travel! Since its inaugural sailing in December 2012 out of Port Miami, the Carnival Breeze has changed, just a bit. Most of the changes we loved! Dr. […]
Traveling with the Family
We travel with the kids, often. In our many travels I’ve gained quite of bit of tricks to make our travels run a smoothly as possible. This month on TampicoIsColor.com I share three tips for staying organized when traveling with the family. One that is a must for us is the “luggage hamper.” End the days […]
How to Plan a Family Cruise
I’ll never forget the first time I set out to plan a family cruise. We were invited by Carnival to enjoy their new ship, the Carnival Breeze. My youngest was nearly 19 months and the oldest was 6. Making the decision on taking the family on the cruise was difficult. I had no idea what to expect […]
Polaroid Cube Review for Family Travel
The Polaroid Cube arrived in the mail. Sitting in a box, the girls and I tore into it, anxious to know what this 0.9 lb piece of technology would do. We were invited by Polaroid to experience the Cube. We charged it up and got to work. (See our Polaroid Camera Reveal video) For nearly […]
Book the Concierge Upgrade at Rosen Shingle Creek Orlando
We wanted to weekend getaway. We wanted to have fun and enjoy time together as a family. An opportunity became available to book a concierge upgraded suite at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando. We packed our bags and headed North. The Rosen Shingle Creek is located just over 10 miles from Walt Disney World, but […]
Disney Getaway to Blizzard Beach with Kids & a Scared Mom
A quick Disney getaway included visiting Blizzard Beach with kids. We had never visited a Disney Water Park as a family and were eager for the experience. Our daughters are 3 & 7. The older one is super adventurous – she rode Space Mountain and Rockin’ Roller Coaster in Walt Disney World during our trip […]
Travel Journaling with Kids
You’ve bought the tickets. You have an idea of what you want to see and do. Now, get the kids involved! Every travel experience can be and should be educational. No, there is no need for a formal lesson, just the opportunity to learn and experience. A simple notebook turned into a travel journal can […]
Carnival Freedom for Adventurous FUN
Yes, cruising is all about family time together. On our most recent Carnival cruise we sailed for 8 nights on the Carnival Freedom. My girls were ecstatic. Who doesn’t want to go away for 8 days and visit the ports of Grand Turk, La Romana, Curaco and Aruba? Best off is that our entire family would […]